The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-04
THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL QUESTION IN BOSTON.

veBt-Members Charged with Dtsorderly
C0nduct-Committce OF investigation APP
pointed-TwO Sides or the Story.
The Legislature OF Massachusetts days since ap
pointed committee to visit investigate the Catholic
schools and converts Of the Commonwealth, for the
purpose of enghNning the public upon the internal
arrangements of those institutions. Accordingly on
the 26th ut the members Of the committee accompa-
MED by other individuals repaired to the
at Roxbury, which is kept by Sisters Of Charity Of
the order of Notre Dame. OF their proceedings while
there the Boston Advertiser Of the 3lst ult tells the
following STORY
On the Dedham turnpike, Ia Roxbury, just beyond
Oak street, there ordinary house in which school
is kept by sevea ladies' Catholic Sisters of Charity y
members of the order OF Notre Dame They have twelve
pupils, young LADIES' between the ages Of ten and
hftten all Americans by birth. These nineteen ladies
form The whole household, with the exception of
Irshnan who is employed about he premises as a ser
vaLt The house located upon thorou ghfare much
favena y net sesaaea IN any way from public gaze
does have any Of tue characteristics of monastic
ipsttutep The ladies' who reside there teachers
highly cultivated ana accomplished, and as much en-
titled to respect and courtesy in the Etate Their
pupils ks wise respectable and there no. the least
evidence their atsnt school forced that
they subjected to any rigorous discipline or obliged
to undergo any sort Of i'll treatment.
Such being the character OF this establishment, the
nineteen ladies' residing therein surprised last
Monday afternoon to see two omnibuses drive to the
coors wded with passengers, who alights AMI In
head Of the establishment the spokesman Of the party
informs her that the crowd ia committee appointed
by the Legislature to examine the house. No noaHca
ZION Of the visit to be expected has been upon the
memsers Of the party on I sir own assnUay W.
have already that the committee actually appoint
ed by the IL gslAture consists Of but members
We unate to state the number OF the party profess
ing TO act thit committee this occason but fro
the fact that t~slve omnibuses which appesr
ed TO be fuli required for their transport
only estimate their number at twenty four There may
ha hA2n f0 nfpT nr laeu
Nineteen ladies' twelve of them than fifteen years
OF age could not Of course oppose any eectual obstacle
to the eDtrsnce OF twenty four full grown into
common house, had the ladies knswn che rights
guaranteed them by the constitution and laws Of Mas
T ThIse's az" aad 'asy been 70 those
mus. call Members Of the Legislature by this title
roamed the whole house from attic to cellar. No
their veilant search No part Of the house enough
sacred enough protested by respec for the
couresies OF civilized e to be spared in the examnA
ton The ladies' dresses hanging in their wirdrobes
were tossed over The party invaded the chapel aud
show ed their respectas Professionals, we presumefor
the the Goa whom all Christians worship, by talking
loudly with their hats on, while this ladies' snrank IN
terror at the isscratisn Of spot which they believe
hallowed.
While in the chapel the ladies declined holding any
convtrsat,on with their prosecutors; but in another
part OF tbs house the principal expressed her perfect
willing ness to answer any questions propoundei by
"the committee" One Of "the gentlemen accordingly
pats her uIectionatry the back with hand
over the rosary suspended round her neck with the
other asks her Il she is content with her situation
whether she leave when she psasesS The young
ladies were Of course subjected to questions even
ruee-whether there are any boys boarding in tho
tabshment-wbst pun SD ments they suffer for INSIDE
peanors ~ scarcely necessary to describe such
what the scene must have been.
The examining party OF course, had everything
had to the extent Of their pleasure they
took ther leave. 10 scarcely necessary to say that
"they !ound-no matter whst-it was not that they
sought'-unless the object Of the visit simply
Clark OF the expense Of tie State, in which the
object vac doubtless attained There nuns i'm
INJURED alive in contracted cells, any evidences Of
abuse of any calling for legislative Interference or
Now we ask the rejecting men ,nd women Of Msssa-
chutets-we even appeal to the cSndor Of the eighty
thousand voters who put the present administration in
poweris such record as the above at to form page
in the history Of the free and enlightened Common
wealth Of Massa husetts in the Nineteenth century,
Make any allowance ycu please for exsgseratons in the
story which have been csused by the natural fears
OF the terrified Witnesses, and does the record stand
fair and cears IL such the treatment that
women ought to receiver Is tuch the behavior OF gen
stories that ave Of the insults and
OF unlicensed soldiers in time OF
cal acquaintance with the unssmsntai principles OF
goyernmeLt The bill Of rights, which Is ths first
part OF the constitution Of Massachusetts, contains this
article
.Evety subject has right to be secure from all
reasonable seizures of his person, his houses his pa
psrs, and all hts possessions. All warrants therefore,
are contrary to this right If the foundation OF
them bs rot previously supported by oath Affirmation
aud II the order, in the warrant to civil officer, to
m,ie search In suspected places, OF TO arrest
more suspected persons to seize their property, be
not accompanied with special designation Of the per-
sons or objects Of search, arrest or seizure and no
warrant ought to be issued but cases. and with the
foImates, prescribed by the laws"
II would ,. suIeIauous to point out how this arti
recorded. What the warrant of this committee Of
seven, swelling its own numbers by its own scts No
or sfrmstion and drawn mp with regard TO formal
tiles either prescribed BY law or otherwise.
In like the Constitution Of the United States
guarantees that The right Of the people to be secure
In their persons, houses, papers and effects against
reasonable ches and seizures shall not be yioated
snd no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause,
supported by oath Affirmation, and particularly de-
ssiibng the place to be searched and the persons or
things TO be seized"
Who is safe from such unreasonable searches as that
Of Monday lasf What house Is there In the STATE oc.
cupied wholly BY defenceless women that may not be
the next scene for frohc Of party Of rude Let
the constituents OF any Of the gentlemen composing this
committee consider how they would relish aud Invasion
their families by such inquisitorial parties this.
The revolution was fought In VAN If the great Anne T.
can Prnepes OF private right and domestic security are
now 10 be set at nought.
Nearly all the Boston daily newspapers, with the ex
cption Of the Bee have remarked in terms OF sewers
upon the alleged conduct Of the individuals who
visited the school in RoIbury. The Atlas eimates ths
number Of vstsrs TO have been seventeenth, Of then
numbers Of the Legislature. Its hat is az follows
COMMITTEE ON SuSSNRns
senators-H hon. Streeter Evans OF kssex Hon GILBERT
Pillsbury Of Boston. Rspresenta!iv es-Mr John Lat
teheld, Of Foxboro; fr. Joseph Hss OF Bo, ton; Mr.
Nathan Ring OF Mlodleboro.
yoLrSrrTRs-AIL MEMBERS OF rHg LEGISLATURE
Hon. Il Carpenter, OF Norfolk; JerAhmeel 9. Pratt,
OF Roxbury; Geo y. Williams, of Boston; A. f. Stetson
Of South Scituste Abper Holbrook, OF weJmoath
Jers mah Miller OF Luelow; Vim. b. May, CT Rox bury
Joseph H. streeter, OF RoKbury; :. A. Bradbury, Of
Boston; W. r. Penniuan, OF Braintrse; g. D. War.
Iiner, Of West Springfield; John W. Laugion o. will
brshAm.
Total Members OF the COMMITTEES, 6; Volunteers,
IL; number OF omnibuses q caterer 10 the Committees
school, 10
on saturday the article from the Adrersey, read
In both branches Of the Legislature and pronounced by
the members Of the committee 10 be false In nearly
every particular, and joint committee to Investigate
the matter sppoirted, who we're instructed 10
quire Into ell the charges made by the ddteris The
mttec OF Messrs Carpenter and Perss
OF Norok the part Of the senate, and Messrs Goa
pin, khs Wilder Taft and Fitch IA the House