The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-09

tion of the proposed bill, adds to this the
further provision, that the citizens of
any Township, within the Wheeling
District, may at any annual meeting,
or at special meeting called for the
purpose, make further special assess-
ment for school purposes within the
Township, aud that to any amount
such citizens may order-their dfScTe-
tion as to the amount being unlimited.
This Bill rs, unquestionably a plan
for the education of our youth by means
OF pubLlc schools in the place of private
ones-a plan for the organization and
establishment of system of public
schools, which shall virtually super
cede private ones, and private educa-
ton and instruction. This Is proved by
the provision for the establishment of
Primary Schools, Academies and COL
leges, under the name of Grammar and
High Schools, and for the education of
rich and poor alike, free of charge or
expense. The body of the people, and
including those who are considered
well TO do" are not able to bear their
part of the taxes which are necessary to
sustain such a system, and at the same
time to educate their own children at
such pri sate schools as they might
choose. The necessary consequence of
which is, that private teaching and pri-
vate schools in the main, cease Take
from parent and fauzilies the means of
educating their own children, according
to their own choice Or materially i'm
pai4 their ability to pay the teachers
they might wish to employ, and we
constrain them to fall into the plans,
views and opinions of others. Such
systems, in a great measure, take the
nurture, care and instruction of the
children from their parents, and give it
TO the public-in other words, to other
people. The division of mankind into
families, the relations of parent and
children with their reciprocal rights.
duties and obligations, are of Divine
appointment, and what deranges or
tends to disturb this arrangement of
Providence, separates that which Hea-
ven has Joined together -.i's Ell
To foster and promote education is
one thing, but 10 take the instruction
and education of all, rich and llooi
into the hands of the government, or
tine officers of the government. is dnoM-
er, and altogether different thing.
Looked at in its working and efferts,
and traced to Its conseoE Fences, and IL
is seen things are really more diverse
and different than system to "foster
and encourage" education, and one for
the government, by its officers, to edu-
cate all, at public expense, through
means procured by forced taxation of
the people. .s-H.ag ~
But we have more serious and weigh
ty objection to urge against this pro-
posed Bill than any yet suggested. It's
passage We are advised, and sincerely
urge, would violate the Constitution of
West Virginia, in its letter and in its
spirit. -.a
The first clause of the Sth article of
our organic law declares "that taxation
shall be equal and uniform throughout
the State" Public education is matter
ofequal and uniform importancet to eve
ry part of the State. Then ought not tax
a. FrNWa .E.N.w
equal and uniform in every part? But
if this is not a technical breach of this
clause, its certainly is of the clause
which declares that "provisions for an
efficient system of fre,s schools shall be |
by general taxation and by general
EdDS" a-a Iae.l - u.
AThe End clause of the tenth article of
our Constitution enacts "that the Leg
islature shall provide, as soon as prac- 1
for the establishment OF thor |
ough and efficient system of free |
schools, and make provision for their |
support, by appropriating thereto the |
interest of the invested school fund |
the net proceeds of all forfeitures, con-
hscations and fines, and by general tar
tLoH on persons and property; and 6V
dgene1'aI LdicS shall prescribe what pro-
portion of the amount required for the |
support of free schools, shall be raised |
in each Township, by authority or vote
Of the people thereof # so
Pardon us for inquiring whether this
law is a general one or
money raised under its preVis-
ions would be money raised by eHerdL
taxation? or whether a tex levied by
his Corporate Body, or Board of Edu-
cation, is money raised by authority of
he people of the Township? And the
Srd clause of this article declares that
provision may be made by law, for the
election of General Superintendent of
Free Schools for the State, and for n
County superintendent for each
and for the election in the sew
sral Townships by the UOteTS thereof of
other Township officers. But this law
axes from the people of the six Town
hips, constituting the Wheeling Dis
.rict, the election of Superintendent,
md confers it upon select body. This
ofthe Constitution also shows
hat there can be but one County Su-
for each County, and that
le shall be chosen by the voters of the
whole county. He is the Superintend-
,nt of the free schools of the whole
county, and not of a part, and he is to
De chosen or appointed by the voters of
he whole county and by no one else.
The six Townships constituting the
District are but a part of the
county OF Ohm. By this Bill our Super
ntendent of free schools is not appoint
I'd or to be appointed, or chosen by the
'oters, but by The school Commission
RS OF six Townships, and not for the
Whole con nty, but only for part
Ne have here a proposed gross infrac-
ion of the Constitution, and a gross
lsurpation of the rightsrand powers of
ohio County, or n large part of it. 90
Again . the 4th clause OF the 10th ar
iclef provides ":hat the LEGISLATURE
ihak foster and encourage moral, in
electuat, scientific and agricultural
Improvement, as the best interest of !
GENERAL education in the State may de-
nand." Does not this also plainly in !
licNte that the makers of our Constitu- !
ners local legislation in the establish
nent of free schools? The design of
he Constitution was uniformity
the State, in our system of
ree schools, to the end that Knowledge
md intelligence among the peopie
might be equal and uniform through
1ut the State. For example, the Leg
stature may establish an Agricultural
school or College, but it does SO by a
general law" and sustains it by gem
sral taxation, of the property of the
whole State. -.48 - 9-res5rH Vi
3 Believing the proposed Bill to be un-
necessary, unwiss and oppressive, and
hat our Constitution contemplates no
Legislation on this subject, except such
IS is general and equally operative in I
every part of the State, and in fact for
bids mere local and partial legislation
IN subject of such grave and general
Importance, as that of free schools or
public education; we respectfully and
enter our remonsTrance
against this proposed Bill, and pray
Four Honorable Body to reject it.
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60 s.f--l-, .1 n