The Morning herald., 1876-04-13
NEW CASTLES FURRY.

that DR.. Maxwell had consulted him as to
Z division of the money raised by tax fol
school purposes amongst the four leading
religious denominations, and the colored
people. The next day, Mr.. Challenger sent
. copy of his remarks Containing the accu-
sati6n to the Commercial, and had 1t incor-
porated into the report of the regular cor
respondent of that paper, although that
gentleman did not see 1t until II appeared IN
priat. DR.. Maxwell contented himself with
IN emphatic denial Of the truthfulness Of
the charge, made at the meeting, upon the
spur of the moment. 0I G'.
Mr.. Challenger then made affidavit to
the truth of his assertion. and got his clerk
do the same thing. He also gave noto-
riety to the feet that he would read the afd-
davit at the next meeting Of the Board. and
the Commercial contained notice that
something exciting would occur at the next
meeting Of the Board. The affidavit was
read according to programme. DR.. Max
well reiterated his denial, and showed that
the statement involved the moral impossi-
bility of his taking into his confidence the
only member of the Board for whom he had
neither friendship or respect, and who had
uttered calumnies against another member
VI VIC OOdlu3 u0N UuO AAARlOOhVAAVy Va LAO
advocating scheme that was not only wild, ,
visionary and impolitfc, but impracticable,
illegal, and impossible. The next day Mr..
Challenger published bis affidavit in the
Commercial; and the day after, DR.. Max
we'll was permitted to publish part Of his
reply, in the same paper. Mr.. Chal-
lsnger retorted in letter distinguished for
chiefly for its scurrility.
This is the history Of the affair 30 far as
has been made public. We have learned
that DR.. Maxwell might have shown that
he is upon record, as to the question Of
division of the school fund amongst the re-
ligious sects. It seems that formal pro-
position of that kind was introduced by q
member Of the committee appointed to
draft school bill, and that DR.. Maxwell
took decided attitude upon. the question.
We subjoin the letter of Mr.. Connolly,
the gentleman who offered the resolution to
add to the bill q section to provide for such
division:
DR.. Maxwell,
Dear 8ir:-In answer to your question, If
I remember, at sitting Of the committee
appointed to draft school law for New
Castle, what on that occasion wished to
have inserted in the bill. I do remember
that when submitted proposition to the
committee that the tax levied for school
purposes should be equally divided between
the several christian denominations CON-
posing the inhabitants of the town, Dr..
Maxwell opposed the proposition, and said
If such was engrafted In the law It would
not be tolerated. Very respectfully,
e. CONNOLLY.
New Castle, April 8, 1879.
DR.. Maxwell also showed US letters from
respectable gentlemen corroborating his as
ssrtion that Mr.. Challenger had repeatedly
made calumnious charges against another
member of the Board.
We further find, upon examination, that
colored persons are assessed for school pur-
poses' In New Castle, because of defect In
the City Charter. Section 8 (page 425, of
Revised Code) of the Wilmington Charter
contains an express exemption of the per-
sons and property of colored persons from
assessment and taxation for school pur-
poses. New Castles Charter is without
such an exempting clause. We're there such
was intended all participation in
schools and school elections. In Whining
ton, though colored man Is not assessed
and taxed for school purposes, he may be a
member Of the Board of Education, and
does vote at all school elections. In New
Castle, did the City Charter contain the
last sentence of section Of the Whining
ton Charter, colored persons could neither
vote at school elections nor become mem :
bers of the Board of Education; and not
having the burden of taxation for schools,
under the law, imposed upon them, they
could with propriety and justice be excluded
from participation in its advantages.
II we were to express suspicion in con-
nection of this matter, 1t would be, that
DR.. Maxwell's being 80 native Of Georgia,
from Florida has more to do with the
assault upon him, than anything else.
Were he native of Maine, or any of the
Yankee States, the case would be con the
contrary, quite the reverse" It Is base
imitation, in very small way, of what we
have been witnessing in Congress, Of late.