The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-05

ssr dc
ny. Das6nsy ard Dr.saKnsr.
MI. Editor Rev. ii. L. Dsbuey, free.
school teacher In Prince Edward county
lghnrchI schooll has 8 great hatred for Slate
schools, although he liz indebted for an i'm.
porfant part sof BIS own. eiucatfon to enc
grand Stale school, supp tied IN large mea-
sure from the public funds, and furnishing Q
free education to large numGer ct young
has very great disgust for the c0lored
people, .and also for the idea Of teaching
them to read by schools, or in any other
way, their business. he says, being ito
work and not read y (the Bible, we may
infer, not being intended for then1j; and
these sentiments he has amplified by
means of an astonishing selection OF hard
words [some of them tenigh unto cursing y
In the April No. OF the Planter and Farmer.
Seriously, It Is not often in this conseryas
tive old State Of ours that an educated man
Of any profession of all q clergyman
undertakes to discuss a grave question OF
political economy in the style which charac.
terizes this article; and DR.. .Dabney's best
friends will, am sure, regret that he 80 en-.
tireIy forgot what was due to the subject, and
due to himself and to others. Some readers
can make, allowance for iHfrmities of temper
In, view OF honesty and ability J. but bis con-
slant use of such words as foo, !" !" hum
bug,D "perdltioD," "iniqultous." HQnix:
otic.o nsatanic," g damning," "accnrsed,"
as applied to the school system and Its friends,
will not be approved even by bis sympa-
thEzsrs, and certainly will not be epj eyed by
the vast number Of intelligent and worthy
citizens of Virginia who are friendly TO the TN
public schools. = Q 80, szi
Some of his offensive personal illusions 70
me will notice In the Central Presbyterian.
Here I will only say that he more than init.
mates that I get too much salary, and that
the nursing OF this salary Is the real motive
of INV. 90 pretended zeal in the cause ofpopu-
lar education. Perhaps am not worthy Of
nv position. and l certainly do not wish to
keep it one moment longer than am wanted
by the friends of education; but / should
think that the man who Is charged with the
supervision of 1,400 officers, 1000 school
teachers, and 1856, 900 school.children, ought
to get as much salary as man who,
with three other professors, is helping to
teach sixty young men for eight months and
half in the year. get 81 900 and no per-
ouisites, in an expensive city, and work
without ceasing in the duties Of my Office,
having no time for anything else, not even
for an ordinary amount Of association with
nv family. Dr.. Dabney gets $4,000 and a
house in a cheap country>place, with three
and half months holiday and plenty Of
time to make money by farming, publishing
books, etc., with good deal to spare for
attending to politics, and to other peoples
concerns, and to the running of mucks gen.
orally. And yet he is the man-snd the first
man-to intimate that am playing hypo-
critical part for the sake OF my salary. He
may have believed it himself when The aff1l-
tus Of passion was upon him; he never be-
lieved 1t before or since.
AS already intimated, this attack on our
public schools, like the most of those / have
Seen, ,is chiefly emotional. It appeals to the
sentiment that education and other privi-
leees are suited to the few and rot to the
many; it panders in language full of scorn
and disgust to the common aversion felt for
the negroes; and it strives to lash into fury
all the most violent passions Of the war.
Whatever just ground there. may be for the
prejudices and passions to which he appeals,
and probably I have due share Of them
myself, cannot think that 1t is either wise
or patriotic. to apply that style of treatment
10 the solemn questions pertaining to this
period Of our sorrow and perpleXity..
DR.. Dabney is not ignorant of the Nicom1-
chean Ethics, which teach that the world
IS q Kosmos, an ordered and garnished
whole, only so far as 1t is held together by
the harmonizing law OF the mean lmodera-
tiop1; otherwise it jerks ssun0er. and
trouqh uiosent excess bolts into chaos.'
Although some may choose TO regard the
sllusion as form of personal defence, I will
nevertheless remind such assailants that the
old doctrines have not been abolished which
teach that some decent respect is due to the
laws of the State, even il those who are APP
pointed to administer those laws are regarded
as unworthy o: ordinary courtesy. Our
fathers also thought that something is due to
the opinions Of mankind. Discussion OF
public affairs is always in order, and in our
situstion it is very much needed. For myself
and for the cause which I have the honor to
represent, desire nothing so much as calm,
thoughtful discussion. For deeply feel the
need of counsel, and hold myself. fully
amenable to proper criticism for my official
acts. :. ~ 49,
Having herein disposed Of personal mat
tiers, I will with your permission write some
articles hereafter in reply to the scattering
assertions OF DR.. Dabney respecting our
State schools. / know that your space Is
limited, and can only expect the opportu'
nifty of giving some connected exposition
and defence of public schools. 1t is only in
the way of controversy that such men as DR..
Dabney can be induced to read anything in
conflict with their own preconceiYed opin-
ions. He tells us that be has read "Civis"
and Rev. John Miller; but he strikes me a
foul blow because sent him two or
three little tracts, some OF which had
been sent to me for distribution, and
the others were extra copies of articles
published in the Educational Journal, from.
which extra copies were struck of for q
trifng cost !: all of which was done in ac-;
cordance with requirement. OF law, which
I explained in my last reports document
which DR.. Dabney might look into if he
thought he could find some weapon Ia 1t,
but which otherwise be has not read and
never will read. That have not misreprel
sented him will be sufficiently seen from the
following extract: 49, = -
ssThese documents. have had no other
effect on my mind than TO awaken the wish
.thatif we must perforce have this false, sys-.
tenn imposed on us by our conquerors. any
eyac,1tiye agency created to administer the