The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-10-12
Popular Education and the State
Debt.

! COLUMBIA, =. w.. OCLoUei Z, LOW
In answer to inquiries on State debt
and education we reply that on the points
made the question had already been an
swercd by the Democratic vote in the
Legislature; but to remove all doubt, be
it
Resolrcd, That the Democratic party
will give its support to the adoption of
the proposed amendment of the constitu-
tion, TO wit:
''rhat section 5, article 10, be amended
so as to read as follows:
"SEcTIoN 5. The Boards of County
Commissioners of the several counties
shall levy an annual tax of not less than
two mills on the dollar upon all the tax
able property in their respective counties,
which levies shall not be increased unless
by special enanctment of the General
Assembly for the support of public
schools in their respective counties,
which tax shall be collected at the same
time and BY the same officers as other
taxes for the same year, and shall be
held in the county treasures of the re.
spective counties, and paid out exclu-
sively for the support of public schools
as provided by law. There shall be as.
sessed on all taxable polls in the State
an annual tax of one dollar on each poll,
the proceeds of which tax shall be ap-
piled solely to educational purposes:
Provided, That no person shall ever be
deprived of the right of suffrage for the
non. payment Of said tax. No other poll
or capitation tax shall be levied in the
State, nor shall the amount assessed on
each poll exceed the limit given in this
section. The school tax shall be distri-
buted among the several school districts
of the counties, in proportion to the re-
spective number Of pupils attending the
public schools. No religious sect or
sects shall have exclusive right TO or
control of any part of the school funds
of the State, nor shall sectarian princi-
Piles be- taug hit in the public schools.
"That the question of adopting this
amendment shall be submitted to the
electors as follows: Those in favor Of
the amendment shall deposit ballot
with the following words written or
printed thereon: Constitutional amend
ment-Yes.' Those opposed to the said
amendment shall cast a ballot with the
following words written or printed there
on: Constitutional amendment-No.' ,"
ResolueR, That the State debt having
been practically adjusted by the consoli.
dation act, 22d December, 1873, and
most of the creditors having come in
under the act, we consider the adjust
ment as final, and pledge the party to
abide by it.
The Columbia Register makes the an
nexed comments in approval of the posi-
tions assumed by the Executive Commit
tee:
The action of the State Democratic
Executive Committee in defining the po-
sition of the Democracy upon these i'm
portant topics of public interest will
command the approval of all right-think-
ing men in the State. These are vital
questions of practical and immediate
moment, and when it was attempted by
our political opponents to impress the
ignorant and unwary with sinister views
as to the opinions and purposes of the
Democratic party in South Carolina, it
was meet and proper that the false sug-
gestions of these arrant demagogues be
promptly exposed. The Executive Com
mittee tersely and vigorously place the
Democratic party upon the record, which
will silence the insinuating cavilings of
INSCRIPTIONS enemies, and give to our
speakers an authoritative expression to
meet the issue so frequently attempted to
be made in the campaign as to the
silence of the Democratic platform upon
these points. Ordinarily, it would be
sufficient answer to refer to the declara-
tions and pledges of our candidates,
whose character and position as public
men are a sufficient guarantee that all
they promise will be fulfilled, and our
own gallant chieftain has repeatedly de-
fined his position upon the matter of
popular education. But the proposed
amendment to the State constitution is
to be voted upon by the people at the
coming election, and it was important
that there should be a positive express
sion, from an authoritative source, as to
the position occupied by the Democracy
upon this special provision for the main
tenance and support of the public schools
in the future. The poisonous sugges-
tions of Radical orators and writers that
we have an ulterior design upon the edu-
cational system of the State, looking to
an indiscriminate abrogation of the
entire system, have been squarely met by
this action of the Executive Committee.
The proposed amendment will correct
abuses in the system, and was supported
almost unanimously by the Democratic
members of the Legislature. 1t will only
change the constitution in two particu-
lars, namely, the levy of a certain sum
every year for the support of free schools
and the retention Of the funds in the
treasures of the several counties. The
amount fixed is two mills per annum for
the public schools which will be amply
sufficient when honestly disbursed to
keep open the schools the greater portion
Of the year, and thereby improve very
largely the present system for the benefit
of the poorer classes. The present clause
in the constitution requires the moneys
raised for educational purposes by State
lew to be sent to the State treasury tor
apportionment and disbursement, and
the history of these funds for the last
eight years proves conclusively that this
plan enables dishonest officials to deplete
the amounts, under the doctrine Of "ad-
dition, division and silence" before the
return is made to the county officers
The election and appointment of trust,
worthy officers throughout the State will
insure a faithful disbursement of the
school funds for legitimate purposes, and
the coming victory of the Democrats will
give point and effect to the proposed
amendment to the constitution, reassur-
ing the hearts of the poorer classes OF our
population, white and colored, that the
boon of education is to become reality
not an unmitigated farce, as has been the
case in many counties under the benign
administration Of the carpet-bagger:
! Ill, l;o i,aaal II nL