42 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



is not rccogiHzed as for a public use. In contemplation of law it 

 would be taking tbe comuion property of tbe wliole community and 

 banding it over to private parties for their private gain, and con- 

 sequently unlawful. Tbe benefits, if an\', that might flow from it 

 to the public could not support it as legitimate taxation. The rule 

 for such taxation, viz: to aid in establishing manufactures, would 

 appl}' equally to any other business or pursuit which employs capital 

 or labor. 



The objects for which municipal taxes ma}' be assessed, are enum- 

 erated in our statute as follows : 



Sec. 4G. The voters at a legal town meeting may raise the necessary 

 sums for the support of schools and the poor ; making and repairing high- 

 ways, town ways and bridges; purcliasing and fencing burying grounds ; 

 purchasing or building and repairing a hearse and hearse house for the 

 exclusive use of its citizens; and for other necessary town charges. 



Article VIII of the Constitution of the State still further defines the 

 objects for which taxes may be assessed. 



Art. VIII. A general diffusion of the advantages of education being 

 essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people; to 

 promote this important object, the Legislature are authorized, and it shall 

 be their dnty to require, the several towns to make suitable provision at 

 their own expense, for the support and maintenance of public schools; 

 and it shall further be their dnty to encourage and suitably endow, from 

 time to time, as the circumstances of the people may authorize, all 

 academies, colleges, and seminaries of learning within the State ; provided, 

 that no donation, grant or endowment shall at any time be made by tlie 

 Legislature to any literary institution now established, or which may here- 

 after be establisbed, unless, at the time of making snch endowment, the 

 Legislature of the State shall have the right to grant any further powers 

 to alter, limit, or restrain any of the powers vested in, any such literary 

 institntion, as shall be judged necessary to promote the best interests 

 thereof. 



It ma}' be safely stated that to bring a sound education within the 

 reach of all the inhabitants, has been the prime object of Amer- 

 ican government from the very first. It was declared by colonial 

 legislation, and has been reiterated in constitutional provisions to the 

 present day. It has been regarded as an imperative duty of the 

 Government ; and when question has been made concerning it, the 

 question has related not to the existence of the duty, but to its 

 extent. But the question of extent is one of public policy and 

 addresses itself to the Legislature and the people. 



And the tendency on the part of the people has been steadily in 

 the direction of taking upon themselves larger burdens in order to 

 provide more spacious, elegant and convenient houses of instruction, 



