Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-04-23

did,-to him aud his friends, Mr.. Phillips
snys he rebuked me five year ago. Nine
years ago. published articles and arguments,
in my Common School Journal, vindcating
the rights of colored children to attend our
public schools with whites: and elsewhere, ]
followed up those arguments repeatedly with
lounge and pen.
4. wrote and sent TO the City Solicitor of
Boston an argument against the seperato
colored school in Boston, aud in favor of the
distribution of the colored chldred among
the other schools.
5. The statute of 16i5, ch. 2l4-now eight
years since-was passed after consultation
with me, and with my hearty approval. As
every one knew, its object wns to make
the Common Law certain by statute law I;
and to ensure, beyond contingency, the equal
rights of all the colored children in the State
We oil thought It mad done. II was since
left the Secretnryship, that the intent of the
law has been frustrated by decision of the
Supreme Court; but notwithstanding my gen.
eriI respect for the decisions of that tribu-
nal, hnve never failed to express my dissent
from that particular decision, MS conflicting
both with the spirit of our Constitution aud
with the spirit of Humanity.
9. In my Reports, uniformly stnted the
law to he such ns would confer upon colored
children equal school privileges, in all re-
spects, with white ones, which believe il
did. Where the practice did not conform to
the theory, labored to make il do so, and
when left the Secrotaryslip, we had nearly
succeeded. An omission TO assault and be-
labor the three or four towns that sustained
colorcd schools,,no more proves Indifference
TO the cause of colorcd children, than the
omission 10 name slaves aud slavery in the
Constitution of the United States proves that
minority af its framers were fond and
proud OF slavery. Hostility, not favor, caus-
ed the omission.
But Mr.. Phillips thinks ! ought to have
said something to help the nbolilionists in
the rural DISTRICTS That there were no
colored schools in the rural districts is
sufficient answer to that. Perhaps however,
II had copied the language OF Mr. Phillips
IN his last letter, and filled few pages with \
calling DIR. Wayland, of Brown University,
hnl: pagan aud Judge Mclean of the Su-
premc Court, a Western miscreant' and so
OF the Leading men of all the other dcmomi-
nations, perhaps should have rallied Meth.
odlsis aud Bapiists, aud all the rest, to my
support at once!
z. The statutes of 1913, though intended
to guaranty the same school privileges to col
sored children as TO white ones, did not say
so in express words. IN codifying the school
laws, n; the request Of the Legislature, J adi-
ed commentary, decidratdry Of The intention
aud true Interpretation of The act.
8. So anxiously scrupuous, so sensitively
punclllious have | always been in regard
to this unjnsIl treated class of our fellow.
being, tint never went to inspect schools
in any town or city, where n separation ex-
listed, without making it point to visit the
colored school, so that no ground should
ever he afforded for suspicion OF neglect
by me.
Now, with such documents, reports com
mentarles and printed argument before him,
with such facts happening around him, for
twelve years, leave il for an impartial pub.
lie TO Judge whether, when Mr.. Phillips de-
clnred | had never giren them 'oNE woRD' of
aid in their efforts in behalf of the colnred
school children of the Statc-that smother
ed my conuiciionS S'-prdcticed Systematic and
designed Siienee'-cOnnived by silence, not
to Use n stronger term,' at public 'guiIt'-wns
guilty of serious misconduct in public Of
fice,' &c. &c.-l submit, whether MIR. Phil
lips, with these proofs all around him, some
of them existing in public documents, and
10 be found in every school district in the
State, was himself guiltess of the Offences
so abhorrent TO gentlemen aud Christians.
But he says they had right to expect
would lend their van.' Did MIR. Phillips ev-
er ask himself how many vans, on his prin-
ciples, must lead at the same time I'm
inedaely after my appointment, powerful
body Of sectarians demanded that | should
lead their van,' in turning our schools into
proselyting institutions. Our school system
was connected with all interests aud all in
diydunls, and every unjust or indiscreet man,
who had amy speciality from the bigot to the
pedant, wanted mo TO lead his van.' Under
my solemn responsibility TO the country, to
posterity, aud TO God, did the best knew
how. So far ms Mr. Wendell Phillips is con-
cerned, this is my reward.
On this subject, Mr.. Phillips seems TO sneak
ns though my official life had been n life of
leisure as though could retire to my city
or country residence read the newspapers
and the poets, allow six months for the ges-
tation Of single speeches, and then 20 TO
Faneuil Hall or the State House for their
delivery. During the twelve years of my
Secretaryship, j used sometimes to say, spor-
tiyely though intensely feeling the bitterness
of the sport, that was white slave with.
out any aboliIionists to pity me- Ny ahol-
ition friend was of another type,-one who
could pursue me relentlessly, not only while
| was in office, but for six years after was
out.
On this point, this must suffice. MIR. Phil
lips has blurted out these charges many
times, during many years. He has had op-
poriunity TO say all he has, and all he is.-
Until last month never replied, and now
but twice. Can he, with any pretence of
justice or decency, ever open this subject to
the public ngain,--uness II is TO nsk pardon
OF God and of man for the injustice he has
committed
Mr.: Phillips speaks graciously of recent
act of mine, but in the same breath arrogates
the credit of It TO himselE-that is, to the
criticism of the anti-slayery press and
know OF no criticism, at that time, but his.