Huntsville gazette., 1888-12-01
COLoRED UNIVERSITY.

COLoRED UNIVERSITY.
The Legislature at its last session
by bill undertook to establish the
Alabama University for colored peo
pie, and to provide for its support and
government. BY its terms it also un-
dertook to abolish the Normal School
at Marion and contribute the State 5
property there to this University.
Acting under its presumed validi-
ty, and in accordance with the pro-
visions cf the bill, | appointed Trus-
tees, and the Board as constituted,
under tookto locate this institution at
Montgomery. The unexpended fund
in the hands of the Treasurer Of the
Normal College at Marion were paid
to the Treasurer selected for
this school, and the University was
put in operation through corps Of
teachers employed by the Board.
Subsequently, after the payment Of
twenty-five hundred dollars out of the
appropriation for the support of said
University to the Treasurer such pro-
ceedings were had that the entire>
law was declared by our Supreme
Court to be imperative. The effect
of that decision suspended any fur
ther support Of this enterprise by the
State.
The school, howev. r, at Montgom-
has been continued and reference is
made to the report of the Superinten-
dent Of Education for further infor-
nation as to its opera ion. The
school at Marion, discontinued under
the supposed operation Of the bill has
not been revived, and the ba'ance of
the fund attempted to be appropriat-
ed. remains in the Treasury unex-
pended. The appropriation attemp-
ted to be made by the legislature was
from the school fund set apart for the
colored race, and the Court decided
that the Legislature was unauthor-
lied by express or implied enact
ment" to disturb the equality Of the
apportionment Of the sum appropri
ated for the public schools between
the respective races and to devote a
part Of the amount appropriat ed
exclusively to one race to another
foreign and distinct purpose, leaving
the amount appropriated to The other
race intact"
1t Is believed that the princi ples Of
this decision does not impair the vas
lidity Of the legislation by whichNor
NAL Schools in this State are being
supported, and, that by a statute en-
bodying the distiuct features of the
Normal school, the purpose Of the
Legislature at the last session may be
substantially accomplished, and re-
commend such legislation.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
When we consider the decade just
closing approval of our civil admin
istration is wrung from the most res
luctant and the most caviling. Our
assessments in 1879 were S123,757,
072-18 with a tax rate of 20 cents on
the hundred dollars. At this time
the valuation of property Is about
1923, ,O00, 900 with tax rate of so
cents on the hundred dollars. Dur
ing all these years of marrow affairs
at home" our economy has been al
| most savage. To our honor be it
written.
Our officials have been almost
grudg ingly paid, the very grounds OF
the Capitol have been neglected, the
sacred claims Of our manned veterans
have been barely acknowledged, and
the tax rate has been steadily decreas-
ed. The great burden which has rest
ed upon finances, and even more
weightily upon our consciences, has
been the cost Of public education.
But for this increasing burden oul
affairs would indeed be easy, and YET
very few thoughtful men will say
that the policy of the State had not
been both wise and benefcent.