Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-12-07
From our Special Washington Cor
respondent.
WASHINGTON, D. O., Nov. 80, 1865.

Cltles' Ihe populabloh 40
drawn together from all parts of the
and from all countries in the
civilized world. A large part of 1t con-
sists of those who do not intend tomake
this city their home and who do not
feel the interest in the social welfare
of the community which permanent res
idents would cherish. Many villages
in New England and some country
towns have large public libraries by
which all classes of the community are
instructed, while here, with a popula-
ton of 100000, there is no such institu-
ton. In some of the departments there
is a library for the use of the clerks.
In the Department OF the Interior, there
is a very valuable library containing
we'll selected books, but the use OF them
is limited to it's own clerks. The libra
~ of Congress is very large and valua-
BILE, but excepting the use of books IN
the library room, which is freely grant
ed TO all readers, the use OF IL Is re-
stricted to Members Of Congress, The
same Is true of valuable library in
the Smithsonian. Here are thousands
of clerks, many of them gentlemen of
culture, 70 whom books are necessity,
who have access to no public library
and who are at a loss for employment
after office hours are over. The diver
sity of the citizens and their temporary
residence in the city prevent that homo
genous character which is essential to
the improvement of society Men must
feel and think alike and possess traits
of character in common, before they
will unite their efforts for the common
welfare.
The best select schools in the city
were established and taught by Cathe-
lies. They were early in the field, and
with that wisdom and forecast which
has always characterized then, they
turned their attention to the young, Sc
cured city lots and erected seninaries,
and as regards schools Of high order,
are far in the advance of Protestants.
There are free schools for white child
rem, and within q few years, graded
schools have been established and sew
eral costly school houses have been
erected. These sch ools are of promis-
ing character, but much remains to be
done to elevate them to the standard
which we see at the North. While
slavery existed here, there was but little
done for the education of colored child
ren. The colored people were tax-pay-
ers and thus assisted in defraying the
expenses Of the public schools from
which their own children were exclud-
ed. Private schools were taught, to
which such of them as could afford the
expense. sent their children. The
friends Of the colored people have for
years tried to induce the city govern
ment to pay over q portion OF the
school money which is paid into the
treasury by colored people, for the sup
port of colored schools, but the old pro-
slavery spirit of the city fathers has
prevented. In view Of the facts in this
case, Congress passed a law in 1854,
that this school money should be PAID
over to the Trustees of colored schools
for the benefit of colored children. Ii
is a reproach to the city authorities
that they have hitherto persistently re-
refused to do this, and thirty live thous
and dollars is fraudulently withheld
from them. 1t is expected that Congress
will require obedience to the law ant
will not permit the pro-slavery men o.
this District to keep the colored child
rem in ignorance.
The city is very quiet on the Sabbath
The various, religious denomination
have numerous churches which are wei
attended on that day Doubtless the
attendance is far less than it should be
Tor many persons go abroad for recrea
ton or spend the day indolently a
home. Some officials of the govern
ment always spend the day in thel
offices. During the war, some of tn
Bureaus of the War Department wer'
always open on the Sabbath and tn
clerks required to be at their desk. A
a rule, however, the President and hi:
Cabinet, the Members of Congress au'
high officers OF the government, attend
ed church. President Lincoln was al
ways in his seat in a Presbyterian
church when the exigencies of public
affairs permitted. Public worship /
always attended in the Capitol durin!
the session and large audience is usu
ally present there. The preacher is on
of the Chaplains Of Congress, or som
clergyman from abroad who may b
visiting here. The Catholics are NOR
numerous than any other denomination
and their members comprise, not merel
emigrants from Europe as is the fact a
the North; but many of the first Ameri
can families in the city. Maryland
IRON which the District of Columbi'
was set off. Was first settled by Catho