Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1867-12-05
COMMUNICATED
Anywhere, Nov. 25th, 1867.

Messrs, Editors.-Were l suppliant
for public patronage, or candidate for
the SURFACES of the people. too might
be a political coward, as ninety-nine in
hundred are. | don't know, and don't
expect to be tried In your Editorial of
the oath of October, you say, the people
are ''aluost unanimously in favor of the
present school system" | believe it. To
the letter" as you say. Almost, but
not quite. am not From its inaugu'
ration, I've been opposed to it, and from
the day Gle same, that | opened Quack-
and -bosh's grammar and saw the thcitri-
Gals of the Hon President of the Board, |
concluded that the system was wrong
and a robbery and humbug, and the
president ditto l then determined to
Are into the hulk that bore the nefarious
Institution, though the shot from my bat
terry should fall short by half way. The
late "lamcntable" President allegorically
made the government machine instead
of ship, the ancient figure. | adopt his
figure of speech, although | believe him
to have been the scourge and Bosom of
to the Pacific. The Government, Fede
raj or State, if the latter is not an obsolete
term, is Machine. The men who run
the machine, have the right to call for
oil (moncy,) to oil the different parts, to
make it run smoothly and without fric-
ton but they have no right to use the
oil for anything but for the special purpo-
e. Il Al IL lol
have no right to mani pulatc manure
with it, or to give it for light. | contend
that government has no right, either by
Constitutional authority or Legislative en-
actmcnt, to levy ardrect tax on the peo
pie for any other purpose than to supply
the legitimate necessities Of the govern
mcnt If it has, then we are governed
too much, and government is as bad as
anarchy. Once pass the Rubicon, and
where is the limit If the State has
right to levy ten cents on the hundred
dollars of my hard earned living, to edu
cate the children of the idle and worthless,
or the rich, have they not the power to
20 farther, and levy - cents to build
colleges all through the State and then
levy 80 cts. to feed and clothe the collie
giates am sure, food and raimcnt are
just rs necessary towards a prosperous
government, as an education. Rags and
want sickcn at the thought Of books :
But the advocates Of the school law will
argue, that Intelligence is the Foundation
stone Of free government. Grant it
What is intelligence? Does education
give intellect? | know that education
is the received and popular definition of
intelligence Intelligence is q derivative
of Intellect. Intelligo.) You may cdu-
cate dog or hog or an ASS. Many of
the last, are educated and the means ia
ken to enIghfen, onl serves to chaosise
and to..nulify, by overwhelming a small ca
pacity. Infants have Intelligent eyes and
faces, Il have heard it said, and seen it, }
before they know the meaning of school,
or education. Education of the schools
makes mankind. neither wiser. better nor
more patriotic. AS good and piou. a
couple as know, can't read or write their
names Intensified villiany is rarely
found in the totally illiteratc Universal
education is but a hobby of the politician,
AL Capt9nuuUl SulHus, lne CnllOllnN OF
New England, the nest of isms and cil-
hany. There, demagoguism and the peck
ct is the synonyme of amor patriae and
We, alas follow in her track, gazing on,
aud cntranced by the beautiful picture she
holds III her hand. universal education and
an i.aproved morality but ,;lAco DANCES,
ut dona fcrentes. .
Having diexesstd somewhat from the
point argued, let Us return to the Consti-
tutioaal power oa the State. the Inherent
ly legitimate power of the State. To levy a
direct tax for the machinery Of Govern
ment Let US array AS opposing candi-
| dates. Education ana piety. They come
before vir.uous constituency for their
. suifrages Answer me. which viii be the
successful candidate Education is no
bar to the blacklist sins and vices Tety
| Is. and can have no blotch or blot Re-
! ligion and the Gospel are the Teachers Of the
latter. the School. arc the Teacher ofthe