Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-06-24

morning at 9 o'clock was given by Col.
Fleming, after which the Association
adjourned to its next regular meeting.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION AT NIGHT.
The exercises OF the evening were
opened with an address by Rev. II. w.
Humes. He alluded to the illiteTacy
of the State of Tennessee, and expressed
regret that IL was so of his native
State. He rejoiced at the Inauguration
of a system of public schools, and that
there was a growing disposition to main
tain them. If the people of the State
could transform themselves to the
Roman matron, Cornelia, they would
point, not to the fertile fields, grow
ing cities and splendid Capital,
but to the humble school houses as
their jewels. He alluded to the oppo-
sion to common schools and expressed
amazement that men of small means
were sometimes found i'm the ranks of
the opposition. He closed by paying
just compliment TO the State Teachers
Association for the good work already
done and which is still being done.
Arson Nelson, Esq, of Nashville,
was next introduced, who expressed
regret that he had consented to speak
at all as he was not in the habit Of
making speeches. He made an inter-
esting allusion to the time when he
carried newspapers on the streets of
Knoxville, and acted as printers devil
for Maj +. $. Heiskell. He spoke
encouragingly of the success of public
schools in Nashville, which he assist
ed in organizing 80 years ago. He gave
short and interesting sketch of the
opposition to schools then, which OPP
position was fought by Dr. McFerrin,
l L -
Now no man will run for alderman or
councilman and advocate cutting down
| the free schools, they have became so
| popular. The people paid sixty or
seventy thousand dollars per annum
| TO keep up the schools, aud nothing
| but the Civil Rights Bill could break
| them down, There are now enrolled
over 3 900 scholars with regular atten-
dance of $500. OF those enrolled
. 200 are white and 500 are colored. He
alluded in complimentary terms to the
! progress being made by colored pupils
in the schools. He closed with high
compliment to the people of Knoxville
l and East Tennessee.
Rev. David Sullins was next intro
duced, who related how Mr.. Rayl had
! pressed him into the service, and
| how he said he wouldn't, but all
/
importance of thorough primary in
strucLion. He enforced his views with
beautiful and eloquent illustrations.
He wanted to know, If Tennessee
could produce so many great men
while she stood second in the
scale of ignorance, owhat would
be her record as to eminent men when
the people are all educated. In strain
of matchless eloquence, he alluded to the
removal of the dark cloud of ignorance
which has been over Tennessee so long,
but which is being removed.
Prof. Hunter Nicholson was next
called upon, but not being present,
Prof. H. II. Smith was called upon.
He spoke of the beautiful location
of East Tennessee University, and
spoke of the facilities offered there for
acquiring good education. He thought
Schools for training teachers were Of
more Importance than for training
soldiers. Everything should be done
to make learning attractive.
Hon. Jno. NJ. Fleming was intro
duced, the President explaining that
they had pressed him into the service,
because they had right to do so. He
thought we ought to devise plans TO
secure what we already have in a sys-
tenn OF primary schools before
we concern ourselves about
higher schools He thought the
law as 1t now stood giving pOpu-
lous localities where the means were
presented to establish high schools. He
was aware that great many people in
the State were beginning to pronounce
an unfavorable judgment upon our
schools without waiting long enough
to see them properly tested. He
thought such Impotence unwarranted,
as time SUI oient had not elapsed to
give them a fair trial. To build up
such a system as we desire is work
of time. Our schools have recently
passed through system of eclipse, but
fortunately we can now begin to see
the disc of the sun. He spoke
of his official act in discourage
ing the employ ment of teachers on
account of the probable passage of the
Civil Right Bill. He defended his
action in that behalf. He thought
that if a fey of the Southern States,
Tennessee among them, had not had a
system of public schools to be effective
by such legislation, the Civil Rights
Bill would have been the law
of the land to-day. He was not
afraid that the Congress of the
next December, or next year
or for the next five years would pass
any such bill. When the people come
to reflect that their common schools
have been the means of saving them
from an obnoxious law, they will feel
less like giving them up. This view
he thought would prevail and that the
system would be strengthened rather
than stricken down. He had conf
dence that the men who assemble in
our Legislature next winter would not
impair even our common school sys-
teml much less strike it down.
He predicted that Tennessee would
take high station in educational mat
tiers. He made an appropriate allusion
TO the prosperous condition of East
Tennessee University and other insti.
tutions.
The exercises closed with fervent
prayer by Rev. w. G. L. Cunningham,
d. d.
Notice