Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-12-15
From the Plea for The Oppressed.
Prescription.

The constitution Of Ohio declares " thai no
lGws shall be passed TO prevent the poor of eve
~ township and county in this State from an
equal participation in the schools, academies,
colleges and universities In this State, which
are endowed in whole or in part, from the
revenue arising from donations made by the
United States for the support of colleges and
sehools-and the doors Of said schools, aca-
damies and universities shall be open for the
reception Of scholars, students, and teachers
of every grade, without any distinction or pre-
Jerdnee UhafeUer." Can language be more
explicit or unequivocai?
The law enacted in 1881 declares that
schools shall be open to all white children
residing in any district" We proceed to
state a few facts 10 show what has been the
effect of this demonstrations law. 1. 1t
has deprived several thousand youths Of COM
mon school instruction. 9. Although de-
prived of all benefits arising from school
funds, yet in most places in this State their
property has been taxed for the support of
schools. This has been the case in Cincin-
natl up to the present time. Mr.. John Lew
ia, of Mason, Warren Co., was permitted 10
send TO school until the passage of this law.
He gave timber and helped erect a school
house with the express understanding that
his children might attend school. After the
passage of the law, his children were forbid
den TO go. As an evidence that this law was
the cause Of shutting his children from school,
we might remark, that when there is a sub
s~criPtion school, or no public money to be
appropriated, his children are permitted TO
attend. Mr.. Lewis is worth Sc, 900 or S.
900, yet his property is taxed to school white
child rem. Simon Moody, a colored man
who lives FIVE miles from Chilicothe, is
worth $4,000. He gave $40 at one time to
aid in building a school house. No objec-
lion was made by any one TO his children at
tending school until the law Of 1881. Since
then his children have been deprived Of
schooling. Yet his property is taxed for
school purposes. Again, the operation Of
this law is not merely to prevent colored
youths from attending schools with the whites
hut to prevent the colored people from estab-
fishing schools among themselves. Legis-
lators by enacting such a law, violate the eX-
press provisions of the constitution. The
populace following in the wake of their dis,
tinguished patterns, burn down colofed peo-
pies school houses. If the law makes many vic
late the constitution, surely the people may
trample on the law, for the constitution is the
supreme law. No less than five school hou-
SEES nave been burned to ashes within the
last six years, to prevent colored schools
In some instances, it was not because they
had white teachers. The house was burned
in a settlement in Bass Co., and there never
was a white man employed as a teacher in
ahe settlement. la several other instances,
individuals have slept in their school houses
to defend them. Had they not done this, no
doubt, they would have been destroyed
This was the case in Jackson Co., three
years ago last winter, and in Pike Co., two
years ago last winter.
Within the last twelve years, peaceable,
Industrious, worthy citizens have been driv.
en- from their homes, and their property des-
troyed, for the crime Of wearing skin darker
than their neighbors.
Hundreds were thus wickedly, malicious.
iy and inhumanly deprived of rights, which
scarce a horde Of barbarians on earth would
withhold from man, unless he were iheil
deadly foe. Yet this was done by the gov
srnment of the State, in direct violation oil
that clause Of the United States Constitu-
ton, which guarantees to the citizens of each
State all the privileges and lmmunities Of the
several States. There was scarcely a town
on the Ohio river or southern part Of the o.
bio canal which was not outraged, by en-
forcement Of the law Of 1907 requiring $500
bonds, during the year 1888. Yet it was
the testimony Of the white Inhabitants tina
many Of the colored people, who were tn,
innocent victims Of this outrage, were every
way worthy of confidence.