Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-11-28

Common Council, SO.
The controversy which has recently sprung up be.
tween the Catholics and the Trustees Of the Public
Schools Of this city has created IRENE adous
ton in all classes ard circles Of society, and called
the attention Of the public TO the necessity of full
and impartial inquiry into the modss opsrdndi Of the
whole system. In connection with this, the Common
Counei, have held several meetings to hear ars--
meats on both sides relative to the merits and de-
merits ofthe whole system. and in conjunction with
several members Of the Legislature elect, and the
School Commits soners, have recently made tour of
visitation and inspection to the whole Of the Public
Schools ia this city and County; which visitation
they completed on Thursday evening last.
On this toar of inspection sent one of our spe.
cia reporters in orderto obtain full and i'm partial
account ofthe whole SYSTEM the statistics finances
Sc, OF the schools, individually and collectively
unbiased either by the trustees, the Commission
ers the Catholics, or the influence any set or sect
whatever. The result Of these labors we commence
laying before readers to-day
The last movement before the Common Council
Immediately preceding these visitations, was the
presentation and reading Of the two following
municati0ns from the antagonist parties, in relation
to the present state of the controversy:-
The Memorial of the Trustees of the New
York Public school society.
u. u
New York Public School Society, respectfully ask
Of the Honorable the Board of Aldermen permission
To lay before them the following statement
During the ecent discussion relative 10 the pub
lie schools, the learned and ingenious advocate of
the Roman Catholic claim, in his remarks before
your honorable body, when called upon 10 produce
Of the books of the Public School Society, from
which he profes 70 make qu.tation, replied in
substance, "that the Trustees had will hin q few
days Withdrawn from his hands the books they ha.
pr 'viously sent him he hoped not for the purpose
N snU hr nj Tho Mt sfns, u,
chdrgrs."
To this most ilberal and unjust in mutation, the
committee would have replied on the spot, but that
they had neglected 10 comply with the rule adopted
by Board in reference to the discussion BY pre-
viously handing in their names.
Without brief detail Of the facts connected with
tempted to be cast by Bishop Hughes on the Trus.
tees, could not but produce impression the
public mind as injurious as il would be unjust.
In the month OF August last, an interview took
place between Bishop Fl ghes and the undersig ned,
having for its object the removal II practicable Of
the alleged objections the part Of the Roman ga
thohcs to the public schools point OF especial
interest 10 The undersigsed was to obtain the CO.
operation Of the Bishop in designating those pas
sages in the school books at which his church took
exception, and accordingly that point was strenu-
ously urged. The Bis1op declined comply ing with
the request, the ground Of his numerous engage
ments very few days subsequent to his inter
view, however, application was made on behalf OF
the BisboY for a set Of books, and the requisitiOn
was promptly responded to. Several weeks eaps-
ed without any further commune alton from the
Bishop, while in this interval it appeared from the
Roman Catholic prints, that the books were en-
ployed for The purpose of preludcing the minds OF
q portion of this community against the public
schools, by reading at public meetings the passages
which he had been assured should be expunged.
After some farther delay, note was addressed ON
behalf the undersigned, to the Bishop, with an en-
qury to his preparation TO meet them Tor the
seen ion Of the work 10 reply 10 this note, Bishop
Hughes expressed his surprise that the undersigned
csuld have expected his cooperation, as he had
never asked for the books with any such view, adj
hitting hoicsrer that he had not in has GppIicafion
assigned any other motics.
| Inc COMMITTEE were at length convinced that no
aid was TO be expected from the Roman Catholics,
in the business OF expurgatOn; they, therefore, pro
| ceeded to effect this object in the manner which
appeared 10 them most efficient
| When their work was nearly completed, finding
that the books still used TO Keep up an excite
ainst the schools, the undersigned again adj
dressed the Bishop stating what measures they had
adopted; notifying him that the books in his pos.
session longer TO be regarded as samples OF
the sc hoo books aud him TO return them;
adding that II he denied At, copies OF the expurgated
| works should Forthwith be transmitted to him.
The only reply this communication was the lasin.
vssiop their fsirness which the undersigned
desire 10 rebut.
| In the protracted controversy which ha, arisen
out ofths school question, the Trustees OF the Public
| School Society have uniformly avoided everything
| which should tend to excite unpleasant feeling in
those whom they have felt II their duty to oppose;
and the teefthat they should Tail in their
| duty TO the Society, and in dse respect 10 them
selves, did they permit gross an insinuation,
that made against them 10 pass uanoticei.
| Al which Is respectfully submitted by
| j SMyra ROGERS.
| Jos Il. COLLINS.
| saAL. y. Mon.
| RIsuoP uuGHss' REPIY THE TRUsrEEs.
| To the Board of aldermen
| In reply TO the communication nj the Public
School Society, the undersigned begs leave TO offer
| the following statements and explanation -
D.ll.- G~L.. Sx-s- - 4. l..
MED that there was any thing in their books 60
Which Catholics corld have any reasonable obiee-
tior.
2 That no other object was ever abe know to- the
unders gnei for the meeting interview last Au-
gust. except a free Interchange Of rissos between
the Committee Of the Public School Society and him.
self
3 That at that interview ne distinctly stated,
| not only his want Of time 20 enter invest
CATION Of the books, but also ether for not
entering on that work.
I. That he did not afterwards, nor does he now
see how the Society should have thought that ex
purgate the object Of his wishing to have CO.
py ri the books.
3. Th1, as soon A. he discovered the impression
of the board committee, be informed them
pr.ssly by letter. that my object IN asking the pc
rusa a the books was TO ascertain on what grounds
IL had be.n asserted in the report Of the Committee
Of the Board Of Assistants that there nothing in
the beeks which Catholics could reasonably object
20.
q That the books were recalled at length. in a
manner which \ could no; understand Otherwise
than as an order % give them up, although as be-
longing to the public, conceived that any citizen
had ith' 20 Inspect them when his object was Of
puilic nature.
That the passage which quoted in my speech
before your honorable BODY, sscribing almost extra
ordinary tall 60 Christ, found in those books
sad unless espuBg-d since 10, presume, still found
there.
:. That my allrsion 70 the withdrawal Of the
book. BY the trustees, was purely accidental and
unprecedented on my part, elected only by Mr..
kctchum's affecting 90 deny that such passage ex-
isted Then ~ was that made the remark of ~hich
the secie'y complain ! found ~ afterwards IN the