New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-11-30
For the Nev-York Tribune.
The School Fund No. 3.

:. = : :
should select, each champion, and literally
offered them field to fight on Without inclina-
ton or authority, as was and am, to enter the
lists in that capacity, l thereupon determined to
retire from the expected representative Of the
Catholics. Alter delaying some days with this
view, | published second letter, still confning
myself to preparing and measuring the ground
None having even yetappearcd, and some ardent
advocates from the opposite side pressing on Cato,
| proceed to ny original design of stating the
case Of the Catholics against the Common School
Socisty Of New-York. The view of the question
which go to present, formed at the commence
nent of Its agitation, unchanged by consequent
discussion, and unaffected feel by admitted sym
pathies with tie complaining party, taken with
exclusive regard to reason and tae Law. With
these only am disposed to maintain my opinion
to these alone Will yield il Butitis only my opin-
ION that IN any even, would be understood to Yield
The cause OF tbs Catholic should rot suffer trom
my error OF inability. The antagonist vino viii
cou6rs himself to these weapons may be assured
of the candor from me which marks the friend of
truth should any, on the contrary, resort to the
commonplace imrertinence and calumay Of Ms
"u.tamous predecessors, he may expect the con-
tempt due its worst foes.
What are the facts In the Common Schools
through eut the STATE, the Bibc, without note
comment i established reading class-book
While all our other sec,s OF Christianity agree in
This principle, rather mods, Of religious in
stru,iion, numerous body OF citizens (the Catho-
cs) dissent iroHl it-not, OF csur,e, rom any OBJ
leclon to the use but only to what they believe TO
ia the abuse of tins sacred book In consequence
they refuse TO subject their children to pervert
Ing instruction or influence, and protest, on con
sccntious grounds For yea 5 they have, in this
CITY, been supporting Free Schools At heir private
expense, while taxed beside to the Common School
Fund Such sacrifices prove their sincerity. Be
that az it may these grounds consecrated in
their validity by boththc State and general consti-
buttons ard tho constitution is the Ultimate rea-
son OF Republics.
Again: The laws regulating our Common
School system discoUntenancc sectArian teaching.
But whar Is secaran teaching, II 1t be not suca 10
eacA Inc religion Of any, or Il common tenet OF the
religions of alt secis IN The community, to ;h" cxcu-
son, formal or rirual, OF any onel In our city
thi- principle is shown to have been carried out
with pccuilarly offensive fdeiy--thuS aggravGtIng
the fundamental objections the religious arrange
rnent of the System. Thus far for the System.
Now for the Society
The organization Of the Public School Scce'y
of the Civ of Newly rt presents an anomaly in
our Common School 5 stem, and indeed in our III
stituiions generally. he officers are IN effect
eligible BY members OF their body, and espon-
-ibe only to themselves for the most important OF
our trusts, namely: the disposition OF the money
and tn. education of the youth of this community.
The Catholics object TO this rs being monopoly,
and OF course dangerous or deleieIiOOs IN proper
ton 10 the public Interests iayoiVed. he persons
enjoying sucA privilege Of 1t be lot rather ptets
roEatyc) constitute what is called a close Corpo-
ration that Is, public association 81 persons,
cont ollabc by external authority, and operating
within and BY itself IN circle-a vicious circle
of responsibility.
Now the principles Of our Government, they
characterize all free Government, which conceive
applicable to the are these: hat all The clt'-
zcns arc entitled to equal operative rights. hat
the governmental right OF taxation laPhes be"ei!t
to the taxed.
From these principles, admitted | suppose, oa
all hands, and the facts above set forth, winch cha!-
ense substantial denial, the conclusion Is ineyIa-
Die that III. Catholics are wrousiuliy aSsrieved
and OF course entitled have these grievances re-
move: orremrdied. Bui can they be rem0uea unless
bv msdityng the system either TO exempt the
Catho!ics from taxation for obnoxious ehiect or
10 exclude all sectaran or religious teaching from
the regular school instruction And II not 10 o2
thus removed, can they be remedIed unless by
substituting for the Public School society our Dis
trct and democratic system OF election aud Control
bv the people-tnuS giving the Catholics TOO
voice in the education et their own children and IN
taxing themselves Tor this purPoSe-or by IN APP
preparation in the Common Fund to be expended
on ,cuool, apart, but subject nevertheless Ia al
things sGCe religion the general disc pine OF the
Common Schools and the direction OF their public
Supcriajendunts
Winch of these alternatives the Catholics de-
icand ar would be content WITH whether any OF
Them. 90 no; undertake 10 affirm. only say
have Sh0,rR-lhat they entitled 10 either oHt
have no doxot they would refer u choice 10 the
LEGISLATURE 10 be made with reference TO the gen
eIal interest and convenience.
promised 10 state The case OF the Cathohcs'
Accordingly ii is statement, not an argument 'nst
| have here given. | thoughtit well IN a question
so confused to put forth The essential positions
AT first in their natural and nakedness, 20 that
they might be each distinctly disputed discussed
and duly deduc ed il found wanting from the
general conclusion. This will account Tor what
an adversary NAV call my assumption OF facts
" here all things have been denied nothing coaid
be proved Aad beside. there will De some econ
ou,y of time and paper. together with the a''yan-
tase of order in adducing the proof only "nen
and where IL IS challenged.
No more do eyade or decline any objections 10
which the claim Of the Catholics may be thought
70 be liable an other principles than those OF risA
whereon have rested il for the present s!iait
,o,;.. Them. however. only SUBJECT to the rule OF
nertiaercg and dscsncy laid downin my predatory
The discussion thus conducted car scarce fail OF
-, - even thiS question OF the