The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-09-10
:r - ], 8 sssnhric.gcho,oI Fund

Itis probably kn0Wn tca0ur leau ~, > .n,as
a large sum of money belongng rigntluilY
IA Tie state school fund has been BY some
means diverted from the purpose ior wblen
it was intended, aud applied to other puf-
noses. THegsneral estimate OF tnls sum !, IS
q million of dollars. 1t is not. true, q. mas
neeh fnsfnunted by. some VINO knew petlter,
that &c has BEEN s1sisap ropfiasea, IN the
sense of application 10 any prlyaLe use:
fWhatever diversion has taken pihce nas
been in the direction OF interest on t6e
public debt and the support OF the STATE
government, and, the accounting omcers
contend thaC il. has been altogether una
Voidable. ,,,sss,., ~. =. !.
t. we have no desire to enter into the con-
froyersy on this point, our object being
simply to inform our readers OF tue iact
and OF its bearing ON public-school inter-
ests. and as part Of that Information we
publish the following preamble and resoiu-
| fion adopted at Manassas on the 22d utiho
| bv the LARGEST meeting ever held in virginia
in the interests Of educatio and represent
Eing those interests in this city and the eight
counties nearest to It.: .;ssrl. =
"Whereas the very existence OF the pub
lie free schools Is seriously threatened BY
Efhe failure OF the State to apportion to. the
( roi,nties the money paid by them for school
lhEnoses: therefore be it - =
'ia Resolted, That the institute held at
Manassas md composed OF the superln-
tendents,, school officers, teachers, and cltl-
zens from the city and county OF AleSan-
dria, aud the counties Of Loudoun, Fair
lax. Prince William, Fauquier, Stafford,
WARREN, and Culperer, earnestly recon-
mend to the people OF the several counnes
! to:which they belong to instruct their rep
resentatives in the General Assembly to give
immediate attention to the sublecf, ard de-
wise a speedy and certain remedy"
Action under this resolution has, we
think, been already taken in several OF tne
counties named. and we learn that pubic
meeting on the subject will be held at an
l:early day in this city. The matter Il GER
family one which calls for prompt, action OF
some kind, for in very few counties can
1 any public schools be opened until the lst
Of January next, if at all, and the AUDITOR
informs the clerk. Of the, Richmond scnool
Board that it is very uncertain indeed
WHOM nm anDortionnent Of school money
can he made, though" the treasurers are
continually collecting it from the people.
AS we depend very largely upon local
finds here, our teachers have all been paid,
hut In most parts OF the State they have re-
ceiyed nothing since last January. 1t is OBJ
yious. that such state Of things cannot
continue indefinitely, and it behooYes all
who feel an interest. in public education
I(and wethfnl there are flew who. DO mott TO
be actiye in this emergency. Teachers, like
other people, must have bread and meat,
and unless money is provided their schools
must OF necessity be closed. Whether the
schools could best be provided for by local
funds entirely, or whether it is in the power
OF the General Assembly to stop the diver
sion OF the State fund and restore it to its
Legitimate purpose, and IL so how that de-
! sirable end is to be accomplished, are cues.
tons which We are not entirely prepared al
present to answer. They are, for our read.
ers equally with ourselves. questions Of
4 vital interest, and we trust they will be
carefully considered, to the end that when
d the public meeting shall be, held some wise
conclusion may be Observation-Disclosures
Gazstte.' - -
II the. Auditor would pay out to the
schools the money which the Constitution
appropriatcs to them, aud which no Legis'
lature has the right TO divert. he would
compel settlement OF tie pubic-debt ques.
ton before Christmas. III fact, we think
| that the matter is about coming, to head
anyhow, and that this schoo.fund question
is to be the means whereby our State poll
tics will be relieved OF a pcrplcxinS sub,
/! icct. -.,- ,..,. ..,... ~ .... ~. ....r