The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-05-23

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cate, e passed by the Legislature, to be en-
forced eliturs ezplain this by qnoting,
with approbation, So extract from what they
are pleased 70 term very able report read
before She last Convention Of Counl SUPP
intendents by Jesse Newiin, Esq Superih- I
tendeHt of Schuylkill county. We should I
Ike to give your readers this extract in full, /
but find It would occupy too much space.
We viii. AoWevers quote e sentence or two.
Mr. Newlins after recon- nending b tolnpuE i
sorry enactment, explains as follows how it |
is to be enforced If the parent. guardian,
or other person fails toconpl y With the pro- |
visions of this law. for the first offence be
shall be demonstrated with by the teachers
or directors and if he still neglects to send
his children. he shall be fined . sum not ez-1l
ceeding twenty dollars, to be appropriated !
to the use of the schools; or, instead of the
fine, commitment Of tie clzild to saicb s1lsii
tuSon of instyzlcfion or house of correstion as
MAJ be proDided for Tie purpose, for a period
not exceedi,sg one yeGr.v
And this, proposition Is made il, q Conver-
tion of County Superintendents assembled in
the Capitol Of our State. without any disap-
nrobation. SO far as we have heard! +.
Where Mr.. Newlin was educated We do
not know. but we hone. for the honor Of
Pennsylvania It wes not Within her borders.
| If ne were permitted ts Guess. we would un-
| hesitatinelV lV. saw. New. ENGLAND. But. be this
| as It NAV. better advocate of the ancient
nine Laws of Connecticut could not at this
daS @ aerbans ,s be found anvWhers
We would ask the editors Of the 4dcocate
| whence the Legislature derives its bower to-
! interfere. in the nanner suggested. with pa
! rental authority 2 Certainly f,ot from God
| for God cannot violate. much less authorize
1 the violation of. His laws: and If our mem
| orv does not fail us. we think there il noth-
mo more clear in the Sacred Scriptures than
| that God entrusted the care. education and
protection Of the child to the parents. Then
! if the Legislature derive no such mower from
| God. Is there no other source from which It
NAV derive this power The editors NAV
| answer. Yest from the people. How and
| bv what means Bv the i,eople IN their
collective capacity as electors. But how
come the people bv. the right TO violate the
natural rights of individuals to punish pa.
| reEts when guilty Of no crime to tear from
the bosom of the father and the mother. and
| from the arms Of the brother and the sister.
the innocent. helpless child. and place Il in
i q house Of correction IF TIE people. then,
| have no right TO commit these barbarous
outrages and cruelties, how can they give
| such a right to their Representatives in the
Legislature 2 There is but one theory upon
which this kind Of legislation could be sus-
tanned. and that is that the peoDle were
made for the government. and not the GOV
ernment for the people. Do the editors of
| the Advocate adopt this theory If they do.
then. In order TO be logical. they mrst. show
| that the government has creative. life piv-
ing power.x They musk. In short. hold that
| the government is a deity. If II can create
the people. give them life and motion. then
it certainly can command and compel them
to do whatever it wills. This theory. it will
be perceived, would be In consonal,ce with
the worst forms of paganism that ever ex-
listed and although tie editors Of the Id
rocdte would. We have no doubt. deprscate
the logical result of such theory as much
as any persons IN the community, yet it is
clear to as that the powers which they seem
to think reside IN the Legislature of passing
such enactments as they urge, would be to
make our government =, despotism of the
worst type that ever existed on the face of
the earth And it's equally clear they can
sustain the Law they suggest on no other
theory.
If the government possessed such poWers
let US see what limit, If any, could be put on
its legislations 1fait could pass laws to pan
ish parents and children for neglecling to
embrace the opportunities of education ,af
| forded them, what law equally absurd and
tyTanicai could it not pass e But the editors
may say this law would be for the benefit Of
society-if individuals should ID certain
leases suffer- thepubiics wUuld be beneficial
Who. then. Is to be the judge.as to the adj
vantaaes aud benefits te. society from the
passage OF such 9 lawE You must answer
the government Then II the goyernment
1-isste De the judge as % the advantages and
benefits to society from the passage of such
law, woald is not alsobs theJndge ii every
imag case3s CartainlyE Then, should
the government consider that soeietygwanld
t be benefited by com pelling all the children
Of the Comm alth to attend the Sabbath
Schools of. a particular denomination of
! ChfistIdr,s. under certain pains and penaities