Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-02


Mr.. SPEAKER: / ask the indul-
iQence of the House for a few mo-
ments,in submitting a few thoughts
upon the subject under consldera-
ton. The question Of education Is
one Of the very highest Importance,
and one In which every citizen Is
interested. Under q form Of gov
ernment, dependent for its exist
ence and stability upon the intelli-
gence of the people, 1t needs no
apology in apprOpriating ample
time Tor q thorough analysis and
discussion Of the means by which
these ends shall be best accomplish
ed. In the progress Of events, we
have entered upon q new order OF
things, and. assumed new response
bilities; there are problems 70 be
solved, aud theories to be tested, in
the discharge Of the duties Of the
hour. The language Of the COnsii-
tuition, upon which the section un-
der consideration Is based, reads as
follows:
Article VIII, Sec. l. GAS the sta
bility of a republican form Of gov.
eminent depends mainly upon the
intelligence and virtue Of the peo-
pie, II shall be tine duty OF the Leg
islature to encourage, BY oil suit
able means, the promotion OF intel.
lectual, scientific, moral, and agri-
cultural Improvement, by establish
ing a uniform system Of free public
schools. by taxation or otherwise,
for all children between the ages OF
five and twenty-one years, and
shall, as soon as practicable, estab.
lish schools of higher grade"
This, Mr.. Speaker is the basis OF
the bill under consideration, in
which are embodied interests of
the race, and to the State, incalcula-
BILE In their character and conse.
quences.
There are topics pertaining to
private aud public veal, upon
which there are honest and sincere
differences of opinion, but In the
general provisions OF this bill, | am
gra,iied 20 observe a general senti-
meut of appreciation. We live in
an age and q century wherein the
question Of education, OF universal
education, is %inseparabiy associated
with the theory and perpeiuity OF
The Government.
The antiquated systems Of the
past, wherein this privilege was
confined TO the favored few, have
passed away and a new era has
dawngd, in which it Is required that
to keep pace with the progressive
spirit of the times, education Is
henccforward the watchword, with.
ou' regard TO class, color or condi-
ton. Under the iron heel OF time
and the irrepressible march OF
mind, the false and A,msy theories
Of the past are giving place 10 q
higher aud trucr standard OF man
hood. The interest taken, Of late
years, on the part oil the National
and State Governments, are all en-
~Icouraging indications and evil
dences in this direction. The
schools, academies and colleges
that are dietributed all over the
land, the liberal apprVpIIauOuS
made 10 their behalf, are all indica.
live OF q growing sentiment in ia.
vor Of universal education and oft
Indispensable necessity. AS a citi'
zen Of Mississippi, and as one iden'
titled with all that pertains TO hei
interests aud prosperity, | an
proud 10 point to the broad ant
liberal provisions she has made IL
behalf Of general education. What
ever may have been the errors o.
the past, and whatever pO.itica
differences may exist at the pres
ent, in the use of the means sc
amply proposed and provided, i
needs no power Of prophecy Il
predict for hera bright and glori
GUS future. AS education make.
the man. SO does Intelligence con,
, stitu;e the State. In view 0
The difficulties attendant upoI
the Introduction Of a new
: theory, and It's adaptation Il
: our peculiar surroundings,
deem 1t not out Of place 10 taxi
! this occasion % express my Appre
J citation OF the valuable service rend
cred by the Committee having hi
matter in charge in the preparation
of a bill so applicable 20 the neces
sites OF the case, and so free from
: Objectionable features. We havl
now advanced 10 the forty-eigh;l
I section, and but few alteration
have been deemed necessary. ant
E few amendments made. Will
! the previous sections have beel
adopted with comparative har
mony aud unsnimity, we hGv.
now reached u point wherein dii
: ferences Of opinion present them
I selves as 10 the moduS operandi q
= one Of lts provisions.
: And l cannot but think, Nj
J Speaker, that these are more q
y an imaginary than of a real charaC
ter; so far 90 | have undorstoo0
= the arguments Of gentlemen in tn
e discussion ofthisu section, they hav
o consisted largely Of draughts upo
imagination, Of possibilities an
probabilities that may never be n
o allied. The terms ~"policy" an
o prejudice" enter very frequentl
into the motives and conduct {
men, but is It necessary that "
should legislate and enact law
based upon considerations no high
or than these2 Shall we bring be
}. fore this house all the ills and all
n ments Of the body polite, and al
) tempt their removal by speCif
: legislation Shall we gather Il