The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-09
Mr.. BIair's Bili 20 Extend Federal Aid
&c state schools.

Yours truly, }. Il. Nj. CoRkf.
Mr.. HAIRS Bili 10 Extend Federal Aid
60 state schools.
10 ne Editors Of the Dispatch;
Another scheme for partial use OF the
Federal revenues has been before the pub
lie for several years. II is an appropria-
ton by Congress In aid Of the public
schools in the States. In 1880 the trustees
OF the Peabody Education Fund, through
their bonored chairman, Robert c. VIM
throp. presented 10 Congress "the vital
necessity OF national aid for the education
OF the colored population" a special
committee, consisting Of Alexander II. ii.
Stuart. Chef-Justice Waite, and MIR.
Evarts. had previously prepared report
to accompany the appeal 10 Congress. II
il no secret that this paper, elaborate and
exhaustive, worthy 10 be ranked among
our ablest public documents, was the pro-
duction OF the pen OF our gifted and patriot
ic fellow-citizei.. Mr.. Stuart. State legisla-
lures, conventions OF educators and edi-
tors. and the press have been urgent in
pressing upon our Government the uuty
! OF furnishing this aid.
Bills, diverse in character and methods,
have been before committees OF Congress.
Some are utterly indefensible, and are as
bad as the evil sought TO be remedied. The
measure which commends itself TO my
judgment is an appropriation for term OF
years in aid OF public schools in proportion
to illiteracy. The aid should be immediate
and adequate, conditioned on the raising OF
large sum by the States aided. The help
would thus be cooperative and stimulating.
The management Of popular education in
the States should not be surrendered to the
Federal Government. The State school
systems should be preserved intact. The
aid given should be for primary education.
except what might be applied TO teacher
training.
In addition TO this temporary aid from
the treasury, very wise men, notably our
Mr.. Stuart, hold that the public domain
constitutes q trust fund for the common
benefit OF al the States, the old as well as
the neu. In a recent letter he says, with
force and pertinency:
Heretofore, under peculiar eXigencies,
large donations have been made out OF the
common fund to the nelo States, while moth
ing has been given TO the old States. Has
not the time now come when the tt st re-
posed in Congress shall be faithfully exc
cuted by an equitable distribution, which
should be made on the basis contemplated
BY the original deeds and treaties under
which the trust fund was acquired? The
principles OF justice and equality would
require that in the first distribution The old
States should be compensated for the adj
yancements made out OF the common fund
TO the new States and when this equaliZa-
ton has been effected, then that subsequent
distribution should be on the basis OF
equality contemplated in the creation OF
the trusts. Ii is analogous TO the division
OF the estate of decedant who has died
inteState. Where some OF the distributes
have received advancements these must be
brought into Hotchpot. and those who
have received no Announcements must be
made equal before those who have been
advanced can receive anything more. Az
ter that has been done the distribution OF
the residue Of the estate is made on the
principles Of equality.
To effect fair distribution, now. the old
States should receive just equivalent for
the townships which have been given to
each of the new States, and then the resi-
due of the proceeds, as they accrue, should
be divided on the basis OF population,
which is the nearest approximation which
can lie made TO the ratio mentioned in the
original deeds OF cession.
Heretofore the greater portion OF the
fund has been needed to supply the wants
of the Federal Government, and hence
there has been general acquiescence IN
the diversion of the fund. But 1t is no
longer needed, and the trust should now
be executed faithfully"
Reverting to the main subject, there can
not be doubt on the mind OF any one
who las studied the educational status of
the South Of the need, the Indispensable
ness, of Federal aid. Since 1865 every
southern State has adopted a publc-school
system and made most pralseworthy sacri- !
fees for its successful working. The abil- |
ity TO do this has decreased while those to
he educated have increased. The taxes |
are burdensome and the resources are in |
adequate. | have no hesitation in saying |
that the southern States are not able to give |
free and universal education. In the fif- !
teen States where slavery prevailed S12,- |
475,044 were expended last year for school |
purposes, and yet out OF legal white |
school population OF 3,S99,9G1 only 2,215,- |
GA were enrolled in schools, and out of a |
coIored school population of 1903, 257 only |
1874, 709 were enrolled.
llliteT6cy Is fearful peril to our free in |
stituIiOns. In 1880 there were in the |
South 2,9S4,3S7 persons over twenty-one |
years of age who could not write their |
names. In the same States there were H. |!
literate males Of voting age 1,354,974, and |
of that number Virginia furnished 49,
6S4. No candid man will deny that many |
elections, so far as they imply will and |
choice, are farce and travesty on repre- |
sentative institutions. That ignorance OF !
the Voter makes him a prey TO demagogues |
and breeds corruption Is equally undenia- |
bic. The government OF the ignorant is |
disagreement. When intelligence and |
property regained the government in |
South Carolina the bonds OF the State went |
up from 40 cents In the dollar TO 106.
Is an appropriation, carefully guarded, |
10 meet temporary eXigency within the |
puryiew OF the powers OF the Govern |
menty No positive command existing, !
the power must be sought elsewhere. |
Some lind il I'm the obligation TO guarantee |
TO every State republican form OF gov.
eminent. The elective principle would |
seem TO be an essential ingredient of such !
q form, and Lord Coke said the franchise !
was "of high nature, most transcend |
ant thing" but prefer to look elsewhere |
for the authority.
1. The Government has an unbroken re- |
| cord OF legislation encouraging education. |
II there can be an adiudicated question in !
constitutional law, surely this is one.
z. emancipation was the act Of the Gov !
eminent. Citizenship and enfrancbise- |
ment followed. From these acts there il |
a resulting obligation to secure to the new
citizens, suddenly enfranchised, such an |
amount OF education as will enable them
10 discharge intelligently and safely the |
new and responsible duties deyolyed. Mr.. |
winthrop. in his Yorktown address. con-
densed the argument into trujsm
slavery Is but half abolished, enamel
patton is but half completed, while mil
lions OF freemen with votes in their hands
are left tvithouf ahnoat;o,, =, N