The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-31
,uhat WIN the Council DO?

c,xrrox has not only made his messen-
Ger a trustee Of the public schools OF Rich
mond. but has put him Into Office for the
long term. His term will outlast that oil
CAMERON himself. Thus the nail was
driven in and clinche6. The humiliation
Of the people OF this city Is to be perpetu'
ated. White geutlemeii were forced out
OF Office, and these negroes forced in. The
white men-Messrs. A. II. COURTNEY, VIII
LIAM II. WILLIAMS, DIR. S. p. MOORE, Rev.
A. w. wEDpEIr, G. p. RADY, DIR. H. IT,
CABgII., II. w. POWERS, NJ. Il. STRAUs,
and w. II. BowrE--were forcibly expelled
from the places they had so well hiied,
and against their protest compelled 10 y'e'o
their offices to PAUL, FORESTER, &c. There
was no vacancy al all. CAMERON. FARR'
and BLAIR, made the vacancies. The trus"
tees named above were not only willing TO
continue In Office but were so much opposed
10 turning the schools over to the negro
trustees, to be ruined by the faint OF negro
control, that they refused to surrender
their places until obliged to do so by the
MALONE Court OF Appears.
The facts all show fixed and determined
purpose to put negro trustees over our
public schools. There was no necessity
whatever for appointing any trustees. On
the contrary, every reason existed why the
public schools should have been permitted
TO pursue the prosperous career which they
had so long enjoyed under the supervision
of trustees representing the white tax-pay-
ers OF Richmond.
These facts must not be lost sight OF. III
Is not case where the State Board was
called upon to dill vacancies. On the con-
trary, il was at best mere flaw In the law
that enabled that Board thus to outrage the
public sentiment Of this city.
We asked the other day lawyer-mem-
Der OF the late City Board OF Trustees how
II happened that those trustees had not
taken the oath for not taking which they
were removed from Office. He said be-
cause 1t was not necessary under the law
for the trustees TO take the said oath at all,
and gave us the name Of the Most diStln'
guishcd lawyer in Richmond-certainly
one of the most distinguishes his au-
thority for the statement.
In n word, the trustees were uniustiiia-
bly, and wrongfuly displaced in order to
make the so-caled vacancies which two
negroes were appointed to fill. 1t was
cool, deliberate bid for the negro vote, ana
a truculent defiance Of the public senti-
nf a
Commonwealth.
But we have left our subject. The
CAMERON outrage is so fragrant and 50 eX-
asperating that it has led us, contrary to
our intention, to repeat once more The
foregoing statements. What we started
out to say concerns particularly the City
Council. The present session OF the schools
will end in week or two. The final eXami-
nations have already begun, we think. The
prIucipals and teachers have all earned their
nav, and will of course receive it. AS to
the future, we may repeat that it is left to
the Council to say how much OF the money
called for by the school trustees shall be
appropriated. We have heretofore quoted
the law on that subject. But no question
can arise upon that point at present. Next
year-that is to say. after the next session
OF the public schools shall commence, say
after the middle Of September-the Coun-
ci. will be in possession OF information
which will enable it to act Understandings
upon the subject. As we did not consult
the interests OF the Democratic party, butthe
welfare OF the schools, when proposed to
Governor CAMERON to let the battle cease il
he would COMPEL his messenger step down
and out, so the City Council must do what
ever is best for the white public schools.
In order TO act to the best advantage, there
fore. it will be compelled to await the
movements Of PAUL. He will not have
shown his hand before that time, though
we have heard it whispered that he intends
to allow none OF the present Funder teach
ers to remain where they are.
But even PAUL may prove to be unequal
to the task which CAMERON, FAIR, and
BLAIR have set before him. The term Of
three OF CAMERON's trustees will expire on
the Isl OF August, or sooner, and the City
Council will have the privilege OF filling
their places. So that before the schools
open again there will be three white men
upon the Board representing the white
taxpayers OF Richmond. These three
white men will be able to outvote PAUL IL
even two OF the CAMERON trustees can be
induced to act with them. This may seem
groundless expectation; but the matter
is one OF so much importance that il
demands that deliberation shall precede ac-
ton. From among JEFFERSON POWERS,
!. II. CBILDREY, JOHN w. FISHER, V. A.
FAvIER, and HENRY HUDNALL, it is GER
tainly possible that two men may be found
who will be unwilling to assist PAUL In
discharging all the experienced teacher,
and substituting Coalitionists.
For the present, therefore, "masterl,
inactivity" Is the policy which due re
gard for the welfare OF the public school
would seem to demand. "Be sure YOUR
right, then 60 ahead.' was DAvY CROCK
ETT's sensible and practical motto.
The Kentucky Platform.
Hon 4 w HIys who ,yas o,,o 20 Al.