National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-28

measure under consideration was moro open 70
objection OH constitutional grounds than was inc
measure introduced at previous session by MS
lrlenu ana colleague, aud no did not believe that
SO able constitutional lawyer as his colleague
would introduce or advocate a measure vlolative
OF the great charter Of our liberties When thnL
measure had been introduced Mr. Hampton had
FELT himself on safe ground in following the lead
OF his colleague in invoking the aid OF the federal
government for the purposes of education in MS
state Mr.. Hampton. felt compelled to occupy the
same ground now. for, the most careful, serious |
reflection had brought him to the conclusion that |
the greatest danger that threatened the perma,,
nency Of our institutions came from the frightful
Several senator's he continued, had twitted tho |
people of the south with not having put their own
shoulders TO the wheel before calling for aid from
tue federal government others had expressed the
fear that the southern states would not honestly
apply the funds. In refutation of the first charge,
so far as South Carolina was concerned, no would
refer to the statistics which he had already quoted
The other and grayer charge ho deemed unworthy
TO DO noticed by southern man. lilo would rely
upon the statements OF northern men-men whose
words should have weight before the sonate-to
show how unfounded tue accusation was.
Mr. Hampton thon quoted from reports and ad-
dresses of Rev. Dr. Mayo, of Boston, and Hon. j.
II. Smart, superintendent OF public schools OF In,
progress SHOWN In the matter of education in the
south, DR.. Mayo saying that never within any
Saa bSToc in and the history 81 been made
for education as within the past ten years In the
southern states, and this effort included in It's
benefits the children of both races. Mr.. Hampton
would not, he said, he drawn Into an argument
about the civil rights of the colored people Of the
south--a matter which had been referred 10 by
some senators, but he would simply read some OF
the laws on that subject standing on the statute-
books of South Carolina He then quoted from
the civil rights acts OF the state to show that en-.
tire equality OF civil rights was accorded to all
citizens, and expressed doubt whether any state
In the union had such stringent laws for the pro-
lection OF the rights of its citizcns. III, 4.
Mr.. Pugh said he had had no disposition TO
take any part In the DEBATE on the bill, but being
a member Of the committee on education, which
TODOftN0 IL.
support OF it, Every person who had represented
the laborinR classes before that committee during
necessity of educational facilities for their chill
dren. The southern states had dono all they
possibly could, and thai not being enough tnis
| Some gentlemen said the people ought TO be LETT
entirely TO their own efforts in the matter; that
aid from the general government would endanger
| their self.supporting faculty and render them
| Indifferent to the work OF developing their own
schools. The people of the south had listened
| long time TO such teaching and had needed the
cry that 1t was wrong and dangerous 10 accept aid
| from the federal governmeni-from the common
treasury-to which they contributed more than
their just ana equal share, aud that selfsupport
and self-reliance would bring them out all right
The use 10 which the money was to be put would
inure largely to the national benefit IN eradicat-
| ing an alarming public evil. This was govern.
ment of the people, and Mr. Pugh had no fears
that the people would permit the serious assump-
ton of power which some gentlemen had depre-
Gated. Our great experiment of selfgovernment
|
abundantly able to take care Of their liberties.
| Usurpation might show itself in the designs Of
political parties but whenever l. was seen by the
| ballot box There was no state in the union that
would seriously consider proposition TO place Its
public schools in the hands of the general gov
ernment. Mr.. Pugh spoke upon the constitu
| tonal objections to the measure, and could not
| see that they were well founded.
Mr.. Vest criticised the statistics compiled from
the census, which had been furnished by Mr.. Blair
on a former occasion to show the great extent OF
iliteracy, which statistics, Mr. Vest said, seemed
to include children under five years" infants,
mewliug and puking in their nurses arms" He
read from the figures quoted by Mr. Blair, show
ing the illiteracy of st. Louis Chicago, and other
cities. and denied that they were correct. Mr..
Vest also entered into the constitutional merits OF
the question, supporting his former position. that
posed the bill.
time ago with the census figures of illiteracy for
the first time, he had drawn some wrong inter-
ences, but from any point of view, the ilIiteracy
was so widespread and the figures. when void OF
all errors startling that there could be no doubt
about tho serious character of the evil. He sent
to the desk and had read a petition just received
the president and faculty OF Johns Hopk ms uni
versity, urging the passage OF the pending bill.
Mr.. Call had heard with much satisfaction the
remark of the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr.
Hoar the other day, that If we were to take coun
sions distrusiui OF the efficacy of the bill. II,
concurred with that senator that this was not
!, subject on which we should allow our remem
brances or any resentful feelings to weigh. HI
hud been glad TO see that spirit very general,
displayed In the debate. Mr.. Call spoke at som,
length, insisting that measure Of this characte
was a necessity to and an accompaniment OF thu
growing development of the time. The change
wrought by invention and progress were ever!
year constantly tending to the displacement o
and necessary readjustment Of the economic
forces of labor, so that not only was the common
school education becoming every year more anC
more necessary but industrial education as well
Mr.. Call also supported the bill on constitutional
| grounds.
Mr. Harrison said It seemed to be conceded tina
Il there were any obligation existing for the prop
ostiOn of this bill 1t was because of the emanci
, patton of the slave Yet we were distributing
this money all over the union, even to state
whose senators told us they were well able to TAX
, care of their own children. We should apply tn
! plaster to the wound, and not wrap up the Who'll,
, body. He would therefore move an amendment
that the aid should go only TO states which SHOULD
have not less than 10 per cent Of illlterdcy, au
prescribing that the state assessment for education
should not be lessened by reason OF the aid giver
, by the bill.
Mr.. Lamar rose to address the senate. but CAV
way for motion to go into executive session.
Mr.. Blair said 1t would be necessary for thu
friends of the bill to see that vote was taken hi
week.
The senate at 1850 went into executive session
and when the doors were re.opened adjourned.
THE HOUSE.