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answer; but what the answer will be, is by no means so clear. 

 Possibly the impulse may be of an elevating and upward ten- 

 dency ; yet it is much more likely to manifest itself in a dogged 

 determination to preserve their own condition, and drag all 

 above it down to its degraded level. But let the impression be 

 the most favorable that could be desired, we have next to present 

 our scheme of finance. We have now to tell them that their 

 improvement will involve a serious expense and a hberal out- 

 lay, and that it is expected of them to make a voluntary pro- 

 vision for all the extra cost. And we shall no sooner have 

 dropped a hint of the sort, than we shall find that we have 

 alarmed their love of gain, and their honest apprehensions 

 about the due supply of their animal wants and the full grati- 

 fication of their animal propensities, and that having effectu- 

 ally aroused the dominant feelings and affections of the vul- 

 gar mind, our mission of benevolence has come to an utter end. 



If the teachers whom we are instructing at the public ex- 

 pense are to be employed in common schools, as no other pro- 

 vision is made for them, it is of course expected that the de- 

 mands for their superior services are to be met and paid for by 

 tuition fees ; and it is expected also, that they shall be employ- 

 ed as fast as they can be qualified, the foundation being ex- 

 tended, with due perseverance, until every district in the State 

 is supplied. 



The sum of the wages of common school teachers for one 

 year, in this State, is at present about $700,000. I handle the 

 statistics of this subject in round numbers, but with sufficient 

 accuracy for my purpose. Of this sum, $300,000 may be re- 

 garded as endowment, and $400,000 is the amount paid by 

 the rate-bills for tuition. This sum is paid for 540,000 child- 

 ren, or each child pays an average bill of about seventy-five 

 cents. The average stipend paid to the teachers reaches the 

 height of about seventy dollars each in the year; a sum which 

 I make no doubt, is out and out equal to the value of their 



But now it is proposed to send into each district a competent 

 teacher, and I put down his salary at $400, as the lowest 

 amount which should be thought of, if it be seriously intend- 



