Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-07-26


letter presents the true state of the case, ",
hope the Democratic Press of the State vii
copy it.
MEssRs EDITORs:-The community have
lately been made aware, through sundry pub
locations in some of the city papers, of the
existence Of unpleasant difficulties in the In
stitute fer the Blind. |, myself, rs the Su-
pcrintendent of the Institution, have been
made the object of repeated malignant at
tacBs through the columns of the Republican,
and, as | was sorry to observe, more recently
on the part of the Journal
l hail hoped that the action of the Board
I of Trustees, whatever it might be, would be
received bv all as decisive and as Supersedmg
the necessity of my entering into a newspa-
per controversy, by way of replying to these
unkind notices. The matter, however, has
cone so far, these vituperations have become
/ so bitter, and the determination to keep alive
the excitement appears so manifest, that l
deem it due to the Institution, the public and
myself to present at last fair statement of
the difficulties.
1t is perhaps known, that at the time l came
into the Institution there was opposition man
ifested in some quarters, and a considerable
pills. This however, soon appeared to die
awad entirely, and peace and harmony reigned
until the introduction of political elements in
the manner | am about to name.
On about the LIST or I'd day of July last, was
informed ofasecret combination among the pu
pills, suggested, encouraged, and urged on by
certain citizens Of the place whose object
was my removal from the position of Super
intendent A regular organization for this
purpose, as | am informed on most reliable
authority, was effected among several of the
elder male pupils. The reasons assigned for
their course in prfUate coRpeysQtion among the
leaders OF their movement, were of political
character: one of them remarking that "they
were in fair way now to get Ames remov-
ed" to which it was replied shat if they did
there was danger that the Trustees would
Just put in another old liner" and it was an
swered by another, ''if they do, we viii trot
them through" To this feeling of political
opposition there was in some instances added
personal pique and animosity, one remarking
that had put him to good deal of trouble
to get in and he would put me to as much
trouble to put me out if he could get help
and backing" During the agitation of this
matter in the Institution portion of the male
pupils were in almost daily communication
with their aders and abettOrs in the city.
At the meeting of the Trustees on the 18th
day of July, petition for my removal was
duly presented as previous information led
me to look for, by member of the Board: it
was read and laid on the table.
The discontinued pupils not satisfied with
presenting to the Trustees their petition and
objections therein contained, insisted on pre-
scribing the manner in which the TruS ees
should inform themselves as to their COM
plants and wishes, viz: by calling the schools
together and listening to the personal obec-
tons or complaints of each one against the
erintendent-certainly rather a singular
demand, for The members of an institution of
this character.
have Just returned from a meeting of the
Board of Trustees of Asbury University
During their sitting, it being understood that
some controversy was in existence between
some of the Faculty and certain of the stu
dents, it was proposed to raise Committee
of the Faculty and students, which was
promptly amended by striking out the word
students-the Trustees not thinking proper
that every one of three hundred students
should have the privilege of coming before
them to villify and abuse, or insult the men
whom they had appointed the guardians of
their education.
And the President promptly told the Board
that such course would never be submitted
to while he was at the head of the Insttu-
ton. Even q communication from a student
and that q member of the senior class, IN re-
lation to the same difficulty vas laid on the
table unread. And yet because the whole
school over which am placed was not sum-
moned together at the demand Of these NAL
contents, they think necessary to appeal to
the public through the papers. If each girl
and boy in an institution of this kind is TO be
constituted Judge Of the officers, and arraign
them thus before a Board of Trustees or the
public, whenever in their judgment they err,
who would wish the position? or how could
order and subordination be preserved?
Several of the signers of that petition have
told me that, although they did it voluntrily,
it was at the earnest solicitation of others, and
not because they really desired my removal
| mention this not as applicable to all, but
merely to show how such a thing may he
conducted.
A good portion of the matters of which the
pupils complain were before the Trustees
were duly considered, and estimated at their
full weight and value. There is one matter,
however, in relation to the keys, of which the
Trustees knew nothing. Some time since |
took possession of the keys of both sides of
the house, from the fact that some of the
keys unlocked different doors, thus afIording
grounds for possible trouble, and also for the
reason that they were very liable to be lost
Il L.
Guilty. And as several pupils occupy the
same room, and but one could have the key,
promised, and intended to procure, bolts for
the girls rooms, but after applying to all the
hardware stores in the city, nothing of a suit
able character could be obtained, which, we
suppose, is reason enough for not getting
them. AS for things being stolen, there pro-
baby never was q school of this character
where there was not more or less OF this an
noyiDg kind of depreciation committed
There always has been some ground for
complaint in this respect, both before came
here and since, but the use of keys | know
very well will not remedy it.
OF the complaint made of nocturnal visi-
tors to the girls rooms whether well or i'll
founded | cannot say. ] myself was not at
all convinced when the complaint was made
last winter that there really had been any
such MISUNDERSTANDING it merely to
some mistake or other cause which might
ca ily exist under the circumstances. Those
doors which were supposed to afford the only
facility for such aggression, were immedi-
ately provided with bolts, since which,s ONE
months have elapsed, and have heard no
complaint till saw this in the Journal.
The bylaws of our Institution in proscri-
bling the duties of the Superintendent do not
make it obligatory npon him to teach; indeed
a rule that required it, would of necessity he
very near nudity. 1t would be impossible
for a Superintendent to discharge al his Other
duties and regularly teach one or more class
es 1t is right and proper for the Superin-
tendent to visit the classes. This should
have done mere than did, but for the fact .
the very unpleasant state of feeling that ha
for months existed between the Principa