The New York herald., 1870-12-18
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.


4 as one OF the property owners on South FIFTH
avenue formerly Laurens street,, am anxious to
know when the street is TO De graded, paved.
curbed ana guttered. l saw a notice absut one
month ago thar there was a contract given out for
the work TO be done by the superintendent OF Pub
lie Works. why IL IL delayedY That part that
comes under the Department OF Public Works, cut
ting through Washington Parade Ground, IL very
rear complete We are all looking fer the street 10
be finished, 50 that we can see the great Broadway
or Boulevard, OF the west side--wbich, when COM
pleed, VIII reach frem tue Battery to Harlem
bridge I. J. q.
DECEMBER le, 1870. ~
Tennessee and Her Want of Public Schools.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD rt~
day or two since there appeared IN your valua.
bic Journal o short article referring TO a statement
put ierth by the Repuolfcan Banner, OF Nashville, In
which the great want OF common schools In Tennes-
see was commented upon II is a melancholy fact
that at present there Is total want OF public schools
In that State.
About the year 1885 the Legislature OF Tennessee
made provision FOR raising fund, the Interest on
which was be DEVOTED the instruction OF youth.
Eight hundred thousand dollars were under the pro-
visions OF this law, set apart for common schools
over which superintendent was appointed, whose
duties were TO see TO the proper application
Of the interest arising from this fund. 1t was thought
the better plan TO establish an academy IN each OF
the wealthy counties, or 20 give TO snch academy,
IL ono should be found already established
an endowment fund. 10 the poorer counties were
distributed smaller sums ana IN each ol them an
effort made To found Two or more eoou SCHOOLS
The great revuls0n OF 1881 came about, when IL was
found that the FIRST superintendent iad on private
account embarked IN various speculatlonS and that
OF the school tund he had squanderea ABOUT
sl500Oo.
Subsequently the Legislature provided for this loss
by additional legislation and, NJ The same time the
common school system was rendered more enicient
Before the late clyil schools were multiplying
throughout the state and Intelligence was Deing
ended when The war began; but most unfortunate or
ALL during the term OF Governor BfoWnow the
school fund was removed irom Nashville TO Meni-
phis, where was deposited Ill n Danh belonging 70
radicals for the purpose OF being used IN
the interest OF the Governors party. inc
president of that bank seems 10 nave
played wen his role; ;or al the end OF two years he
had loaned 10 his radical brethren the whole fund OF
xso0,00o and had nothing 10 show for IL except In
solvent paper. TO be short the common school
fund OF Tennessee was appropriated 10y the radical
party Tor eecuoneering purposes.
We're the State IN as good condition now as before
the war all these Inconvenience might De easily
Temedied Then the public debt and otner liabilities
did not exceed S25,O000 900; now they amount to
s45,eo0,oo0 Tnen the state was rich ana pros.
porous, promptly paying the interest on its debt ana
other liabilities (Which did not exceed $l5OooU per
annumI ana likewise the expenses OF pubic admin
neutrality-suspicious. 00o more; now at least
$3.50 900 per annum would be required 10 pay inter-
est and liabilities, besides the ordinary expenses OF
government During the last Legislature q law
was passed reducing the amount OF tax leyles,
upon The ground that the great poverty Of the
people demanded such measure.
III must, therefore, ue accepted as u IHcb tNdb
people OF Tennessee VIII not, ior years TO come,
be able to pay the interest on their pubic debt and
the liabilities growing out OF the endorsement or
railroad bonds. III so, 1t must be evident that moth
ing can Will be done towards the creation OF q
school und. Should even the lnsolvent railroads be
sold and the state liabilities decreased by
So 600 900, the people would sil be unable 10 pay
kHto the treasury money sufficient to liquidae the
Interest on The State debt and meet the expenses OF
government.
1t may Ire proper to add here that an attempt has
been made OF late 10 sell the nsolyent railroads on
winch the State had liens by reason OF having en-
dorsed Their bonds but sale could not be effected
cause the United States government came forward
ana CLAIMED that 1t had prior liens Tor cars and loco
motives furnished to these railroads
Taking all things INTO consideration IL must be ap
parent that the statement put forth Dy the Retbti
Banner Is not only true but the probabilities
that the same state OF things VIII continue to
exist for years III that unfortunate commonwealth.
No State suffered so much during the war as Tennes-
see. Both OF The contending parties lived upon, and
alike ruined and Impoverished her people.
III Is PITY that "a state which has given birth to
SO many nonored citizens should Ue wanting III COM
mon schools. Great men In times past adorned her
hlstory. Jackson, sam Houston, Benton, Bell,
Grundy, Hugh l.. White, Jarnigan and Haywood
were either born or attained dlsuction Within tho
borders OF Tennessee. She still boasts OF her Browns
her Coopers, her Nicholson, Der Etherdge her
Mckinney her Pillow and her Whitthorne, nearly all
oil whom poor BOYS. Is the light Of intelligence
10 squeched IN tnat state, or only 10 be enjoyed
By those who are able 20 pay for the blessings OF
edIcationY