New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-18
FROM CHARLESTON.
Opening Of the Schools.

Opening oil the HSHooAs'
eson Our Special Correspondent
CHARLESTON March 4, 1865
The great event Of tO-day-the inauguration
Of two workingmen, farm aborer and tailor as the
hture rulers Of mighty people-was fifty celebrated
h Charleston the conquered stronghold OF the enoa'
spirit In America by the reopening Of the public 'ehoos
u the city for all the children thereof without d'snnc
bon Of rank race. Of color creed. The hoi'lss
school selected being the best preserved ana me
hrgest for the first assemblage Of the chidreni ana II
sas not thought that there would be any ih'neu"'o
becessity for opening the others But oy O'CLOCK me
arst and third stories were so crowded. wiz eo'oreu
shildren that II was impossible to classify them; and
II the second story which exclusively appropriated
Cor the whites. there was over two hundred. Between
three and four hundred white children have reported
Ae,r names, but some have been kept away to-day by
NE report ndustriousy circulated by the enemies Of
e schools and by the old Rebel teachers that ccored
women would be put over them as their instructors.
There we're thousand colored children by actual
bnt IL complete count; and least fifteen hundred have
promised TO attend before the close Of another week
A. this cutpourng Of children was so much larger than
vas expected it became necessary TO announce that
another school building would be opened on Monday
when the classification will be completed and the sys
fem of instruction commenced.
Addresses were made to the children in the diFerant
wards BY the Rev. Mr.. Newcombe (Freedmens Aid
Bociety) Chaplain Lynch, 5Oth Massachusetts and Mr..
Kane ODonnell of Philadelphia. They were taught
some school hymns and sang various songs; and the
exercises were closed by short prayer, which al the
freed children slowly and distinctly repeated after the
Superintendent:
God bless-A5rosGrn Lincoln--our PresidtH;-aH6
Lsberasor"
Many hearts were touched by the sight Of more than
Eve hundred Of these little children. all so lately slaves
with elasped hands and closed eyes, asking God 10 bless
Che instrument Of their freedom the day Of his rein
stalment in authority. and in the city which was the
nrrt to rebel against II. And. in all the wide iand'
there were 10 more sincere prayers offered up for our
President
So tie thing Is done. The loyal white people-the
Irish and German populaton-haye shown that they
are quite willing TO let their children attend the same
school building with the loyal blacks; although II is
true also that attempt to unite them in The same
rooms or classes would have been tolerated at this
time Bot IN the play ground, white and black boys
joined In the same sports-as they do IN the public
streets and there can be doabi that that this
great step has been made all the prejudice against
equal educational advantages viii speedily vanish.
And indeed il is the verest hypocrisy IN the city,
where every old family has aided in oblter1;ng all
sompexona distinctions by mlngling their blood with
that Of their slaves. IN the rooms In which tie
so,ored children assembled. there were many pupls
With clear blue eyes pure white skins long siky hair
without q single kink-and vet they cassed with
the negro population ty the former rules CT tbs
city.
The white children were told that no insult 10 the
eslored pupils would be permitted and they expressed
themselves not only willing but clad that every one
lad now chance to be taught.
The Freedmens Aid Societies win furnish teachers
The old teachers and directors no did much to incte
end keep alive the Rebellion here by causing the chill
Aren to sing insurreconery ars) doing their utmost
70 have the instruction Of the oocTed children brought
70 end but their representations have influence
q Post Headquarters and only Gen. Gilmore las the
seesssry authority grant their dsstardy ard
xant desires. wiz DO that officer the wrong TO
suppose for one moment that be would be instrumental
IN tnrning the truly loyal children Of the city in
order TO coneiliae whose hands are red with the
blood Of o1r brothers. But the rip Van Wrinkles here
% not know the times live IN, and &C; aud talk 81
scty as the Fugitive Slave law IN full force and
they could browbeat the truth stll in the bad Old
times. They VIII wake up and find their mistake by
and by; and hike these Will help them to know
that this is the nineteenth century.
The colored people are arranging to have grand
procession in honor Of the arrival Of their lbera;ors
No public demonstration Of satisfaction has been made
By the white oyalists Jet and attempt to organize
abrigade of them has been abandoned as impraeti
cable The officer who attempted 10 raise II declared
that he found that the best OF the Of Charles
ton woud be the worst Kind Of coppereads up North
although be did not blame them be did tier errDg
Northern brethren. because they had opportunity to
know any better.
The Christian Commission has furnished, through tie
Agent (Rev. MIR. Spencer all the school books that
needed. BERWICK