The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-16
DEDICATION OF THE COLoRED NORMAL
SCHOOL ON NAVY HILL.
ADDRESSES BY CHAPLAIN NiELEY, tMR
WISHB URINE, GOVERNOR PELRP ONT,
CHEF JUSTICE CHISE,
md OTHERS.
THE BUILDING, ETC.

The colored normal school recently con-
structed on Navy Hill was dedicated with
appropriate ceremonies last night The exer-
cis.s were conducted in the large lecture-ro room
in the second story of the building, which was
crowded with army officers, their wives, the
scholars and teachers, and 4 large number of
negroes. On the stand were Chief Justice
Chase General o. b. Brown, Judge IL. &.
Bond, Chaplain r. NJ. Manley, Governor
Francis II. Peirpoint Rev. DR.. Stebbins,
Cambridge, and Rev. MIR. CLANCY, Boston,
Mass.
General Brown called the meeting to order
ut S clock, and the exercises were commenced
by singing the hymn, Oh, Give Thanks to
the Lord; after which Rev. Mr.. Chaney
offered up 4 prayer.
After prayer smother hymn was sung.
Then General Brown introduced Chaplain
Manley, who in q few remarks gave Il brief
history of the Freedmans Union, under whose
auspices the colored schools III Richmond were
established
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Manleys remarks
another hymn was sung; after which Mr..
Andrew Washburne addressed the meeting In
behalf of the trustees.
Governor Peirpoint was next introduced,
and received with applause.
He said: This house is one OF the first mon
uments of love and mercy growing out OF the
fruits Of the late rebellion, we ~ I'VE e., IN I'd
vancement OF mans physical, mental, ano
moral culture.
After giving q brief sketch of all the vari
ous improvements, inventions, &c, from the
time of Moses TO the present, he returned tC
the subject Of education, on the adyanta
and blessings of which he dwelt for about f-
teen minute and then took his seat.
The dedication hymn was then sung after
which General Brown introduced Chief } u.s.
tice Chase.
SPEECH OF CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE.
The Chief Justice on taking the stand
was greeted with loud and prolonged APP
plause After il subsidized, he said:
Fellow -citiZens,-Iou have already heard
many eloquent speeches suggested by this oc-
casion, and have not arisen TO deliver an al
dress, but only TO express my deep interest III
this enterprise. We have lately passed
through great revolution, and by the grace
of God we have been successful. Millions OF
enslaved men are now free, and under the
glorious Constitution have become citizens,
and are entitled TO all the rights and privi-
leges of such. This state of things 1T the be-
ginning awakened the deepest inquiry II
the North as to what should he done 10 edu-
cate the freed people. Before emancipation
the blacks had never been educated. Ihe
school house doors had been closed to the co
lored people by law, and to many OF the
whites by circumstances. 1t was thought 4
crime TO educate the blacks. The firSi
thought North was how they must be educa
ted Numbers of teachers volunteered tt
teach them, and went through all parts OF th'
South. carrying to the benighted people TN
blessings of education. Societies were formed
for the purpose of raising money to push for
ward this good work. Some OF the societies
were religious, and others were not-the SO
ciety of which am ut the heid was not, bu
it was actuated by all the motives of one
This society, am glad to learn, contribute
omething TO the building of this school house
l hope and believe that this school will be TIT
means of doing incalculable good. L hop
that the people of Virginia will soon awaken
hact IN It,n tn q q
Every child will become Il citizen, charged
with all the responsibilities OF such, an
should be educated so rs to meet them. Ih'
free States have carried the common schoo
system to perfection, and am sure there "lll
be Il like result in the South. Every hillside
of New England is dotted with school
houses, and I want TO see the Soutf
in the same way. With education WI
go the Church, rs education without reliSiol
is only half completed. The day Is not Ia
distant when all this will be accomplished, n
things do not move now rs in olden times
Every thing moves by hops and bounds, and /
| there is any retrograde movement 1t Is only Il
gain additional force for another advance
Some years ago, on an occasion ike this,
said that hoped that the sun, as 1t movet
| from the east TO the west, would not behold
| footstep OF single slave on the shores or tht
| United States. That day, thank God, ha
come There are no slaves now, and ther
| will never be any more. II slave comes
TO tllS oiA 40 ScSHA -.
| he touches its shores. This glorious worI
has been accomplished, and now education
| must be pushed forward. These are smal
beginnings, some will say; but in future tim
people will look back 10 these small begin
gings, and bless those who stood and KEEP
Them M. DO not be discouraged. Go for
ward in your good work, and the Just Go
that regneth over all things will reward you
After singing and other exercises the meet
| ing adjourned.
| THE BUILDING
| Is OF brick, and constructed in neat an
| substantial manner. 1t has two stories
| On the first floor are two school rooms, whic
are admirably adapted for the purpose. U
| stairs Is n small room and Il large lecture
room All Of the rooms are neatly furnished
| the walls lined with maps and pictures-altc
gether making them most pleasant and CON
Portable for the children. The building wa
built under the auspices OF the new or
branch of the Freedmen's Union. 1t is IN
tended for the children that have been some
what advanced in learning, and will accom-
modate about one hundred pupils. On II
same hill and adjacent 10 this school are wv
! primary schools, in which about fiye hundre
] ran raoaiya Z ha rDdinantS of education.