The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-04-03
The constitution Not Amended.

Inc secret enemies OF our rree
Schools, who are moving the heavens
and the earth to gain the power to over
throw them, are resorting to all kinds of
Misrepresentation to carry their point
Among other reports that they have set
afoat is one that the pending amend
ments to the State Constitution, allowing
cities and towns to levy and collect
special tax for the better support of
schools, were passed by the late General
Assembly; and that, therefore, the re-
tentlon OF the Uld Charter Is not now
necessary in order to preserve the
schools. We have heard, too, that
member of the Legislature has stated
that the amendments referred to were
adopted during the late session.
The amendments did pass the Senate,
with only six dissenting votes (and the
vote of the Senator from Posey and Van
derburgh counties was one of them) but
they did not pass the House And even
ii they had, they would yet have to be
submitted to the people at a general
election, which could not he sooner dono
than next October But the amend
ments have now to pass again through
both branches of the Legislature, and
then be ratified by the people. 1t will
be two years before they can be present
ed to the Legislature, and another year
before they can be ratified by the people
of the State and the New Charter sub
mitted to our citizens for their consider
alton.
1t will be seen, therefore, that the
question as to our Free Schools is pre-
csely as it has been heretofore There
is restless faction in our midst who are
determined to destroy the efficiency of
our admirable system of Free Schools.
A large majority of the people are in IA
yor of the schools; and, knowing this
f1ct, the anti-school men are determined
to overthrow them by some means, if
they can get the power. If they can not
do this by fair means, they will do it by
foul means
The pretext of the advocates of the
New Charter for their favor toward it, is
that under it, owners of suburban proper
ty would have to pay city taxes that they
now escape. However desirable an exten
sion of the city limits may be, and what
ever advantages we might enjoy under
the New Charter, the welfare of the rising
generation is certainly of more impor-
lance than any of the minor advantages
OF the New Charter. One thing is GER
tain: our Free Schools can not be main
tanned as they should be, under the New
Charter. This has been tried faithfully
in other cities of the State, and the peo-
pie who tried it are now lamenting in
sackcloth and ashes their indiscreet
haste in depriving themselves of the
power to sustain Free Schools by adopt
ing the New Charter But their lamen-
tations are in vain. Once yielded, the
blessings of Free Schools enjoyed under
the Old Charter can not be regained ex-
cept through the slow process of an
amendment of the Constitution.
We say to voters: Be warned in time!
Hold on to your Old Charter and your
excellent Free Schools until the Consti-
tuition is so amended as to permit the
people to tax themselves to sustain their
schools on liberal basis, and at the
same time avail themselves of any adj
vantages the New Charter may possess
over the Old Charter This is a mere
matter of time-not over three years at
most Meanwhile, hold on to your
S:hools-the jewels of our city.
Beware of wolves in sleeps clothing.
Do not give men, known to be opposed
to the present system of Public Schools,
the opportunity to destroy it. Lay not
emptations in their path, for to err is
human; aud though they profess to be
friends of Free Schools, their actions,
heretofore and now, falsify their words.
A ticket made up Of anti-school men
BODIES no good to the schools. Of that,
be assured.