The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-26
The Federal school LaW-Amend,
ment Proposed by Mr.. Sereford'
Of West Virginia..

ment PROPOSED Dy MI.
Of West Virginia.
Washington correspondence OF Charleston
Courier.
A bill was introduced in the House
some weeks since, which had caused a
good deal OF hot discussion between the
two parties in the House. ltwas a bill
to apply the proceeds OF the public
lands as an educational fund, and the
Commissioner OF Education, by the
direction OF the Secretary OF the lnte'
rior, was to apply to the States and
Territories, upon the basic Of population
one half of the net proceeds OF the puo,i!!c
lands for the year previous All TINS
money to be applied to the free educa.
ton oh aHchi4areu:-tveu the ages cf
six and sixteen, white and colored;
provided, thev do il according to the letter
of the law. The Commissioner OF Edn-
cation also TO have the power TO With
hold the money due any State or Ter.
ritory, if according to his Railcal)
judgment they have not acted IN ac-
cordance to the law. For the first ten
wears the distribution Of the fund snail
be made in ratio OF the llIlteracy OF
these States, &c, as shown by the cen
sus. The bill would have given the
country a set OF mixed schools, at the
discretion OF the said commissioner,
and, if in the Southern States they re-
fused TO have mixed schools OF white
and black, he could withhold the money
from them. Thus the people OF the
South would have lost all their rights
under the bill, for they would certainly
refuse to mix their schools, and oi
course would have been deprived OF the
means OF educating their children ;
this would have happened, but for the
astuteness OF Honorable Frank Here
ford, who flanked the Radicals com
pletely, and caught them mapping, by
introducing the most magniilcent
amendment that had been offered,
which was the following:
Prorided, That no moneys belong
inc to any State or Territory under TINS
act shall be withheld from any State or
Territory for the reason that the laws
thereof provide for separate schools Tor
white children and black children, or
refuse to organize a system OF mixed
schools" "
This amendment was adopted unanI-
mouslv, and the Radicals did not seem
10 realize the snare uut;l it had passed.
II was a perfect bombsheil in the Rad
cal camp. and thev cast many gIances
OF hatred toward your young representa-
tive. 1t was L splendid piece OF gen
eralship on Mr.. Iierefords ; part, and he
was congratulated by the Democrats
with iov. This amendment brought out
the full test vote; the Democrats were
unanimous in their vote Tor II, but the
Radicals to a man voted against It.
Mr.. Herefords constituents, and the
people OF the whole South, will certainly
thank him for his vigilance in deiense
Of their honor aud their rights. Mr..
Hereford questioned Mr.. Kelly, OF
Pennsylvania. very closely in regard to
mixed schools, and Mr. X. got very
angry, and would not answer. Mr..
Hereford will soon deliver great
speech upon the important questions ot
the dav. Senator Davis and Mr.
Hereford are lodging at the same
house, 1914 II street, and take their
meals at the Arlington Hotel. They
are nightly besieged by hosts OF friends