New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-05-22

VOL. VI. NO. 81.
ciety Issues. nor pay any attention to them Let
at controversial works be kept in separate case
or in separate cases. duly labeled and designated 80
that only those who chose should read them
Who can doubt that great good would thus re-
sclt
But would you admit Catholic. Unitarian Uni
versalist, Mormon, Mahometan aud even Atheist
books in like manner 2 is at once asked We per
ceive the difficulty, and meet it full in the face Yes,
is our answer. Only insist tia: the money Of the
whole People is not taken promote the views Of
any class or sect, and we would let every sect or
class send in its works gratutously and give them
welcome place in every School Library. hide
cent, filthy profane, scurrous. demoralizing works
we would reject of course, but to every eernes,
chaste utterance Of sincere conviction We would
give the courtesy Of hearing, at least OF legal
liberation.
We apprehend that the State (by the fault Of its
Legislation. not OF its State Department. is over
stepping its sphere in attempting 10 prescribe how
much. or rather how little, Religion is allowable in
Popular Education, and that its seeming fear that
works of controversial theology will be read by the
children OF those whose faith is therein assailed is
unwarranted. The Parents, under the guidance Of
such pastors as they choose, are the proper guard
ians of the spiritual well being OF their children :
and it is not 10 be taken for granted that they will
permit the tender minds Of their offspring 10 be
warped by controversial works whose teachings
they deem insidious and pernicious. We would
let then, the believers in any creed supply the va
rious School Libraries gratuitously with such works
as they deem best calculated TO give just idea o.!
their respective tenets, with their reasons for up
holding these tenets; and we have no doubt that a
great increase acknowledge, liberality, mutual char
ity and true piety would result. Until tho Legisla-
ture shal authorize this, however too great circum
spectpn cannot be evnced in keeping eut all works
which can be reasonably objected TO as sectarian-
The Secretary has no power 10 override the choice
Of books by any District-he simply decide that
certain works do while others do not come within
the general rule prescribed by the Legislature and
in the discharge OF this duty he should if possible,
avoid even the appearance Of partially favor
We annex his late letter to the N. y. Observer
which we do not find published in the columns OF
that paper or elsewhere:
STATE OF NV YoRR SEcRErARY's OFFICE,
Depart OF Com Schools. ALBASY April 4, 1876
MEssRs. SIDNEY L. MORSE & Co.-GsltLeraen FL have
received from some unknown hand the New.Yorl OBJ.
of the and 2sh of March last each
communication In reference official letter written
by me In December last presume however | am In
debted TO your kindness for the Observer OF the of
the above dates since find In It IN editorial note ad
dressed me- which from the candor and kindness that
pervsdes Il, claims respectful reply and rearet very
much that should haye been from sny cause whatever
compelled TO defer 1t even for few days. | have
clo,ed 10 your addres, psbet edition of the laws of
Tho stat, relating to Common schools with the rerula
lions of the Department and at page 81 YOU will find
,ha, no., ~ ,hs ,s,,onps r. acsrd n Dir;c,
Libraries which il is now necessary to notice These
adopted previous to my appointment, and have
not deemed It expedient TO make any change have
Intended 10 recognize any publication and proper
To be introduced into the School libraries which was be-
ieved TO come within the rule excluding works i'm
bued with perty politics and those OF secarian charac
ter or of hostility to the Christian religion - nor
under any circumstances while the presenS OF the
State and that regulation remain in force allow work
OF that description to remain in the libraries when the
question is officially brough, before appeal. My