Year: 1861

ton, are you towards? Do you run? And


if so from what kind of an enemy? Is it
your calling and your practice to retreat be-
fore vice and crime? would say to them.
had thought that your profession, your habits
and practices, your organization all tended
but in one direction, and that was the assault
upon vice wherever 1t was found-and even
among the schools, if it might be found there.
| would make them declare whether they
considered theInse selves an integral part of this
great social, political and moral whole; or
whether, like myself at certain time to
which | have referred they were like sands
on the sea shore, isolated and separated from
the common mass of mankind do not so
understand community; | do not so under
stand the line of duty of either the individual
or organization, social body, religious sect, or
the universal Christian character | agree
with those who object to the condition of our
Public Schools, except as to the class or de-
gree of fact alleged, and then utterly and
entirely dissent but | agree with them in
the general argument that the schools are not
efficient But | demand Of them, in lieu of
this disintegration, separation and isolation,
that with us, and everybody else, united
effort, with common purpose and firm de-
termination that the schools OF our country
shall be placed above and beyond the assaults
of anybody in these particular regards.
1t is said that this movement comes from
the Catholic Church. 1t is undoubtedly true
that in the main it does But it is also true,
know it of my own knowledge, that all
Catholics in this State do not approve Of this
measure. Nay, all the Catholic clergy of
this State do not approve Of this measure.
Why? Many of them have good and sulti
cient reasons apart from the intrinsic merits
of the propositions as an educational one AT
the present time, in California, happily no
man asks another, "Of what religious pro.
fession are you? What church do you at
tend, or do you attend any? Except, per-
haps, the latter question may be asked 10y
those whose particular vocation is connected
with such subject. But there is no disa
biity, either social, civil or political, arising
out of the particular religious opinions OF
any Of our citizens. This Assembly presents
the strongest and most complete evidence of
that fact Upon this floor are honorable
gentlemen born in different quarters of the
earth, educated in the different systems of re-
ligion known to men. Yet they are here 10y
the votes Of a common constituency, by the
kind regards of all denominations without
reference to any.


While as a body we are denounced by
every little two-penny sheet and paltry eur
in the country who has not sense enough to
know what to write, as being neglectiul OF
our duties, we have passed an Act providing
for the careful separation, sale, and payment
of the proceeds Of the lands belonging TO the
State into common fund for ihe purpose of
education. Quietly and unnoticed by the
great body of our people this measure has
passed. 1t is my opinion that as the result
of it, within ten years the State will have
School Fund of ten millions of dOllars--a
fund far in advance of that of any State in
the Union except one or two. Let men in
vite public attention to that measure. Let
the fund be increased beyond that, and let
the people demand it everywhere But let
them also, in addition to that insist that the
schools that are to be supported 10y that fund,
shall be the schools of the people, establish
ed by the people, conducted by the public
agents, elevated refined, and made fit for our
children. If there is an error, if there are
evils in the present system, let the error be
cured and the evils be remedied | will not,
for one, allow, without making any objection
thereto, that any citizen or body of citizens,
or any creed or class shall withdraw their of-
forts from the performance OF this high and
holy task We want the efforts OF all. 1t is
their duty to render them Let lis resolve
upon this, and then there would be no longer
any reasonable objection to urge against the
means OF education in )ur state.





If, as is said, there are religious dogm &
now taught in our schools say, Danish them.
If, as is stated, there be political dogmas
taught in those .cools, and certain book has
been exhibited here said to contain those doc
trines, let them lie excluded and forbidden.


Again: | have heard it intimated more
than once that this question was to be made
political question: that the position that
men would take here would be carefully
written down and noted, and that their po-
litical status hereafter would be determined
by the position they took ! have regretted
this exceedingly, but if there were any rea-
son why should speak at all upon this ques
tion, SO AS to be incapable of being mlsun-
derstood, the latter would furnish the strong
est one. Whenever any portion of the peo-
pie ofthis State, or of my fellow citizens, see
lit to object to me, because of the opinions
entertain or the efforts | make in the line
and direction of duty, let them object and let
them act | ask no lnvors, Whenever any
portion of the people cannot find in my acts



may be that | can do as well without them as
they can without me- | have no high ad-
miration for that class popularity denomina-
ed poliicans-those whose opinins hang
loosely about them-thosc changelngs, who
simply seek Office that they may get bread.
Our country has been cursed; its lamenta-
Lle throes to-day are the legitimate and log
ical sequence of the action of these detesta-
ble creatures. My doctrine and instincts
alike demand that upon any and all occasions
should speak out and let what | say be
tired upon its merits | have no fear, though,
that this question will be made a political
one. do not think that there are within
the limits of this State sufficient number of
men vain aud foolish enough to undertake to
erect as a standard of political action any
form of supposed religious opinions. | do
not believe there are any considerable num-
Der of men who will make it condition of
their suifrages hereafter, that the vote to be
cast here shall be cast in a particular direc
ton. | trust in God, sir, that we will be
spared such a condition of things.


But if it should come, and there must be
var of opinion, all have to say is that am
prepared to bear my part Of it, would not
to- day. for the concentration of all the offices
in the country into one, and my enjoyment
of that one sacrifice the opinions that !
have or the action that my conscience de-
mauds of me in connection with this sub ect.
Iirust that this discussion will at least term
nate in a manner that will be creditable to us
as body creditable to the people who so
kindly sent us here, productive Of results the
contrary to what has been prophesied. and