Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-17
EDUCATION 0NASAFEGUARD
-, JACKsON'S STRONG PLEA
- FOR THE BLAIR BILL.

-, ouoted in support OF the Con-
"'s..tionnlity OF the Measure var.
-, secs the Hand of Capitalization
afpawer in the PrOpositiOu-Ihe Nse'-
ipeof the south.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-kn the senate
!, ssv fine education bill was taken up.
NJ Jackson said that inasmuch as the
design Of the measure was MOTTO es1aohsh
.s,ional schools, but to give temporary
IA n tho States Tor purposes of educa-
-,ion he would support it. The chief OBJ
;ootion 10 the bill, he said, was that 1t
-os unconstitutional. If this objection
,gora we'll founded further discussion
nould he useless, and the States now hav-
no large illiteracy would have to con-
and alone with that great evil. If
me- bin permitted any control by the
general government over the schools OF
be state be Mr.. Jackson) would oppose
# Neither did it compel State TO take
money. Each State could decide for
tsaH whether to take money or not.
Instead of tending to consolidation OF
nower In tine general government 1t
would tend TO build up the strength and
mower of the separate States. The oblec-
Inn that Congress had not constitutional
1oWer to appropriate public funds TO pur-
noses of education w2s obsolete, one long
since made but abandoned as soon as
M made by the obJectOrs themselves.
THE HISTORICAL SIDE.
Mr.. jackson took up and discussed the
historical relations of the question of ma
uonal aid to education, showing that
81 millions had from time to time been APP
proprSated by Congress for education in
<M n = pf Iona tho nFnOHaHz
# Of the sale of public lands that could he
appied to education, as had been insisted
upon by the opponents of the measure.
There was no distinction between the
money in the Treasury which came from
public lands, and that which came from
other sources Ofrevenue. None OF the great
authorities of the government had ever
seen any such distinction. Mr.. jackson
Agas willing so stand IN this matter on
,athe faith of the fathers" What then
was ''the faith OF the tathersp Thomas
Jefferson in theory denied the right OF
Congress to appropriate money for pur-
poses such as the purchase of Louisiana
Territory. but waived his theory out of
consideration for the general welfare, APP
proved the appropriation and executed
the provisions of the act authorizing the
purchase.
FLoRIDA's PURCHASE.
Tt was that measure that led up 70 the
# Subsequent purchase of Florida from
Spain in further advancement of the gen.
eTal welfare. President Jefferson himself,
IN discussing the objects to which the
treasury surplus might be applied, emu
merated education" as one Of
tboso objects. Mr.. Madison in
1871 opposed as unconstitutional the char
tering Of United States bank, but in
1917 as President approved bill rechar-
fa-rs- has-E ufo al III 1l1d
the establishment of a great national
University to be supported out OF the pub
81 lie moneys. Mr.. jackson also cited in-
stances from the state papers OF Presi-
dents John Adams, James Monroe, John
81 Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson aud
others, and also from those Of Hamilton
ana other authorities, to show that since
81 the foundation Of the government deserv-
ing objects that were not purely local,
blt were national in their character, were
regarded as mt objects to be aided by ap-
propriatiOns OF public moneys.
RECOGNITION OF THE PRINCIPLE.
This principle had been recognized
nom the time Of the appropriation in aid
"A Of the San Domingo sufferers in 1792 to
the appropriation Of 1000, 600 IN aid Of
the New Orleans Exposition. A greater
strength and glory OF the United States
were to be secured by the increased
N strength Of the several States, and the
more harmonious was the development,
educational and otherwise, of the several
states, the greater certainty that we would
make an ultimate success OF the
great political experiment undertaken by
tas republic against the former expert
ence OF history. Mr.. jackson dwelt briefly
ou the question Of suffrage i'll the South,
aud the Indispensable necessity of the
~ aducation of voters everywhere, in order
t4a. the suffrage may not be corrupted.
A corrupt suffrage he would regard as the
most fatal Of all tho misfortunes that
81 could effect the republic, and as sure as
nght followed day we would reach such
E suffrage II we did not secure Intelligence
ln our voters.
raE GOVERNMENTS POWER.
Tit was constitutional for the general
government TO do anything whatever in
~ ot a measure which was beyond in
Wsi1ual or state control, surely the edu-
gtllQa Of tlOsc VINO, by their suffrage,
we're TO exercise the governmental power
lAe republic nas constitutional. Edu-
o4lou ought 30 be as free as air, and Mr..
JACKSON would invoke no narrow, tech.
81 h.-a' and long abandoned construction OF
constitution on a measure to aid
saacation. ibis measure might fail, but
~. Jackson esteemed il great personal
g.lliiese as well as high and patriOuc
uo,F,t 70 give II his support, for be was i'm
5ased with the conviction that
we would provide against
.a.Eefs which no free government had
survived we must take wiser pre-
tsons than any nation haq. ever yet
3 aaeh by dihusing far and vile among
I people that intelligence Which alone
eIA constitute tie safeguard and pr0teo.
"'a Oh our political institution.
Mr.. MAXEY's OPPOSITION.
Ni. MaNey followed, taking q ground Id
4 rlo- lioo to MIR. Jackson upon the ques-
un 'l iha constitutiOnality Of the Diil.
QsnlIed the right Of CONGRESS 10
Y education the proceeds OF the
'Ic domain because that Was property
'olklng to the whole people. aud was,
tA express grant In the constitution,
,.le SUBJECT 70 the disposition of Co..
s' chad several tunes favored sucn
@TH,s ,sPoslton Of such proceeds. Outside
tot general welfare clause. he added
s-at tne pending bill bad contossedly no
59ola Whatever IN the constitution. He
ueu 70 no man in his regard for
NO"Iloh but be would never con-
g, 70 transfer to the general
M tInment the duty Of a State, especi-
.i as tnere was no warrant In The con-
a1.ion Tor this departure in government
10y he admitted The force Of the
enent made by the friends OF the hill
~. we Wh0ec0untry ought to assist in
N. eApense Of educating the coored peo-
Ms giu ~ order 10 carry out that idea