Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-05-11
COlOrCd Children Entitled 10 The Benefits
OF Common Schools.

The following Circular issued by the Au-
dtor of State sometime since, was placed In
oiT hands a f,w days ago, aud il is with 10
| small satisfaction that we lIasen TO lay il be-
fore our readers. We ARE appreheusive
that the provisions of the act passed winter
before last, for the establishment of schools
for the education of colorcd persons, aud for
other purposes, more familiarly known as
the act repeating the Black Laws, are not
well understood aud appreciated, eveu by
those who are called upon TO administer the
school laws.
The several propositions laid down by the
Auditor, are fairly aud clearly deducible
from the act itseli--and its connection with
the several acts which il repeals und with
the two provisions which are excepted in the
repeating clause. We are glad to find that
tie Auditor has not, in this particular, sllruuk
from the discharge Of his duty as an exc
cutive officer; but has nobly done his part TO
give efficiency to law whose manifest ten
dency is, to do away with that odious anti
dcnoc1utc species % 'ecisirf.-.i .,.'s''l lte.>-
feIs special pripieges on one class OF citizens
TO the exclusion and-degradatioD of another.
Ii Is gratifying to be informed that the late
Secretary of State concurred with the Audi
tor in his construction OF the law referred
to.--Ohio Standard.
AUDrToR OF STATES OFFICE.
Columbus, February 10, 1850.
Sir: Questions respecting the privileges
of colored persons under our school laws,
and rights to portion of the school funds,
have been frequently submitted to me-
The following is the substance of the an
swe;s which | have given TO these inquiries,
and expresses my opinions on the subject:
Il L..
declares that common school fund Z" shall |
be provided for the education of all the
whiie youths in the State" The property of
black and mulatto persons was exempted
from taxation for school purposes, and in
making the annual enumeration, the ichite
youths only were included so that colored
persons We're excluded under this law from
all the benefits and privileges of the com
mon schools Of the State.
The first section of the " act to authorize
the establishment OF separate schools for tie
education of colored children, aud for other
purposes" passed February 10, 1913, pro-
vides that the trustees of each incorpora-
ted township in this State, aud the trustees,
visitors and directors of schools, or other
officers having authority in the premises, Of
such city and Incorporated town or village
shall be, and they are hereby authorized aud
required respectively, in case they shall not
deem II eXpedient 10 admit the colOred chill
dren residing in any such township, city,
town or village, into the regular common
school therein established, to create one or
more school districts for colored persons in
every such township, city, town, or village,
which district or districts shall include all
the territories thereof"
The sixth section of the act referred TO
declares - flluf tho nnfiflo.I NJ nat to
vide iorihe establishment of common schools
for tho education Of black and nlnlatto per-
sons, passed February 24th, l94S, and the
act to regulate black aud mulatlo persons,
passed January 5th 1904, and the seye-
raj acts TO amend the same, passed Jan
uary 9th, 1907, and February 9th, 1884, and
0R parts Of other acts, so far rs they enforce
any special disabilities, or confer any special
pririieges on account Of color, are kerejy re-
peGled, except the act of the 9th February,
1881, relating TO iuries, aud the act of the
18th March, 1881, for the relief ofthe poor"
This law docs much more than merely
repeal tho act commonly called the /" black
laws" The law shows that It's main object
was TO provide for the education of the col
ored children Of the State. The repeal of
the obnoxious laws was provided for among
The "other. purposes" For the accomplish
nent of the principal objects of the law, the
following propositions are, in my judgment,
!. All laws aud parts Of laws, by which
colored persons Were deprived of the bcne-
his OF the common schools of the State, and
Of share of the school funds raised by
or otherwise, are Absolutely re-
pealed, and colored persons are placed in
regard TO the distribution and benefits of the
school funds upon the same footing with
white persons.
2 II the trustees Of townships, or tho ,