Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-09
Farewell to Schools
Your "Earewejl "a Grhool

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Your Farewell to Schools
editorial Of June 4 contains
some very interesting views.
After recognizing that the
action taken by the super
visors Of Prince Edward
County resulted from public
resistance. you 60 on to say
that there are those who
contend that such public
resistance must not be used
TO prevent enforcement Of the
Supreme Courts decision In
the Brown case. The usually
well informed sources bit.
The only support you give
this view Is that "they" may
be right. but even so practical
considerations remain.
When this verbal smoke
screen clears. we see the first
signs Of q growing realism
that Federal usurpation Of
State sovereignty in legal
proceedings does not establish
Federal ability 10 execute this
wrongful extension Of power.
e does not because the same
Constitution that gave 10 the
FEDERAL Government only
such powers as are delegated
to 1t By the States. with checks
and balances and divisions Of
power. irnmunities, titles.
guarantees. also has devel-
oped Q legal system which
grants q wide latitude Of
operation TO both public and
private effort and recognizes
the domain. the rights, and
the limitations Of both. Our
economic system depends on
this federation and the bles-
sings which flow from 1t.
One right does not exist at
the pain or pleasure Of an
other nor does one disappear
because It Il used to avoid the
effects Of the other. II pri-
vate schools and their court
recognized immunity from
Government regulation are
legal in any county in this
land. they are legal In every
county IN it. Something called
equal protection Of laws.
Further. the right to tax Is
an ancient one. Litigation
concerning this right Is vast
and varied. but no justice,
Federal or State. would ever
entertain the argument that
this right is at the same time
an obligation, or that It Is OBJ
1igatcry for some purposes
and not for others. The re-
luctance Of the people Of
Prince Edward to tax to supp
port an educational system
iniinical to their interests
places the Federal Govern
ment ina defensive position
legally for The first time In
this conflict Of authority.
Without any legal precedent
70 enter the educational field
and without the appropriate
ton to enter on q scale sum-
Gent TO be effective. It has
few prospects In gaining this
authority and money from q
Congress that has steadfastIy
refused to pass legislation
compelling desegregation in
public schools. Remember the
checks and balances men
toned earlier.
Owen Allen Keen
4 -
Many would have hoped
desegregation could have
been delayed longer in
Prince Edward County but
the stiff-necked politicians
Of the area preferred to take
a slap at Gov. Almond re-
. gardless Of what would hap
pen to both Negro and white
children, especially the
poorer ones.
1t remains to be seen Il
100000 annually can be Sc.
cured from little and biz
donors. Meanwhile, hundred.
Of both Negro and white chill.
dren will quit school fol
good. Despite the efforts Of
q makeshift, non-crediteC
private school system, thl
literacy rate In Prince Ed.
ward win drop. No new bust
ness venture will locate fam.
lilies Of workers in the coun.
ty and many present teacher
and residents who hav,
added to the tax status vii
leave. The big taxpayers viii
be happy In the lowered ia,
rate. the politicians will havl
achieved for Virginia work.
wide notoriety second only I,
Little Rock at the expense o
the children.
Z. b. Henderson,
virginia State Conference
National Association 70
the Advancement Of Col
HVaoA naovalA