New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-31

SPEECH OF PETER COOPER
GENTLEMEN AND LADIES: You will please accept my
thanks for the honor Of being called preside tins
interesting occasion. We have met my friends, to con
sder a subject OF unmeasured Importance to our city
state and nation The subject for consideration
will be the necessary preserve protect and
yeuse, in purity glorious system of public and gen
era education What interest Is there. my friends that
can compare in Importance with system that provides
Instruction for every class Of the community in all those
branches Of knowledge that are indispensable to
enable the risiDg generation TO know their rights
and perform those duties that devOlve every
American ciizen. We cannot, my friends too
pree Of our liberties is perpetual vigilance We will
DO vel remember that the sincerity Of those
who dre to break up our system OF public instruction
evidence Of their wisdom the correctness Of the
lave been equally honest aud sincere when he verify
believed he doing God service byslailing men.
irelds that every sect and party in city will yet
come the wisdom Of providing for the poor well
seced member Of the Common Council Of this city.
At that time number Of the wisest and best
ia, the private schools and the charity
EsOOls that had been tried, were found TO leave a
large majority Of the children 10 grow UP In entire igno-
rance Al that time those noble presented petit
ton TO the Common Council asking for tax on all the
sfent to provide for continued system of public aud
general education Those wise men saw the necessity
o. three four hundred thousand foreigners that
we're annually landing in our city to be educated ana
our children and In love and respect Or the IN
stuton, OF country. This they should DO instead
they the habit OF doing at That early
day Such practices, trust. will never again disgrace
our ely.
NJ D. A. Hawkins said that in the absence OF Dr. F.
leber be would submit the resolutions TO the meeting
and read as follows:
C 1dIE.. p1T as G5 our p sST pd W ' oP
'a Consultation and ,O into one Of our state Cona
, pro,ousa conviction that II. sacred Interests Of
goS conscience and Of domestic peace require THIS separation TO
m lhs sound principle has beer voa,ed 10 9s Si. ss1
, eng distracted from the city treasury auc gwen to certain
ua -o'ea Ald seearau schools thus uniting CAufeH sl'
wseas T, oaou Of Church STATE al age, and ia all
ss',-s' 1, Jed oppression and bloodsh.di snd
g ss..s to he int sI.5es: au, free
a. tt government tie American doetrne that toe State
.' easesiou to all is children osgson and not ehan'y
,.,f,s secular education shall f. him to be citizen ofa free
Sla, ever country The State this oSgatoo
as secular sda,oS Ia. been len to :aae5 ignorance
bs l1d OPPRESSION political and ous continue therefore.
.' q public HoHey or property cry STATE or national su,ho
gassges religions liberty sid equality before civil Of all
& e Az have been illustrated the complete separation aud in
Gs'sd Tia, any eysy religious which attempt, sup
,y ',d BY general by act nug Church AID
aoiaaUg eetarsU bitterness INTO politics and deserves the
'olltet4iiot o. az gJOi
i.ed Thai every sseh appropriation Of public an
to.-.A nbersJ worthy great Repubc-oser cost
esi{ ehid 10 tn state and tolerant education
syed That chapter SO Of the of 1869 relating
ne t o keal York Which In fact though lot sppoprstei
ttafJ quarter Of million Of dollars sntusly 10 lev sectarau
SCHOOLS 70 is city unnecessary. no, called for by the people
VOCATION Of ae American doctrine Of equal liberation TO ali religious
no pubhe support TO aud unless repealed will at
are; a. ,hs bO,boI e Prots,isls sgan Roman CsLoc
repeal and 70 AZ be Jea ard Tsy on @
+. SlSe ss 'ss people NAY aeos Ntst member. for the free
'0A over TO The chickering's Of religious sse."
srEKcH OF THE REV HENRY WARD RrEcure
heartily sympathize with you tonight and with your
presence We are met 10 discuss momentous ouestiop
upon when we are 10 act council OF citizens ones
ton, moreover, with which can deal and % Witch o
have distinct comprehension OF the remedies which wa
will pursue IN the future. II Will he our duy "a ohtn
the abolition OF the section which has boon brought To
notice, and which has been foisted into the
OF thfs state in a neither wise nor honest We
will see tOit hereafter that there shall be no chance
either directly indirectly TO do that which this system
Intends 10 accomplish They would seek TO affect the
fundamental union Of American free school system hi
Introducing the European notion OF schools and
ing This section 10 fundamental section II WAS
made question before the people never passed
by the Legislature IN consequence OF discussion nor did
the question forth TO the people to pass such as
as that such question. 10 w9s brought In heel
OF the session II brought in without
OF The opinion OF the OF citizens. did come
here tonight TO say single word against the foreign
population, for just as soon as they are American
CltzeDs they cease 10 DO foreign citizens, and
With generous and fraternal feelings we say that
lhey should have exactly the same chance and the
same liberties We have; aud say further than
paose Nor 20 speak OF the preiudices Of one
eet more than another for hold that the Roman Cath
tc as he is Of the most venerable and respectable
PAS Ios' Tue same nights aud privileges IL our county