The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-08
The Petersburg Schools.
We have received The following note
from citizen Of Petersburg:
PErERsprRG, February 8, 1888.

from citizen Of Petersburg:
PErERsnuwG, February 8, 1888.
To The Editor Of the Dispatch:
AS Won seem 10 have posted yourself wei
in regard t5school trustees, and rs we nave
moi the laws before us TO refer to, we VIII
be obliged to YOU II you will give US your
opinion regarding the turning our ny Gov
ernor Cameron and his friends OF Messrs.
Blair and Parr. OF the old school trustees
here, and the filing OF their places with
ReNdjusters As we understand The mat
ter. all OF such trustees were ap-
polnted before the law OF last year
was passed requiring State officers De-
fore entering on their duties to take
an oath not 10 fight duel while holding
such Office. The failure to take such oath
was the cause las we learn OF the Governor
aud his friends displacing orr old school
trustees and filling their places with Read
busters, Though we think they ought to be
called Malone men.) II VIC have correctly
stated the facts, do you not think that tne
action OF the Governor was totally liieg'h
We doubt II the Governor himself mas YET
taken the oath referred 90. One thing II
sure. we have not heard OF any Ma
hone man being turned out oil ONCE
bv the Governor for such reason, nor
even when some officer held at tne
same time according TO Mr.. Blair both
STAFF and Federal office. II you have
not the time to do more, then we
would be glad II you would quote the td'o
as to taking the oath required. or course
we understand that such oath does not APP
ply TO officers who held office (and had
qualiied) before the passage OF such law.
While YOU are fighting so strong Tor the
rights OF your old school trustees, Keep an
eve, ii you please, on the rights OF The ola
school trustees of your friend over our
way. III fa,c and right are to prevail, theh
it is 10 be hoped the one will not be dis
turbcd and the other will be put back in
their Offices. 10
The oath is as follows:
81 swear Tor aflirm) that have not,
since the 1st day Of May, 1882, fought in
duel the issue Of which was, or probably
might have been, the death Of either party !;
nor have | been knowingly the bearer OF
any challenge or acceptance to fight duel
actually fought; nor have ! been other
wise engaged or concerned, directly or IN
directly, in ouel actually fought since
said time; nor will i, during my continu-
ancc in Office, he so engaged. directly or
indirectly. So help me God
The act Of Assembly provides that be-
fore acting in his Office every person elect
ed or appointed to any Office OF post under
the laws Of Virginia shall take this oath i'll
addition to the oaths before required by
law. We quote the oath because our cor
respondent requested us so TO do.
The real question is as TO the right OF the
State Board to decide for itself that there
are vacancies IN the Boards OF Trustees OF
the public schools, and TO proceed to Gust
the incumbcuts. The laws we quoted the
other day are in force in Petersburg as
well as Richmond, and the arguments
based upon them apply az well to the case
cited by our correspondent as to the case
of the trustees OF the Richmond schools.
Judge FRENCH decided all the points in
volyed in these cases against the state
Board. He decided that the burden Of
proof was upon the appolntees OF the State
Board to show a clear title to the office.
They must show, he decided, that vacancies
existed, and that they were such vacancies
as the State Board could lawfully fill. He
then examined the law and the authorities
and reached the conclusion that the ap-
pointees of the State Board were not enti-
tied to be recognized as lawful trustees OF
the public schools.
We state the decision in general terms.
1t will soon either be affirmed or reversed
by the Supreme Court OF Appeals-the for
mer, we expect.