The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1867-02-07


islature Of Mississippi, on the subject of ed
ucation. especially those branches of it that
bear upon the interests and usefulness 0fsthe
State University of which he is Chancellor
The thoughts and suggestions which he SUBJ
mits are eminently wise and important !; but
the heading of his first paper awakened the
hope that he was about to enlarge upon the.
Importance Of Common Schools, and give
the Legislature the benefitof his able coun-
sci in the elaboration of such q system as
would meet the present exigency. Perhaps
he will crafty us in future contributions
from his ready pen. Meanwhile it will not
be amiss for one occupying less elevated po-
sition in the same field of labor, to add such
hints as have been derived from experience
and acquaintance with schools and school
systems.
l. First, however, let us rehearse an old
truth, that ii is the political duty of the Stdte
to pfou;ide system Of public education. Prob
ably no one will controvert, or even doubt,
this proposition; yet the fact exists that in
the State of Mississippi, there is not at this
moment, any operative provision Of the kind;
and it can, at least, do no harm for us to re-
fresh our minds little in reference to the
nature and extent of our civil obligations, so
far as they relate to the matter under review.
In declaring it to be the political duty of
the State to provide system of Public Ed
ucation,n it Is meant to affirm that by the
very genius and intent of our republican in
situations, as developed in their most I'M
questioned maxims and formularies, we are
authorized to expect the Legislative power
to provide for the education of the people.
The Preamble to the Constitution of the
United States inenumerating the objects of
that Instrument states broadly among other
items, that it is to promote the general well
fare = This is certainly accounting it some
thing more than a mere protector of persons,
property and rights; it makes it a positive,
benefcent agent In the cause OF human pro-
gress and happiness. Accordingly the Uni
ted States Government, whatever its defects
and crimes, has always been more or less a
patron of public education.
The Virginia "Bill of Rights" passed in
1879, "as the basis and foundation of gov
ernment" in that famous State, affirmed,
that government is or ought to be, institu-
ted for the common benefit protection and
security of the people, nation, or community;
of all the various forms and modes of
government, that is best which is capable
of producing the greatest degree of happi-
ness and safety" / confidently submit
whether that government would not carry
off the palm, which, being at once the crea-
ture and the sovereign of the people, should
adopt the most effectual means for their
moral and intellectual development and
whether that government would not fall
very far short of composing "the greatest
degree of happiness and safety" which
should neglect altogether the education of
its subjects. E8 <2SS 8
The Constitution of the State of New
York has the following article: 1.-THE capt.
tai of the common school fund the capital
of the literature fund, and the capital of the
United States deposit fund, shall be respect
lively preserved inviolate. The revenue of
said common school fund shall be applied to
the support of common schools the reyen-
uas of the said literature fund shall be APP
piled to the support of academies and the
sum of twenty-five thousand dollars of the
revenues of the United States deposit fund
shall each year be appropriated to, and made
a part of the capital of the said common
school fund.o
Other States have made direct constitu-
tional provision of similar character. The
Constitution of California provides for the
election of Superintendent of Education,
at the same time, and in the same manner as
other State officers. The Constitution of
Kentucky since it's revision in 1850, makes.
similar provision. Our own State is>fiot
far behind the others in recognizing this
political duty. The 14th sectiOnI6f the 18th
article of the Constitution of mississippi
says Religion, morality andaznowledge,
beiing necessary to good government, the
preservation of liberty and the happiness
of mankind, schools, and the means of edn-
cation shall forever be encouraged in this
State" ~tY Fs lEfffEEzs ii +
"You have no right" says the property
holder, ITO tax my wealth to educate my
neighbours children" "You are mistaken"
says the Constitution; religion, morality,
and knowledge are necessary to good govern
ment; therefore, schools and the means of ed
Mcation shall forever be encouraged in this
State" One citizen is not taxed to educate
the children of another citizen; but the
whole property of the State is taxed for its
own prOtection-for the perpetuation of good
government. The great Thos. Jefferson,
says: eff nation expects to be ignorant
and free, in a state of civilization, it expects
what never was and never will be. The
of every government have pro-
pensities to command atwill, the liberty and
property of their constituents There is no
safe deposit for these but with the people
: nor can they be safe with them
without information. When the press is
free and every man able to read, all is safe"
Thousands of men in Mississippi cannot read, |
md thousands more are growing up; to man
hood in the same Ignorance; hence all is not
afe. The evils and dangers will multiply |
continually with every year of neglect. The |
luty, therefore, of our honorable Senators |
ind Representatives, assembled in Jackson,
eems, in view of the above reflections, clear
md certain. They cannot, in justice to their
constituents, neglect altogether the great
question of Common School Education s
But what to do-that is the matter to be
Every. body sayssasomething |
must be done, but no one ventures upon a |
DR.. Waddeu was interested |
lpon other points or perhaps he might have
lone so. A meeting of several teachers |
ately assembled in jackson to talk |
,ver various questions pertaining to |
heir profession; but they proposed nothing |
n the way of aSeomfnon school system, al |
hough they were at head qnarters Of public |
Possibly no one knows pre-
isely what is best. Qur, circumstances are
lovel and perplexing. 1t is probable that
ity of jackson or Vicksburg-the mere
,host of its former self The Governor may
lot be able at this time to put the members
f the Legislators iIipossession of the ne
essary facts to enable them to determine
low much remains Scattered, squandered,
oaned to individuals once rich but now
lOor, or to railroads that are hopelessly in
olvent, it will require much labor to collect
ne fragments and ascertain their Value
low can we know what to do before vel
now what are our means9A AUnder
he impression, without positive in
Drmation, that this, to- o. consider-
bic extent is the state of the case, we have
everal suggestions to offer which we viii re-
B. F. LARRABEE
ABERDEEN, Miss, Jan-27 th, 1867
80 -.
The State of Kentucky, is in admir-.
BILE financial condition. Looking