Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-02

State Superintendent. Rev. &. ID. Elliott
made statement in reference to the num-
Der of counties that have organized under
the present school law, stating that few had
already levied the tax, although many were
moving in the matter. Hon. J. Whitworth
then opened the discussion upon the sub
ject of "Wben the county refuses to levy a
school tax, or the people vote against it in
any county, is it advisable for the civil or
school districts to secure corporate powers
for the purpose of levying school tax?p
The address was one of much information,
and opposed the State system and an
attempt at coercing counties to support
public schools.
Prof Ii. Presnell of Jonesborough spoke
in regard to the same subject and was in
favor Of maintaining the county system, and
also thought ii would take long while to
perfect the common schools in the various
counties. He thought if there could be a
connecting link between the the county and
State system so as to render it effective that
was all the friends of education could ask
for at least for the present-this link will
give power and influence and is the great
desideratum in the perfection of the school
system. He recognized the fact of Tennes-
see being behind hand and attributed it to the
want Of labor and interest of the people in
the cause Of public education. He thought
there should be some plan devised for the
future commensurate with the advance and
progress of the age. & -7
DR.. Stout also made some remarks upon
the subject of comparing the laws-their
nature, operation and success-of other
States with those of Tennessee. He thought
the people wanted only sufficient money in
the treasury to infuse the spirit of education
among the people of the counties so as to
inaugurate district and county schools,
stimulating the counties to levy tax. He
thought the county the smallest unit of
control in the Southern States, except in
towns of over 5000 inhabitants. He OPP
posed the State system, because experience
had shown they were wrong; yet he was
in favor of State control. He favored the
levying of only a sufficient amount, as
levied by the State system, as would iufuse
a spirit of public education in the people.
He did not favor the Capitalization of State
power in regard to public schools.
DIR. Elliott said he Endorsed the present
system as wrong step in the right d;rec-
ton, and he wanted to make the suggestion
of aScertaining from legal advisers how far
the functions of the School Commissioners
went, and would make a motion to the
effect of having committee appointed to
ascertain the powers of the School Com
missioners, because the subject would be
treated in this respect by the Legislature.
The subject of the power being delegated
to levy a tax to Commissioners, received
attention, and the Association was shown a
decision of the Supreme Court touching
the same.
On motion of Capt Donelson, Superin-
tendent of Davidson county schools, the
Legislature was invited to attend the meet
ing. Capt. Donelson, j. o. Griffith and
DR.. Stout were appointed a committee TO
inform them of the same.
Prof. Caldwell, Superintendent of the city
schools invited the members of the associa-
ton to visit the city schools.
Prof. W. A. Smith, Prof. II. Presnell and
DR.. Shelby were appointed committee to
secure officers for the next twelve months.
There being no further business the meet
ing adjourned until 4 O'Clock, p. NJ.
Night Session.
The Association was called TO order at
T:30 P. NJ, President Neill 5. Brown in the
presented very wide field and some argu-
ment was expected. No subject perhaps
could elicit more interest or consideration
than "The relation Of common schools to
the prosperity of the State" The chair
also invited the members of the Legislature
present to participate in the discussion of
the question which addressed itself to them
as well as to the association. Prof H.
Nicholson, of Knoxville. and Gen. VIM. b.
Bate, the regular appointees, being absent,
the chairman by way of opening the meet
ing made a short address, the synopsis of
which is
The difficulty Oft human mind tutored
in the subject of common schools scarcely
knows where its interest ceases. The ques-
ton of how can immigration be induced-to
come to Tennessee? While the State of
Tennessee may be a fine country, it is not
inviting to immigration without common
schools, the well regulated system of which
in the Northwestern and Western States is
one of the reasons that those States control
the tide of immigration to their limits.
The question is obvious to the humble
even. who see educated men filling positions
of every kind hence We are unfortunate
in being denied the benefits of common
schools. 1t would induce immigration and
bring labor, which is capital, so as
TO develop our resources and in
crease our prosperity, which is dependent
upon moral and intellectual education. By
education crime would be diminished, and
the more intelligence the more virtue, the
more enterprise. For, cultivate the mind
and you will impress it with moral aspira-
tons and induce a research into the better
lessons of morality. He did not speak so
much for his own generation but to pre-
pare the way for the future generations to
advance more smoothly and easily than the
present and past. We have not enjoyed the
blessings of common school system. Plant
a good common school system in the State
and in ten years the benefits will be meal
culable. Every one is as much bound to
contribute in the maintenance of public
schools as for that of the peni
Tertiary and the courts. Many receive no
for want of means-shall Tennes-
see suffer her children to want education
when the whole world is being educated?
Alabama, South Carolina and the
Northern States have a system by which
every child can be educated. Intellect is
talismanic power-the glory and free rights
VI great DIdJts DIuSClt Is liOJ dll-lL ID
only the material as are our iron,
streams, soil and manufactures, which
require intellect to properly direct
them. No subject can be of more
interest to the people. Here the
speaker met the various objections urged
against common schools, and showed how
necessary education was, not only for the
orator, statesman and lawyer, but also for
the good farmer, practical mechanic and
even workmen of every class. He had
always favored common schools which
could be sustained without any burthen,
and if he had to make speeches before
the Legislature he would urge the public
schools in every speech. Forthe education
of the morals and mind give capital that
can never be lost. A State without com
mon schools was without one of the ele-
ments of prosperity. That machinery
which opens the eve of the mind, elevates
the moral character and gives an impetus
to man in accordance with the laws of his
is beyond the value of rail
roads, or any other kind of internal i'm
provements. Education and common
schools have no politics and should have
nome He had heard that this was politi-
cal organization. He had never seen any
thing of the kind-it is to encourage com
mon schools.
Prof. Eaton of Murfreesboro was called
on and made some very interesting and
practical remarks upon the benefits of COM
education. Ignorance was the
greatest of misfortuneS to the State, and he
of