Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-22

The LeginIature.
MONDAY, JAN 20.-Iu the senate the ques-
ton concerning reading the Bible in schools
was up again, as follows: In the orders of the
day, the first question was the motion to re-
consider the vote whereby the bill concerning
religious services in public schools was order
ed to be engrossed.
Mr.. GEORGE of Essex said the bill in its
present form was liable to the Interpretation Of
| being prohibition OF the reading Of the Bible
in schools. He did not understand that any
body had asked such prohibition, and instead
OF settling the question, it would be but sim
| ply transfer Of It TO each town TO settle, and
| raise contests in every election of school COM
mittees. Should a reconsideration prevail,
such an amendment might be made as would
obviate the objections he had stated.
| Mr.. BACON of Middesex believed the bill
was susceptible Of an Interpretation which no
one had intended. Nobody had asked 10 ex
clude the reading OF the Bible in schools by
the pupils, and in order to meet the question
at issue, lie had bill which he would otfer as
substitute, if the reconsideration should be
| carried.
The amendment was read for information.
| Mr.. GRIswoLD of Franklin was at first dis
| posed to agree with the committee in the bill
which they had reported; but on further con-
sideration he was led to modify his views. To
enforce the reading OF any particular version
! of the Bible, against the conscientious scru
| pies OF pupils or their parents, would be Il vio-
atoa OF the provisions OF the constitution, yet
he doubted whether the bill would be satistac
| tory to the people, or the other branch OF the
| legislature, where it would undoubtedly be
slaughtered In Maine it had been decided
| that 1t was right by common law that the
Bible should be read i'll schools. The bill pre-
pared by the senator from Mddesex he be.
| lieved would be much better than that of the
| committee
Messrs. HAVEN of Middlesex, and SWAN of
| Norfolk, Of the committee, did not object to Il
| reconsideration, and were satisfied that anOth'
er bill could be framed which would give sat
| lstactlon The first named was of opinion,
| however, that recommitment, as had been
! suggested, was unnecessary, as it would re.
qulre that all of the several readings should be
gone through with again.
Mr.. TUCKER Of Suffolk said the Catholics
were not understood in their position they
did not wish 10 exclude the Bible from the
schools, nor the reading of the Protestant ver-
sion OF it, if Protestanls wished to have it
read; they simply ask that ii King Jamess
version should be read, the children Of Catho-
| lies should not be required to take part in
| that reading The Catholics did not ask that
| in state where the Bible was so reyered as
in Massachusetts, that it should be excluded
! from the schools; but they did ask that if
their children had conscientious scruples about
reading it, and refused to do SO, they should
not be turned out of school
Mr. TwoMBLY Of Suffolk reminded the
senate Of his desire on a former occasion to
require further dellberation on the subject
| and 1t now appeared there were defects in the
bill, which the proposed substitute would
| meet.
The motion for reconsideration prevailed,
| when Mr.. BACON offered his substitute, as fol-
| lows =
SEC l. The school committee shall never direct
| any school books calculated to favor the tenets of
any particular sect OF christians TO be purchased
! used in any of the public schools.
SEC 2 The Bible i'll the common English version
shall be read daily i'll every public school, either by
the teacher or the scholars, as the school committee
shall direct but no scholar OF teacher who shall de-
clare that he has conscientious scrupes against read
ing from such version shall be required TO do so,
nor shall any scholar be required to read theretrom
whose parent or guardian shall declare that he has
| conscientious scruples against allowing him to do
| So
SEC, g. The twenty-seventh section of SSth chap
ter OF General Statutes is hereby repealed
Mr.. SWAN of Norfolk moved an amendment
in the fifth line, section second, as written, TO
| strike out the words "scholar or"
Mr.. WAKEFIELD of Middlesex moved sub
stitute as follows -
| "Ihe school committee shall require the daily
reading of some portion OF the Bible, in the COM
| mon English version, provided no scholar shall be
required to read the same who may declare that he
has conscientious scruples the subject but shall
| never direct any school books calculated to favor
the tenes of any particular sect OF christians to be
| purchased or used i'll amy ottLe public schools"
After some further suggestions the bill with
amendments proposed were laid on the table
and ordered to be printed
In THE House, the chief incident was the
| reception Of the correspondence between Gov.
Andrew and Gen, Butler The following or.
ders were adopted
On motion Of MIR PIcKENs of Middleton
| ough, it was ordered that there he a committee
OF three appointed to investigate and report to
the house. as soon as convenient, if there are
any pocket kniUeS which have been left on band
for the last few years, and, if So how many
The speaker appointed MeSsrs. Pickens, Blood
OF Charlton, and uadley Of Marion to constitute
the committee,
On motion of Mr.. CHANDLER of Boston. il
was ordered that the committee on the militia
| consider the expediency of authorizing his
eXcellency the governor to enter into contracts
forthwith for the manufacture of heavy ord
nance Tor the coast delences of Massachusetts.
and also Of instituting as soon as practicable a
camp of instruction tor artillery
On motion Of MIR. PIERCE OF Dorchester, il
was ordered that the committee ON the militia
inquire whether the blankets which were con.
tributcd by the people OF this state in response
to call of the governor, to relieve the ne
cessities Of the volunteers now in service were
delivered to the soldiers as a gift, or were
charged to them at tine market price, and if so
charged, what disposition has been made of
the ayas.
On motion of Mr.. CURTIS of Roxbury, it
was ordered that the committee on public
charitable institutions consider the eXpediency
OF removing from insane asylums all lunatic
state paupers who are iuOiiensive and supposed
to be beyond all medical skill to the state
aImshouses for the purpose Of seeing if they
are Of sufficient capacity to secure the safety
and good care Of said inmates. Also, if the
committee do not find the present buildings in
a suitable condition to remove said unatics
to, that they be instructed to examine and
report as early as practicable what alterations
are required and the expense OF making the
same.
TUESDAY, JAN 2l.-rh senate met at two
o'clock. Prayer by the chaplain. journal
read. Papers from the house were concur
rently acted upon. The house order relating
to coast detences, was referred in part to the
committee on federal relations, the committee
having the subject already under consideration
Petitions presented and referred-Of select
men OF Westport, in favor OF the claim of
jeremiah d. Trip: of Mason White and 9th.
ers OF Sandwich, against the petition OF the
county commissioners of Barnstabe county
Mr. Norlhend of Essex, on leave intr,.
duced bill concerning railroad crossings lpro.
hiblting crossing by private ways except by