National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-23
Unclaimed Bounty Fund for Colorod Sol
hicrs.

and Colonel Rockwell.
Unclaimed Bounty Fund for Colorod SOL
diors.
To he Editor Of The National Republican,:
SIR: For the disbursement of this fund
two bills have been prepared and are now
being considered In committee.
The first proposes that tho Treasuary shall
purchase United States registered four per
cent bonds to the amount of $4,000 and de-
liver the same In equal sums to the treasurers
of some five educational institutions, Wis
Howard University, District Of Columbia;
Hampton Normal, Hampton, Va; Fisk Uni
versty, Tennessee Atlanta University,
Georgia. and Straight University, louisiana
TO be held by these institutions for the oduca-
tion and elevation of the colored peOple-"to
promote the end for which they have been
chartered"
The second bill proposes the use of the funds
for the same obiect-education and elevation
of the colored people in tho SOuth-but pro.
poses TO leave tho principal in the Treasury,
and that the interest shall be distributed
annually to such institutions as shall be
therein designated. 1t is probable the bill will
be so amended as to designate one institution IN
each of the Southern States, including the Dis
trict of Columbia. The number will be hf
teen.
MERITS OF THE LATTER PLAN.
First-It will be an equitable distribution
a share to each Southern Stato-and ought,
therefore, TO satisfy each Southern Member
and every Southern constituent. As for the
North, in that section there is school-house
college, or seminary on every hilltop and in
every valley" and the best of these open TO
tho colored youth. If now there can be
legitimate plan by which education can be ex.
tended to the neCessitOus classes In the South,
tho North will say Amen, for almost the whole
of the fund is tho uncaled-for bounty for col
ored men who were enlisted from the South;
aud the North is interested in the education
of the 'ncccssltous classes" of the South.
Second--ln this way the fund will not only
be equitably distributed, but so distributed MS
to reach the class designated the nccessitous
classes" Here lies fearful want. In 1870 there
were in tho eX'slave States over $500 600 per-
sons over tho age of ten who coald not read
aud 4l6l ,253 who could not write; 2,671 900 of
these are colored In the sum total there arc
more than 100000 who cannot read the
ballot they cast Now that social well-bcing
and National safety demand that these mill
ions be speedily as possible lifted out of sen.
suality and above the reach Of demagogues
every man must see, and that the prime worth
of the Nation is not so much the advanced
scholarship of an elect few as tho elementary
instruction Of the illiterate masses. There
arc InCu WHO, ike IOTuCll lJOuBC ana Nhnuer-
bilt, have mind for large things. These are
springing into existence institutions for ad.
vanced scholarships but the Government as
" foster'mOthcr, must provide for the ncces-
stous chldren-me0iJers Of her olCn body.
Thrd-To this ond we need to raise up
competent teachers. This is the great want in
the South. Thousands Of those capable Of be.
coming competent teachers, aud arc now
where they are needed, have not the means
rpuuiSitn Inr Distant travail 'lhny naaI
good normal school within their reach in their
own State, central, easy of access. This
consideration should be kept constantly
in view. With many 1t is vital
Fourth-By the selection of wCll.organized
institutions, having as instructors good men
and discreet women these normal pupils
coming teachers will receive not merely ele.
mentary aud scientific instruction. but such
views Of morality aud such sentiments of
propriety as will lift them above wasting vices
and seductive customs. This is an important
part OF instruction, especially to those who
shall be the coming mothers as well us teachers
Of mothers In the South, for the mother, more
than any other will mold the coming citizen.
Again, the normal pupil in such institutions
will have tho associate advantage NOT in
mere normal schoOl-the advantage of popular
lectures on other subj ieGts of profit of maturcd
scholarship yet be prepared for clement.
nry teaching in half of tho time requisite
Tor q classical course,
GAN THE PLAN BE MADE EFFECTIVE?
Flrst--The fund will be secure ia the
be frittered away by NAL.
legislation Of States or bad management of
trustees. 1t will be safe.
Second--Whilst the fifteenth part of tho
81 800 aunually-will not buy
lands, orect buildings and pay teachers, II |
will In Institutions already organized, land |
aud buildings paid for, and good man to |
we can find such in each State |
open to colored youth-in such institutions |
opened to coored youth in such institutions |
this sum will sustain normal department, |
pay principal and an assistant or two good |
lady teachers, who will do the work quite AS
well-wlth females better
Thlrl-IO secure this important work aud !
tho faithful use of the fund, lot the Govern
mont require that tho fund shall be used for
the work specified, normal instruction, and
that the institution mako to the Bureau OF
Education an annual report OF the manner in
which the fund has been used. Tho bill can |
so provide.
Fourth-In this way the fifteen institutions |
will have governmental iudorsemcnt and gov. |
watch'Oaro so far us the normal |
department. is concerned. This will give |
prospect Of efficiency, inspire confidence, and |
aggregate to the institutions aid from homo |
and from abroad, and thus grow into increased |
and, instead of one or u few in dis |
.ant places, we will have in every State a |
nucleus growing into u widc.spreading eli. |
,iency, and putting education within reach of
The "necossitous classes" The opportunity is |
quo in which tho Government may extend |
light 10 its illtOratG muses., yitallzo the body |
polite, aud it 1t to assimilate to its own in.
ititutions the coming millions from other
climes JoHN q. FEE,
WAsHNGToN, d. c., January 22, 1850.