New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-12
TIE 4HOOL QUESTION

Of your readers TO see in It likewise this correction Of the
missta;ensnts On which founded Il that the
amous cases decided by Secretary Of State had
stence Mr. Morris is Dutch clergyman Of the streess
veracty Mr. Randall must have been imposed upon by
his iufoImsnts His zeal for ,oeraon though very
mendabe was no called for by any in either
Rensselaer, or Washington County. More justice woud
have been done to the Protestant inhabitants Of those
counties If the Secretary had investigated the facts before
issuing paper which might permanently fts,en unde
served stigma future historian will probably search the
public Offices Of State for the purpose Of anhentcatny
facts in relation religious freedom during this
turv and finding this document of Secretafy Randall with
out any correction will naturally conclude that there
have been very ample occasion for It's structures and het
tie school guard,ns in those districts must have been n
tolerant bgots The Hon. seceery, it is presumed, did
intend t. fix such reproaeh upon any class Of his fel
low citizens; but may such be the effect OF vi he has
written ard published with all the solemn form and
thoriy Of his offce' FIAT JUsrtru.
sBGng, Dec. y 1853
THE RBv DR. QUIGLEVs COMPLAINT.
TO The STATE sUPIRISTEYDEST OF COMMON SCHOOLS
The undersigned a resident of Washington County n.
and having pastoral charge in Eason in said county,
desires 70 the public right in respect TO facts alleged in
the complaint a. the Rev. DR. Quigey. Catholic priest
of Schsehiieoke. Rensselaer, county n Y made to the
State Superintendent of Common Schools, and published
generally in tie Aecuer and religious papers in November
last In that complaint is set forth that in most OF
he common schools in portions Of Rensselaer, and Wash
neon counties tho religion and faith OF Catholic children
are nierered With by being compelled to join in prayers
and 20 read aud portions of the version Of the BIZ
be- Of which the Catholic Church disapproves 1t is the
fu conviction % the undersigned that this allegation is
unfoundod deisnatory and entirely unworthy Of credit
and this persuasion is based the following
J. Because il ID inconsistent with the spirit Of toLerai0n
exercised toward Catholics by the inhabitants Of said
counties Generally in the families dissenting from the
Catholic Church. Catholics employed hired men
and women, and they Rerer compiled To attend the
emly prayers, worhp religious meetings of theF EN-
Tho Sah Iha
his PEOPLE this sn which, according To the higher law
Exodus xx lO heads of families should require of them
Furthermore the Catholic families that live in the rural
districts generally occupy houses estates that owned
by the said dissenting families bat they are not only toll
Grated but frequently assisted in various ways by them
TO secure and enjoy The rights and privileges of Catholic
worship such h. conessedy the universal spiritof toera
ton prevailing in reference to Catholics and it Is there
fore incredible that there portions of Rensselaer, aad
Washington counties where in most the common schools
the religion and faith Catholic children inerfered
with, by being compiled to join in prayers and to read
land oomm portions Of the verson OF the Bible, OF which
"the Catholic Church disapproyes
Because the locations districts in said counties
where in most of the common schools Catholic children
compiled to join in prayers, aud to read and commit
portions the dsapproved version Of the Bible cannot be
found. The undersigned was born in Cambridge Wash
ineton County, the north boundary of Rensselaer,
County has resided many years in the place of his BIRTH
has mnsered TO churches situated in both counties has
Travelled them often in all directions, is extensively
acquainted with the inhabitants has personal knowledge
of he exact state of many of the common schools has
made inquiries of intelligent persons ministers and lay
in various sections and yet is not able to designate
the place, in either county, where there is common
school in which Catholic children compelled to read
and portions of King James version Of the Bible.
He has heard Of the person who processes
know where such school can Dc found but the reVer
end complainant himself
g. Because Instances have occurred in the common
schools in said counties where Catholics have been
far induced as 10 have the faith and doctrines of their
Church taught TO their children in school hours by teach
ers who by profession, belonged to dissenting Churches
In District No s. town of Cambridge, Washington County
in the summer of lsj the writer informed by credible
witnesses) the common school teacher, Miss S, ledu
Gated Quaker belief but at that time connected with
the Methodist Church, in compliance with the request OF
Catholic parents directed the studies and heard the reel
taons oftheir pupil of her school in acquiring the
doctrines Catholic Church. in school hours The book
used by the the boy caeohsm approved Of and in
among the people who belong to the pastoral charge of
the Rev DIR. Qugiey.
4 Because the instance of eompulsion specifically de-
sensted by the complainant in which the teacher and
trustees Of school in South Eason jointly
concerned in the of 1852 is gross fabrication
Miss Margaret Clifford, the teacher of sad school, whom
the complainant unscrupuOuy dags before the public
il young lady of the FIRST responsibility, and has no ten
dency whatever in her disposition feelings to ntoler
ance arising from her peculiar religious views or ocelesi
sstica connection She Is not member of any church.
and has not been educated in the faith of any particular
denomination. As her mind Is unbiased her char
She THAI VILLAIN Calleghan the Catholic pupil
whom she is represented by the complainant as having
"ehastised serrey with her frue and then Ho'a0Esty
De6G from her school, for having declined % read
out Of the version of the Bible objected to by Catholics
commenced attending her school Thursday April 81 1885,
that he brought with him Testament Of the version Of
King James printed she believes, by the American
Bible Society," and read out Of IT, without making any OBJ
lection until Monday morning, August 9Th, when he de-
cDed TO read out Of it any more She inquired of him
why he refused read and be gave her satisfactory
for his refusal. He took up Saunders Fourth
lie which the bench and remarked that that
block good enough for him TO read in She then pass
cd him by for the remainder OF the day not requiring him
to read Of the Testament in order that she might
fer with her father TO what she shoad pursue
with the boy. She asked his advice, and he told her
that m the wish Of the boys parents not TO have him
read in the Testament not to oblige compe! him"
The next day, August 9th, be again declined reading
of the Testament and she then asked him If it the
wish Of his parents for him not 10 read lie replied "G
"ke did not kpOr' Other questions which she put 70
him replied 10 very mpertiDentiy. She then gave
him two blows with ferule, for his mpudesce, and not
for his refusing read in the Testament He then arOs
and said profsnely By God If this is the way you are
"sgoDg to me- VIII leave the school" She then told
him 60 which he did and returned more.
She esthes that he said not word to her about the pre-
cep Of his religion or the orders ofhis parents andtha
be declined to read the Testament the plea las
was set forth BY the complainant thai he Catholic
and did not believe in any but the Catholic Bible
She declares that she did consult the Trustees Of the
school but her father who was not one of them that orr
gnay they are in way concerned in the transaction
snd that the only connection which they have with is
that which the complainant has been the instrument of
forming By his representations the State Superin-
tendenf
She also states that there was case of exemption from
the reading OF the Testament objected TO- in her school, at
the time the difficulty with the pupil Caeghan occurred
The facts Of this follows; boy from another
Catholic family commenced attending her school April ls
ls5: and read in the dsapproved Testament with the
other pupis without objection being made by him or his
parents until May 9Th when his sister begun to come
When she entered the school, the parents request by
the gil that their children should not read in the Tesla
meni, sad from that moment the boy read no more in H.
the girl required in single instance 10 do violence
10 her conscience and 90 disregard the preceps her re-
hsion by reading in the Testament objected to by her