Part 32 (1/2)

6. General Jackson and the Democratic party had opposed the distribution of the proceeds from the sale of national public lands as a fixed rule in the policy of the government, but in his last administration many millions of dollars had acc.u.mulated in the Federal treasury, for which the general government had no immediate use. In 1837 this fund was divided out to all the States except Virginia (that Commonwealth refusing her share).

North Carolina's proportion amounted to one and a half million dollars.

7. This fund, together with the amounts realized from the sale of swamp lands belonging to the State, and certain shares of bank stock, also the property of North Carolina, was set aside and invested for the benefit of the public schools of the State, and was known as the ”School Fund.”

8. It was not until the year 1840 that any effective legislation was had for the establishment of the free educational system. By an act of the Legislature of 1836, the Governor and three others, by him to be appointed, were const.i.tuted the ”Literary Board.”

In 1839 an act was pa.s.sed to divide the counties into school districts. It left to each county the option of schools or no schools. It showed considerable advance in popular wisdom, that all but one of the counties decided to have schools and to be taxed for the election of such buildings as were necessary in the work.

[NOTE--The Presidential campaign of 1840 was an unusually exciting one. The Whig nominee, William Henry Harrison, was charged by his opponents as having lived in a ”log cabin,” with nothing to drink but ”hard cider.” His friends made good use of these charges. ”Hard Cider” became a political watchword, and in the numerous Whig processions a ”log cabin” on wheels occupied the most prominent and honored position. The ”Log cabin Campaign”

will long be remembered. President Harrison died within one month after his inauguration. His last words were, ”The principles of the government; I wish them carried out. I ask nothing more.”]

9. Not in the General a.s.sembly alone was the subject of education receiving unusual attention. The Baptists, in 1826, established a high school on the farm of Colonel Calvin Jones, in Wake county. A little later it was changed in name and became Wake Forest College. The Presbyterians, in 1838, founded Davidson College, in Mecklenburg. These denominational inst.i.tutions became n.o.ble adjuncts to the University in affording opportunities for liberal culture in our own borders.

10. Thus, at last, the ”old-field schools” were superseded as better inst.i.tutions took their place. The old-fas.h.i.+oned country teacher, who pa.s.sed from house to house for subsistence, and was wholly dependent upon the feelings or caprices of one or two employers, gradually disappeared as academies and common schools multiplied.

11. The Bingham School in Orange, the Lovejoy School in Raleigh, the Bobbitt School in Franklin, the Caldwell Inst.i.tute in Greensboro, Trinity College near Raleigh, the Donaldson Academy in Fayetteville, and numerous other excellent male academies greatly added to the number of well-informed and useful men.

1842.

12. The Salem Seminary, so widely renowned for the host of cultured women sent out to every portion of the South, at last found a worthy rival in St. Mary's School. This inst.i.tution was established at Raleigh, in 1842, under the patronage of Bishop Ives and the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Rev. Dr.

Aldert Smedes, who soon presided over its fortunes, was singularly fitted for such place; for in no other inst.i.tution in America was intellectual training more largely supplemented by the moral and social graces. These popular inst.i.tutions were soon reinforced by the excellent Methodist Female College at Greensboro.

13. Presbyterian's, a few years later, had a first-rate school for the education of their daughters in ”Edgeworth,” a n.o.ble seminary established by Governor Morehead at Greensboro.

QUESTIONS.

1. What is this chapter about? What laws has been enacted concert concerning education?

2. Why had incorporation been refused to the ”Queen's Museum”?

3. What is said of the schools at Charlotte and Davidson?

4. What clause was in the first State Const.i.tution? How had the intent of this clause been carried out?

5. What were some of the views in regard to popular education?

What men had advocated the provisions of the Const.i.tution?

6. What addition to the School Fund did North Carolina receive in 1837?

7. How was the fund further increased?

8. Can you mention the legislation at this period affecting school matters?

9. What denominational schools were founded about this time?

10. What is said of the ”old-field schools”?

11. Where were the leading male schools, and what is said of the usefulness?