Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-28
POINTS OF THE PROTEST.

lst. The Board demurs, because "the
Council orders important changes without
conference with those who are presumed to
know the public school system thoroughly"
Why, sir, this same board, during all
Its administration prior to last spring, did
not kROW there Was a cOlored scholastic populd
ton at all Even in July, 1867, a repre-
sentative member, in Board session, de.
clared, in reference to the question-why,
in opening city schools, they ignored the
free mission schools which had operated
two, three, and four years, and had under
tuition above 1000 pupils at a time
did not know there were any free mission
schools; | supposed some Yankees were
levying tax on the niggers TO ell their own
pockets"
II is manifest, sir, that impartial Justice
to the colored people cannot be secured
through such Board, and if secured at all
must be Ouer it,
I'd. Again: "In regard to the act of
October 20, We have simply and briefly to
say that ii was unnecessary"
From any other source this would be
most remarkable utterance. With coll
ored scholastic population of 22l6-more
than two-thirds of all 10 the city-with
three of the four buildings now used a.
free colored schools crowded, and the foufth
having registered four-ffths fits capacity,
what unprejudiced citizen will believe that
the two Oldest, fullest and most centrally
located buildings are unnecessary.
Sd. Further: " The absorption of nine
different schools, heretofore sustained By
other means, is an Eruption into the sys-
TEN which, in the Judgment of this Board,
is not demanded by the public necessities"
Certainly, sir, Just so. "fhe public ne
cessities," I'm the judgment of this board"
did not demand any colOred schools prior TO
the passage of the common school law and
colored suffrage bill. These made the
opening of zone or more colored SCHOOL,"
"a public necessity" How, otherwise,
could we get rid of Yankee emissaries, Sc
cure the coiored vote, and recover our
quota of the State school fund Now,
however, the political experiment having
failed, the school law nominslly complied
with, and the money secured, any further
facilities for the education of colored chill
dren are simply unnecessary" and, 'in
the Judgment Of this board, not demanded
By the public necessities"
4th. 1T involves considerable expense,
etc, the board does not feel warranted in
mourning" "All---can be accommodated
by such additions 10 the school buildings
and teaching corps as they may be able to
provide" etc.
Are We to understand, Mr.. Chairman,
that the board can provide she additional
buildings and furniture for less than moth
iHg--the cost Of those provided by the bill
in question? Or that their additional
teachers will work cheaper? In short, sir,
one Is tempted TO suspect that II is got SO
much the ezPeass Of the new accession OF
teachers, az their complexion, physical and
political, that, next 10 an increase Of col
ored schools, troubles the honorable board
I'VE are moved to solicit your calm re-
consideration Of the matter, because we ara
satisfied that under il questions will arise
that must lead to disorder, and impair the