Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania. It is my object, as far as possible, to promote education; and ifI thought any necessity whatever existed for the establishment of a new bureau in connection with the education of the youth of the country I should lean to that side more strongly than I do. But I conceive at this time, and under present circumstances, thIt there is no necessity whatever for the establilshment of a Bureau of Education, to be controlled by the central power here. The sys tems of education throughout the country have been left to State authority. The raising of the revenue for educational purposes, the method of its expenditure, and the system of instruction have all been left entirely with the States. Now, my amendment proposes to leave this question of statistics in reference to the State educational systems to the SecyInterior, where it properly belon, if it belongs to any Dept of the ovemment. It is, as has been said by the Gentfrom Massachusetts, [Mr. Baxss] a part of the sys tem, or should be part of the system, of taking the census. I have not relied solely upon my own judgment in regard to the subject. I have sought information from those who I believe are qualified by experience wisely to advise me how to act in reference to it as a member of the committee from which this bill is reported and I now wish to read a portion of a etter I have received from a distinguished gentleman connected with education in this country, Mr. Frederick A. Packard, upon this subject. He sa 's: 3It is nearly 50 years since I was actively concernedin the public schoolsystemof Massachusetts, and nearly 40 since I cameto resideiii Philadel phia. My connection for several earsWith the direction of Girard College obli 0( me to look with some care into the schools an school booksof the country." " You will perceive that I am not for the new schemereferred to your committee." I have been associated with Mr. Packard and know him well, and I know that he would not pass hisjudgment except upon we'll founded experience. His judgment upon this subject I will read: I “It is very easyto sketch a may ificent schemeof national instruction, be inningwilllhtheinfantschool and terminating in a co ossal university. assigning a fixed term of years.&c., corps of teachers and professorsto each rude and drawmg on the Treasurer of the U.S. at the close of the year for 20 or 40 millions to cover the expense. And it maybe shown, moreover. that such stu endous enterprises have been successful in Ho] and, in France and in Prussia. But we must neverforgot that with them the people depend on the Government.while with us t a Government depends up the people. All our ministers of state an of religion comined cannot oqcn a church npr close a grog shop against the will of the people. Now, there is the judgment of a man who be"? “i I venture to say, is equal to any gentleman here upon this particular subject of education. He has devoted a life time, or half a century, to it, and I trust the House will give his judgment that weight which I feel it should ave. The Gentfrom Massachusetts, [Mr. BaxxsIj if he had examined the substance of this bill, would have seen that it does not propose to teach a single child, white, black, or colored, male orfemale, its a b c’s. It simply proposes that a bureau at an extravagant rate of pay, with an undue number of cler s, shall be established for the purpose of collecting statistics in connection with the education of the children of the country. Now, if any bureau, or any Federal authority over this subject should be established at all, it can be as well done by 2 clerks, as is proposed bym amendment, and it is a thing which a prort ately belongs to the SecyInterior, and should there be placed.