Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-04-09
Mixed Schools

Mixed schools
One of the issues made in our State can
vass was the question of mixing the races
in the common schools. The Democrats
and Conservatives contended that the Con-
stitution did not prohibit mixed schools,
and the Radicals had repeatedly refused to
incorporate such provision in the Consti-
tuition. On the other hand the speakers OF
that party, white and black, met these ar
guments with the protest that neither race
wished or would permit the association OF
white and negro children in the common
schools that such discrimination IN the
Constitution would have been unjust, and
did not properly belong in that instrument,
and that when the school bill was passed,
all parties would unite in separating the
races.
It was urged that probably when in any
township there were enough children OF
each race to Justify the erection OF more
than one school house and the employment
of a sufficient number of teachers, there
would be nc mixture of races in the schools;
but where there were but very few of either
white or black children, that it would be
found impracticable to provide separate
schools, and the people unable to build two
houses and support two schools, under the
law compelling all children to go to school a
certain term of years, that there would be
q forced association of white and black
children in such townships. The Execu-
tive Committee of the Conservative party
issued addresses to the people, calling their
attention to this matter and warning them
Of the approach of danger. Their words
were unheard and their fears unavalllng
The white people of the West, who, from
the very small proportion OF blacks IN their
midst, did not foresee the danger and
could not appreciate their strength, paid
no attention to these appeals, but by their
votes deliberately placed the control of the
local governments of their Eastern fellow
citizens in the hands of their former slaves,
who transferred it with ignorant and pre-
JUDGED avidity, to worthless strangers and
more worthless natives.
We labored in vain to show our Western
friends that while negro Sherifs and Con
stables, Mayors and policemen could not
be elected over them, that in the question
of mixed schools they were more directly
interested than the people of the East. In
no county, probably, West of Rowan were
there sufficient negro children in any one
township to justify the erection of school
houses or the employment of teacher,
and from necessity such negro children
would be forced to go to school with white
children. In some portions of the East the
exact reverse would be the case. But in
the West it would be an exception to find
enough colored children to form a school
The Western Radicals, with the aid of the
Democrats of the House, have succeeded
temporarily in preventing mixed schools,
but we feel confident it will be found
that the requirements of the Constitution
cannot be carried out under the present
bill, and that the question will again be
pressed at the Fall session of the Legisla-
ture, with what success we cannot now
predict.
To show how lothfully leading Radicals
gave up the attempt we copy the following
debate, if such puerile stuff can be called
q debate, from the Standard, with the re-
mark that all the speakers are Radicals. 1t
may be we'll to add that thirty-one voted
against the final passage of the bill, al
Radicals, because separate schools are re-
quired, and among them all the negroes OF
the House. General Estes voted aye, and
French nay
Mr. French arose to question of privilege
and said Mr. Bowman was reported in the Stan
dard as having on yesterday said that " he could
tell the gentleman from New Hanover, (Mr.
French) and those few Republicans who voted
with him foc miGed schools, and a law to force
mixed schools, that they had departed from
the Republican party, AID not he (Mr. Bowman"
Mr.. French did not hear any such remark from
the gentleman from Mitchell, and hoped it was al
error in the published report. He was NOT IL
favor of mixed schools, but simply favored the
proposition that the people of the townships
should have the right to settle the question In
volved for themselves. To this extent, and nc
further vase he liable to thu charge made
right to make any distinction IN the schools fol
the two races, but he was willing to allow the
people to have separate schools IN their town.
ships if they desired. In reference to compelling
attendance of children upon the schools, he hat
favored that proposition merely to prevent tn
vagrancy that did and would exist il no such pro
vision were to be incorporated in the school bill
and farther, for the reason that he desired tina
every child should have the benefits to be OBJ
tanned from the common school system of tn
State.
Mr. Bowman said that he had been correctl
reported He could not but construe the actio
of the gentleman from New Hanover (Mr. French
in moving to strike out the word "separat
schools :" in the 56th section of the school bill
a. strike for mixed schools, He coatended tn,