The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-05-15
Correspondence or the Phoenix.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 10, 1870.
The propositions of Messrs. Sumner
and Morrell, to mako change in the
United States patent laws, to the effect
that the Government shall have the right
to take and use such inventions rs its
chiefs may deem necessary. without
compensating the inventor, has caused
quite movement among many of our
inventors here, who have devoted years
of study to accomplish results of great
value, intended for Government use
only.
A military officer, stationed in Daco-
tab, writes to Washington TINT in refer
ence to the report that there were from
1000 to 20, 1000 Sionx on the war path,
tnat he knows that the whole tribe CON
sists OF only 5000, and Of that number
only about | 800 are warriors; and that
they are only threatening hostilities to
induce tho Government to fulfill the
treaty stipulation made with them
(Sioux.) We hope this officer is correct,
and that the Government will Mt once
fulfill their agreement with the Sioux.
Ibis officer, it seems, however, is not
sanguine that We may not have trouble
with tho Indians; for in showing the
distribution of 4. 100 troops now in his
territory, he intimates that General
Sheridan is in readiness to take COM
mnnd whenever an Indian war breaks
out. General Sheridan is cmphnticaily
IN fnvor of the reservation system, and IL
strong military force to protect the agents
and the Indians from the ecncroachments
Of the white settlers.
The people of this city read with spe-
cial interest nll the fine speeches which
are made in Congress, from timo TO
time, on tho promotion of education, and
think it fully timo that some definite
effort was made to promote the cause in
the national capital, when Congress has
never yet appropriated one dollar to the
support of schools, although more than
one-half the entire school population OF
the city are children of the employees,
clerks, or other persons connected with
the Government, who own no property
here and pay no taxes. AS result, the
school facilities are very inadequate, and
the schools, which should be models ror
the nation, are absolutely discrcditable.
Not but that the teachers and other school
officers may be us efficient hero as else
'" U IL.
and not enough buildings. and many of
those we have, are quito unfit for the pur-
pose, some having been condemned rs uui-
>ances by the Board OF Health. In many
OF these lily constructed novels, fifty and
sometimes sixty little children are daily
congrcgated in charge Of ono teacher.
at the time the last school report for
this District was made, about three years
ago. there were -, 1877 children without
any facilities whatever for education.
More than ono-half of tho whole num-
Der, and Of the minority who arc being
taught, one-half are attending private
schools. Until recently, the sentiment
here III regard to public schools has been
much the same as that which existed in
tho Southern States, that they are we'll
enough for paupcrs, but not fit for re-
spectacle people to patronizc, except rs
they would encourage other charitable
institutions. Among tho many and i'm
portant changes which the past decade
has brought to our city, the sentiment in
favor OF supporting and improving the
pnhllc schools, IS one of the most sig
niiicant. The majority of the people of
the District are earnestly endeavoring to
support the public schools, and increase
the fncilities for common school ednca-
ton here. but they need help from Con
gress. Il is hoped, from recent mani
festions Of interest Oh this subject in
Congress, that they may, if they can
wait patiently, receive. sometime, such
aid as they need. And yet there are
Legislators in both branches of Congress,
aud they expect us to "all them states
men, who look upon nll propositions of
government aid to education with dis
favor. contending that all such work APP
propriatcly belongs to the several States.
Though acknowledging tho vital necessi-
ty for popular education, especially in our
republic. they yet ignore the dnty and
responsibility, because they can find no
positive literal words in the Constitution
enjoining it upon them. Ono Of tile
most progressive and energetic of the
members of the House, General Shanks,
of ln.linna. allnding to this style OF
stntesnlanship, remarked, not long since:
When Il man has learned just about SO
much law, he is good for nothing us n
statesman" Whether it is too much or
too little legal knowledge which has
caused the trouble, we have seen some