Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-07-19
For the Daily Patriot.7s
Free Schools of Nashville.
10. is.

The whole fabric of civilization rests on the
sustaining of the majesty of the laws of God
and man. and the laws of God enjoin obedi
enca t. the laws of man. When DR.. Dndd
was arraigned in England for forgery. it was
his first and only offence. no one believed he
intended to cheat any one. He intend d TO
pay the demand himself when it fell due.
Yet he had violated the law. The loss of his
neck was the penalty. The nation wept
while it said: The majesty of the law must
be sustained, and high places are no sanctu-'
airy for crime, The people saw that their
rights were secure when crime could lind no
protection from penalty, and the Empire felt
its influence. 1t is to the justice and faithful
execution of her laws, and the consequent
security and love Other people, that England
owes her civilization, her wealth and her Sc
curity. On the other hand, what can have
more demoralizing influence on the young.
than the cOntemptuous disregard for law by
the very persons who demand obedience from
others. What can sooner destroy all sense
of Justice in the artless mind of child than
to be whipped for whispering in school. or
laughing too loud Ga merit rather than
crime) in the play ground, by the very man
that they see daily taking the instruction that
belongs to them, and in defiance of law Civ
ing it to others. Well may the children say
pluck the beam out your own eye before you
attempt to whip the mote out of ours. The
magnitude of crime is not measured by
dollars and cents, but by the effect OF the
general prevalence of the crime. Forgery
for one hundred dollars is not punished for
500 loss, but for what would be the effect OF
the general prevalence of the crime. If a
man employed to superintenda building, APP
plies the material for the benefits Of other
parties, he is guilty of one offence, breach OF
trust, which the law calls the worst of lar
ceny.
Has not the Superintendent, in the course
he has taken in giving tuition to the children
of Davidson and-othrr counties instead of to
those of Nashville, been guilty of several Of
fences, inconsistent with his position? The
people of Nashville have taxed themselves
heavily O educate all children in Nashville,
and thereby 10 increase the value of all pro-
perty in Nashville, by Offering educational
inducements to people to increase the popu-
laton and business of the city. To protect
their rights and property they pass a law
that none shall have these advantages unless
they live in the city that pays these taxes.
But the Superintendent in defiance of the
law and contempt of the people, says, lit
shall not be so; l will sink the value of
your property in the city and raise the val
ue of property, out of the city. The cost
per pupil is 6l5. each, in your schools. |
" ill make the SIS, you raise by taXs. weigh
$50, against you, first taking the SIS from
you, next by giving il as bounty to those
who stay outside of the city and pay no
taxes" He even received those who came
from other counties if they would board in
the city. The people passed another law
TO prevent this, but in defiance of both laws,
he has received more the past year than ev-
er before. Judging from the statement of
citizens and from what learned in the vi
cinity of Mr.. Barry the amount thus given
away is above SIS 900, and it is given in such
a manner as to have it count $4,000 against
the people, and this, too, in the very face of
the fact that. in his annual reports he COM
plains OF want of room and asks to have more
built and in a year .'I52 were excluded for
want of ROOM and these the children of tax
payers. During the present year he has re-
fused to receive in the Hume building the
children of Old resident tax payers, while
he knowingly received those from out of the
city. Ii he has thus sacrificed the trust and
interests of his employers To what conf
dence is he entitled in business point of
view, besides, the future danger OF such Il
precedent is not 10 be overlooked. Suppose
at some future time the city should employ a
Superintendent who was interruptions in
conscience aud greedy OF gain" who should
do all he could to injure the reputation OF
private schools IN the suburbs, aud through
the press aud other agencies, try to spread
nonsuch, and when he had made them anx-
ious TO send, say to them privately, sit COSTS
you So, per month in private school; will
take them in at half that if you buy your
books of me, You could thus have good
school at half what it costs tor q poor oDe.'
Both parties would see the necessity of
keeping the paying part secret On l0U
pupils $500, per year could BE- thus pocket
I'd besides several hundred more for books.
The fac, this has not been done is no guar
aptee that il will not under some future Su-
perintendent.
In moral point of view, this question is
of still more Importance in one who has
charge of 1900 children. For several years
the Superintendent acled in defiance of law
and admonitions to himself and the teachers.
In attempting to cover up these acts, be
makes the matter still worse. First, he mis-
applies the property which he is paid for pro-
tecting; secondly. he attempts to circumvent
the Board in regard to the tact, by asking
MIR. Barry ito desist from sending for short
time" because 1.-THE Board of Education
would soon meet, and be would be question
ed; and that be could afterward ie~ume."
Whal could be more direct Insult to the
Board and the people, than this attempt to de-
ceiye the Board? Thirdly, he confesses this