Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-08-30
FIFTH WARD TEACHERS.

FIFTH WARD TEACHERS.
Editors Intcliigencer:
The published proceedings of the meet
ing held in the Fifth Ward School House
on Saturday evening last, are OF such
character that, justice to the public as well
as to myself and the teachers of the school,
renders it necessary that / should offer
counter exposition of the whole subject
1t is generally known that the meeting was
called with view to secure the removal
of Miss Sweeney from the Fifth Ward
School, who was supposed to be affected
with secession procliyiIies. 1t is not my
intention to deny the fact alledged, nor to
discuss the propriety of her removal. On
this point, suffice it TO say, that tue public
seemed to demand it, aud the Trustees have
| complied with that demand, nj which
have no right to complain even were l so
disposed Had it been the will of the pub
| lie and of the Trustees. | should have been
glad to have retained Miss Sweeney on ac-
count of her qualifications rs teacher, but
as it was not, 1 had only to acquiesce.
But l think | have right to object
to the manner in which this thing was
brought about. The meeting seems TO
have originated with one or two young
men, acting no doubt in concert with 9th
ers, but in the number of those who COM
pose it, it did not probably exceed one.
tenth of tue tax-payiug citizens of the
Ward. After the meeting was organized,
u committee was appointed to prepare res
olntions for the action of the meeting. The
yoang men referred to were placed on that
committee. They retired and in short
time reported the resolution already pub
lished in your paper. After considerable
discussion, parts of which were amusing
enough, it became evident, aside from the
merits of the case, that the public mind
soon become SO heated with the subject,
that the peace and prosperity of the school
would demand that Miss Sweeney should
retire from the stage. Under this con-
viction, having been previously authorized
thereto, offered Miss Sweeney's resigna-
ton, which was promptly accepted by two
of the Trustees, they being then and there
present. But what WAS remarkable is
that the resolutions were so worded as 20
involve all the teachers in suspicion; aud
although stated expressly that there was
not teacher in the school, except Miss
| Sweeney, who WAS in the least affected
with disloyalty, and not one who would
not willingly take the oath of allegiance,
and that as for myself was willing To take
it every day, were it not for the immortality
of SO much swearing; aud although de-
manded, as did others, that the charge
against the remaining teachers should be
made specific, aud the evidence produced
yet, il the face of all this, Miss Sweeney
being now out of the question, the resolu-
lions involving the other teachers in sus-
picion were passed. And to cap the cli-
max, as if the Committee were determined
to make out case, my whole statement in
1 80 nRHS sal Ntrn
printed proceedings of the meeting, while
the statements of others tending to excite
public prejudice were reported in fall.
Forthis piece of injustice aud discourtesy
to myself and six or seven respectable
young ladies, hold the Committee re-
sponsible. With them originated the reso-
lutions which they, or perhaps one or two
of them, had published, ,vithoWt any dW-
t6ority from the meeting. But as if this was
not an Improperly sufficiently bnrefaced,
they must needs take the matter out of the
hands of the Secretary (whose duty it was
to report, bad he been authorized,) and
draw up and publish a report SO entirely
one sided in its character as to amount
almost to caricature. Now shall not
impeach the motive of these young gentle
men, especially as they tell us in the reso-
lutions that they were Suspicious. Well it
|
l am disposed to make allowance on the
score that suspicion ia the epidemic of the
time. 1t is an incident of civil discord,
assuming in some instances the form of
moral insanity. But would apprize these
young gentlemen who have in this instance
allowed their zeal to get the better of their
discretion, that suspicion is a fire 10 the
bosom dangerous to play with, as is album
dainty proved by the French Revolution;
and as am disposed to excuse them in part
on the score of inexperience, 1 will not
speak of them in terms of greater severity.
To the public would say that general
suspicion is not only disuniouist, but a
disorganizer, aud would suggest the pro.
priety of calling upon Major Darr to adj
minister 10 him Immediately the cath of
allegiance, in order to arrest the progress
of disintegration now going on which tends
to resolve society into its primitive ele-
ments. JAS. q. MCMECHRN.