The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-15
Col. OfTyler.
Mr.. johnson, Of Tyler, said:

COi.Johnson, ofTyIer.
Mr.. johnson, Of Tyler, said
Mr.. PRESIDENT: The proposition OF
the gentleman from CabeIl (Mr. Ward)
TO support the free schools exclusively
by general State taxation is an extraor-
binary and novel one, especially to the
people of this country.
believe it is conceded that Prussia
has the most thorough system of edu-
cation in exi,tence. There the entire
education Of the youth is under STATE
control-rcgul4te1 by State authority
and supported 10y State taxation-so
that the principles instilled into the
minds of the youth are die
lated by the Crown. The object
to be obtained by that ration IL
the moulding OF the mind in conform
ty with the will OF the Crown and sub
servient 70 It's interests. But in this
country our government il based upon
an entirely different priDciple-the will
of the people founded upon the freedom
of thought and to maintain that
principle we must leave the people free
to choose their own instructors
and form their own opinions.
The State should encourage, but the
communicable parents should con-
troll the education Of the children. The
children are not and should not be the
wards of the State; but the parents
should feel that they are responsible Tor
the mental development Of their chill
dren and should have direct personal
and pecuniary interest in their eauca~
ton. If this proposition should be
inserted in the Constitution it will
etfectually destroy the free school
system in certain counties OF this State
by destroying the personal interests OF
the taxpayers in the tree schools and
incur their most violent opposition.
But, sir, how would this provision
affect the more popuIous and wealthy
counties Of this State? These counties
are the earnest friends Of the rec -chools
and will support and maintain them
with alacrity by local taxation and
persona Al influence. They do not desire
State aid in supporting Their schools,
but are willing to contribute TO State
fund to be distributed among the differ
ent counties to aid them in main aiming
tree schools therein; but this concession
must be coupled with the condition
that those counties receiving the benefits
OF this distributable school fund must
not rely upon it alone, but must them
selves also raise, by local taxation, a
school fund tor the support OF tree
schools. Help those who help them
selves is an adage directly applicable
10 our free school system.
But suppose the principle should be
adop'ed and an ad vaLorcm STATE tax
levied upon the pr perry o the State t.
support The schools IN earh county or
the same number OF months n each
YEA, what would be its effect? TAKE,
for example, the two counties Of Brooke
a, d K lie gh Thew have nearly an
equal prpul+tion and number OF Oh |
iren; BIT heir wealth and ter tory are
widely different. Bv The Auditor Re
port for the year 1871 the amount OF
taxable property in the county OF
Brooke is more than four times As great
as the taxable property in Raleigh,
while the area Of Raleigh is more than
seven times as great as that OF Brooke.
Suppose the school dlstr cts are three
times As large in Rale Oh as they are in
Brooke, yet 1t will require more than
twice as many schools to accommodate
the children in Raleigh as vii be re-
quired in Brooke, and allowing the sala-
RES OF teaches to be the same and the
schools to be kept open for the same
length oftme in each county, 1t w'll G 'st
twice as much TO educate the children
in Raleigh county as it will cost IN
Brooke, or the amount OF money that
would be required TO keep all the
schools open for four mouths In hale'gh'
would keep all the schools open. 10
Brooke for eight months. Certainly
this would not be an economical ex-
peuditure OF money, and would be dong
great injustice to the county OF Brooke.
1t is the misfortune OF such couties as
Raleigh to be thiuly populated, and
they are certainly not entitled to, and
cannot expect to receive, as thorough
system of education as the count es
that are more drnsely populated. We
must do the best we can under the CIR.
cumstances, hoping that the time will
soon come when our hills and valleys
will be teeming with thrifty popala.
ton and the advantages OF a good
education will be within the reach OF
all