The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-05-23
SUBSTANCE OF TIE RENAsKs or
James r. HO0d, Esq,
of Hamilton,

On the amendment 10 the Revenue Bill
offered ~ Hr ArnsH Of MalTN apyro-
D iatinq $500 600 to The C0mzs0n School
Fund Of the State.
Mr. SPEAKER-I shall support, with
pleasure, the amendment of the hon
orahle Chairman of the Committee on
Education and Common Schools, Mr.
Arneli) I supported yesterday the
proposition of the gentleman from Car
ter and johnson, (Mr. Simmerly) J. as
amended by the gentleman from Mont
gomery, (Mr. Wines), appropriating ten
per cent. of all monies collected under
the revenue bill under consideration,
for the benefit of the common schools
of the State. That amendment was
defeated, in part by some very earnest
friends of common schools, among them
the able and accomplished chairman of
the school committee himself / was
overwhelmed with profound regret a.
the defeat of that amendment because
it seemed to me that this General As
sembly had turned their backs On the
children of the State, who stand WITH
outstretched hands and streaming eyes
imploring US 20 make arrangements Tor
their education in a manner to BIT them
for competition W tn The most enligbt'
eued States of the North Some of the
warmest friends of education voted
against that amendment, because the
sum TO be realized by 1t was not IS
much as they thought the children Of
the State were entitled to from this
body, and they expected to present
bill in Ostober next establishing
new system for our common school edu-
cation, and levying special and addi-
tior a. tax to raise the necessary means
to carry out that system. / believed,
and still believe, that delay would de-
feat the ends which these gentlemen
desire to accomplish The Revenue
Bill imposes very heavy burdens on the
people. and when this has become a
law, gentlemen will pause before they
increase those burdens l think
that in October a majority of the mem
bers of this General Assembly would
vote against any scheme contemplating
the imposition of any further and
higher tax on the people. said this
much Yesterday, and 1t is unnecessary
70 extend my remarks under this head
It Is sufficient TO the purpose that
should state, that after an informal
consultation among the friends Of lib
ersl, free education, we have determin
ed to press the matter now. Accord
ipgIy. the honorable gentleman from
Msury (Mr. Arnel) has this morning
offered the amendment now under con
sideration. 1t provides that alter the
payment of the interest on the State
debt, and the current expenses OF the
State Government, eight hundred thou
sand dollars per annum, IN addition 10
the sum now allowed by Law, shall be
appropriated for expenditures in the
education of the children of the State
Now, Mr.. Speaker, hope that this
amendment will meet with no OppOsl-
ton from any gentlemen on Il !, Il, or,
but if it should have the misfortune OF
incurring the opposition of any mem
Der, hope that member will have the
manliness to fight it on It's own merits,
and not attempt to gull any oae with
beautiful promises OF what be intends
TO do Tor common schools hereafter
Fine promises will not pay the school
master. 1t IS dollars and cents We
want-not glowing descriptions OF what
we will do hereafter
We were reminded yesterday that
the State was greatly in deot that inns
Revenue bill vas formed with a view
alone of paying that debt and that,
therefore, no appropriation could prop
erly be made from the sum realized
by this proposed bill, out Of that, before
one cent can be expected. l am duly
sensible OF our State indebtedness, bul
cannot shut my eyes 70 the Interests
yea, the rights Of the poor children
OF the State. / contend that we 0iCs as
much 70 oar children as los ore % any one
Who mas higher claims on us tuau the
children OF the victims OF this rebel
lion, whose fathers have gone TO their
long ACCOUNT Has the Capitalist aho
rolls in luxury, whstAes ne collects
this interss, or notR Has The wealthy
rebel who may and probably does own
the greater portion of these bonds 2
No, aIr, think not We can postpone
the payment OF lhis debt 70 these men,
but we cs-pot postpone the IT per
lrsining Of our chli6ren Mnetner
they are instructed or not they s5.A gr0g.
Four years Of precious ume las al-
ready been Wasted by reason OF tnis
cruel, pnrelenpng and heartiess Wat
Not another day u 70 be LOST The u
itisry steps must be taken bow. Q n
tlemen must decide one way or ano,h
ere Let me sdjurs them not 10 defeat
this amendment II they &c, and sli.l
pass this revenue biA they vii meet
on their Return nome, WITH the severe
displeasufe Of their constituents FoI
ray part, ! shall vote sgzIEst the bill D
Ar. Arpel,'s amendment Is oe eaLed
AAd nor it,even t0en, wish JUST reIuctance
and only because l thInk l am doing
something 10 advance the education o.
those VINO are hereafter todo the Sght
ing. She labor, the YeuDg ana tne ruling
of this 2fate. ! kzve said that n
my OPT on We were under q
much obliga ION TO educate or
chiIditp ~ we are 70 pay oEi
state elt-lhat the latte roould be
postponend, while the frst coald not
Bat this amendment does rot eontsm