The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-13
[From, our regular correspondent

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. IL, l845.
The most unjust and injurious assault upon the
system of education, as conducted in this city and
county under the auspices of the State authorities
and the board of controllers, has been made, within
the last few days, by the wing senator, (Mr. Glib
bons,) aided by the majority of the native members
from this county, and all the wing members of the
legislature from the city. The only two democrats in
the last legislature Senators Enese and Folkrod and
three natives, who were democrats, opposed this
assault vigorously but vanly. In order to explain
40 you the authority Of the members from this city
and county in regard to schools, 1t may be ne
'tessary to say that they constituted into what is
called "a county board, for the purpose Of prov-
ding the ways and means to defray the expenses of
the courts, schools, roads, &c. In this city and
county notwithstanding the eminent success of the
common schools, and their perfect organization
notwithstanding the people have rallied about them
with enthusiasm--there few fault-hnders, who
regard the taxes they pay to support our schools,
ms so much money unjustly extracted from them.
The high school, which is splendid institution, and
essentially democratic one, is at the head OF the
system in this county. In this school, the chill
dren Of all parents no matter how poor, are pro-
vided with the means of classical education. The
high school, therefore, the object Of the especial
hatred of our moneyed aristocracy, and those who
oppose the great cause OF UNIVERSAL education.
Hence the wings in the county board have hereto
fore left means untred to embarrass the system,
oS''''
making appropriations to its support. They have
never had hope of eecting their object, until the
native Americans carried their ticket in the county;
and since them their attacks upon the schools have
been renewed. The native members, with three
worthy exceptions, have supported the wings IN
this course and in so doing, have proven how hol-
low have been their professions in favor OF educating
the people. The report Of Senator Gibbons, alluded
to at the commencement Of this letter, IN which all
the wing members, and all the natives but three,
united is filled with the most nsldious assaults up
on the schools and particularly the high school
so long and so admirably managed by the board OF
control, and the various directors in the several
districts The expenses Of these schoolsthe books,
teachers budings-are all assailed in the most plau-
sible and dangerous manner. The hope Is, to ex-
cite the wealthy against these glorious institutions,
and, if possible, to bring back to the days OF the
pauper system, when "the rich" and "the poor"
In our schools were the relative titles Of the porce-
lain and crockery of a republican community
Ii was this odious distinction which fell with
the rise Of the present institution of schools, CIV
ing way not only to a better and more eff
Gent system, but to one more worthy OF the age
and the country we live in. You may be sure,
therefore that the course Of the wings and natives
has excited very general and deep feeling OF nd'g-
nation among the people here. The native members
are now bitterly denounced for their hypocrisy to
the cause they professed to chcrish and the resuk