Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-15

successful operation. He vas therefore
opposed to any change.
]. w. DOlbear contrasted the spirit Of
the people in New England and elsewhere.
They were from the first for educating
their children. A few counties in Ten
nessee are educated and they vote to edu-
cate; but the great majority are not in
favor of voting tax unless they can see
1t TO their interest and put money INFO
their pockets. Spoke of illustrations Of
the advantages of system of taxing pro-
perry for the education of the children as
means of enhancing the value of pro-
perty In any given locality. Showed the
importance of having good teachers,
school rooms and county and State Super
intendeuts. In conclusion, il we win
take the wealth of the State and tax a
portion of it for school purposes, and
then let each county have s portion of
this fund on condition that they raise a
certain amount, the school system will be
prosperous.
Mr.. J. o. Griffith stated that he did not
wish to infiict speech on the Associa-
ton, but he thought there was consider
able lack Of information on the subject.
He then stated that the law passed July
8, 1870, called the school law of Tennes-
tee, was in strict accordance with the
suggestions made by Rev. DIR. Sears--it
was the State system blended with the
county system. Mr.. Griffith explained
the provisions of that law, and stated that
he desired that that law might be exam
inat ha fhOttcrRf e orx,l.N.liaI rx-alI IL
| gested system of education, as il had been
drawn Up by those who had had the Law
in charge, with great deal of care. Thi:
| system was compared with other systems
and adopted after mature deliberation.
lie had no war to make upon any other
system, but here was system provided
for in the act of July, 1870, and for bis
part he would say, give this system fair
trial. The law was only lately enacted,
and but few counties had had an oppOr-
tuni'y to put it in operation.
But those counties that had put the law
into operation had, some of them, re-
ported to the Association to-day that they
were well pleased with it, and he thought
such would be the report when Other
counties had put the system in operation.
DR.. Elliott then asked Mr. Griffith "a
show a single thing that indicated thai
the act of 1870 embodied 2 State system
of education.
In reply, Mr.. Griffith read the follow.
ing from the act of 1870: T
Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of the State of Tennessee, Section /.
That the Common School Fund of the
State of Tennessee, which shall be in.
yOilsbly appropriated to the support and
encouragement of Common Schools
throughout the State, and for the equa
benefit of all the people thereof, shal
consist of the fund set apart for that pur
pose, by the Constitution of the STATE,
including the taxes derived from polls:
and, in addition thereto,
l. Of property given by will, deed, OF
| otherwise, for the use of common schools
to be paid by the person having charge Of
it; if given for the use of the county, K
the County Trustee; if, for the use of the
State, 10 the State Treasurer, upon the
warrant of the Comptroller; and if, fOI
the use of 8 School District, to the Treas
urer of the District Board of Commits
siOners, or Board of Education.
2 OF the proceeds of the sales or ren'l
of escheated lands, or lands bougkt in fOl
taxes.
3. Of the personal effects of intestales
having no kindred entitled, by the law:
of distribution, thereto.
Sec. 2. This Common School Fund
shall constitute an Indebtedness and la
bility on the part of the State Of Tennes-
see, for the purpose afcreaid, etc.
Mr.. Griffith then remarked that tina
seemed to him very much like q Sat,
law, and State system, as it spoke Of
State funds, State officers, etc.
IIr. Frizzsll stated that he felt that th,
Legislature had done right in passing tht
law. He happened to be one of the I'm
| fortunate individuals called lawyers, anC
he supposed that when information Of
legal matters was desired, 4 lawyer wOul,
be sought; and schOolmsster would b
inquired after for information in regarl
10 school education. He had now hearC
for the first time that a schooImaster wa
a better lawyer than q lawyer himself, il
regard to all school matters. He theT
| stated that if he believed such 3 system
as was now in operation in Massachu
sets, for instance, could be put in opera
ton in Tennessee, he would be in for it;
but such was not the case. In this State,
law of that kind would be unconstitu
tiOnal; and the county system, as SCI
forth in the law of July, 1870,
was the nearest approach TO the
civil district system of the Northern
States that could be secured in this State.
He regarded the county as the unit in this
State, of system of education. If g
school district in Tennessee were required
to levy taxes, as in Massachusetts,, il
would have TO be incorporated, like 8
municipal corporation, and that would be
attended with too many difficulties to
make such thing practicable. He was,
therefore, in favor of the county system,
as embodied in the law of last July, as
the best system practicable, under the
present laws of Tennessee.
Without taking any action on the ques-
ton discussed, the Association proceeded
to take up
GENERAL BUSINESS.
On motion, the Secretary then too
the names of those who wished to be
come members of the Association, and
over twenty gentlemen came forward and
paid their initiation fees, thus becoming
members of the Association.
The President read a communication
from the Nashville Board of Trade, re-
questing the members of the Association
to attend the immigration mass meeting
at Masonic Hall OH Friday night.
A resolution was adopted that com.
mittee of five members be appointed to
report the names of candidates for cleo
ton as officers of the Association for the
ensuing year, and the chair named as such
committee the following gentlemen: Fl,
s. Bennett, Hunter Nicholson, Levi:
Watson, ]. B. Kelligrew, Rev. E. o
Tade.
The Association then adjourned till
EM.
Night Session.
Shortly after seven O'Clock, the Assoei
alton was called to order in the Hall OF
the House of Representatives, by Gov.
Brown, who announced that as President
of the Association, the duty deyolved up
on him of delivering the annual address,
which, without further ceremony, he
would proceed to do.
The Governor then delivered lengthy
address, which, owing to the press upon
our columns, we are not able to present
in full. As we design publishing it at no
distant day, 1t is unnecessary that any
sketch should now be presented. 1t may
be remarked, however, that the Governor
was favored with the earnest attention of
the entire audience, which was large; and
that his remarks were not only well re-
ceived, but that he was highly compli-
mented on the manner in which he had
performed the duty assigned him, in pre-
sent1ng the annual address.
Rev. DR.. Young, of the Elm Street
Methodist Church, then delivered an eX-