NW T -.IONAL A ED ICAT ION. SPEECH OF of 0N, GE 0 RGE F. Ho0aR IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEBRUARY 7, 1871. The House having under consideration the bill population of the country. In 1860 there, (H. I. No. 1326) to establish a system of national were 2,872,111 adult persons unable to read: education- or write, or twenty in every one hundred of AR saidthe adult population. If the percentage had Mr. HOAR said: remained the same —and the Superintendent Mr. SPEAiKER: I desire, at the outset of this of the Census thinks it has largely increased —debate, to reiterate my most emphatic con- there are now 3,680,000 adult persons in this viction that it would be both inexpedient country unable to read and write. In the year and impracticable to take from the States 1842 Horace Mann demonstrated that at least the functions of providing for public educa- thirty per cent. should be added to this estition where they are now administered. The mate of illiteracy in the census from the ten — best education is that which an individual dency of people to overestimate the number derives from himself' Nextto that comes the able to read and write and from that portion education in the family. Next comes that of th.e population who read and write so imadministered and controlled by the districts or perfectly as to be practically illiterate. Thlis, the towns. Not until these fail arise the out of the total population of 88,800,000, necessity and importance of interfering with would make 4,784,000 of what Mr. Mann would this question by the States. The State can- call practically illiterate, now unable to read. not permit the town, the town cannot permit and write. the family, the family cannot permit the child In round numbers, therefore, there are toto refuse to- discharge this duty, a duty not day, out of twenty million of the adult popuonly owed to the children but essential to the lation of this country, five million persons in a welfare of citizen, family, town, and State. So, state of utter ignorance, unable to read the while we claim and avow that it is our pur- Constitution under which they live, unable to. pose not to interfere with any State which will read a newspaper, and unable to derive any discharge this great function, we alto avow knowledge of history, of politics, of science, or and acknowledge that it is our purpose not to of the social condition of their own or other permit any State not to do it. countries by the avenue of education or inI desire in the few minutes I shall occupy struction. Now, sir, where are these personsa to present to this House the overwhelming found? In what States of the Union are they? present necessity of an instant interference by In the sixteen southern States, counting West the national power with the subject of educa- Virginia and Virginia separately, there were,. tion in a large portion of our States and the according to the census of 1860, 1,387,948 constitutional power and the constitutional persons of school age returned as attending duty of Congress to undertake this interference. school against 3,238,586 receiving no kind of The Superintendent of the Census just now instruction whatever. Now, it is the opinion completed thinks the whole population of this of all the best authorities to which I am able country will not fall much short of 38,800,000 to apply that this proportion of illiteracy has persons. According to the census of 1860, been largely increased in the southern States one half of the population was over twenty in consequence of the events of the war. I years of age. Assuming the same ratio for have obtained from the Census Office a table the present census, we may say that there are making comparisons, in this respect, o' the 19,400,000 adults in our country to-day. Every census of 1860 and that of 1870 in seven of year adds about 800,000 persons to the adult the States, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mis sissippi, Norith Carolina, Virginia, and West By that table it appears that the total numVirginia. That table is as follows: her of pupis in all thle schools in these seven States in iS10 was 382,604 between the ages. 4 . yield to the gentleman. j -iMr. DEGENER. The gentleman has said!~, O GAGo co —, ~,that the adult population of the United States _-____ — ~^~. *_-_~_~___ _ _ is about twenty rnillions. I wish to correct him on that point. It is generally considered that I~ mo < x ~ I about two fifths of the whole population form I 0:" — ~5 ~ the adult population of any country. Assum___ ___ ___ l ing that the new census gives a population of forty millions, that reduces the adultpopulation _T 9J o I'd of the United States to sixteen millions. Five Co... C) ~~r millions being illiterate, this makes the percentage of those who cannot read or write about thirty-two per cent., instead of twenty-five per 3- PA | [ tcent. as the gentleman has stated in his arguO CO - ment. wO r|Mr. HOAR. I took the estinmate of the Census Office; and if that of the gentleman ~? from Texas [.Mr. DEGENERP] be correct, it O T -T shows that I have been very careful not to t C overstate the case. Now, I aslk the statesmen._ * tof the American Republic to look this thing p in the face. I desire to make no partisan or bP CI r C con T>i political imputations. There are two States C-,o Co D o 4T "f 5 ~| in this Union, one of them under the control __ of the party to which I belong, one of them,rm 11not under the control of that party, in both -, cto::o — ~-'; of which the popular elections are determined i__ GO C4, co C.:m3 - largely not by the votes of the citizens, but |GO_ * | = by corruption and fraud. Now, is it not true that you have to deal with this fact in the im-?s~ s-~ F- F3J -c S mediate future, and look it in the face, that 3 C') C~n O C.D -3 } | this country is to be ruled in the next years, II _ V in the next generation, by its ignorance and its corruption? I P N O C,-,: o 7 The Senators of sixteen States and ninety | Cjl) CO I: -T~; % F_ Represenltatives are to be sent here by the choice, if choice it can be called, of men who are unable to comprehend the Constitution 186). 1870 1. under which they live, unable to read newsTotal pupils in public schools......... 311,30 178.25 r which they live, unable to ad newsTotal pupils inll private schools....... 71234 191,378 papers, unable to read anl argument, unable to... receive into their minds any of the enlightened Total pupils............................ 382,604 369,635 knowlede which comes flionl the capacity to I reaad. Now, sir, I have obtained from the Bureau parsatively few instances where their parents are of Education a statement of what the States to either wealthy er in a high deg.re intolligont and which I have alluded are undertakin-i g to do self-sacrificing for the good of their offspring. In which I have alluddrunderakother words, the law as it now stands inll our State to remedy this evil, and I propose to ask the carefully and zealously provides fbr the barbarism House to believe with me that instead of any and deasement of' posterity. Our Iublie pross is prosp of improvement in this matter these generally hostile, often bitterly so, to any general prospect of improvement in mand efficient system of popular education. It prefers Statds holdJ out the promise to do worse. This that the massesshoul!d grow up prejudiced andigrnoris the condition of public education at the ant and brutal. Narrow-minded and provincial itself, it anxiously South:' desires to have the coinmunity which suffers firom Public ELsucoaiozn iin the,Sout h. its depraved teachiings still more illiterate, if pos"I. Delaware:,No State supervision, no State sible, than itself. Its blightin infliuences would normal school, no adequate public school law, no I soon come to an end if provision were qnce fully provision for iho education of tlhe colored chil- omade that the rising generation should be educated. Mryarendn.:Like all other vicious despotisres, it fe'ars and dreads "IT. Maryland:'No public schools for colored the enlightenment of the people. The Appeal of tochildren exscept in Baltinore. Only nominal Stt dcV writing ol a propositioi recently maslein thecily supervision. of P1hiladelphia tFo provide for the partial education, "IfI. Virginia: Free-school law recently passed, 1ff. Virginia: Fres-'school law recently pased iicading and writing at least, of every child in that but its workings impeded by want of funds, school- city, says: houses, and qualified teachers; only about one hun- Now, all this sounds well, but it is wild, visiondred schlools in operation at date; no money yet ary, Utopian. The firee schools in Phiiladelphia are co ted, a school ortan t dav be fo monty i already full to overflowing, and since all who desire collected, and schnool tax not available for monthis. "IV. West Virginia: Contemplating destruction to secure education cannot be accommodated, we of th~e already successful school system. "1of the already suceessful school,zsystem. mdsee no necessity for running down and forcing into "V. Kentucky: Recent attempt made by Legis- school-rooms the'maackerels' who will not receive lature to cripple system already in operationiby an education. It lyas been computed tcat there aro an edue'ttion. It has been computed that there are reducing the salary of the superintendent, paying fifty thousand children in Philadelphia who do not no attention to his judicious recommendations; at t ay school, blic or pivate. any of these pesent law is substantially the sme as re t children. vicious and wicked vagabonds as they are, emancipation, and no colored public schools estab- support themselves and their poor parents, and many lished. Even the school tax collected from the col- afflicted brother, sisters, and relations, and if they ar~e tod b3 rwodnother, sistelrs, and reatous ndifte ored people is used for. the support of colored pau- are to e dgged into ti school-roon nd oud pers. out, those whom they support must be provided for VI. Tennessee: Successfully established school at tlo Saise tiae. This would throw upon the State system overthrown, aid provisions of the old'pau- half a million paupers and incur an expense of from oer school' law re'stablished. No normal school. I twenty to fifty miifon dollars. You can lead a horse VII. North Carolina: School system struggling under hostility of sentiment, inadequacy of means, childtorn soom its angry parents and foiced into a so that perimanenee thereof is doubtful. school-room cannot be made to learn. lie will play "VIII. South Carolina: School system m.oder- trua't every day, through the persuasions of parents, ately sucesfl; hOitter hostility manifeste; ho need and claim his services. Educatiohn cannot,Italy successful; bitter hostility rmazifested, Sue- becamdit hlrn ysuaeSufr. cess possible only through continued adherence of b ccamied into children by sausage-stuf'e rs. the colored population. I As to the means ofarousing our people in this State "iX. Georgia: School laws till recently same as to the great imeportance ad necessity of universal before the war; new act recently passed and Stalu education, I can only say tlst isless the General 11 L ~~~~~~~~education,:[' can only say that unless the General superintendent appointed; successful progress ham-,.superintendent opsointed:successful progress h' tysinmuov ernment will act in the premises I can see but pered on acount of wast of flids. little prospect of anything being done in our State "X. Alabama: Sachoolesystem imdperfect in mmly during thie present generation at least. If Congress respects, yet had secured an enrollment of 160,00 in its wisdom will insist that the children of America scholars: ftrire existence of it douhtful. in every State and county and town shall be proXI. Florida: Systen partly orgacize; success vided with generous means of mental culture, and hleretofore limited by inadequate means: heretofore limniteti by inadequate oceans. that moral enlightenment which should always as"XII. Mississippi: School law recently enacted company it, and will devise the ways and iiians companey it, ~andll bevisecue theni thays case teank and, notwithstanding bitter hostility, on the road to whereaby it slall be secured, then in that case I think success; county superintendents appointed, school that beyond a doubt the govering clases in ou tax being collected, &c.: hostility to the system con- Stats, in their jelousy of the Federal Government, fined to the white inhabitants; colored people warm if proiapted by no higher motive, old ake haste aupporters of the system. to provide to e exitent the means for the children "'XIII. Arkansas: Sclhool systemn, in spite of awhiLe'XIII. Arkansas: Sch ool systsm, in spiteof white of the State to receive in a meager way the rudihostility, mnore successful than in most of the south- ments of a common-school education. That would er States. cbe a great gain, and would in time open the way for XIV. Louisiana: School system a failure outside more. IBut in our day, at least, nothing but the fear of New Orleans, owing to hostility of whites to the and distrust of our politicians (of all parties persrovisions for nmixed schools. haps) that the national Government in its wise "XV. Texas: No school system; no school super- beneficence is about to confer the priceless blessings Vision; no iadequate legislation; ino public schools Iof education upon all the children and youth within bitter hostility in the eastern part of the State." our bounds will ever stir our State government to make even an effort in behalf of general, universal Mr. Speaker, I saiglat add to that statement education. Of course I need not say to you that T without education for the masses the future of our the ikct, which I think the gentlemen from en- State, with its different races, antagonisms, and nossee upon this floor will concur in, that there prejudices, will be gloomy indeed, are cosunties in that State to-day in which there Respectfully, yours, truly,IIAIIEOUP LEWIS. is not a single child receiving education of any kiend. In this connection I ask the atten- The census fiar 1870 includes all the schools tion of the Hilouso to the following letter from a of the Freedmen's Bureau, now about closing. distinguished latwyer in Tennessee, giving asn The superintendent of public schools of the account of the school system in that State: Freedmen's Bureau says in his semni-annual MEiafmemIS, TE:cexeSSEt.,.iMnuctry 10, 1871. report: The masses of the children of our State are "' The matsses of these freedmuen are, afrer all, still utterly excluded from the blessings of books and I ignorant. N{early a million and a, half of their chilknowledge and enlightenment, except in lthose coma- dren Iavc never as yet been unacor any instruction. Educational associations, unaided by Government, school system of the State, which h'as existed only will of necessity largely fall off. The States South, by such aid, may remain inoperative for years." as a whole,' awake but slowly to the elevation of Of South Carolina: their lower classes. No one of them is fully prepared arol with funds, buildings, teachers, and actual organi- "Solicitude cts to thefut2ure. —We have only mnc!e zations to sustain these schools; the colored people, a commencement in the work of educating the freed yet in poverty and unacquainted with school insti- people. While I have confidence in the intentions tutions even the inost eleImentary; opposition, latent of the State superintendent to forward his woark by indeed, but still existing. -Who will lead on these every possible mueans, I am fully aware of the futildependent multitudes? Who will guide this mighty ity of all exertion when measured against the ignorcurrent of' awvakened thouglht and aspiration? With ance and stupidity of the county school olficials' sorrowv we anticipate, if' the reports of superintend- and the comparative indifference of our Legislature ents Can be reied on, the closing of hundreds of our to this cause. I therefore confess to anxious foreschool buildings, sending thousands of children, who bodings, seeing no reliable promises for the future bes for continued instruction, to the streets, or what but in the necessarily limited efforts of northern is fatr worse,to squalid, tiegraded homes, to grow up, charitable anti religious associations. These I trust not as props and pillars of society, but its pests." will at least continue to aid the Avery Institl te and Ot Virgilia lie reports) * Shimaw School of Charleston, and the Claflin Univer01, Virginia io reports: s.sity at Orangebur.g, and some few other higlher'"Our general correspondence revea.ls some inr- schools which, it seems to me, must be sustained." portant facts oil this subject, which at the,resena Now, Mr. Speaker, I asi the arteention of time should be well considered. The freeden, ifus to a f pregnant sentenes fro suddenly left to themselves, haveneither the mea s the o to a few pregnant sentelces fiom nor the capacity for carrying on etffciently their own Iorace MIann. Hle says, and it is still more schools; and yet if they fall off there will be sad trte todisappointmlent. T''hey say,'The civil rilghts and toay: sufirage now'given us will be comparatively worth- "The illustrious andl noble band who frarned the less, unlless we andl ourchildrenhavesufficientintel- Constitution of the Union-Washington, Adams, ligence rightly to use these privileges.' It seems to ]Franklin, Jefferson, acladison-who adjusted all the their limited views like abandonment by professed principles which it contains, by the line and the friends at the moment when efforts to rise were plummet, and weighed the words which describe about to be crowned with success. They feel that them in scales so nice as to tremble beneath the dust ~earnest endeavor and loyalty in the performance of of the balance, expended the energies of their mighty their new duties should claim continued favor. minds to perfect an instrument which, before half a " The superintendent, though full of hope, estimates century should pass away, was doomed to be adminthat without continued aid from Government, at istered, controlled, expounded, by men unable to least 10,000 children, who have been the last year at read and write. The power of Congress over all the:school, will now be left destitute, and that as many great social and economical interests of this vast more, who had expected to have entered, will be country; the orbits in which the States are to move.utterly disheartened." around the central body in the system; the functions "General Armstrong writes from Hampton, that of the Executive, who holds in his hands the Army'it is in vain to appeal' (and he speaks fr'om much and the Navy, manages all diplomatic relations with,experience)'to educational societies to do more foreign Powers, and can involve the country at any than they are now doing. In eastern Virginia,' he timne in the horrors of war; and that gr:nd poising.says,'they do not maintain ten common schools in power, the supreme judiciary, appointed to be thae a, colored population of one hundred thousand; all presiding intelligence over the system, to harmonize that has been done is but as a drop in the bucket. its motions and to holdl its attracting and divergent The local patronage of influential white men, or tendencies in equilibrium; all this splendid structure, white and colored united, amounts to nothing in this the vastest and the nicest ever devised by mortals,;section of the State.' is under the control of men who are incapable of "Mr. Percy, of the Freedmen's Bank of Norfolk, reading one word of the language which describes a former superintendent of the American Mission- its framlework and defines its objects and its guards, ary Association schools, writes,'The children are incapable of reading one word of contemporaneous too far advanced to attend schools taught by "native exposition of antecedent history, or of subsequent teachers," and should the northern teachers now re- developments, and therefore ready to mlake it in-:tire from the field the only result we can foresee is clude anything or exclude anything, as their blind a relapse into a condition of intelligence little better passions may dictate. Phmeton was less a fool when than before the schools opened.' he mnounted the chariot to drive the horses of the " The appeal from all quarters is for some national sun, than ourselves if we expect to reach the zenith,system of efficient education." of prosperity and happiness under such guidance." Of Tennessee he reports: I thinlk, Mr. Speaker, that it is unnecessary " From Tennessee we are still obliged to report de- for me to dwell longer on the consideration that,creasing numbers of schools for freedmen. The the case demands prompt, energetic, efficient course pursued by the State authorities, while with- interference of the national power drawing public support from these schools, discoura,gres local friends and hinders the operations of The question, however, presents itself ere, benevolent societies. as everywhere, of the constitutional power of "There has been since January last a loss of 3,421 Conmress to deal with this subject; and I asl pupils, and since July, a year ago, a loss of 104 schools, 326 teachers, and 7,655 pupils. This shows the attention of the House for a few minutes, what may become true in any southern State where while I state the views which I entertain upon a political element, prejudiced against the educa- that I say that it ca be demostrated in the tion of the colored race, is in the majority. The general tone of all correspondence fiom Tennessee light of recent history that to every object of is despondent, betraying much anxiety for the future constitutional effort laid down in the Constiand imploring continued help from the North and tutiom public education is the surest, cheapest, the national Government. A very intelligent gentlenman, not connected with the bureau, writes to us and most desirable path. The Constitution that he'believes the greatest calamity which could clothes Congress with authority to make all Sat the present time befall the colored people of the laws which are necessary to carry into effect State, would be the withdrawal firom their schools of Government aid.'" the foregoing powers, and all others conferred Of North Carolina: by that instrument. Now, can it be doubted " Unless, therefore, the national Government con- that that grant includes the power to be a Gov-:tinues the great work instituted by the bureau, ernment, and to pass all laws which are necessmuch that has been gained will be 1ot, and the friee- sary to accomplish amnd secure that? If Congress may build a post office because I hold in my h1and a similar declaration from the.postal service cannot be conducted with- _M1r. Gladstone, the prime minister of England, out it, if it may build a court-house because iu his able article, published in the Edlinburgh justice cannot be administered without it, can- Review, upon France, Germany, aldcl England. not it build a school-house and educate the citi- Speaking of the preparations which Prussia zens who are to govern the country, because made for this war, he says: "' She sought her the country cannot be governed by the citizens strength in high intelligence. She emanciwithout it? The Constitution not only estab- pated her peasants; she established her system lishes a national Government, but since the of national education." And again he says: two great amendments have been added to': Undoubtedly the conduct of the campaign that instrument it establishes a Government on the German side has given a nmarked triwhich it declares shall be administered by the umph to the cause of systematic popular intelligent voice of every citizen within its boher- education." It was long a contest,: says ders, with certain, and for the purposes of this Sallust, " among mortals, whether strength argument, unimportant exceptions. Now, is of body or power of mind was of the most not the implication clear and direct that if advantage in the military art." But mind hias the Government cannot be administered in a now gained the point in competition withs its constitutional.way, to wit, by the intelligent material partner, its muddy vesture of decay. voice of the people, unless that people is edu- I desire to call the attention of the House cated, that there is in Congress the power of to a very interesting article of one of the wisest providing for that education of the people and most thoughtful of the French public men without which the Government itself cannot of to-day. IM. Emile de Laveleye, in the Fortbe administered in a constitutional way? This nightly lIeviesv. on the causes of French prospublic education is indispensable to the exist- tration and defeat, says: ence of the Government. It is indispensable "Whence comes it that Germany has so rapidly also to the accomplishment of the great consti- and completely overcome France, which is equally tutional scheme of its administration. There- populous, more rich, and more warlike? Every one answers it is because Germany had compulsory fore, of direct logical necessity it becomes the instruction for all. It was said before at Sadowa in constitutional duty of Congress to secure it. 1866, it is not the needle-gun which has conquered, But to each of the enumerated special objects it is the school-master. This is still more true in for which this Union was formed univer 870, as the chassepot was worth incomparably more for which this Union was formed universal than the needle-gun. We cannot declare it too public instruction is an indispensable and ne- loudly: it is ignorance that has lost France. It was cessary means" to form a more perfect union.'" in vain that men like Jules Simon, Pelletan, Dunrin, Jules Favre cried out year after year. "There must The history of the last ten years shows that be millions ior education or France is lost." The wherever ignorance exists there the spirit of Government was deaf. It denied nothing to pleasure, disunion exists. Wherever light and education to luxury, to ostentation. It denied everything to education. The calamities which ignorance is causexist there attachment to the Union existed. ing to France during the war are not to be compared "To establish justice." How can justice to those with which she is menaced in peace. The be established in a constitutional way, when former, cruel as they may be, are transitory; the latter are abiding. every legal and constitutional question involv- "By universal suffrage France has placed the ing human rights is to be determined in the decision of her destinies in the hands of masses who last resort by a jury drawn from the body of are completely incapable of discerning their true interests and still less what is demanded for the the people, unless that jury is drawn from a safety and prosperity of the country. Everywhere body of educated and instructed people? and always, despotism has been the natural fiuit of " To provide for the common defense." ignorance. Let the exampleof France serve at least "To provide for the common defense.. for a lesson to other nations. Nothing is more fatal Mr. Speaker, the history of the last year, the to the emancipation of the lower classes themselves history of the last five years, is full of pregnant than to give them the vote before they have sufficient illustrations of this truth: that army, navy, enlightenment to useit withdiscrimination. Would you establish despotism, either directly by the prescannon, and fortress are weak compared with tige of a great name orindirectly by passing through the strength which lies in the brain of an edu- a stage of anarchy, then give the suffrage to the cated nation. The people of Switzerland, sur- ignorant masses." rounded on all their frontiers by the great mili- I will not undertake to develop further the tary powers of Europe, maintain the strongest argument that provision for public educaproportionate military power on earth at the tion is properly within the scope of that power cheapest expense of any civilized nation. which is charged with providing for the cornAnd it is because, as the highest authorities mon defense. declare, they educate at the public charge Under the other provision, " to provide for every child within their limits. This is not the general welfare," it has been repeatedly the fancy of an enthusiast, or the hobby of a adjudged by the highest judicial tribunals that dreamer; it is the acknowledged and pro- the power to raise money by taxing the people nounced judgment of the greatest authorities was almost unlimited, it being left only to the existing to-day. discretion of Congress. Mr. Lowe, the English chancellor of the Another great object of public care which exchequer, pronounced last autumn that the has also been held by all parties as properly victory of Prussia over France was the victory within the dominion of Congress, is the proof Prussian education over French ignorance. motion of manufactures: and the experience of the past few years is equally pregnant in lawfully accomplish them by this the surest, regard to the relation of public education to the most natural means. manufactures. As I stated to the House the The gentlemen of this House and their'imother day, England found in that great com par- mediate Itepublican predecessors have underison of the manufactures and products of the taken to secure and perfect the democratic world held at London, the world's fair of 1851, republicanism of this country by enacting two thlat out of one hundred grand departments of great constitutionalamenudments. which declare nrechanics al and manufacturing industry she the right of every citizen to take part in the exceeded all the other nations of the world in administration of the Government. This e'xervariety. In 1867, owing to the increase of pub- cise of power imposes upon us the imperative lic education inr Belgium, Switzerland, and duty of completing this work by providing for especially in Prussia, England exceeded in the education of these masses whomrn we have those.sacme departments in but ten; and just enfranchised. The tRepublican who denies tile before the adjournment of this House last constitutional power of Congress to provide for summer England, as a measure of necessary the education of the people is bound by logical relief to her depressed manufacturing indus- necessity to deiny the power of this people to tries, established hter system of universal pub- enact those two great constitutional amendlie education. ments, which cannot be carried into effect withSo in agricuiure. Agriculture has ceased out this education. The man who fincltes frota to be a mere toil of humran muscle, and has this duty abandons the work wihich he has solbecome a competition of science and intel- emnly pledged himselfand the American people ligence. to undertake. If this measure or sorme better TheIn, again, MIr. Speaker, there is the great or kindred measure shall not be adopted the power, unused and neglected so long, which mlembers of the Republican party will go down authorizes and requires Congress to guaranty in history as feeble, timid, base, blind statesto every State a republican governiment. How meni, who undertook the work of emlancipation can a republican government, in the Americanl wvehich thley were incompetent to carry on to constitutional sense, exist unless there exists its final results; as incapable to understand also mental power and intelligence in the peo- the needs and unfit to mold the destinies of a ple whose right to share in its administration great and free people. is secured by the Constitution? Therefore, [ If this is not true the slaveholder is right. If say to those gentlemen on this floor who be- this is not true let us send back the two intellilieve that the idea of a republican government gent gentlemen of a downtrodden race whom involves necessarily the intelligent choice as we have welcom;ed at this session to the floor well as the numerical count of the whole peo- of this House. Unless they and their kindred ple that it is incapable of denial that the are to be educated, tleir place is beneath the security of republican government in a State lash. Either the tyrant, the slave-nmaster, is involves, by logicalnecessity, the securing amd right, or the consistent Republican is bound gtair-antying of the intelligent capacity to ad- to secture, by comipetent education, the capacity Iminister it. You may just as well permit the to take part in the administration of the Govdotrninant party ins a State to put out the eyes ernment to every matn beneath the shadow of of the voter, so that he cannot see his way to its flag. deposit his ballot at the polls, as to permit the n Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is simto blind that intellectual light, more valuable ply to establish by natl ional authority a co m monanid as indispensable to enable the voter to cast school system which shall instruct all children hiis ballot intelligently. of school age in the ordinary knowledge of Therefore, to sum up this constitutional argu- I reading, writing, and arithmetic in those States ment, I declare that universal education is which faiil or reifuse to make such provision by essetitial to the national existence. It is essen- State authority. It does not propose to medtial to the aditinistration of the Government dle with or disturb the existing condition of of this nation by those persons whose consti- things in any State where a competent comtutional privilege and duty it is to administer monu-shool system now exists, or where, withit;. It is also essential to the accomplishment in a reasonlable time hereafter, such a school of the great objects which the Constitution is system may be established by State authority. intended to secure. It is the best cement of Mr. WiELKER. Will the gentleman explain " perfkect union. " The "'general welfare " is who is to be the judge whether a proper sysbest promoted by it. There can be no "' gen- tem of common schools exists in any State? elal welfare" without it. It is the best and Mr. HOARt. I will answer that question in only gutarantee to republican government, and a inoment in stating the general features of is the only security of the "''blessings of lib- the system contemplated by this bill. erty.'' It is strength in war; it is wealth in The bill provides, as I suppose it constitupeace. By it flourish art, tagiiculture, manu- tionally must, for a system which, in the first icetlures, commerce, all that constitute great- instance, apparently covers thte entire Union. iess, all that constitute glory. Surely, then, It provides fIor the assessment of a direct tax, that law-making power which is charged with amounting to fifty cents for each inhabitant the accomplishment of these great ends may of the Uinion, which tax, by the Constitution, must be apportioned among the States accord- M:r. BURCHIAIktD. I should like to know ing to population, though of course it is raised to what State the committee, or the gentleman in the State by taxing the property which it from MIassachusetts, has now found it necesaffects, chiefly real estate, with a large home- sarv to enforce this system. stead exemption of $1,000. It provides fur- Mr. HOAR. I do not think it is worth while ther that whatever surl is raised, the propor- for the gentleman to take up my time by rising tion of each State shall be expended within up to ask questions which I have already fully the State upon which it is assessed. It fur- answered. If the gentleman had listened to ther provides that instead of raising the tax my remarks lie would not have asked the quesby national instrumentalities, each State may, tion; and if he does not choose to listen, he if it elects, raise in its own way the sum which ought not to interrupt mie. is assessed upon it, and pay it into the national Mr. BURCHARtlD. What States does the Treasury; thus following exactly the prece- gentleman refer to? dents of' all or nearly all the national direct Mr. HOAR. The State ofTeninessee as one tax acts which have been passed. It is pro- of the States was referred to by me to-day. It vided further that the act shall not take effect was stated that there were counties in that until the 1st of July, 1872; and if inl the mean State in which not one child was being edutime any State shiall engage to establish a cated. Such a condition of affairs imperative - common-school system for itself, the opera- ly demrands the interposition of the national tion of the act as to that State shall be sus- authority. The State of Texas, as I underpended for the further term of twelve months. stand, has two or three hundred thousand dolI now come to the question of the gen- lars in gold in its treasury set aplart by its tleman from Ohio, [Mr. W\ELKnR.] If at the constitution. for a public-school system, and expiration of twelve months the President of' yet tno public-school system has been estabthe United States is satisfied that a school lished in that State. system reasonably providing for the eduec3tion Now, Mr. Speaker, I do not believe, if we of all the children of the State in these three slould pass this law, that it will ever be necesordinary branches is established and enforced, sary to put it in force in any State of the then the act shall not go into operation in Union. I believe there is no State in the regard to that State at all; or it would be more country, if the alternative were held out to it, correct to say, the nation accepts from the " Educate your people or we shall see that it State the establishment of a common-school is done for you," but would at once establish system in discharge of its proportion of the a school system for itself. tax, just as it might say to Louisiana, " In lieu I am aware the bill may be imperfect; but of $1,000,000, your share of the tax, you what I desire is that Congress shall place itself may contract to build a custom-house at New in a positive position on this question. I wish Orleans of that value." to see it exert its great power in fulfillment of Mr. WELKER. And if the President is of its duty to secure to all the people of the States opinion that there is not such a system in the a republican form of government, not by force State, then the law goes into operation? of bayonets, not at the cannon's mouth, but Mr. HOAR. Yes, sir. by providing to all the people of all the States Mr. WELKER. Then on the decision which a perfect system of public-school instruction. the President may make will depend the oper- Mr. Speaker, I have seen it suggested in ation of this bill. some of the newspapers that this was a scheme Mr. HOAR. He is to decide whether a fact to consolidate power and to destroy or invade exists. On that fact depends the application State rights. What scheme for strengthening of the bill to any particular State. He has the power of the State and for preventing the been often vested with discretion even larger. consolidation of power at Washington is like But I am well aware that this is a large discre- that which seeks to give every State in the tion to be placed anywhere; and only the ter- Union the power and strength which alone rible necessity which is upon us to provide for come from a universally educated people? the instruction of these children would induce This is a scheme, so far as it may be a subject me to trust such a power to any executive offi- of expense to the national Treasury, of whose cer. But it will be remembered-and if this burden my constituents, who have provided matter of detail does not meet the approbation themselves with a system of public instruction of the House it can be remedied by leaving at home, are willing to bear their full share, the matter to be determined by Congress here. so far as may be necessary for the purpose of after-that during the whole period from now furnishing adequate education for other citiuntil the 1st of July, 1873, the whole matter zens of the Republic who are denied such a will remain within the control of Congress. system of public schools. It is incredible that any President would be There is no other purpose in this bill than disposed, it is incredible that any President that which I have stated. I declare solemnly would dare, to impose on any State which that I have not had any partisan, personal, or had established a school system of its own political end to promote in pressing this measany arbitrary system under the national au- ure. I believe on my soul that the country thority. which I love will perish from within if Con gress does not look inr the fice and deal with i money, bycorruption, by treachery, by artifice, this tremcn(dlos evil. Does anybody suppose, 1 and not through education and inrtelligence, to when I say that in sixteen States fi:er fifths of 1 gain his way to power. It is ignorance, it is the children are in the dariness of ignorance, vice, it is cowardice the scheming politician and we should give them the light of knowl- loves to foster, that he rmay secure the ends of edge, that it is for the purpose of crushing the 9 his ambition. In holding out to these impeliberties of those States or destroying their I rial States, now taking their places again as political power by making themn the victims of equals in our national councils, the light of the weatlth and intelligence of any other sec- education, we give them the only means of tioil? No, sir! Education will give them free- securing their own rights and liberties, by and dom tand inldependence ofaction. The corrupt, through which alone the life of the nation can ambitious, self-seeking politician desires by endure. Printed at the Congressional Globe Office.