The Indianapolis daily herald. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1865-1868, 1865-11-15

good az ten of education, and these cannot be
supplied 10 sufficient numbers TO meet The N
creasing sants of our people. without an iusti-
tuition whose business Il shall be 70 train teach
ers for their profession
MORGAN RAID.
again respectfully invite the attention Of the
General Assembly to the damages 0ccasioned TO
some Of citizens. BY the invasion Of the
State by John Morgan, IN ls63. | have seen
20 cause for changing the views expressed on this
subject in my regular message delivered At tie
commencement of your last session. and there
fore repeat the recommendation therein made.
SCHOOL FUND.
The first section Of Article Eight Of our State
Constitution provides az follows: knowledge
and learning, generally difused throughout a
community, oeing essential 70 the preservation
Of free government. il shall be the duty OF the
General Assembly to encourage by all suitable
means, moral. Intellectual, scientific. aud agri-
cultural improvement, and to provide by Law for
q general and uniform system Of common
schools. wherein tuition shalt be without charge.
aud equally open to all" The language Of this
provision j. very broad. and would seem. 10
letter and spirit, 10 embrace all the children Of
the State without regard 10 color. Surely Il
cannot be denied that. as we have a coiored
population in our midst il Is our interest. inde-
pendent of those considerations OF natural jus
tice and humanity which plead so strongly, 20
educate and elevate that population. An igno-
rant and degraded element l. burden and
injury 10 society, whatever may be It's color. IL
therefore becomes a matter of sound political
economy, a. well as absolute justice. that what
ever colored population We may have should be
educated, and enabled to become intelligent
industrious, aud useful members Of the commn-
nifty. lt is also especially important al this
time. when the President of the United States
and the people of the North are requiring the
people OF the South to make provision for edu-
cstin their colored population, aud protecting
them in the enjoyment of civil rights. that the
Northern States should set the example, and
practice what they preach. by extending TO their
smaller colored population the rights and bene-
fits which they demand for them from Others.
The laws OF Indiana exclude cOlored children
from the common schools, and make proyis-
ion whatever for their education. | would
therefore recommend that that the laws be 20
amended a. to require enumeration TO be
made of the o0lored children of the State. and
such portion of the School Fund as may be in
proportion to their number be set apart and
applied TO their education by the establishment
OF separate schools, under such suitable proyis-
ions and regulations as may be deemed proper.
/ would not recommend that white and colOred
childred be placed together in the same schools.
believing, as l do ia the present state OF public
opinion, that to do so would create dissatistac-
ton and conflict. aud impair the usefulness OF
the schools. i am informed that a system can
be devised, by which separate schools for the
education of colored children can be successfully
maintained in various parts of the State. and
believe that justice, humanity and sound policy
require that il should be done.
By the school law of ls65. negroes and mu-
lattocs are not taxed for the support Of common
schools, but if colored schools should be estab-
lished this law should be so amended as TO
subject them TO like taxation with white persons
for educational purposes.
TESTIMONY or coLoRED PERSONS.
In my message to the Legislature at the last
session, held the following language in regard
to the admission OF the testimony Of colored
persons in cases in which white persons are par
ties:
1.-The statute which excludes negroes from
testifying in courts of justice, in cases ia which
width persons are parties, is, in my opinion, a
stigma upon the humanity and intelligence OF
the State. The idea that the white race must
be protected against the cOlored, by imposing on
them this disability, is absurd. and has been
made the cover and protection for much crime
and Injustice. As the law stands, murder may
be perpetrated with impunity by white persons
| in the presence only of colored witnesses, and
il is well known that negroes are often en-
ployed by white persons as the instruments OF
crime and fraud, because Of their inability 10
testify in courts of justice. The interests OF
both races demand that this disability be re-
moved; and if the fact of color affects CREDIBLE
ity, that can be referred to the court and jury
as in other cases, and would undoubtedly re-
ceive due consideration. Indiana and Illinois
are the only free States whose statute books are
dishonored by the retention of a law so repug-
nant 10 the spirit of the age and dictates OF
common sense"
can add nothing to the force Of what have
before said, but desire again to earnestly recon-
mend the repeal OF this obnoxious statute. II
is due. however to the State of Illinois, TO say
that her statute book is no longer disgraced b,
this law, and that Indiana has the bad eninenct
Of being the only State in the North that re
tains it,
INDIANA TROOPS.
The part which Indiana has taken in the wa
for the suppression of the rebellion, is a matte
upon which the citizens of the State may jastl,
pride themselves.
In the number of troops furnished, and in tn,
amount of voluntary contributions rendered, In
diana. in proportion to her proportion an
wealth, stands equal 10 any of her sister State.
Ii is also subject of gratitude and thankful
ness that, whilst the number OF troops furnshe
by Indiana alone in this great contest woul
have done credit to a first-class nation, mea
sured by the standard of previous wars, not
regiment, battery or battalion from this Stat
has brought reproach upon our national flag
and no disaster OF the war can be traced 10 an
want Of fidelity, courage efficiency on tn
part of any Indiana officer.
The endurance, herosm, intelligence an
l.. ~ N ~
Indiana to do battle for the Union, have she
q lustre on our beloved State OF which any PEG
pie might justly be proud. Without claiming
superiority over loyal sister States. il is bu
Justice TO the brave men. who have Representa-
US on almost every battle field Of the war, q
say that their deeds have placed Indiana in tn
front rank of those heroic States which rushe,
to the rescue of the imperiled Government O
the nation.
The total number of troops furnished by tn
State for all terms of service in the armies o
the Union, exceeds two hundred thousand men
much the greater portion Of these being for thre
years and in addition to this not less than fft'
thousand State militia have from time TO tim,
becn~called into active service TO repel rebe
raids and defend our southern border from inya
sion all of which will be fully shown in th
official report of the Adjutant General, now il
course of preparation for publication.
! Since the end o. the war, all Indiana troop.
have been mustered out of service except eigh
teen regiments Of infantry, and three regiments
OF cavalry. Every effort CONSTANT with the in
terest of the Government has been made by th,
Executive Department OF the State to procur,
the early muster ont Of these remaining Indian,
regiments, and assurances have been receiveC
that orders for their discharge will be issued a
soon as their services can be dispensed with. Fo
other interesting details relative to our troops
you are respectfully referred to a communication
from the Adjutant General herewith submitted
REORGANIZATION.
Since the adjournment of the Legislature tn,
civial war which had desolated our country has
terminated in the complete triumph of the Gov.
eminent and the suppression Of the rebellion
/ The evacuation OF Richmond. and the cspiula.
ton of Lees army, were rapidly followed by the
surrender of every other rebel army 10 the field
and irregular guerrilla warfare almost entirely
passed away in a few weeks. The suppression
of the..rebellion and the subjugation of armed
rebels seems TO be complete. while every rebe
State has confessed to the irretrievsble destruc-
ton Of the institution Of slavery. The people
of the South have been beaten and overpowereC
in the field they have wholly lost their proper
/ ty in slaves ; much Of their country has been
overrun and made desolate BY the march and