Year: 1865

Educational Letter to the Legislature.


Gentlemen; = Undoubtedly you and the
thoughtful, discerning men OF your several
constituencies have read, ere this, and ponder
edcarefnlly, the recent message of our worthy
Governor. Documents emanating from such
a source, and especially when the Guberna-
tcrial chair is so ably and satisfactorily filed
as now, command the attention and thought
of the wise throughout the Commonwealth
Such State papers always have great potency
either to lift up or to bear down. They can
never be as "water spilled upon the ground
which can not be gathered up" They in
fuence Legislators, and, through them, the
generations.


The great agricultural interests Of our State
win find influences enough at work wisely in
their behalf, and feel sure that these are in
no danger Of being too much cared for, too
wisely encouraged and strengthened.


You will not find the merchants of Maine
dormant in respect to the demands of our
commercial interests, as hope and believe.
There has been waking up in this respect, it
seems to me, during the past few years, and





tion Of this State will be seen to be second to
none in the world in this respect, and when,
by wise and liberal policy, we may step for
ward to the front rank among the States of
America in the development of our resources
y and the exchange of commodities.


~ The people too are saying, unmistakably,
that they are prepared to appreciate, and that
they expect, liberal legislation in behalf Of
their as yet undeveloped, and inexhaustible
manufacturing resources. Every step you can
take in this directi IN, is step for which you
will deserve and receive the piaudits Of your
constituencies. We hayereached point in 4
legislation on this subject where we have sue
cessful experience TO bring forward in testi-
mony to the fact, that it is economy to be lib
eral toward manufacturing corporations, that,
by giving them chance to live, we give life
tothe Industrial energies of great communi-
ties, and animate the populations which in
habit the line of our great rivers and our rail-
ways. aiaG eaEoiLan mW


Nor viii there be wanting at this time, those
to urge the claims of our immediate financial
wants-nor ofa thousand and one other things.
Ol pTSsSHL lupOrtdHce. Anu lnls lS all Well,
and as it should be. F e's
Now, if l shall say that think there is on
subject brought before you for consideration
more worthy of wise and liberal legislation
d than that of seso9 sl4 u isasor
afa2 aso PUBLIC EDUCATION g 10
shall but do what seems to me my duty, and
what, in looking into the future, l am not
afraid shall be ashamed of having done. u8l
More and more thoroughly, as the events OF
our great civil war are revealing to us our
real condition as nation, are the people be-
coming convinced of the absolute necessity
for universal popular intelligence as a conser-
vator of republican liberty. With this we
have "a tower Of strength, to stand foursquare
to all the winds that blow" without it we are
the dupes of designing men, who-like the
leaders OF the present rebellion to
serve an unholy ambition, plunge US into the
vortex of horrid war. ~ aeass119 ias ~


Our State cannot rank with the other States
of the Union, in any respect, for any length
of time, il it does not take care for its COM
mon schools. They underlie everything else,
every other educational institution, and, in
the true sense, every industrial pursuit.


g VIII you abolish the office Of Superinten-
dent OF Common schools and make no wise
81 provision for substitute for the supervision
which this office now has ? Win you delegate
the duties OF this office to some sub-oficer Of
another governmental department, thus say
81 ing, in effect, that you consider the education
of the people and the preservation and per-
iecting of our common school system, matters
of secondary importaRce? s
q This is question which is submitted to you
for your considerations, and do not think it
of minor consequence how it shall be discuss
g ed and passed upon. gei


Maryland, relieved from the incubus of hu-
% man bondage, lifts her voice in tones not to be
mistaken in favor of liberal education for free
people. Louisiana, no sooner throws off the
shackles of the slave, than she proceeds to
make ample provision for the education of her
people. Missouri will no longer labor under
the disadvantages OF the old regime a


Now, will the same year in which Maryland
by her new Free State Constitution, provides
for the appointment by the Governor of a
State Superintendent OF Common schools
who shall during the first session of the Gem
eral Assembly, report a bill for "a uniform
~ system OF free public schools" witness the alb
clifton of that Office, with no suitable indie
pendent substitute, = in the Free State OF
MaineP Nor is this all that Maryland propo-
ses TO do. Her Constitutions also provides
for Board OF Education, and county super
intendents; requires at least six months free
schools each year; creates a school fund Of
six million dollars and provides for the SUP.
port of schools by taxation.


do not myseIf-I say it frankly-belieye
there can be prohtably, any curtsilment in
respect 70 our expenditure for the education
of the youth of our State. believe that this
education does not cost any too much now.
am afraid, since we have a common schoo
system doing at least, partially, its work, W,
are very liable to accept the proposition tina
what was good enough for the fathers is goot
enough for the sons, forgetting that ther,
must be progress, or there will be stagnation
if not death.


The proposition TO establish a State Boart
of Education which has been referred to th,
Committee on Education, looks much more
like the spirit that animates the loyal peopl,
of the nation to-day, than the turning over tbs
management of the public school interests o.
the State, to the partial observance OF a de
partment created to subserye an entirely diff
terent purpose.