Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-04

As some little interest has been excited on the
subject Of the origin and the orgnators of oGr sJs-
tenn Of Public Schools, it may be proper to state one
or two facts bearing the question, in order that
justice may be done to all concerned.
lst. It is fact that the Rev. j. II. lngraham,
during his residence here in lS47 and l84S endeav
ored to get up an interest on the subject OF free
schools, and Tor that purpose invited several geD-
tIemen to meet at the City Hall, to take into cons
sideration the propriety Of agtatng the question in
public. dozen or more Of these invited persons
did meet at the City Hall, perhaps in the spring Of
ls4S. The writer was present, by invitation, and
participated in the conversational being nothing
more than conversation meeting.
end. At the suggestion Of those who took part
in this meeting and others, the Rev. Mr. Ingraham
delivered public address on the subject of free
public schools, on the It'll of June. lS4S, at the
Methodist Church. After which the Rev. DR.. Nc
Ferrin moved that the Mayor and Aldermen be re-
quested to have Mr.. IDgraham' 3 address published
for the benefit of our citizens. The meeting at the
church adopted the motion. At the meeting of
the Board Of Mayor and Aldermen on the 9Th, (the
ed, and several copies oft are yet in existence.
Although the public mind was at work in favor
OF free schools, the Board of Mayor aud Aldermen
were at loss to know how to act. IT they did any
thing the taxes would have to be increased, and
this they were afraid to do. Every candidate for
Mayor, of whatever party, from the time of the first
agitation Of the subject till now, has been in favor
of public schools. Not an exception can be
found.
After being voted on BY the people in ls4s, and
after the popularity of the question was beyond
all cavi, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen seemed
at a loss to know how to begin. The delay crea.
ted murmuring, and candidates for Aldermen had
to pledge themselves in favor against the contem.
plated schools.
3rd. But practical step was at last taken in the
Board, and Alderman VIM. F. Bang, of the 4th
Ward, offered the following resolution, on the 18th
Of November, 1851:
"RssOlued, By the Mayor and Aldermen of the
city of Nashville, tina. committee of three be APP
pointed, whose duty il shall be to report to the
Board the practicability of commencing, during the
present municipal year, the organisation of a sys-
tenn of Free Schools, such as was contemplated by
the citizens of Nashville, when voting that SUBJ
ject in ls4S."
The resolution was adopted, and Aldermen Bang,
Hume and Eakin, were appointed said committee.
On the 29th Dec, "Ald. Bang" says the record,
chairman Of the select committee on Public Schools,
presented report" &c.
Very many of our citizens will recollect Mr..
Ingrahsms efforts, and the timdity of our munici-
pal authorities. Aid. Hume and Aid. Bang were
elected as pledged friends to Free Public Schools
and SO was the then Mayor and other members of
the Board.
From all of which infer that the credit of orginat-
ing the Public Schools Of Nashville cannot justly Be
attributed te any one man. know that Mr.. Hume
did much-Mr. Ingrsham did much-and others
did much; but to argue that any one man deserves
the honor of being "the founder" Of the system
here, is preposterous SENEX.