The national Republican., 1869-02-22


placed In the hands Of commissioners. He
mentioned the fact that ]. sayles Brown and
other good men were on the board Of school
trustees, and they would not see the interests
of the colored schools suffer. The wealthy
men Of the city had never contributed one
dollar for the support Of the colored schools,
which were supported In their infancy by
contributions from the Northern States.
Because DR.. Breed and the original trustees
would not cater TO the wishes Of the wealthy
colored men Of the city they had been op-
| posed to the system ever since. Mr.. Crane
announced that he surrendered the remainder
Of his time (4X minutes) TO Mr.. Crossman.
Mr.. King announced that he would sur
render his time 10 Mr.. Hatton.
Mr.. Downing questioned the right to thus
huckster out the time Of the disputants. 1t
was all right TO give to each other, but he
did not think II proper to let outsiders come
In. lie proceeded TO state that he entertained
the warmest feelings for Mr.. Hatton.
Mr., Hatton, !interrupting.) Yes, but you
This remark created good deal Of amuse-
ment, and finally Mr.. King gave the whole
Of his time to Mr.. Newton, who resumed his
remarks After being satisfied that the time
had arrived to 90 back 10 the original plan
contemplated by the act Of Congress Of 1869
he had conferred with Mayor Bowen, who
/ thought his IDEAS correct; and AFTER persua-
sion the Mayor consented 10 draw up the bill
which had been presented last year. II
never occurred to him that there would be q
single objection on the part Of the colored
men. He had always looked TO the Mayor
as the principal trustee, and supposed he was
speaking the sentiments Of the coiored people.
Had he anticipated objection he would not
have known what colored men TO consult, ns
| he could not think Of any colored men who
seemed to take an interest In school affairs.
Marcellus West. Couldn't you have called
public meeting Of the colored pcoplei
| The speaker continued. When he learned
Of the dissatisfaction which existed after the
bill passed the Senate he went to Judge
wclckcr, In the House OF Representatives,
and told him he thought Il would be better
to stop the passage Of the bill. For himself
/ he thought II would have been better to have
passed a bill more comprehensive In It's
character, and which would have conferred
more rights on the colored people. lie had
taken no part In the passage Of the bill this
year; had conversation with but one Con-
| gresham on school matters, (Mr. Van
Arnum,) and told him that he thought II
would have been better TO have passed the
| Stevens bill with certain amendments, be-
cause that bill was more comprehensive and
give the colored children more privileges.
In compliance with q request, Mr.. Newton
read extracts from the original law Of 1869,
/ 70 WHICH tnc Ulli nOW unucI COnblucrhtlOn
| refers, and said that the recent act simply
transfers back to the board Of trustees OF
public schools ali the powers and duties con-
ferred by this act Of July IL, 1869, on this
special board, and thus leaves the whole mat
| ter Just where II was placed by the original
act, except that by other subsequent acts a
much larger fund has been provided for the
colored schools, namely; an amount Of the
entire expenditure for schools proportionate
| ~ ha has nfr
pared with the number Of whites. The fund
Is still to be kept distinct, which may be an
advantage for a time, since Il will prevent
too large proportion from being absorbed
| by the white schools, should there be any
disposition to such injustice. -.
In concluding his argument Mr.. Newton
submitted the following propositions by
which he claimed there would be advantages
| gained by placing the colored and white
schools under one board of trustees;
1. The colored schools would In that case
| be entitled, without question, to an equitable
share In the public school funds, which has
never yet been accorded to them.
2. The teachers of the colored schools
would then be entitled to equal pay with the
teachers Of the same grades In the white
schools whereas heretofore great and un-
reasonable difference has existed between
them-the teacher Of the highest grade in
colored schools receiving only about the
same compensation that Is given to those OF
the lowest grade In the white schools, while
the labor performed is no less arduous or
valuable.
0. The measure Is demanded as q step to-
wards that republican equality and justice
which knows no distinctions OF race or color,
but admits all citizens to equal participation
In all advantages.
4. The measure should be, and was de-
| signed by Its originators to be, accompanied
by the placing upon the board OF trustees OF
public schools, by the proper authority, Of q
proportionate number OF colored men as rep
resentatiyes Of their class. These would have
equal rights with their associates In visiting
and controlling all schools; and II hitherto
Inexperienced In the duties Of school man
agement, would soon acquire experience and
skill from such association.
8. This would tend rapidly and surely TO
break down and remove the unreasonable,
anti-repnblican and unchristlan antlpatLy OF
color which now renders the mingling of all
classes In the same schools, In the opinion Of
many, impfactlcable; and would open the
way, by gradual steps, through education
and christian influence, TO the abolition Of all
caste distinctions In our public schools.
0. This measure, by increasing the number
OF trustees charged with the care of the COL
orcd schools, will promote their more efficient
supervision, and will lessen the dangers
arising from misjudgment, personal favorit-
ism, or corrupting influences Of any kind that
may be brought to bear upon individuals
Reports are rife In the community Of gross
mismanagement, II not malfcasance In office
on the part Of the present board of trustees
Of colored schools; involving the misappro-
priation Of the school funds, the injury Of the
schools and the cruel wrong of numbers Of
pupils by placing them under unfit teachers.
This board consists Of but three members,
l.. al..a
have been effected by the combination oftwo
Of the members against the third. In the
more numerous board contemplated by this
measure, selected as II should be from the
best and most competent citizens of both
classes, such mismanagement or malfeasance
would scarcely be possible.
Mr.. Wilson had six minutes LEFT and OBJ
tained five minutes more from Mr.. Harrison.
He reviewed the arguments Of the previous
disputants and claimed that they all tended
to urge the prescription Of the colored child
rcn from the white. He quoted from the
message Of the Mayor, and argued that IT
that was the feeling Of the leading Republl-
cans of the city, what could the colored
children expecti If the colored school trustee
wasted money, ho but followed the example
set him by other school boards, who had
erected large school-houses at an immense
outlay OF the peoples money. The colored
school trustees are anxious 10 submit q re-
port OF their actions to the public, and he
believed 1t would be entirely satisfactory.
There had been innuendoes and intmations
thrown out, but no proof shown that the af-
airs of the colored schools, as administered
by them. was not entirely right and proper.
This Is colored mans affair, and they should
have been first consulted. In regard to dis
bursting the money of the taxpayers, the
speaker said that every householder paid the
taxes and not the owners Of the tenemepts
and the white men may arrogate to them
selves the right TO act for the colored people
In their school matters, but II was wrong.
The gavel Of the chairman warned Mr.,
Wilson that II was time for him to stop, and
he was compelled to close his argument In a
very abrupt manner.
Here Mr.. o. s. Baker, who was seated In
the audience, arose and appealed to the chair
man to adjourn the meeting. The audience,
he said, did not desire to appear rude, but
many desired to retire. They had paid re.
spectful attention for three hours.
Mr. Downing: You can go, Mr.. Baker; we
can get along without you.
l Id. III