Year: 1868

in common with those who are here, to
i'm prove their condition.


EDUCATION.


The attention of the General Assembly
is respectfully invited to the report of
the Superintendent of Public instruction, ,
herewith transmitted That officer is dill
igently engaged la his duties. l am sat
lsfed, from my kuo1iedge of his charac-
ter and qualifications, that he Will be able
to put in operation, at an early period, un-
der the sanction OF the General Assembly,
a sy stem OF "schools and means OF educa-
ton " in all respects better and more ex-
tensive than any heretofore in existence
in the State.


The University OF the State is insepara-
bly, connected with the free public schools.
Both should be fostered. Education in
agriculture, mechanics, mining. engineer
ing. and in al the useful arts and sciences,
should be encouraged. Normal instruction
should be provided for al once, that we
may have well educated teachers of our own
for our public schools.


Nearly all the State school fund, the pro-
ceeds for tne most part Of the funds depos-
tied with The State by the general gov
ernment in 1886, has been lost. 1t is
unnecessary to show how it was lost, or
10 dilate upon the advantages thus snatch
ed from us. Regrets are vain for what's past
Let us improve the present, and address
ourselves to the future. We must have Tree
Enbic schools for all the children OF the
State, at whatever cost. This is duty
which can neither be postponed nor evad-
ed So thoroughly am [ impressed with
this duty, and SO earnestly am committed
to every feasible measure to render its full!
performance certain, that but for the as
Ho y, Al
would despair of free popular government
in North Carolina. "Education is the
cheap defence of nations" not only from
without but within. It is that light which
distinguishes refined ard civilized from
barbarian races. It forms and compacts
the oni iy society among men which is
worthy of the name. It touches the earth,
and it blossoms with luxuriance its soil
yields its choicest fruits, its mines open
and pour out their varied treasures, and its
rivers and seas are whitened with COM
merce, which carries with it not only ex-
changeable wealth, but ideas in govern
ment, literature, science and art. 1t is the
only sure basis Of good morals, for without
it the Divine Word, the fountain of all
truth, would be a sealed book. It is the
strongest bulwark that can be erected to
protect the rights OF property. Property
uOluerS are, tlef0lOit, spSCldtlJ 1utcIeStSu
in promoting education. Taxes for such
purpose should be cbeerfully and prompt
ly paid. The affluent and the enlightened
can afford to care in this respect for the
poor and the Ignorant since it is not mere
ly their duty, but their highest interests
are thus best sabserved. But little, if any
of the money expended for education is
sent out of the State. It remains with us,
and while our people are thus enriched
with knowledge, they are not rendered
poorer even in money, as the latter is col
lected from the citizens by one hand of the
State and Immediately disbursed to them
by the other.


The people of the State are anxious that
industrious and worthy immigrants should
come hither and settle among lis. It is a
primary question with all such immigrants
whether in the communities or States III
which they are invited to settle, there are
facilities for educating their children. If
We do not put In operation as good pubic
schools as there are in other portions of the
country, we cannot hope to attract to the
State any considerable number of immi-
grants. They will continue to turn their
sters towards other regions, not more in
yiting than ours, 1t is trne, III climate, soil
aud material resources, but in which they
can secure for their children, at the public
charge, a system of schools to fit them to
become intelligent and useful citizens.


The people of North Carolina have long
been a unit in favor of education. From
the days of Yancey, humphrey, Stanly,
Cameron CASTOR, Caldwell, and others, to
the present. heir enlightened statesmen of
all parties have eDjoined this as the first
duty of the State. | am persuaded that
the purpose to educate the rising genera
tian Is as firmly fixed now rs at any former
period. This is subject on which all can
agree. A rivalry can exist in this respect
which will be generous in its nature, which
will violate no sacred rule Of charity, and
which, honoling those who may eng e. in
it, will confer immeasurable benefits and
blessings on this and future generations.


I recommend, in the most earnest terms,
that the General Assembly during its pre-
sent session provide for general and uni
form system of public schools. The schools
for the white and cOlored children should
be separate, but in other respects there
should be no difference in the character of
the schools or in the provision made to
support them.


The Board Of Education and the Trus-
tees OF the University will doubtless make
reports to the General Assembly at an ear
ly day as to the condition of the education
al interests COnuuSO TO tueNl DOtu Iu6SS
Boards are fully organized, and have tran
sacted some important business.


PROTECTION To LABOR.


Tha Constitution provides that 81 the
General Assembly shall provide, by proper
legislation, for siving to mechanics and la
borers an adequate lien on the subject mat
ter of their labor.


In the conflict always going on between
capital and labor, the latter IS more likely
to suffer than the former first, because
money or capital is power and secondly.
because capital is generally controlled by a
greater degree of intelligence than that
which characterizes labor. Labor can not
afford to combine against capital to enforce
it's rights, for the reason that it can not,
like capital, retire within itself and await
results Both should be protected in such
manner as to prevent either from encroach-
ing on the rights of the other. Contracts
in writing should be encouraged, and
should be strictly enforced. The mechanic
or laborer should be required to perform
his contract with scrupuious fidelity and
on the other hand, no opportunity should
be afforded to the contractor or employer


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