Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-28
COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS.


prehension has prevailed in the public
mind with respect to the provisions and
expense of the township system en-
braced in article VII OF the Constitu-
ton. Our people have naturally very
little knowledge or experience of this
new system, which prevails everywhere
at the North, and they are misled by
the purposed exaggerations Of the enc
lnies of all reconstruction. We re-
marked the other day that the system
had been established in North Carolina,
and we have before us the act of the
Legislature which puts it in force, the
townships having previously been ar
ranged and laid off. Two justices and
clerk form the board of trustees of
each township, and the only thing said
about compensation or salary in the act
occurs in section 81, which provides that
leach justice OF the peace who is a mem
Der of the board shall receive two dollars
per diem for each days attendance upon
the meetings of the board and the clerk
shall receive the same per diem, with
such additional compensation for his
duties as clerk as the board may allow"
The Lynchburg Virginian publishes
a communication, the writer of which is
endorsed by the editor as "an able law
yer, an acute thinker, and who reasons
with much force and ability. He was
formerly what might have been called
an extreme Southern man in politics :;
being amongst the foremost of those r'ho
thought secession remedy for Gne
wrongs we suffered il the Union. There
is not man "A the State more devoted
to her interests to-day, than he and
not one who would suffer more, in per-
son ard property, to defend her honor,
and promote Der welfare
This writer, after showing that the
test oath and disfrsnchisement involve
a great principle Of political govern
ment, aud that the county organization
is only Que of practical operation, ex-
amines that question in connection with
free schools in the following manner
First. 1t never was contemplated
that the provision for system of pub
lie free schools was to be submitted to
separate vote. The party with whom
We have to deal are as decidedly fixed
on that subject as upon that of equal
suffrage. This is provision capable
of producing great hardship, especially
for few years, but at the same time
capable of being SO brought into opera
ton by law as to make the burdens
comparatively lighter and the general
consequen ces less miscbievous. In no
event can our State ever have govern
ment under Constitution which does
not provide for system of Public Free
Schools; and the man is blind who does
not feel assured that we will not be per-
mitted to "remain as we are" twelve
months longer; and equally deluded if
be believes that any party North or
West will risk its strength or success on
the issue, free Schools or no Free
Schools in Virginia" They will never
lake the chances again on the negro
question; much more, will they never
risk upon this Northern pet question of
Free Schools. Can we defeat any Con-
stitution providing for such system ?
believe not. Read the clause on the
subject, and learn how it may be made
to work tolerably, under the legislation
of prudent, upright and honest men,
chosen by the whole people; and how
it will work under the management of
men qualified to vote and hold office,
only under the Constitution 'strait."
Second. What is the "County Orga nj
cation" clause, stript of the danger, and
Inconvenience of any new system ? /
would not make the change if I could
have my way. But it will not do to
split on this pebble.