Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-01

strangie them in their infancy because
they were not born fully grown?
You call on any one, who may reply
to your article, to answer the following
questions: who are you, to be dc
tating to the people, When did you
learn they were not capable of attend
ngto their own affairs! Besides, whose
money are you operating ON? If your
own, then you may 90 ON operating as
You choose" First, tell us who are
yoai What right have You to take the
peoples name in vain; and to censnre
them for establishing public schools:
The people have established public
schools and endorsed them through
every medium which they are aceus-
toned to express their will First,
through their constitution, which pro-
vides a school fund, and prescribes that
1T shall remain perpetual fund; the
interest thereof shall be invioiably APP
propriated 70 the support and encour-
agement of schools throughout the
State, and for the equal benefit Of all
the people thereof; ''the State taxes
derived hereafter from polls shall be
appropriated to educational purposes,
in such manner as .he General Assem-
bly, shall from time to time direct By
law" This Constitution was not only
framed by the people through their
representatives, but was subsequently,
submitted to them at the ballot-bOx, and
was enthusiastically ratified by the
people themselves. Do you think it no
expression of their will? The people
of the State through their representa-
tives IN the last Legislature passed the
present school law. Who is better pre-
pared to reflect the sentiments of the
people than their chosen representa-
tives? The Governor. who is clothed
with veto power to protect the people,
approved it. The people have also
through their County Courts, in a large
majority Of the counties, levied adj
ditiOnal taxes for the public schools
The County Court Is, OF all other
bodies, the nearest to the people, the
most trusted by them. and the best ex-
ponent of their viii. Do you claim that
all those chosen servants of the people
have dictated to them and betrayed
them: The people selected the army
of office-holders to whom you allude;
voting for the directors themselves,
and selecting the Superintendents and
teachers through their accredited
agents. 1 tell you then, that the people
have attended to their own affairs;
partly themselves, and partly by their
agents, and | fetort your question
when did yOH learn that they are not
capable OF attending TO their own
affairs :"
In answer to your question, whose
money are you operating ON, l reply:
The people are operating ON their own
money for the education Of their own
children. and through the agency of
their own army of office-holders.
whom they have selected TO attend to
this branch Of their business. 1t is to
be hoped that they may do so without
further Offense to you, since you say;
If your own, you may 60 on operating
1t as you choose"
l win close this article by asking you
to answer the following questions:
/. Which do YOU oppose, schools for
our children. or a tax TO support them?
, Do you think the cost of educating
our children by public school system
will be as great is the cost Of educating
the same number by private system:
3 Do you think It wiser to leaveedu-
cation to accident. or to use means to
render it uniform and thorough, by
placing IL under the legal supervision
and control IF tl;e people,
4. Do you think that public schools
can be expected, during the FIRST few
months Of their existence, to avoid all
mistakes and reach their full develop
mcut:
). Do you think that private school
system. during the first few months Of
its existence, would have been as largely
attended as the public schools have
been: ...s UNUS.