Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-09-07


for teachers and missionaries among
their own people, and when prepared,
send them forth. They would be willing
TO live among the pupils, they would
understand their wants and enjoy their
sympathy, and they could do vastly
more for them than white teachers,
even though better qualified intellect
ually.
The colored people deserve something
at the hands of this nation. They were
brought here without their consent.
For three hundred years they have la
bored among us, increasing the wealth
Of the nation; and when a gigantic re-
bellion threatened 10 overthrow the
government, they remained loyal.
He recited the many instances in
which negroes assisted our generals, our
army and prisoners.
The soldier subdues, the legislator
regulates, and the educator builds. In
republics, if all men vote, all men must
be educated. A loaded musket in the
hands of crazy man in crowd is not
nearly so dangerous as ballot in the
hands of an ignorant man at an cleo
ton. In the late rebellion, the line of
free schools marked the line OF loyalty
to the government. We must extend
that line to the Gulf
Schools are needed not only as an ele-
mcnt In the reconstruction OF the Union,
but as means of preserving it when
reconstructed. Intelligence must be re-
cogniZed as the basis of Republicanism.
Departments organized to render eff
cient the work of education must be
made to occupy more prominent posi-
ton at our State capitals and at Wash
ington. Our duty is the education of
the whole nation, without regard to
race or rank, or color, or position.
Is not the condition Of things such
that we may begin to speak, with some
hope of being listened to, of a national
system of education2 1t is almost
agreed that the common schools, high
schools, academies and colleges of a
State should be incorporated into a sys-
TEN, be subject in certain particulars to
some central authority, and be made to
subserve their several functions in har-
| mony with ane another
1t is generally felt that an enlarge
ment Of the powers of the Freedmen's
Bureau would promote the public good,
and place our institutions on q frmer
basis. The United States of America is
a nation and not a partnership, and
as nation our government ought not
to release itself from responsibility in
the matter of education. Without q
consolidated system of schools, at no
distant day will this nation stand like
an old oak in the forest, with number
Of its branches dead and dying.
American educators hold in their
hands the destinies of this nation. They
may infuse such love of our country
and its institutions in the hearts of the
coming generations of children, that the
Republic on its sure foundations will
stand as firmly as the Egyptian pyra-
mids."
The resolution of Professor Hart of
Rhode Island, providing for a memorial
to Congress for a National Educational
Bureau, was adopted, amended by a
accommodation for National Commits
ssioner OF Education. Also, Prof. J. r,
Wickersham OF Pennsylvania, DR.. Thos.
Neill of Harvard, AMI DR.. Kaden of the
Michigan University, Sud Professor
Andrew ]. Kickoff of Connecticut were
appointed committee to draft the
memorial
A committee of three from each State
were chosen to represent the matter to
the several State Legislatures, asking ap-
Of funds.