The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-06-22
School Teachers Pay Certihcates.s

1t is strange circumstance to us, that
= these debts have not been paid before now.
About the last::of May, wealluded to the fact
that the School Commissioner Of the County,
had been to Columbia and interviewed the
Hon. J. K. JuLsoN, State Superintendent
of Education, who then and there promised
that the funds necessary for the liquidation
of these demands, would be forthcoming
about the first of june. As We then init
mated that we put no faith in the promises
. of such men, so has the result proved, for
here we are, at the 22d day of June and not
one cent as yet Necessarily the fault lies
somewhere. An act of the Legislature, ap-
proved February %, 1871, appropriated
$4,000 to supply this deficiency, to be
paid by order of the State Superintendent
of Education with the approval of the Gov
eruor, and "no part of said appropriation
shall be used for any other purpose than the
payment of the salaries of teachers" An
act, approved March 1, 1871, provides that
within fifteen days after the apportionment,
by the State Superintendent of Education,
of the State School Fund, and the annual
taxes collected by the State, for the support
of schools, the State Treasurer shall pay the
several County Treasurers the apportlon-
ment of the fund and taxes, belonging to
their respective Counties, according to the
certificate of State Superintendent of Edu-
cation. - ..... -~
! SEC. 2, provides that the County Trea-
surers shall retain all the poll tax collected
in their Counties, "and it is hereby made
their duty to keep an account of all the poll
tax collected in each Parish or Township;
in his County; and the tax so collected
shall be expended in the Parish or Town
ship from which it was collected; land Sec
tion 3rd provides that upon failure of the
State or County Treasurers to comply with
the Act, he or they shallbe deemed guilty
of misdemeanor, and upon conviction, pay a
fine of not less than $500, nor more than
$4,000, or imprisonment, in the discretion OF
the Court.
An act approved March 7, 1871, appro-
pirates $150,O00 in addition to the capita
ton tax, for the support and maintenance of
free shools. - ..-...
Where does the fault lie? With the Su-
perintentlsnt ofEducation, the State or the
County Treasurers7 The first is exempt
from the penalty of the violation of the act
second above recited, but fortunately, he
is not exempt from the criticisms of the
press, whose business it is to expose failure
of performance of duty. If with the State
Treasurer, he has probably stolen enough to
! nav ten times the amount Of tho penalty,
and could not be hurt, and it is extremely,
doubtful whether jury composed OF the
usual material could be induced to convict
him. If with the County Treasurers, it is
within the province of the Grand Jury to
investigate, report, indict and try them TOR
oyielation Of the law. 2,
1.-The Superintendent of Education pays no
80 Sort Of attention to letters addressed to him,
couchpd. in the most respectful language,
which is another suspicious sign.-. The Co
vernon makes promises, which, somehow, are
never fulfilled. The County Treasurer makes
explanations which exempt him from blame
and casts it upon the Superintendent of Ed
; ucation, who, in turn, casts the onus upon
the County Treasurer; and altogether, things
are in very unsatisfactory condition If
we are to judge of the success of the system
of free schools by the usual rules, we are
compelled to pronounce ours an egregous
failure; humbug, and disgrace to all con-
nected with it. We would sincerely like to
have the subject ventilated, but such wish
will not probably be fulfilled, since in silence
lies the. chief strength Of those who hold
the .reins Of government.
.g"i.' Wee. .r
:! Death Of Hon. &. L. Vallandigham.
). The kilograms bring US tidings of the
death of this distinguished jurist and politi-
clan. The manner of his death was very
strange, and shows how suddenly and awful
ly man may Be called from time to eterni:
ty. .-... -..'
Buta few weekssince, Mr. Vallandingham,
in public meeting in his native State Ohio,
introduced, and in speech of great force,
sustained certain resolutions indicative of
what should be the future policy Of the De-
mocratic party, to which resolutions, the
leading Radical papers have given the name
"The New Departure" The platform there
in laid down, does not materially differ from
that adopted by the Union Reform Party of
South Carolina in the campaign of last year.
Mr.. vallandigham had a distinguished