Dr. POTTER, of Schenectady, being then requested to address the Convention, made some observations upon the present position of the Superintendents. He regretted that they should be opposed in the discharge of their many and arduous duties, and that a portion of our fellow. citizens could still be blind to the fact that a constant and regular supervision of our schools is necessary. He dwelt especially upon the ne. cessity of a conciliatory course,-of submitting patiently to opposition-and to the duty of reiterating efforts and instructions which are not always appreciated. He also urged abstinence from political discussions, and from participating actively in political canvasses. The subject of moral and ret us instructions, formed the closing remarks of the Address, in which Dr. P. dwelt upon the importance of promoting it-to the importance of example as compared with precept-and to the still greater necessity of superadding_moral training to example and precept-to the value of the Bible in schools-and also to the necessity of having regard to the rights and prejudices of different classes of our fellow-citizens, in our efforts on this subject. He also happily alluded to the hymns that are sung, and the books that are use in many of our schools-that a religious spirit pervaded them that hence a highly moral-nay more-a holy influence was insensibly instilling itself into the minds of the pupils, which could hardly fail, if seconded by the acts of the instructor, to produce a most happy result. The closing sentences of Dr. P's ad. dress were truly eloquent. He held up before us the cheering spectacle of our schools, as they would be if under a strict supervision, accompanied by that hearty co-operation which should be given by parents, and attended with a moral and religious culture by the teacher. Thus, he said, our common schools will become common indeed, extending to all their common blessings, and exhibiting to the whole world the sublime and beautiful spectacle of purity and peace, combining to render useful and pleasant, those places where our children receive their incipient training for the future. At the close of his remarks, Dr. POTTER offered the following resolutions, which he supported by some able and appropriate remarks: Resolved, That the Convention regard the introduction of the Bible into schools as an object earnestly to be desired; but that the time and manner in which this object is to be accom. plished, is a question whieh ought to be decided by the inhabitants of the districts. Resolved, That in all measures for the promotion of moral and religious culture in our schools, sacred regard ought to be had for the rights, and tenderness manifested towards the scruples and prejudices of all. Rev. Mr. MAY, of Syracuse, then addressed the Convention as follows, upon the resolution I perceive, sir, that the resolutions just laid efore you, and so ably advocated by Dr. Potter, will be adopted by this Convention. I rejoice to see about me the evidences of a very general approval of them. But I hope, sir, they will not be passed without some further consideration. It is not so important to give our assent to any sentiment here expressed, as it is : to apprehend fully the broad and deep principle upon which these resolutions rest-to feel its magnitude, and carry from this meeting the fixed determination so to act, in reference to the subject of these resolutions, as to produce all the good we desire, and avert the evil we deprecate. The question thus brought before you, sir, is one of great, it may be of vital, consequence to all our common schools. We, of Massachusetts, have begun to forefeel, in respect to our own system of public instruction, the mischief that seems to be impending over your system, from the agitation of this question. It is one that can be settled only upon the broad principle advocated by Dr. Potter. The common schools are scoools for the whole people, without distinction of party or sect; and therefore, so far as may be practicable, we ought to keep out of them every thing of a sectarian or partizan character. LYMAN COBB, esq., of New-York city, followed Mr. May; he said: That in these schools a portion of the Scriptures is read by the principal, at the opening of every school in the morning. It is a custom which I revere; and could any gentleman who hears me view the scene when this reading of the Bible is going on, he could not but be highIt is, Mr. President, a most ly gratified. glorlous custom. The silent attention on the part of the pupils is most strikingly impressive. Can this be done, sir, without having a most happy influence exerted? We know very well, Sir, that all our citizens do not regard the Scriptures as holy. Many regard the Bible as no better than an arithmetic or an almanac. But, sir, we must recognise the Bible as a sacred book, pre-eminently superior to all other books. We cannot sustaint our institutions without its sacred recognition. No republic ever did exist, no government ever existed, where the rights of man were at all regarded, in which the Bible was not the basis. How was it, sir, with France? The motto of the revolutionists was: "There is no God, and death is an eternal sleep." The awful consequences which followed this announcement in that unhappy country are well known, sir, to you and all who hear me. Without the full and decided recognition of the Bible, we have no standard of right and wrong, no test by which to exact the truth from a witness in our courts of justice.-Still more, sir, we must have the moral and religious principles which are found in that sacred volume only, interwoven with all our systems, of intellectual and literary instruction. Betterd far better, sir, that all of the seven hundrep thousand children in this state should grow u in entire ignorance, than that they should hav a mere intellectual education. I wish not, sir to object directly to the passage of these reso lutions; but I do wish, sir, that some modification of them be made so that, in every school in this state, the daily reading of the Bible, in some form, will be most urgently insisted upon by every County Superintendent. Dr. POTTER remarked, that he had certainly intended to embody the views of Mr. C. in his resolutions. He thought the trustees and inhabitants should decide this matter, and not any He would not foreign authoritative body. differ from Mr. C. about the importance of the Bible. He did not regard the Bible as a useless book, by any means, but as one of the utmost importance, as he had hoped he had evinced by his resolutions. He would cheerfully accept of the amendment, and it was modified accordingly. Mr. ELY, of Erie, made some remarks in relation to the schools in his county, and strenuously urged upon theConvention the proprietyof leaving this matter to the people. Mr. MANN, of Monroe, observed, that he concurred in the express opinion of the resolutions, that this matter can be most safely left to the several districts; but he very much feared that their passage here would have the very effect which their terms deprecate. If it be true that the matter is one of such extreme delicacy as to require it to be left wholly with these districts, then it follows, that any expression by this Convention, one way or the other, and one way as much as the other, will be likely to do harm. He was, therefore, for that reason, opposed to the passage of the resoJutions. Messrs. Ely, A.Wright, Dr. Potter, Rev. Mr. May, Henry, Cobb, Barnes, W. Wright, Rev. Mr. Pichard, Spencer, and Curtis, contiuued the debate, and were followed by Mr. T. Lind. sley, of Yates, as follows: Mr. LINDSLEY concurs with the gentleman who had preceded him, these resolutions may lead to agitations injurious to the interests of sound morals. A recommendation of this import would be misinterpretation in sections, and by individuals. remarks by referring to the influence the Bible exerted in that European convulsion-it opened the eyes of our Puritan fathers to their thraldom, and made them pant for liberty, which they made first in their tents, first in their huts, first in their schools, and first everywhere. The scarcity of Bibles, he said, during the Revolution, first caused them to cease in the schools; and when infidels and papists afterwards came among them, they clamored against the restoration of the Bible to its proper place. He said the crisis had come. The ground is taken, and it will be maintained. The Bible cannot be expelled, or if it be, its expulsion will expel christians and believers in the Bible from your enterprise. It was not mere neglect of the Bible against which Mr. C. said he wished to raise his voice, but against its expulsion. He said-To teach science without morality is, de facto, to teach that morality is not essential to education. To teach morality without religion, is in fact to deny religion, by affirming it non-essential to morality; and to teach religion without the Bible, is to deny the Bible, by teaching that it is not essential to religion. Mr. C. said that the teacher, if he imparted any moral instructions, must appeal to some sanction, to satisfy the pupils, of the truths of which he spoke; and he must refer to the Bible, or to his own theories; and we will not (Mr. C. said), permit teachers to speculate on these matters. But if he teaches justice, mercy, truth and benevolence, he may say the Bible says so, and it is in agreement with reason. But what is the use of referring to a Bible that is expelled from the schools as unfit to be read? This effort seemed to him premature, if not unauthorized. He has entered into consulta- Dr. DAVID M. REESE, superintendent of the tion uninstructed. No meetings, to his know- county of New York, said that he had arrived ledge had been held in his charge, upon the in town since this question was first brought up subject, and though individually, the Conven--that it was one which had long agitated his tion may be anxious for the passage of these resolutions, he was compelled to act without authority, or give his vote against it. He had listened to exhortations to liberality and toleration. He preferred to be believed now in recognizing the whole family of man as brothers. But, do not these resolutions, in using the term "Bible" without a qualifying epithet, leave the impression upon the mind of our Catholic brethren, that the protestant's Bible is intended? If the Bible be introduced, strict, reference should be had to the capacities of pupils; the lessons should correspond with their abilities. But the failure to specify the time and manner of introduction, was derogatory to every principle of pride and honor and duty. Point and definity should characterize our action. A simple expression of personal views cannot secure the object at which which we aim. The Rev. Mr. CASTLETON, of Syracuse, then addressed the Convention at some length; he said: The hour of adjournment haviving arrived, the Convention adjourned. The chair having announced that the debate would be renewed at 7 o'clock, continue until 8, and be followed by an address from D. Potter. EVENING SESSION. The Rev. Mr. Castleton having had the floor at the time of the adjournment, resumed his city--and he continued his remarks at some length, as follows, the "ten minute rule" having been suspended : MR. PRESIDENT :-If this convention were aware of my peculiar position in respect to the subject under discussion, in the city of New York, where I reside, they would, I trust, in some degree, appreciate the abruptness with which I may seem to have presented myself this evening to the notice of this body. Gentlemen will pardon the earnestness with which I approach the discussion of this most interesting and most import int subject. I am compelled to say, Mr. President, that I can perceive no way in which the presentation of these resolutions, unfortunate as I deem it to have been, can be remedied but by their rejection. You will be prepared then to hear that at the conclusion of my remarks, I propose to move to strike out the second resolution. are doubtless aware that the position of NewYork is different from that of the other counties of the state. I feel it to he proper to allude somewhat particularly to the position of tha question in the city of New York. You And here I beg leave to correct a statement of the President of the convention that I have authorized the use of the Douay Bible. Never, at nay time, except when without note or comment. Up to a recent period no school in the city of New-York had for forty years been opened without the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Roman Catholic teachers, as well as those of Protestant persuasions, read them continually and without objection. politicians, designed to flatter the supposed prejudices of Catholics for the purpose of making political capital. But a few years since an unfortunate event I represented these facts to the officers of the took place, which the convention will of course wards, and having ascertained that they would recollect. The schools being in peaceful and do nothing, I notified the Board of Education prosperous operation, as they had for many years that such schools had forfeited their share of the been, a Roman Catholic Bishop of much celeb-public money. I obtained an explicit and strong rity thought proper to present a complaint to the decision from Col. Young, at that time Secretary common council that his denomination were de- of State, that the Bible could not legally be rebarred from the enjoyment of their share of the garded as a sectarian book. A law was passed public money by reason that the Bible was read forbidding the exclusion of the Bible without in the schools. The common council gave that note or comment; to be excluded on the ground prelate a hearing, and also invited other distin- of sectarianism, by either the officers of the guished gentlemen of other sects to meet him and discuss in the presence of that body the sub- wards or the Board of Education. ject matter of the complaint. After a full and free discussion, and a patient hearing, the common council, with a single dissentient voice, rejected the application of the Romish Bishop and decided that the word of God was not to be proscribed as a book of sectarian character. The Bishop next made an attack upon the existing system of public instruction by haranguing a political meeting. A committee was sent to Albany to operate upon the legislature. Clamorous appeals were made in the Catholic churches. Catholics were called upon to vote for a ticket pledged to support their peculiar views in regard to the Bible, in order that a law might be passed for the exclusion of the Bible from schools. They desired a special act that the officers of each ward should have power to originate new schools and conduct them in such manner as they pleased. Such schools were started, and were styled by my lamented predeeessor, Colonel Stone, an opposition line of schools." And so they were. They were in direct opposition to a practice honored and sanctioned by forty years of uninterrupted usage.Col. Stone deprecated the banishment of the Bible from the schools. The legislature passed an act in 1844, designed to correct the evil, to the effect that the Board of Education be prohibited to forbid the use of the Bible in schools. You will recollect, sir, that the county of New York is under laws different from those relating to the rest of the counties in the state. The law in New York prohibits the exclusion of the Bible from the public schools, and at the same time forbids them to decide what particular version should be used. It is also provided that no school violating that provision, shall be permit. ted to obtain a share of the public money. my first visitation, last fall, I found thirty-three schools under the new law denominated opposition schools," from which the Bible was shut out. These were not the public schools, so called, but those established by ward officers in pursuance of the law procured by the exertions of Bishop Hughes. In some of these a formal record of such exclusion, to which in some it was added, that being a sectarian book it could not be used. On I earnestly protested against this exclusion of the word of God. I gave a public challenge to all persons to come forward, if they could, and show that any child or parent, Catholic or Proestant, had ever objected to the use of the Bible. The exclusion was to the last degree wanton and uncalled for. It was not the work of the peo ile not even of the Catholic portion of the people but a miserable contrivance of corrupt Having obtained Col. Young's decision, I then proceeded to action. But the enemies of the Bible were also active. By the votes of the very men who turned the Bible out of schools, they got an allowance of public money to such schools. Why did they not appeal from my decision? I will tell you, sir. They knew Samuel Young too well. They knew his indomitable firmness and unimpeachable integrity. I notified them that my decision, after fifteen days, became absolute. Still they did not appeal. With their eyes open they allowed the period for an appeal to pass by. But at this juncture I was called before a very large public meeting on Christmas day, to present the subject before the people of the city. I did so, and in the Tabernacle, before five thousand of my fellow citizens. The opinion of that great meeting was powerfully expressed in my favor. In or der to afford every facility to my opponents, I offered to renew my decision, that if they pleased they might appeal to the Department. My proposition was not accepted. I carried the matter before the common council, which adopted an ordinance by nearly a unanimous vote, forbidding the comptroller to pay the public money to districts which had in this manner violated the law. None has been paid to any school since November last, in which the Bible has not been read. I here repeat that no parent or child ever objected to the reading of the Bible. It is always to be borne in mind that either the Douay Bible, or the Protestant version might be used, provided the same were without note or comment. I have indeed, myself put the Douay Bible, without note or comment, into several schools where the greater portion of the pupils were the children of Roman Catholic parents. The reading of the Douay Bible is distinctly and emphatically recommended at this day in the city of New-York, wherever the same is preferred by the inhabi tants. The great cry against the Bible in schools in that city, is not the work of the people. It is the work of crafty, intriguing, corrupt and designing political demagogues. You cannot fail hereafter to feel, sir, that the presentation of these resolutions is eminently unfortunate. If they shall go out among the published proceed. ings of this important body, the effect will be lamentably to lower the standard of moral feeling in schools. I must at least protest against the passage of these resolutions so long as the present law in regard to the city of New-York stands unrepealed, for there the law impera tively requires the daily reading of God's Holy Word. I regard the use of the Bible in the schools as an indispensable feature of American education,-not of American education alone, but of all right and true mental culture. Ardently do I wish that the truthful and impressive definition of education just given in our hearing by the learned and distinguished gentleman, Dr. Potter, who honors this convention with his presence, could be written in living characters on the cope of Heaven. It is to develop man's moral and intellectual nature that we seek in every true system of education. But this is totally imprac. ticable in any school where the influence of the Bible is excluded. All moral good must be referred to the word and oracles of God.. Let it once be proclaimed that the Bible is a sectarian book-that it is unfit to be read in our schools and listened to by our children, and what kind of a moral education can you confer upon your children? The announcement alone would be fatal to all good morals, and all proper education. I should like to know what kind of education an American is to receive who is brought up to regard the book of God with prejudice, as a book not fit to be read in schools. These resolutions open the door for the exclusion of the Bible wherever prejudice is alleged to exist against it. They have unavoidable re. ference to the position of things in New-York. In that city as I have already remarked, a por. tion of the Scripture is always read in the public schools. It gives a grave and healthful aspect to the exercises of the day. I need not tell you, sir, that every succeeding Secretary of State from Clinton down has borne testimony in favor of the use of the Bible in schools. He Dr. POTTER replied, saying in substance, that we frequently see a poor, deformed child, by being kicked and cuffed about, the more strongly and fervently loved and protected by its parents." So with his resolutions: he had at first not felt very anxious about their passage, and had almost been tempted to repudiate them; but, from the vigor with which they were attacked, he felt strongly inclined to protect them to the utmost of his abilities. He advocated that the Bible should be introduced into all the schools as soon as practicable, by persuasion, but not by compulsion; that superintendents and others should recommend its introduction, but not exact it ;that the superintendents, as officers, were merely advisory ones; and that no resolutions of theirs will be compulsory, but that all measures of this nature must after all be referred to the people as the proper tribunal to decide upon them. also said that he could not apprehend that the passage of the resolution would have the unhappy influence in the city of New York which the gentleman seemed to anticipate. The resolution, in its terms and spirit, referred to the introduction of the Bible into schools where, now, it is not read; and it was difficult to see how a measure designed to aid that object could tend to the exclusion of the Bible any where. In the city of New York, the use of the Bible in schools is provided for by a law of the state. No such law exists in respect to the country, and in its absence, it is almost too obvious for argument that the people-the inhabitants of the several districts are the proper arbiters in the premises. This resolution affirms the great desirableness of introducing the Scriptures where they are not now used. It also declares the inhabitants in each district to be the proper judges as to time It has been observed in this debate that truth and manner. Is not this wise? Is it not better must prevail-that the Bible can be in no dan. than coercive legislation? mole in harmony with ger-and that therefore no efforts are needed in the genius of our institutions, and with the spirit its defence. But is this the course you pursue of the common school system in this state? That in regard to philosophical and scientific truth? system makes the people the governors of the If so, then your schools are themselves superflu- schools in the several districts. The state suous. Science and philosophy can never be put perintendent has only an appellate jurisdiction down, but morals and virtue may; and though--the county superintendent is but an advisory the Bible is in no danger, our liberties are in great danger. And if we tamely surrender the Bible at the clamorous bidding of those who would drive it from our schools, we shall soon see it driven from our churches also; and another bonfire like that kindled by catholic hands on the borders of our own State will be kindled for the destruction of the Bible. At the present time there are but six schools in the city of New-York where the Bible is excluded. These are ward schools, and not under the direction of the Public School Society, and such schools receive no public money. But aside from all consideration of my own city, I should deprecate the passage of these resolutions. In respect to the controversy in that city, the sense of the country has been expressed in no ambiguous manner. The evil to result from these resolutions would, I fear, become universal. It would extend to every city and town in the State. Their passage would be disastrous in the extreme. And I thank God I have yet to learn that this respectable body-these superintendents of this great State will vote to tread the Bible under foot. The same baleful spirit which seeks to banish the Bible would blot all trace of Almighty God from the Universe he has made. officer. The whole theory of the system involves the idea that the PEOPLE are to adminis ter it-the state, through its officers, acting the part of patron and supervisor. For a country like ours, is not this better than the centralised absolutism of Prussia or Austria, where the people do little for education, the government almost every thing? The gentleman states that in no instance have the people in the city of New York, either parents, teachers, or children, objected, when the introduction of the Bible has been proposed. This shows that it is safe to refer this question to the people. Where proper prudence is used, no objection will usually be encountered, and the objection of a small portion of the inhabi. tants would by no means render it the duty of the majority to resolve upon exclusion. Wise and good men, however, will always be more anxious to subdue opposition by kindness and persuasion, than to overthrow it by the mere force of majorities. They will bide their time. If they cannot secure the introduction of the Bible peaceably, they will wait; consoled in the mean time by the reflection, that through the singing and reading books in schools, through the example and precepts of the teacher, as well as through appointed Messrs. Dwight and Edwards a committee to invite him to take a seat in the Convention. On his arrival, he regretted his inability, from indisposition, to participate in the exercises. the daily discipline, they can do much for moral and religious culture, even though the Bible be not read in school hours. It is an end which they will keep steadily in view; but there is a yet higher end which can still be attained-even that for which the Bible itself is given-the im- The attention of the Convention was then, parting of the principles and influence of the Bi- pursuant to previous resolution, agreeably and ble through the inculcations of living expound-instructively entertained by a class of ten pupils, ers of its truths. Nor should we in discussing under the supervision of Miss BLOSS, of Rochesthis subject overlook the aid which we derive in ter. The object of the exercise was, to exhibit this good and great work, from the clergy, from a new system of instruction in History; the preSunday schools and Bible classes, and from pa- sent exercice was in Ancient History, comrental instruction. mencing with the Creation, and continuing nearly to the Christian era. The pupils were from 8 to 13 years of age, and the young masters and misses acquitted themselves to their own credit, and to the credit of their instructress. Miss B. has just published a work on Ancient History, to accompany her charts, &c. During these exercises, Mrs. EMMA WILLARD, of Troy Female Seminary, was introduced to the audience, and took a seat among the honorary members. Dr. REESE rejoined in explanation of some points, and at the close of his remarks, the question was called for. The question was taken on the first resolution, which was adopted, ayes 34, noes 3. The second resolution was then withdrawn, as the time limited for the debate had expired. Dr. POTTER being then called for, requested permission to omit the lecture from him, of which notice had been given, as he had already unexpectedly occupied more of the time of the convention than he intended, and was not prepared to present any thing worthy of the occasion. The convention having declined to exeuse him, he offered some remarks upon the object and end of education, and especially upon the importance of the law of habit, as an element. He pointed out the prevailing error which considers knowledge rather than mental develop ment, to be the great end of scholastic instruction.' He dwelt upon the evils which result from this error, such as the multiplication of studies -the exercise of verbal memory instead of the understanding-a superficial, hurried method of teaching, &c. He also insisted on the necessity of aiming, in our schools, at the formation of character. The connection which exists be tween the school life and the mature character of the individual, was pointed out, and the insensible, but certain manner in which habits are formed, and principles established, &c. &c. This subject was discussed at considerable length, and with the aid of various illustrations. Ad. journed at half past ten. 8 o'clock, WEDNESDAY, April 23. MORNING SESSION. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Pickard. At the opening of the convention, Dr. REESE, of New-York, submitted the following resolation, which was unanimously adopted; whereupon the members who voted in the negative last evening, on the question passed by ayes and nays, withdrew their opposition : Resolved, That in THIS resolution, the con. vention disclaim any expression of opinion, on the subject of the exclusion of the Bible from certain schools in the city and county of NewYork, for the obvious reason that the legislature have enacted a special law for that county, in which this subject is provided for, in contradistinction from the general law of the state. The President then introduced to the Convention GEORGE B. EMERSON, Esq., of Boston, and HENRY BARNARD, Esq., formerly of Connecticut, now State Superintendent of Rhode Island. He also announced the arrival of the Hon. N. S. BENTON, Secretary of State, and State Superintendent of Schools for New-York, and Mr. EDWARDS, of Onondaga, having informed the Convention that some of the public schools in Syracuse had postponed their vacation some days with reference to the meeting of this body. A committee was appointed to make a visit to those now in session-consisting of Messrs. Dwight, Fonda, Reese, Palmer, Ely, Shumway, D. R. Randall, Johnson, Barnes, Edwards, Seaton, Woodin, and W. Wright. In accordance with the rules of the Conven tion, the Superintendents were called upon by the Secretary, in the order of their counties, to submit enquiries, or make statements of their different methods of procedure. Mr. WOODIN, of Columbia, said that he was in the habit of giving notice of his visits to schools two or three weeks in advance, requesting teachers to invite parents and others to attend; and that the result was a rapidly increasing interest in his labors and the success of the schools. He had called a Convention of the Town Superintendents, with a view to effect uniformity of text books-one result of which had been an arrangement with a bookseller to furnish books at a greatly reduced price. Had been careful not to grant certificates to those not apt in communicating knowledge. That he strongly inculcated the importance of a high standard of moral example as well as precept, That he had given instructions, that in Penmanship, the scholars should not write, either immediately upon coming into school, nor after they had become fatigued by long sitting-but just before recess in the morning and afternoon. At this period, he found scholars in the best condition for this exercise. That in reference to the Bible, he had found it in some cases excluded, and that he had sought its introduction by no other method than kind and persuasive appeals to those interested. It was now read generally in the schools throughout his county, without note or comment. That opening the school by prayer had been left to the discretion of the teacher, where no objection existed. Mr. O. W. RANDALL, of Oswego, said there were 280 schools in his county-but one Superintendent-that it being impossible for him to visit each school more than once a year, he proposed to the board of Supervisors, that the |