Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-17
The Blair Bill.

| IN WV iNettt iiOhs ~ IL
II. STUART, himself statesman Of
national reputation, testifies that the
Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court Of
the United States and WILLIAM NJ.
EvARTs, ESQ.,, the most distinguished
lawyer in this country and lately Sccre-
tary of State of the United States, have
both testified TO the constitutonality of
the BLAIR bill. Let nobody raise that
question again.
STANTON, January l3, 1885.
II. C.. Tnsiey Esq:
Dear Sir,-I have had the honor to
receive your note of this date, in which
you ask me to give my views of the
Blair bill now pending before Congress,
and hasten to reply to it.
The need Of the southern people in
regard to education, more especially of
the colored race, has been a subject of
anxious thought with me ever since the
close of the war. brought this matter
to the attention of the Peabody Beard
in October, 1879, by motion to APP
point committee to consider it and re-
port upon the best means Of advancing
the object in view. i was elected as
chairman Of that committee. Chief-Jus-
tice Waite and Hon. William NJ.
Evarts being associated with me. As
the time of both these gentlemen was
very much engrossed by their public
duties, they requested that | would
give the subject careful consideration
and prepare full report on it, to be
submitted to them for revision and
sanction.
Having leisure during the early part
of the winter of lS79-'SO, made full
investigation of the whole subject, in
all its aspects, and prepared a report
covering forty octave pages. For great
er convenience of revision and amend
ment by the committee, and ultimately
by the Board, had it printed at the
office of the Spectator in Staunton. On
the 18th of February, 1880, a special
meeting Of the Peabody Board was held
in Washington to receive this report. 1t
was carefully revised by the committee
and some few immaterial amendments
made. In my conference with my
associates of the committee | call |
ed their special attention to the argu-
ment which | had prepared on
the constitutional question, and invoked
their deliberate Judgment as two of the
most eminent constitutional jurists of
our country on its soundness. To my
great qualification they gave it their full
sanction, and concurrod in the opinion
which | had expressed, that as the
policy of aiding popular education by
grants of public lands had been adopt
ed by the Continental Congress as early
Is 1885, two years before the Consti-
tuition had been framed, and four wears
before it had been ratified, it must be
res adjudicata. They
thought, as did, that the Constitution
had been framed and adopted with re-
ference to that as one of the funda-
mental rules Of policy of the Govern
ment.
After the report had been carefully
scanned and revised by the committee.
] was instructed TO present it to the
Board, where it was again maturely re-
viewed and discussed and finally adopt-
cd by unanimous vote, and Hon. II.
Z. Winthrop, the president. was re-
luested to prepare brief memorial to
Congress, accompanied by copy of the
-eport as expressive of the views of the
Board, and urging Congress to take
such action as would be necessary to
fleet the object contemplated by it.
The Blair bill may be fairly regarded
IS the response to Congress for that Pc
ition. 1t differs from it somewhat in
ietails, but its aims are substantially
ne same.
At "a subsequent meeting Of the Pea
'ody Board the president was instructed
o renew the petition to Congress, and | s
With that view was requested to have a
lew edition OF the petition and report
printed for distribution.
l have, since the subject has been be-
orc Congress, given much thought to I
!, and my opinions remain unchanged. ,
still believe the measure il free from !
II constitutional difficulty, and that the !,
assage of the bill is demanded by the :
ighest considerations Of patriotism aud
cund policy. have been gratificd to
60 the earnestness and ability with
'hich the press Of Virginia, almost with
ut exception, has advocated the passage
the Blair educational bill. In my a
lgmcnt this bill presentS the most i'm II
ortant issue that is now before Con- i,
Fess. The question Of revenue re-
I'm is, undoubtedly, enc Of vast mo- RI
ent, but it yields in importance to S
is great measure for the education Of | q
o " illiterates- Of our country, and b
pecially Of the South. A revision of !,
. txrif affects large pecuniary In
rests, but the Blair bill strikes deeper !,
q reaches fursher~-it involves tho !.
~ principles Of our Goverumenk 2
q virtue and inl<1lifonce 81 % peo- !"
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