Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-12-23
ron MAYOR.
JOHN N ON


The New York Sitn says it has been urged
in pauiation of the excessive taxation in.
posed on such Of the reconstructed States
as have suffered under csrpet-bsg rule
that q large proportion OF the money
raised by this means has been applied 20
purposes Of education, and that one Of
the strongest reasons for the opposition
which has been manifested to the meas
Ures Of the csrpet-bsggers is to be found
in the s~ntipathy Of the Southern people
TO q comprehensive system o free schools.
As this view of the matter is calculated
70 influence public opinion in the North
to some extent, 1t is worth while TO look
into some of the workings Of the carpet
bag system Of education. In Georgia, as
formerly in tennessee, the appropriations
for free schools are of the most liberal
character, including all the poIl-tsx Of
the State, which is one dollar for each
voter; the nquOr-tsx, the circus and show
tax and ons-hslf the net income of the
State road. The amount of money col
lected from these sources cannot be def
nitely sscertsined in the present disor-
dered condition of the financial accounts
of Georgia, but 1t mustbe near SSoO,0OO q
year, OF perhaps more. This money, by
express provisions Of the constitution
and the code. is set apart and devoted to
the purposes Of common schools, and can
not legally b used for any other object.
Indeed, the constitution expressly declares
that nc poIl-tsx shall be levied except for
educational purposes.
Va - I
the State authorities we ought to see =
hourishing system Of fres schools in sue
cessfui operation; but III inquiry as TO
the precise disposition Of the fund results
in the extraordinary discovery that every
dollar of it has been spent by Bullock
and his gang as fast as collected, in ex-
trsvsgsnt and unlawful ways; a large
portion of it having been applied to fee
ing lawyers, Substituting the press, and
paying a subservient legislature. In di-
rect defiance of the constitution g bill
was passed at Bullock's suggestion, and
approved by him, diyerting the money
raised for schools to ordinary purposes;
and in accordance with this action Of his
negro legislature, Bullock took the school
AlAolH hAAlA AC 54AAAGO4EA WILL kAu
same reeklessness that has characterized
his other financial operations. Not only
this, but every dollar Of the old school
find was wasted IN q similar manner,
aud this is the way in which free educs-
ton is promoted where Grsntism has been
Omnipotent.
In others of the reconstructed States an
-a.-ezz - g. .z-1,%H.-l .- ha-- -ooI1
TO furnish pretexts for the most extrsv-
sgsnt taxation, and when the facts in re-
lstion to the disposition of the money so
raised come to be investigated, there is
reason to believe thst equally shameful
developments wiz be made. In Texas,
in addition to the regular annual income
provided by law for the support Of COM
mon schools, the Davis administration
imposed s direct tax OF s., 900, COO for the I
profsssed purpose Of building school !
houses; and tbs expenditure Of all the l
school funds is intrusged to officials sp- {
pointed by the governor, who, the Hous- /
ton Telegraph says, ave never given any
bonds or security whatever for a {
use Of the millions Of dol q
lars intrusted to their charge. Under !
the existing school lsws of Texas the (
governor, she state superintendent, who '
Is appointed by the governor, and another c
appointee Of the governor, have absolute 9
of the whole educational system ?
Of the State; and in the selection of all
tbs district supervisors, county examin-
srs, local directors, and teachers, amount +
ing in all to about Eve thousand persons, d
20 one bat the governor and those who P
receive their suthority directly from him, Z
have any voice whstever. It viii at once N
be seen what al engine for political cor Il
is thus given into the hands Of Ii
Governor Davis, and the course of that n
official has been such that it is not IN Ii
charitable TO assume that he has used il ss Ii
such to the extent Of his sbinty. S
OF III the sbusss which hsve been per d
By the thisving csrPet-osggsrs g
who are the representatives and main CO
of Grsntism in the South, none il
s more deserving Of the reprobstion Of in
honorable men, Of whatever political par a.
than the proceedings Of those hypo- II
,ritioal knsves who have made a pre- 81
ended zesl for universal education a il
Icreen for schemes OF villsinous plumber, 81
" sought to use the machinery ostensi- ~
,ly designed TO promote free schools, as 3 in
means for maintaining worthless and of
psrtisans In offices they have dis
laced, and in the exercise of powers
which they have shsmefully ~misspplied. II,