Tri-Weekly State Times. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 26, 1854 Page: 2 of 4
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gentleman from Victoria would support
his own amendment, if adopted.]
Mr. STAPP proceeded:
I am willing to set apart two millions
of the public money now lying in the
United States treasury, for the support
of schools and purposes of education, and
I am willing that every dollar shall be
tied up, so that no creditor who contrib-
utes to withhold the money by refusing to
file his release, may ever touch a cent of
it. And I believe we can set it apart, if
we own it, and place it beyond the reach
of the creditors to whom I have referred.
We can pay out of the treasury of the
State the interest upon this sum, and ap-
propriate it to school purposes.
The gentleman says he wishes to avoid
the necessity of taxation. Sir, the State
of Texas has never been overburthened
with taxation. Would the gentleman
from Harris be willing to raise a revenue
by taxation for the purpose of paying
the public debt? There is nota man
here who would agree to it. They would
say, we have the means—a portion in the
treasury of Texas and a portion in the
treasury of the United States. He is
afraid we shall have to raise a school
fund by taxation, and consequently lie
wishes to step in between the public credi-
tors and the money we have in the treas-
ury.
The gentleman speaks of the several
States having school funds; some of
which have invested them in stock, land,
mortgages, and so on. I would ask how
he wants this fund to be appropriated ? I
would inquire if he intended to put this
in banks, or does he intend to use it for
the construction of railroads? I believe
I can see through that proposition; and
it is my opinion that if this measure is
adopted, there will not be a gentleman
in this House who will not see its object,
before the adjournment.
I believe I am as much in favor of a
oommon school system as the gentleman
from Harris, and I believe that I will go
as far as he will in favor of a practicable
and just plan for accomplishing the ob-
ject. Dut I will not go as far as he will
in loaning the money in our treasury for
the purpose of constructing railroads.
Mr. EDWARDS—Perhaps in the
Constitution of the State there is no sen-
tence more full of meaning and¿none more
beautiful and clear in expression, than
the first section of article tenth : "A ge-
neral diffusion of knowledge being essen-
tial to the preservation of the rights and
liberties of the people, it shall be the du-
ty of the legislature of this State to make
suitable provisions for the support and
maintenance of public schools."
The object of this bill is apparent to
every member of this House. It is to
provide a fund by means of which we may
be able to do something towards estab-
lishing schools, and spreading abroad
that intelligence which is the only foun-
dation of Republican Government. I
ask gentlemen if they are well acquainted
with the situation of this State? Are
they aware of its present prospects as
regards the intelligence of the rising ge-
neration ? Throughout the whole broad
extent of the country, from the Sabine
to the Rio Grande, from the Gulf of Mex-
ico to the plains of the North, what pro-
vision has been made for the rising gene-
ration. How many of the children of
the State of Texas, under existing
circumstances, will grow up in the enjoy-
ment of those opportunities and privi-
leges so universally afforded those of our
sister States?
I will venture to say, sir, that not one
child in five of this great and growing
State has opportunity of acquiring even
an ordinary English education. It is
true, they learn tc read and write, many
of them ; but as regards the opportunity
of instruct ion in the most ordinary branch-
es beyond this, there are certainly not
more than one-fourth who enjoy it at the
present time. Read the language of the
(Constitution. If it be true that the gen-
eral diffusion of knowledge is the foun-
dation of our liberties, and essential to
the existence of our government, what
are we to expect from a population thus
growing up in ignorance ?
The bill before the House proposes to
provide the means of taking immediate
steps for establishing a system of educa-
tion, whose benificent influence will be at
once felt throughout the whole extent of
our State.
If the amendment of the gentleman
from Victoria should be adopted, what
would.be the result ? Will there beany
means within our control for providing
for the instruction of the children now
living in this State ?
How would he view the subject as a
father, think you, with that bright-eyed
boy of his, whom I have seen so often in
the hall, were he incapable of giving him
an education ? But there is many a man
in Texas who has a bright-eyed boy, too.
There are many who are interested in
having their sons grow up in intelligence
and virtue, but who have not the means
to send them to school.
Now, what do we propose to do, as rep-
resentatives of the parents of this State?
We propose, sir, to make use of the only
means within our power, to secure to the
children of the State, if not a classical,
at least a good common education.
Will you mock them thus, by setting
aside as an adequate fund, this money
which is tied up in the treasury of the
United States ? Your children ask you
for bread—will you give them a stone ?
What consolation is it to a hungry man,
to tell him that day after to-motrrow lie
may have a plenty to eat, but to-day he
must go without it, and if he is far gone
in starvation, he must die ? The propos-
ed amendment strikes at the very foun-
dation, at the very root of the matter.
It will prevent us from doing what the
people all over the State have been so
long and so anxiously looking for. It
will stamp this State with the brand of
ignorance—it will prove us behind the
age—it will mark us out as fit subjects
for the finger of scorn, which lias been so
long pointed at us. If we neglect to
adopt this policy, what man of intelli-
gence will wish to come here ? Can we
expect the citizens of States counting
their inhabitants by millions, possessing
the means th educate their children, to
immigrate to this country under such cir-
cumstances ? No, sir—they will say
Texas is a great and a rich State, rich as
no State has ever been before her; but
she is behind the age; she has done no-
thing so far for education ; we won't take
our children there; better raise them on
the green prairies of Illinois, or the rag-
ged and barren rocks of New England,
or on the smiling shores of the lovely and
beautiful lakes of New York.
_ I have not often trespassed upon the
attention of this House. But this is a
subject in which I do feel and have ever
felt a great interest. It is one in which,
however contrary it may be to the im-
pressions entertained by many gentlemen
here, my own constituents are deeply and
powerfully interested. There is no part
of the State but needs some such pro-
vision to be made, and ours peculiarly so.
We have a county filled with people from
every part of the Union, from Europe
and Mexico ; and the common school is
the place through which, beyond every
other means, such a population becomes
imbued with Republican feelings.
I have spoken upon this subject, not
only in my own county, but in every part
of the State where I have been, and . I
know the universal feeling which exists
among the people in relation to it. They
want their little boys to know how to read
and write, and that their little girls should
not grow up without being able to write
their names. What opportunity do they
have now to acquire even the rudiments
of knowledge ? The only instruction they
get is in some little log cabin, here and
there, interspersed at remote distances
throughout the country, and then for
only a few months in the year. Thus,
before the year rolls round, they have for-
gotten all they have learned.
The gentleman from Victoria seems to
think that he can look far into the future,
and see deep into the objects of the
| friends of education in this matter. For
: my part, I will freely avow that if this
j fund is set apart, I shall be in favor of
| investing it in public improvements, or in
j some way in which it may foment the
' elements of wealth, now lying dormant
j around us. In any manner in which it
! may be invested, I desire to render it
| perfectly safe. But whether it be invest-
j ed in railroads, or in bank stock, or not
j at all, I want to see it set aside. 1 take
; it for granted that the country wants it
j set aside upon the ground of education
i alone, and the country will have it. Gen-
| ilemen are mistaken if they think that
: the interest of the people on this subject
| will die. Such a thing is not in accord-
| ance with the spirit oí progression which
: characterizes the age. What does expe-
rience teach us in relation to "¿he subject ?
| Even where the people have ticked them-
; selves to support schools, have tliev ever
' diminished their tax i Xcvcq sir. * And
I tell gentlemen here, that if some pro-
vision is not made now for the public edu-
! cation of the rising generation, then will
!h( Slir-.h ÍL vr:i<v* íl<: ¡lila hoon it.
thir State for many a long day. It is
the necessity of to-day, and not of ano-
ther year. It is a necessity for which
every child in the State is now crying,
and for which every parent is looking up
to this legislature with anxious and long-
ing eyes.
I will not longer transgress on the pa-
tience of the House. But I do hope that
the frienda of education, no matter what
they may surmise as to the ulterior ob-
ject of some members, in relation to the
future disposition of this fund, will come
up and pass this bill with an eye to the
cause of education alone. If I knew it
would lie in the treasury as now, utterly
useless so far as regards developing the
boundless resources of the State, I should
still feel as I now feel, and vote as I now
expect to vote, on this all-important, this
vital question.
Mr. WHITE—I am very much grati-
fied to find that there are so many friends
of education here at the present time. It
is true I was somewhat surprised, but I
believe my surprise was equally as great
after hearing the discussion. When I
heard the proposition made to suspend
the rules, in order to take up a bill pro-
viding for education, I thought the Sen-
ate's bill would have been taken up, or
some one relating to that subject.
It is surprising, I say, to see these
friends of education, just at this time,
waking up to the importance of the sub-
ject.
At an early period in tJie session, I of-
fered a bill relating to Education, and I
believe there were three or four offered.
I believe the gentleman who has just ad-
dressed the House is a member of the
committee on education. The only pro-
position, Mr. Speaker, which they have
reported as relating to the subject of ed
ucation, is this bill proposing to set aside
two millions of dollars as a school fund.
Nowr, sir, the Senate has passed a bill,
not only setting aside the two milions,
but also providing a school system. And
I cannot see the necessity of passing a
bill setting aside this two millions discon-
nected with such a system. I never will
give my vote for setting aside any money
to be used in future for school purposes,
unless a system shall be adopted. We
have been paying into the treasury a
school fund for the last eight years, pro-
viding for future generations, and that
too from the hard earnings of the early
settlers, without any benefits. Now, sir,
I want the system adopted in the bill set-
ting the money aside.
It occurs to me, sir, that this money
may just about as well be invested in Uni-
ted States stocks, as in railroads. It is
true that the interest of many gentlemen
might be promoted by using it in that
way; but I doubt very much whether the
interest of the State would be subserved
by exchanging United States stocks for
railroad stocks.
If it is the policy of the country to
adopt a system of education, it would
seem to me the better plan to lay that bill
on the table, and take up the bill of the
Senate, and go to work upon that.
It is further advanced, and could be
passed this session. School bills were
introduced early in the session, and re-
j ferred to the committee on education.
| They remained in possession of the com-
j mittee for more than one month, and have
| been kept back I presume for a certain
purpose.
I am giad that so much interest is dis-
played in the cause of education, and
whether this bill pass or not, I trust we
shall agree upon some system which will
j meet the wants of the State.
! I will remark that I was surprised when
I heard that bill read, that I did not hear
a single word about education in it.
Mr. MARSHALL—1 should like to
say a word. I am a menber of the com-
mittee alluded to, and in answer to the
gentleman from Jackson, (Mr. White,) I
will state that the bill to which he has re-
; ferred has not been kept back for the pur-
pose of sending this forward, but that
, the committee might take advantage of
| all the best suggestions that should be
made on the subject.
Mr. PALMER—I will state further,
¡ that all the different school bills referred
; to that committee were a week ago taken
! UP and a sub-committee was appointed
io draft a hill which should suit the coin-
j mittee. There was great difference of
opinion upon the subject, and it was at i
j the suggestion (¡i as good a friend of ed-
' - I have ever seen in this
this matter, and they wish to report a bill
which they think will be adopted at this
session.
Mr. STOUT suggested to lay this
matter over until the bill drafted by the
sub-committee should come up.
He moved to lay the substitute and
bill on the table, but withdrew it for a
moment at the request of
Mr. PALMER, who said: This bill
provides for setting aside a school fund
and in providing for such a system as
may be established by law; and that from
the first of next January the interest
arising from this fund shall be credited to
the school fund. Suppose that from the
difference of opinion which exists among
us, a school system should not now be
adopted. We w ant the interest annual-
ly arising credited to the school fund. The
idea is to commence now by raising this
fund.
Mr. RANDOLPH said—I will state
that a majority of the committee was op-
posed to either of the bills presented, and
if they had been required to report imme-
diately, they would have reported in fa-
vor of the indefinite postponement of
both the bills.
Some of the sub-committee have been
sick. However, I believe that a bill lias
been prepared, under their supervision.
The motion to lay on the table was re-
newed.
The House refused to lay on the table
—yeas 32, nays 48.
The question being on the adoption of
Mr. Stapp's amendment,
Mr. HALL said: I hope the House
will not pass it, for the reason that it wiU
be interfering with some of the creditors
of Texas. It was by their management
that the clause was placed in the bill
which retains this money in the treasury
of the United States, and I do not wish
in any manner to interfere with their ar-
rangements. The five millions which
they have reserved there is about suffi-
cient to pay the debt according to the
scaled rate, and as they have been instru-
mental in placing that five millions in that
particular position, I am in favor of their
having the full benefit of their manage-
ment. The amendment offered by the
gentleman from Victoria would interfere
with it, and I am therefore opposed to it.
Any measure which maybe introduced,
appropriating any of the money now here
in the treasury of Texas, I may or I may
not support. But I cannot support any
measure interfering with those creditors.
The ayes and noes being called for on
the amendment,
Mr. STOUT said: I do not think we
have anything to do with the fund reserv-
ed in the United States' treasury. It is
reserved there for a certain purpose, and
for that reason I could not vote to appro-
priate it—because we have not got it. 1
therefore vote no.
The amendment was lost—18 yeas, 61
navs.
that tins
was annointed
—■"«•v.v „n,-j ujijMJinicu
i or the purpose of drafting a new bill,
; embracing the better parts of all the bills.
The committee Í1ÍIVP lii kT* f uf 1 t* in '
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1853.
The bill to be entitled "An Act to ap-
propriate and set apart two millions of
dollars as a special school fund," was
read, and the substitute offered by Mr.
Taylor laid on the table.
Mr. DOOLEY said: I hope, Mr.
Speaker, that this question will be dis-
posed of upon its own merits, and not up-
on conjectures as to imaginary causes, or
suspicions as to what course the Legisla-
ture may pursue hereafter. I like to le-
gislate honestly, and in a proper manner:
and act upon questions as they are pre-
sented, upon their own intrinsic merits.
I understand^ the proposition now be-
fore the House, is to set apart two mill-
ions of dollars for school purposes. That,
as I understand it, is the question; and
upon the merits of that question, it ought
to be decided. Who will contend that it
is not our duty to set apart this fund for
this purpose. Let the vote be taken on
the naked proposition as presented, and J
doubt whether there are five gentlemen in
this House who will vote in the negative.
If they do assume the position, and act
upon it, that we should make no provision
for education, or appropriate no funds for
{that purpose, I believe there are very few
I in this 1 louse who will have the hardi-
hood to attempt to justify their course
before ther constituents.
As to the course of argument pursued
¡ by the gentleman from Fannin, (Mr Tay-
Tavlor) on last evening, it was entirely
based upon conjecture. lie saw far into
the future: he knew what was going on
behind the scenes: in his imagination he
could see other bills booming up in the
distance. Hence he endeavored to fore-
stal the action of this House. upon a me-
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Ford, John S. Tri-Weekly State Times. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 26, 1854, newspaper, January 26, 1854; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth181734/m1/2/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.