The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-10-03
I.efter fren VEashineton.
WAsH1NoroE. september :

=
century behind the country in business
tact, enterprise, public spirit and taste in
matters appertaining to appearance, &C.,
it would seem as though its authorities
ought to be neither lost. nor Indifferent to
sense of humanity; but it appears that
they are. The liberal and humanitarian
tendencies of the age knocked the shsckles
of the slaves held in this District from their
limbs zcme time ago, and the rational view
of the case is that the relentless, cruel,
blightiug system of bondage as it existed
everywhere, where recognized in this coun-
try, would render its subjects the most ig-
noFant, prejudiced and degraded class in
the community. Such were the people
relieved from slavery snd turned loose in
this city, reasonably enough to conclude to
be idle, INDECENT vsgrant, lying, stealing,
and al sorts Of crime. committing creatures.
Il is matter then of duty and self inter-
est thst these people should be educated,
improved and elevated. Statistics show
thst the surest, earnest, and the best way
TO prevent the evils in society, is 10 educate
the people, improve their sense of proprie-
ty and the essential fitness of things, yet
these Washington authorities are making
war upon these fact. But more than this
There are laws of Congress requiring at the
hands of these authorities, the money by
taxation to educate these colored people as
seen by the following extract; the law it.
self was passed by Congress in May, 1862:
HChat from and after the passage of this
act it shall be the duty of the municipal
authorities Of the cities of Washington and
Georgetown, in the District of Columbia,
to set apart ten per centum of the amount |
received from taxes levied on the personal |
and real property in said cities owned BY |
persons of color; which sum received for |
taxes, as aforesaid, shall bs appropriated |
for the purpose of initiating system of pri-
mary schools for the education of colored |
children residing in ssid cities"
Yet right in the face of this plain re-
quirement, forgetting selfinterest and the
law of kindness, these authorities, by the
sheerest prevarication ever devised, excuse
themselves from obedience to this law.
|
which was approved June "a, in relation 10
the same subject, inasmuch as the one above
quoted was disregarded, and here is a brief
extract from it:
"That from and after the passage of this
act it shall be the duty OF the municipal
authorities of the cities of Washington and
Georgetown, in the District of Columbia,
to set apart each year from the whole
fund received from all sources by such su.
thoriIies, applicable, under existing provis-
ions OF law to purposes Of public education,
such q proportionate part thereof as the
number of colored children between the
ages Of six and seventeen years in the re-
spective cities bear TO the whole number of
children thereof, for the purpose of estsb
fishing and sustaining public schools in
said cities for the education of colored
that the said proportion shall bs
Ascertsined by the last reported census of
the population of said cities made prior to
said sppoftionment, and shall be reguls-
ted at all times thereby; and that the said
fund shall be paid to the trustees appointed
under the act Of Congress approved July
II, 1862"
Yet this law is evaded by such subter- l
luges as the following. The Mayor has
Ao 6dle'
I" This doubt is oecssioned by the fact !
hat the act of the City Councils august
II, 1864 imposing this special tax for the
support OF the public schools of this city,
was subsequent to the act Of Congress, I
June rs, 1854, and was not at the time of :
he passage OF the act of Con- ress an ex. +
sting provision of law as contemplated 4
" that section of that act' I
What shame it is that at the Capital 4
If this great nation everything is left 10 G
lrag twenty years behind the country. L
How mortifying it Is to the American :
itizen to see the Capital of the country
xhibiting such contrast with the grow
ng, enterprising and commanding charac-
or Of the country itself. =
Much credit is due to Mr.. James O. Wet.
more, the Ohio State Military Agent here
or the management of the affairs of the s
'tate coming within the line of his duty.
lie is determined that the Ohio clerks here
n the Department too, shall have the
privilege of exercising the elective fran
hise in the coming gubernatorisl election, I
y asking for them "leave of absence" to
10 go, and he has bestirred himself also, to
btain for them, from the Railroads, tickets
t communication rates, TO enable them to '
% homo with as light draft upon their
,ockets as possible. The privileges of the
lective franchise should always be at
ended TO. Then and thus the freemen ex-
presses his viii in relation to his policy of
government. r
The next session of Congress is looked
onward to with the deepest interest by
'eople here and all over the country. It :
must be one of the greatest importance,
as all the States that were in
ebellion will, by their Representatives,
mock at the doors of Congress for sdmis. !
ion into the Union with a restoration of
heir rights and privileges.
Yours, AGAIN,