The Van Buren press., 1874-11-17
manhood left.

safe for high taxes and excessive proulS Saiity
but the school system partook OF all the oth-
er essential features Of the government, near
ly a hundred thousand dollars being appro-
priated annually for salaries and expenses OF
Il corps of officers, called superintendents oi
different grades who had little or nothing
to do with the cause OF educatioh-d SUN
which ii rightly applied. would have Deeh
sufficient To educae many children oolh
white and black. But the entire school sis-
TEN fell victim to the general law OF ue-
struction, which nothng escaped. The dis-
trict school tax was reduced TO five mills on
the dollar: the whole of the state school iund
was carried over to the general fund Tor lne
payment of salaries the school tax was maue
payable in state scrip. and the scrip thus re-
ceived remained in the state treasury, pro-
hIbItion having beea enacted against paying
il out; and thus the whole scheol system per-
ished for want of support in order TO meet
the continuing ane increasing demand ior
saleries and perquisites. :,
| seek thus to recall some of the evils OF
the past few years, in order that IL may serve
as a warning for the future Let US not DC
discouraged by them. During that time at
least We have been enriched by such expert
ences as rarely comes to people IN the lapse
of Il century. If We profit not by 1t IN lay
ing the foundations If the government on
Just and secure basis, ours will be the iault,
and ours the retribudon. Our aatural adVah-
tages of SOIL climate and mineral wealth may
well sure us Of a prosperous 1utufe' Dy
Just and equal laws, seeming in the govern
ment solid and SUBSTANTIAL system OF edu-
cation, an undertaking enforcement OF the
criminal laws, we shall be able, in short Pc
riod, to make our land inviting to the indus
trious and peaceabe Immigrant to build up
manufactures, to rehablitate society, to es-
tablish and preserve good name at nome
and abroad. to cultivate such feelings OF mu-
tual confidence and esteem between tne
white and black races as will promote their
mutual happiness and prosperity, ana most
successfully to develop all our natural resour-
ces. The time for beginning the work Is at
hand, and not day should be lost. Eevery
citizen having any regard for his country
should at once and continually give his ald IN
this great duty, in the performance of which
all can engage without reference 10 any uli-
ferences of political opinion.
Since the adjournment Of the last iegtsia-
ture, have received proposal nom an asso-
citation of capitalists in Europe, To fund the
outstanding bonds Of the state by substitute
ing for them bonds payable in thirty years,
with interest at the rate of five per cent. Ia
grid. In the present financial condition OF
the state it is impossible to make immediate
provisions for the payment of any part of the
public debt; but the creditors of the state
may implicitly rely on the ultimate payment
of every obligation which she justly and le-
gally owes. As for the bonds issued i'll open
disregard of law, probably no definite action
should be taken at this time. As to those
bonds which are OF unqucstioned validity, l
would recommend that they be funded, either
on the plan proposed, or on some other plan
which may be agreed upon with the holders,
and as may appear most advantageous 20 the
state. The proposed plan of funding will be
laid before you in detail, for such action as
you may think proper.
| would recommend also thorough revlS-
ion of the school laws, the school system hay
ing been, as have stated, in a greater meas
ure destroyed. Perhaps one of the chief adj
vantages of democratic form of government
may be found in the fact that it renders sys
TEN of general education Indispensable. AS
the law now stands number of useless olll-
cials intercept the means which ostenslbly
are devoted to education. Some different sys-
TEN should be adopted by which the money
raised by taxation shall be eifectually applied
to the the building and repairing of school
houses. and paying the salaries of competent
teachers. Simplicity and directness should
mark any law the object Of which Is to attain
this important result. The necessities for an
increase of facilities for the education of the
children and youth Of the state, both white
and black, is too obvious and too Universally
felt to make it necessary that | should dwell
upon it.
The past season has been one of universal
disaster to the agricultural interests Of the
state. Unusually heavy rains in the spring
were succeeded by a dronth of unprecedented
duration. which cut The crops short, and in
So. istricts 0estit yNb"..c..: ..hUstentirely
Whether under these, circumstances it would
be better to enact law suspending Judicial
sales for a limited period, is a matter which
Will doubtless engage your attention.
In "A general assembly
an appropriation was made for paying the
expenses of the militia and the state in put
| ting down the Brooks rebellion. The claims
were strictly audited, and there was found to
be a deficiency of about fifty thousand dollars
| in the appropriation | would therefore earn
estly recommend that an additional appro-
| priation of that amount be made so as to ful-
! ly satisfy these demands.
| The claims remaining upai1 are principal
| ly for ser\ ices rendered by the officers and
men of the militia, when on active duty last
| spring. and for supplies furnished the state by
! merchants at home and abroad. The claim
ants acted with commendable promptness in
! extending aid to the authorities at critical
period in our history, and the state should re
cogniZe the merits of their claims by proVld-
ing for their speedy payment.
The state is entitled to five per cent. Of the
net proceeds of all sales of lands within the
state by the general government. In addi'
| tion to the lands actually sold, a large num-
! Der of acres have been donated to soldiers
and it is believed tha-Ihe state should receiv,
! the same per cent. upon the value of this clas:
of lands | have contracted with Messrs
| Compton d Martin, subject to the ratification
of the legislature. to recover this amount
and am advised by Messrs. Pike & johnson
of Washington, that there are other import
ant landed interests Of the state at Washing
ton that have hitherto been overlooked, and
doubt not that 1t would be to the interest o
the state to contract with these well-knowr
resident attorneys to look after such claims
as will require legal attention.
retire from office and repair to the duties
and privileges of private life with an assured
conviction that the state government is al
| length relieved from the trammclS whicl
have so long rendered any real progress hop
less; confident, also. that the victory of thu
peoolc will not be In any manner abused. IL
a very little while, all the evils which hay,
so much afflicted the state, will be remember
ed only as historical events, and even nov
the resentment which they naturally excited
! is in a great measure forgotten in the promise
of hetter day. No more shall wild anC
desperate scramble isr Office threaten t
overthrow the framework of society or eN
/ pei peace and good order from the commu
nifty. The well known character and abilit.
of my successor justify my belief that Will
your wise and prudent cooperation every
thing viii be done to retrieve the errors o
the past and to develop the advantages OF tn
future which may lie in the power of tn
govern ment.
ELISHA BANTER.
. q