The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-01-12
dom of the appropriations large as they

ent Of Public Instruction, Professor
George w. Hoss, to whose zeal and f.
deity the educational interest Of the
State are SO largely indebted resigned
his office, to take effect on the 18th OF
that month; and few days thereafter,
appointed the present incumbent, Pro-
fessor Barnabas G. Hobbs, whose report
will be laid before you, and to which 1
respectfully refer you for information
in detail, cen tanning the various matters
appropriate to his department. of the
public service. fTE
EDUCATION OF coLoRED CHILDREN.
1t is time that the illiberal policy here
tofors pursued toward the coiored peo-
pie of the State in references to the ed
cation of their children should be aban-
| doned 1t will be seen by the report Of
the Superintendent of Public instruction
that, by correspondence with the otfici.
ais OF other States, he has collected
information which will enable you to
institute comparison between oar leg
is!ation snd and that of our sister States
on this subject. This comparison well
show that, WITH the single exception of
one other State, Indiana stands alone IN
| in her adherence to this unwise, unjust
and oppressive policy.
II there were 10 higher motives to
urge us to do justice in this regard, the
! letter and spirit Of our own Constitu-
tion would seem to make the path of
duty SO plain that lone need fear there.
! in. The Constitution declares that
''kno wledge and learning, generally
diffuscd throughout the community,
being essential to the preservation of
/ free Government, it shall be the duty of
the General Assembly to encourage,
| by all suitable means, moral, intellect
| uaI, scientific and agricultural improve
ment, and to provide by Law. for gen
eral and uniform system of common schools
| waere;n tuition shall be Without charge and
equally open to all.
If small tax is assessed 10y a town.
ship to prolong the school term, grave
doubts are entertained as TO whether
the generality and uniformity of the
system is not threatened with destruc.
ton; but this plain, unambiguous
phraseology, which leaves no room for
construction, can be ignored with inn
punity because prejudice SO DEGREES
It is true that proviso to the first Sec
ton of the school law of 1865 exempts
| color d persons from the State tax there
in assessed for the support of common
schools; but they are taxed for the
| building of school houses for our chill.
j dren. The exemption in the proviso
above alluded to is as clearly in contra
vention of the Constitution as is the ex
clusion of colored persons from the ed
ucational advantages intended for all.
! On The subject of taxation tue Consti-
tuition is very explicit. 1t declares
| ''that the General Assembly sho9f pro
vide by law for uniform and equal
rate Of assessment and taxation, and
shall prescribe such regulations as shall
secure just valuation for taxation OF
ALL PROPERTY both real and personal,
excepting sucA orly for municipal educational
purpose as mag be specifically exempt
by taa0. The property of colored people
does not come within this exemption,
and the General assembly has Nd power
to enlarge the exemption It is aues-
ton of justice. and of co,npl, ing with
the re quirements of our own Constitu-
ton, and trust it will be fairly met,
and decided in favor of justice and Of
the Constitution.
The precise manner in which the col
ored people shall be secured in their
educational rights, is question Of
minor Importance, and one on which
we can derive assistance from the ex
perienee of other States, in which the
question has arisen and been settled.
Governor Baker says of ex Governor
Jos. A. Wright
ssAlthough it is a matter of which you
are all cognizant, I would feel that /
had failed to perform my duty if omit
ted officially to call your attention to the
fact that since the adjournment Of the
last session Of the General Assembly,
one of the most distinguished of my
predecessors, who tor many years filed
a large and honorable place in the politi-
cal history Of this State, and who enjoy
ed in no common degree the confidence
and affections of its p -opfe, has depart
ed this life. I allude, Of course, to the
late Joseph A. Wright. He died At
Berlin the Prusaian aaat of Crvo.r
ment, on the 11th day Of May, 1867,
being at the time Of his death, the &C.
credited Minister of the United States
to that Court.
ssThe hi oh characfar annoxior ah;l;4;o.