The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-14
LOCAL MATTERS

signed Inc memorial to Congress IN layor oil the
public schools of this city. II represents that
there arc now about thirty schools Of this char
acter embracing more than two thousand pupils)
| in successful operation. More schools are re-
CURED; and the wish has become universal that
| the system may be extended To meet the
wants Of the whole community. This cannot be
| done at present, with the limited means Of the
| corporation, and the want is deeply deplorcd
Hundreds are seeking adnittance, who are denied
| only on account Of the want of room and other
| accommodations. Most of the school houses which
are now occupied for this purpose are inconveni-
emf and inappropriate structures, wholly unsuited
| Tor the purposes to which they applied. To
supply to some extent. the deficiencies, the me-
| morialiss invoke the aid of Congress, in such
| way as may be deemed best in carrying out to
completion the system which has been put into
| operation, and which is comforting incalculable
good upon the community. The memoraliss
advert with pleasure to the fact that the National
Legislature has made liberal grants to the States
and Territories for the promotion of the cause Of
popular education; and, in years past, liberal
appropriation Of lands ,oithin this city was made
| by Congress in aid of college in Georgetown;
of one in the vicinity Of this city; and OF cbari-
| ty school in the town of Alexandra. The hope is
INDUCED that the feelings which prompted
| these liberal acts will be displayed in behalf of
the public schools Of this city, where education is
free to all, and the standard Of scholarship is
highly creditabe.
| The menlorialists do not presume to suggest
either the mode the extent Of the aid which they
invoke. They say they satisfied that, in max
ing this appeal to Congress, their peculiar position
will be duly considered, and that such aid will be
afforded will place the public school system on
permanent basis.
Liberal appropriations have been made from
year to year by our corporate authorities to pro-
mote the important object of public school insruc
tion, with the sanction and appreciation of large
majority OF the people. The system is yet in its
infancy, comparatively speaking, and yet, under
the auspices of its devoted and untiring friends,
the results lowing from it have far exceeded the
most sanguine expectations heretofore entertained
| for its success.
The memorial is brief and to the purpose, and
we cannot permit ourselves to doubt, as we fer
vently hope, the appeal to Congress will not be
| made in vain.
| During the ensuing week the pupils Of the pub
| lie schools, more than two thousand of them, of
| both sexes in holiday trim, with banners flying,
and to the sound Of music, will march to the east
front OF the Capitol, and there, before the usual
time of the meeting of Congress, present their
memorial to the committees for the District Of Co.
! umbia.
| MICHIGAN AND HER CONTRIBUTIONS. The patri
otto feelings Of the several States have been mani
tested in their contributions to the Washington
National Monument, now in the course of erection
While they have sent hi:her fine specimens of
granite, marble, limestone, gold bearing quartz,
and other material, they, at the same time, exhibit
evidences of artistic SKILL not only in the designs
upon the surfaces of the blocks, but in the execu-
ton of the work. Individuals, corporations, and
civic and military societies, have been similarly
influenced to testify their love and generation for
the memory of our country's benefactor.
The ast arrival is the contribution from Mich
gan. and which is now exposed for examination
and we may say for admiration--in the rotundo of
the Capitol. A more magnificent specimen of the
mineral treasures cannot, probably, be produced
in any country, and especially in this, so rich in
its several II is block of native copper
from Lake Superior, the superficial dimensions of
which twenty one by thirty five and a half
inches, and it s ten inches thick. Il weighs
twenty-one hundred pounds, and was cut, we
learn, from mass of that material weighing
upwards Of eighty tons. Il presents the sp-
pearance Of pure metal with tho exception
Of on Irregular stratum of dark rock but ths,
| instead Of being defect, contrasts strongly
and favorably with the highly polished eur
face, end shows how inconsiderablc is the adul.
teration. The letters upon IL stand forth in bold
relief and in native silver too, ryeted on the cop
per, michigan, an Emblem Of her trust in tho
Union.'' Between division o. tho words 10 the
armorial design of the State, with the inscription
'sTuEBcR. 81 QuERIs PEsIssuLAM AaGsAM
CReUMsPcE."
A. Harvey, esq, the agent Of the State Of Mich
gan bear this offering, arrived in the city with
il on Tuesday evening
| The GENERAL Assembly OF THE PREsByrEntAS
CHuaeH OF THE UNITED STATES or AMERICA will
meet next Thursday, in the Fourth Presbyterian
Church, Ninth street, Of this city. II will be
opened by a sermon from the Rev. Albert Barnes,
at eleven o'clock on the morning of that day. Up
wards Of two hundred ministers and laymen will
be in attendance from all parts OF the country.
We learn that the Rev. A. Barnes, on the eve.
ming Of the 18th inst will deliver a sermon before
the Union Missionary Society, in the Ninth street
Church.
NArIoSAL THEATRE.-The selection of Pizarro
for Miss Logan's benefit on w edncsday evening
was in come respects unfortunate, unless the
design TO renew the old experiment Of emitting
one Of the principal characters II we're better,
indeed, TO omit "Pizarro" from Pzarro, than 10
subject the part TO perpetual rdculc by placing IL
| in the hands Of Mr.. Owen. II the object were 20
employ the risible faculties of the audience, the
arrangement succeeded admirably but in any
other light il was inoxplicable, and by means
calculated to add 10 the reputation of the manage
ment The roars Of laughter, mingled with Kisses
and halfsuppressed jecrs, must have satisfied all
concerned that il would have been better TO
murder "Pizarro" outright than TO expose him
to the fate which he compelled to en-.
durc The circumstance necessarily married
the effect Of several portions Of Miss Logan's
1 acting ms "Elvira." With much 10 commend
| in her impcrsonation Of the part. there was
much also to condemn The workings Of passion
were occasionally ovcrdonc, especially in the later
scenes, and her defamation sometimes savorcd
not little OF rants but, even with these draw backs,
IL was impossible not TO recognise at many points
| merit, or the germs of merit of high order.
| Fleming as "Rolla," and Bowers as "Alonzo,"
played exccllently. Mics Celia Logan, who ap.
pared ms Cora" was far from equal TO the task
She had the text TO letter. bot delivered il glibly
without feeling effect. The play was put upon
the stage with great completeness, so far me