Year: 1868

STocKBRIDGE, VI, Jan. Is, 1868


Dear Free Press:


In the controversy between the Board and Mr..
Adams l had not the slightest interest or bias.
had no favor to expect and no side to advocate
and only regretted that any discrepancy Of views
should exist between them. But as Mr. Adams,
in your paper of the stb inst, alluded in some
what dattering terms to a feeble and unsuccess-
ful effort 1 made to induce the legislature to re-
cognize his worth, and his acceptable and as yet
unremunerated labor in behalf Of the schools Of
the State, il is tit that I should say word Mr.
Adams has labored most assiduously and for the
most part wisely. He was appointed under such
circumstances that less efficiency than he showed
would probably have been fatal to the whole
scheme Of systematizing and directing the popu-
lar elementary education Of the State If he had
appeared as the advocate Of any scheme that
would have required any great expenditure, or
had radically changed our district system, there
would have been strong probability that the
act creating the Board would have been rcpelelI
after the first or second year Of It's existence. But
Mr.. 4. was judicious He said nothing toalarm
the friends Of education and much to arousca new
interest in those who were letLargic or despond-
eut. He awakened teachers to much higher eff
fort than they had ever made. He shovel them
what it was possible for them to attain. He
opened before them paths to emiueuce that their
eyes were closed to, and did very much to ele-
yate the standard Of education. Since his course
was SO praiseworthy. AMI his peeuniary reward
SO very small, it seemed altogether proper that
the State should give him some mark of its es-
teen. did want It should put upon its records
the evidence that it appreciated the skill, the un-
firing effort and flithfulness with which Nlr
y had abored in her interests. \ resolution
appropriating $1,000 as such a mark of appreci-
alton, by too easy acquiosence On my part was
referred to the committee Of ways and means,
and by that committee reported unflyorably,
and so Of course rejected by the House. It was
to be regretted I did not suppose it would meet
any opposition As far as could be seen when
the resolution It was introduced il met gener-
a favor, and many spoke -fitas amatter Of jus
tice, and thing that ought to be done


The report Of the committee was made in my
absence and passed upon, and then it was TOO
late to do anything for the object. 1t may be
that nothing ever viii be done in that way to
commemorate Mr.. Adams labor but he viii
long be remembered as the Jealous, efficient and
able Secretary Of the Board Of Education, who
was poorly paid. If he were not always wise, he
was always earnest and always devoted. He
magnifed his affice. He exalted manhood, and |
taught the people Of the State that human
beings and not horses, cattle and sheep, should |
be the objects of highest solicitude For this
if for nothing else he ought to have been remem-
bered by a generous donation. May he yet re
ceive due honor and reward; but if he does not
he viii remember with sad acquiescence, what
was once said by the wise man-''The poor is
hated even of his own neghbor, but the rich |
hath many friends


Yours,