The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-06-04

citizens must prove either, that the State has
no right to instruct her youth, Or that in SO do
ing, she hampers with that freedom of con-
| science guaranteed by the Constitution.
Had the bill submitted to the Legislature be-
come law, what might have been the result?
liz clergyman should have founded a school of
more than twenty-five pupils, in rural dis
trict seven-eighths of the Taxpayer of which
| acknowledged the supremacy of the Pope, he
could have taught his scholars from day to day,
that the 81 Man of Sin" alluded to in the Apoc-
alypse. was the Church OF Rome and no one
could have prevented him drawing the money
from the treasury, for that bill allowed every
school that gave religious instruction, and con-
tanned a certain number of pupils, TO be recog-
nized as entitled to the same privileges as q
State school.
But suppose that law had been passed, set
ting apart the tax collected from Catholic citi-
zens, to the support of Catholic schools, what
would have been the result?
In the district where | reside. the tax, last
year, for the hire ofteachcrs, amounted to about
$780, and though l have not the list now be-
fore me, do not think that more than 500 was
collected from those who would send to a RO-
man Catholic school,
If honest men will calmly look at the school
question: and in each others faces ] believe
that the difficulties that have arisen can be sat-
isfactorily adjusted.
If the agitation which has been commenced
by the injudcious, on both sides of this ques-
ton, continues, the Territory will he distracted,
| crime pest, and famine will be heard eXclaim-
| ing
IS Give me the little children,
Ye good, we rich, We wise,
And let the busy world spin round,
While We shut your idle eyes;
And you judges shall have work,
And you lawyers wag the tongue;
And the jailOr and policeman
Shall be fathers to the young"
ssOh, shame - said true Religion,
sob, shame that this should be!
P take the little cbldren--
Pill take them all TO mes
I'll raise them up with Kindness
From the mire in which they've trod;
Pll teach them WORKS of ble@sing,-
Pm lead them up TO CD"
s.You're not the true relision,'
Said Sect, with flashing eyes;
ssNor thou ~ said another, scowling,
6 Tlou'rt heresy and lies -
ssYou shall have the children,'
saba third, with shout and yell;
sYOu're Autiohrist and brot,
You'd train them up for hell.''
Now the State, sorely puzzled,
To such battle strong,
Exclainls, with voice pity
Oh, friends, you 10 ne wrons!
Oh, cease your bitter wranglng,
For, till you all a, rec,
fear the lille children
WIN plague both You and me-"
The suggestion of your letter. in relation TO
the employment of Il proportion of teachers
that are Catholics, and having steps taken 10
prevent both Catholics and Irotcstants from in
culcatinS any teachings that may be objection
able to either sidc,-i have no doubt will meet
with the hearty concurrence of the people OF
the larger towns
| Having just returned to ST. Paul. after an
| absence of some weeks, have written in great
haste, and as is frequent in such cases, with
great length. This you must excuse.
Respectfully,
r. D. NELL