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

but after all, if we look deep enough, we
| shall see amid the heat, tumdlt, and
raucor, amid the loud strife of opl'Os-
ing wills and clashing opinions, earnest
efforts to arrive at the truth.
We should remember that this is an
age Of free thought, and it must
be one of free speech. We cannot have
the blessings of liberty without the haz-
yards of RIGHTEOUSNESS. Liberty of
thought, of feeling, and of expression,
may be dangerous gifts; yet, they are
the conditions on which we are permitted
to enjoy the truest life.
With all the drawbacks, risks and dis
comforts, it must be set down to the
credit of the press that it saves us from
stagnation; that it breaks up dull
routine and passive acquiescence in
principles, and measures, and poll
cies, which can be removed as they
ought, only when they have been exposed
to the fire of an adversary, and shaken
up by hostile forces; and the healthy ir-
ritstiOn it creates saves US from drifting
unsuspectingly into the smooth calm of
Indifference and apathy.
Again, | admit there is cause for dis
couragement, in the rapid changes and
counter changes of the hour; we see with
dlsmay our modes of thought giving way
to new ones; well settled truths travelled
out and torn to pieces to make room for
new ones of doubtful import; well estab-
lished doctrines almost sacred from their
antiquity, dangerously modified to suit the
shifting csprices of philossphic thought
or the greedy demands of physical science.
The affairs of life are indeed good
deal mixed; the air is full of noise;
strange voices are heard; many anchors
are getting loose in their moorings. Bat
let US stop, think, grow calm. Let us
dive down deeper into the orderings of
Providence and scan more closely the
strange movements of men. We
know that strange sights often flash
through the heavens, comets rush
along their pathway of fire, but the
planets move on in their orbits with
the settled power and the silent motion
which have been theirs from the begin
ming. The regions of immensely are I'M
disturbed'by celestial eccentricities which
alright the earth. If we look at the
ocean in the dark and fury of the storm,
we would think that there could be moth
ing still, or settled, or orderly beneath;
and yet, the trouble is all ON the surface;
few feet below and the crystal depths
sleep on as though no wind had ever
Vexed the upper air.
So it is with society-in the boundless
realms of its hidden life. This or that
branch may be torn from the trunk by
the wind; this or that human scheme may
tremble and bend under the transitory
agitations of the hour; but the vast bulk
of truth, and power, and life, lodged in
its organism, can no more change or give
way than the rock of ages on which it
rests. 1t is this thought that should cheer
us amid the depressing shadows, and this
belief nerve and support us in every hour
of trial, weakness and pain.
Rev. c. D. Elliott then addressed the
Association at length on his views in re-
gard to the proper system of school edu-
cation for the State. He designed to
have presented to the Legislature, as com
ing from this Association, bill providing
for the appointment of Superintendent
| of free schools for the State. Mr.. Elliott
detailed his views at some length, and
stated that he was in favor of establish
ing in Tennessee the common school sys-
TEN now in operation in New England.
He desired that Superintendent should
be appointed who was a professional
teacher. His bill, he stated, was drawn
| up by Prof. Ogden, an experienced edu-
Gator, together with himself. lie thought
the State Superintendent should receive a
salary of 300 q month, and that the Su
perintendent would only be employed
about two months, thus costing the State
about 5000 year for the present. After
describing the difference between the re-
ligiOus and the secular system of schools,
he announced himself an extremist in
favor of religious system. The main
point of his argument was that q State
system of schools had nothing to DO with
the manner in which the tax for such sys
TEN was raised, and further, he favored
the enjoyment and use of the money by
the people who paid the taxes.
Mr.. II. Nicholson, Of Knox, then in
trOduced a resolution, providing that a
committee Of five be appointed to draw
up memorial 10 the Legislature in re-
ference ID proper system of public in
struction. The resolution was adopted,
and the chair appointed on said commit
tee the following named gentlemen:
Hunter Nicholson, James WhitwOrth, c.
D. Elliott, VIM. Bosom, Edmund Cooper.
QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION.
The Association then took up the regu-
lar question for discussion, namely,
''What system of public instruction is
best adapted to Tennessee in her present |
condition"
jackson B. White, Mayor of Edgefeld,
opened the discussion on this question.
On account of the impoverished state of
the Treasury, the speaker thought it i'm
possible 10 establish State system of |
education. His idea was that the nearer
the system was brought to to the people,
the better it would be. Under the pro-
visions of the new constitution he thought |
law could be carried out, so that every |
civil district in the State could be incor-
porated and have the power to levy tax
for school purposes in its own district.
He was in favor Of such law.
Mr.. Elliott also joined in the discus
sion, reading a portion of his bill, and
mainly following the line of argument !
given in his remarks published above.
Mr. Griffin thought there was law on
the subject of public schools, and that
law left it to tie courts of the county to
levy tax for school purposes. lie re-
marked that perhaps the present system |
was the best that could be had at this |
time. He understood that the present |
Legislature was in. favor Of taxing the |
people of the State quite heavily in order
to meet the necessary expenses of the
State, and he thought law could not
at present be secured providing for a
State system of education.
Ex-GoV. FOote remarked that it was
obvious that some light was needed on
this subject, and as gentleman who pro-
badly was more conversant with the CON-
mon school system than any other man in
America, was present, he moved that the
Association invite that gentleman, Rev.
DR.. Sears, to present his views at length.
REV. BARNAs SEARS, DID,,
the Financial Agent for 8the distribu-
ton of the Peabody fund in the South
ern States, then made some extended re-
marks in regard to common schools, of
which we present the following report:
Gentlemen of the Association: 1t is
with no little diffidence that l rise TO
speak on a subject so delicate in many of
its bearings, which is connected with g
| question 50 peculiar to the State, sug
costing some action which in other States
would not be called for. Not being a
resident of Tennessee, and not protesting
to be very familiar with its public affairs,
l shall limit myself TO somewhat general
views. The Propriety of the application
| of these views to Tennessee must be
judged of by gentlemen who are familiar
with Tennessee. l state these views as
the result of not a few years of OBSERVE
ton and experience.
A few general principles, it appears TO
me at this time, are of very great impOr-