The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-01-11

~ to be continued. Tax collectors it IS true,
are autnorlzed 70 receive warrants in pay
hsnt OF state taxes but they are under no
obligations to make change; and thus It fire.
| quently happens that q taxpayer, with a
hundred or five hundred dollar warrant in
ms pocket Is unable to settle the small amount
OF ms taxes without submitting to discount
! tquai' IN many cases, to the entire amount of
MS lhdeDteness. With a warrant in his hand
expressing on its face the amount due HIM
from the state, the holder has no redress if
payment Il not made demand; he is al
lowed no interest for waiting nor is any pro-
vision made for his relief at any fixed time in
the future. This is kind Of every day re-
quotation on the part of the State-an abuse
OF credit which she would not tolerate in an
individual citizen. 1t il On absurd attempt
% Conduct the finances of the State in utter
disregard of commercial usage OF justice, and
ruptcy.
As plain and practicable method of
remedylng the abuse Of the system above
complained OF, ] recommend that henceforth
only currency shall be received for taxes and
other State Indebtedness, and that all evil
dences of outstanding State indebtedness be
funded INTO bonds running from one to eight
years, bearing interest at six per cent, paya-
Die senI-annually. This accomplished, the
hnances of the State VIII be placed at once
upon currency basis, and the ez penditures
OF all departments of the goFernment can be
reduced at least twenty-five per cent. without
embarrassment If, then, provision is made
Tor levying tax running through the entire
period Of bonded indebtedness, and abundant
: IN amount to meet the annual interest and the
bonds at maturity thair prompt payment
will be guaranteed, and they will take the
place Of United States Government securities
among the holders of the same throughout
the State.
BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS.
The reflections which | have felt it my
duty 10 make upon the false system adopted
In the past management Of the State
finances, are intensified when applied to the
management in the counties where the same
ruInous policy has prevailed to an extent
amounting IN many instances, to absolute
oppression. irresponsible Boards of Police
now Supervisors, have been invested with
legislative powers, and been suffered, under
shadow of law, to flood their respective coun-
ties with warrants upon the treasury until
they have deprecated in value in instances
which have come under any own observation
10 Twenty-Five ceRts'O1l the dollar.
When 1t Is remembered that the counties
are supposed To redeem finally in currency
every dollar drawn upon the treasury, it is
no wonder that the people groan under bur-
den OF taxation which threatens to drive them
into bankruptcy
few brokers and spectators who are able
To buy up and hold the deprecated paper in
the counties, reap, 1T IS true, rich harvest,
but it Is spoils wrung from the hard earnings
of the laboring Masses and the reckless use
of couRty credit by the local boards, which
enables heartless spectators to accumulate
princely fortunes, sells at public cutlery the
into the cabins of the poor
The recommendations which have made
in order to reieve.the State, l would apply in
regulating county finances.
/ further recommend that tho members of
Boards of Supervisors be required to give
bond for faithful discharge of duty An
Office which involves the letting of contracts
and issuing bills of credit should not be with
out ample bond a security to the people
against AN abuse Of power.
EDUCATION
1t affords me especial qualification to call
your attention to the progress made by the
free schools throughout the State during the
past two years.
The difficulties that have attended the es-
tablishment of uniform system of public
education have been necessarily very great,
and considering the general want of infor-
nation and experience upon the subject that
existed among the people when the system
first inaugurated, it could not have been
otherwise than that mistakes would be made.
AS it becomes more generally understood
and appreciated, however, all Obstacles in its
way gradually disappearing and the free
schools bid fair soon to receive that measure
of support which will render them every
where popular.
The advantages of education are admitted
on all sides; and that it is the highest duty
of a civilized-and enlightened people to
cherish the rising generation, and secure to
ment, will not be denied. The question of
difficulty to be met, is that of providing
means to accomplish the desired end without
imposing too great burdens upon the COM
munty.
Prudence would dictate that the free school
system should be put into practical operation
by degrees, as the people are able to realize
the benefits to be derived from it, and willing
to submit to the taxation necessary to carry
it forward
The present condition Of the country de-
mands that all the moneys available for
school purposes, shall be applied as far
lot fbo 1arf of
opening schools. Costly schoolhouses ele-
gantly furnished and supplied with libraries
and apparatus, may be the outgrowth of the
system in future years, but they cannot be
children Of the State are entirely without
school advantages. 1t is better that all should
have tho opportunity of acquiring the rudi-
ments Of an English education in log houses
than that the entire fund should be exhausted
in procuring elegant accommodations for the
few
/ believe it to be cause Of very just COM
plant that many of the teachers employed
in the schools are totally unfit for the Occapa-
ton. Many who have the intellectual quail
fcations REQUIRED wanting in govern
ment or disqualified on account of moral
habits.
1t is a matter of vital Importance that the
teachers, in whose hands the youth of the
country are to be entrusted, shall be models
of correct department. Example as we'll as
precept should lead the impossible youth to
d high standard of excellence in conversation
and character. Under the present law, five
directors are appointed in each county,
whose duty, among others, Is to employ
teachers and visit at stated intervals tho
schools in operation in their respective coun-
ties. 1t frequently happens that these duties
are faithfully performed only to the schools
in the neighborhoods where the directors re-
side | recommend that the Board of Di-
rectors, as now constituted be abolished and
the duties they are called to per form be as
signed to the County Superintendent, who
shall receive salary for his services, and be
required to give bond for faithful discharge
of duty, and devote his entire time to the
schools of his county
further recommend that board of three
directors, chosen from among the patrons OF
each school, be elected or appointed whose
duty it shall be, without pay, to employ and
discharge teachers, provide schoOl-houses, and
repair and supply the same with seats, fuel
and other necessaries; and that the members
of the board shall be required, alternately, TO
visit the school once every two weeks while
it remains in session. This plan if adopted
viii, in my opinion, awaken the proper m
terest where it belongs-amOng the patrons of
each school In order also to secure greater
uniformity which 10 leading feature of the
system, recommend that the tax for general
school purposes be levied by the Legislature
and made colleetable and payable into the
county treasury, as now provided, also
recommend that the school funds of each
county be distributed among the schools ac-
cording to the number of pupils in actual at
tendance. This viii encourage parents to
send their children regularly to school in
order to secure as much as possible of the
fund to be distributed.
STATISTICS.
Number of free schools established. 5000
Number of teachers employed during
1871 ............-...... sou
Number of pupils in attendance dur
ing lSIl --.---S,OOo
OXFORD UNIVERSITY.
Notwithstanding the unwarranted attempt
made by portion of the partizan press OF
the State TO impair its usefulness, Oxford Uni-
varsity Is in a aourishinR condition. During