The Van Buren press., 1867-02-01
Emigration.

r ne eHoIls WHICH nave netil Inauc ny
the North Western States, during the
last fifteen years, to turn the tide of emf
grafton in that direction, have been
crowned with most astonishing results.
The untenanted prairies and the untread.
ed forests are now the seats Of cities,
towns and hamlets. Well cultivated
farms-with comfortable and neat dwell
ing houses stud the whole country
Schools, colleges and churches have been
established. Manufactures of different
characters are springng into existence
and rising with those in the East Each
State is small Empire within itself in
wealth, population and intelligence. A
consideration Of the coures leading to
these results will furnish to us valuable
instruction. The first enquiry which a
prudent and considerate man will make,
when he proposes to emigrate with his
family to any locality, is-"what facili
ties shall find when l get there to edu
cate my children? Have you good
schools z" You may waive the direct
enquiry, by dilating upon the cheapness
of our lands, the fertility of the soil, the
excellence of the range-of our Italian
climate-all these-but if he is eonsm
crate man, he will turn upon you and
press the question-"but have you
schools so that | can educate my chill
dren?' Speed the time, when, through
out the length and breadth Of our strick-
en- State, we may be able to give an aflllm
ative response to this question.
We must establish schools. To do this
requires money. This money can only
be raised by the taxation of the property
Of the State. IL were better TO be taxed
to build school houses than pententia
ries We must levy the school tax and
then pay it cheerfully ly-- whether we have
children to send to school or not. All
are concerned in the public weltare-and
what so conducive to this as the eluca
ton of the people? The munfcent
grants made to this State by the Federal
Government, for the benefit of schools,
have been squandcrcd and wasted and we
cannot rely upon these. Our Legislature
should furnish suitable revenues for the
support of schools, and establish q COM
petent and efficient Board of Education
to inaugurate the system and carry it on.
We learn that the Bill now before the
Legislature, reported by the Senate com
mittee, provides for permanent school
tax This is a step in the right direction.
To rely upon the small amounts to be
hereafter realized from the sale of school
lands, and upon fines, forfeitures and
escheats, is paltering with the question.
If we are ever to have an educational svs
TEN that shall be edectual in educating
the children of this State we must have
permanent school tax. Let us never
look forward to the time when we shall
be released from this tax If our school
treasury should ever become plethoric
and over burthened with funds-raise the
standard of education--build up normal
schools and found colleges. If our Leg
islators would invite intelligent and en-
terprising emigration to come within our
borders-let them provide for perma-
nent school taX-establish an efficient
Board of Education, and put the common
school machinery in motion throughout
the State.
Why does the tide of emigration still
sweep towards the States in the North.
West' Because the emigrant knows
that there he will find common schools
to educate his children.
Our fertile soil, our glorious climate.
our varied productions-mhhom schools,
can never compete in population and
wealth with rigorous climate and sterile
soil-with schools.
GENERAL CHURCHILL
On the lcd of Ephruorv tbo yo+or. -, A.,