Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-09-28

y upo-i IHe It'll nc sequel.
correspondence of the ALEx,xrrlA GAZETTE
HEWLETTs, Va. Sept 46-~There was last
winter in Beaver Dam School district. u
board OF trustees composed of Drs. Bracket
ana Anderson and Mr.. Campbell. Dr.
Bracket resigned, about the time the read
Iuster Superintendent. Mr. Valentine, was
installed. Months passed and said Super
sntcndent ignoring the law and his official
oath took no steps to have The vacancy
filled. On the 10th of August. IS days be
fore the expiration Of Mr.. Campbcll's term,
the electoral board appointed Mr.. Denton
and Mr.. Bntlcr to fill the present, and APP
preaching vacancies. These parties were
duly qualified, and on the 22d inst, Dr.
Anderson, chairman of the Board, called a
meeting TO be held on the 23th, notifying
as far as the mail service would serve him.
superintendent Valentine, of the meeting
The day and hour arrived and the chair
man was at the appointed place, and the
other members ut the station Il few hundred
yards oil. Having waited nearly IN hour
he left, and meeting with Mr.. Butler asked
HIM what this meant. His reply WAS, that
Mr.. Valentine had told him he should call
meeting Of the board in Il few days. and
he considered it his duty to honor and re-
spcct the wishes and orders OF the Supcrin-
tcndent. The Chairman replied that Nalcn-
tine had no more authority TO call Il meeting
of the board than his riding horse.
The Chairman met the Superintendent on
his way to Capt. Buffers, and was informed
that he should havca meeting of the board
ut Il private house the next day nj 10 o'clock.
His right TO do so WAS there and then denied.
That night the Superintendent and Bos>;
Humphrey lodged in the house of one But
Ter, by the river side.
Early this morning on Il faithful little
pony, was seen The Superintendent acting
as wallet to Boss Humphrey, and Capt. But
Ter vending their way TO Scotchtown, THE
former residence of Patrick Henry, to the
grand cOnclavc.
An hour or more after the appointed
time, Humphrey. Butler, Denton, Anderson,
Campbell and Superintendent Valentine
were assembled in one of old IIcnry's halls.
Humphrey and Valentine retire and have
an earnest conference. Mr.. Denton is soon
called to join them. and then Butler is sent
for
After Il long time they all enter, and An
| IL,
is to be done?
Nalcntine-I have called this meeting TO
organize the Board.
| AnderSon-This board was organized bv
the authority Of law and at the call of coun-
ty Superintendent Brown on the 18th of No
vember, 1870, and you have no authority to
call such II meeting. | now call Il meeting
OF the Board Of Trustees Of Beaver Dam
school district. You will come to order
gentlemen. The first business is to elect il
clerk to Till the expired term Of Mr.. Camp
bell. Who will you nominate?
Dcnton-l nominate Capt. Butler
voting for himl, | declare
Butler elected clerk of this Board You will
now sign the receipt. and take possession of
the books held by Mr.. Campbell
Buller--l don't recognize your right to
interfere with this meeting. | have an idea
that this is an entirely new board and Mr.
! Valentine called us together to organize us
ndcr@on-This board has; been in exist
cncc for twelve years. 1t is perpetual
body, so arranged that vacancies can never
occur except at death, unexpected rcsi%na-
ton or the dcrcliction of duty on the part
of the superintendent There is no vacan-
cy, and now all the Offices connected with
1t are Tiled. and we are ready for business
II your ideas were law, your programme
would he right. But they are in direct con.
ilict with the law. The duties the super
intcndent are clearly defined by law, and
nowhere is he authorized to exercise any
authority of Il district board while acting in
IFS Legitimate sphere. The duties and pow
crs OF the board are clearly defined also
and no power on earth can convene 4 board
| hut lis chairman or two OF its members
| For the superintendent to attempt ii is vio-
| lation law and an invasion Of he rights and
| prcrogativcS Of the board. But there is now
no Use in discussing il. | was elected to
| serve Tor three YEAR,; rs chairman OF this
| board, and | have two vet to serve and
Capt. Butler has been elected and proclaim
cd clerk. We are, therefore, fully organized
and all discussions of that question are out
Of order.
Buter-I don't recognize your authority
TO act as chairman Of this board This is a
new board, appointed by Il new supern-
tcndcnt, under ii new Legislature, and we
must organize it in sympathy with the po-
litical party to which we belong.
| Anderson have been Il member of this
board Tor twelve years. and This is the first
time have ever heard politics mentioned
i'll one of our meetings. lfyou wish To or
ganlZc ii in the interests Ola party what do
you propose to do?
Butlcr-l propose TO nominate Mr.. Den
ton rs chairman
Andcrson-lou already have one chair
man, and ifyou elect Mr.. Denton we will
have two.
Butler don't regard Your election. for
| have IN idea that this is an entirely new
board, and We have Il light to organize il
under Mr.. Valentines direction.
Anderson have shown YOU that Mr..
Valentino has no jurisdiction in the prem
lses-that the board is organized already &c
Valentino am chairman of the county
board, composed of three boards If | can
call three together, By q parity Of reasoning,
why may not call one ?
Anderson-Because the law authorizes
you to do the one and not the ether
Butlcr-l nominate Mr.. Denton n chair
man and vote for him.
Anderson-I vote against him, on the
ground that your action is illegal and inlor-
NAL. And to show you the usclcssness and
absurdily of all this will read you 4 paper,
prepared yesterday, which was about to
Ii; 4