Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-02-16

The Colored School Question n md Congress.
meeting of colored cIuzans held last
night at Union League Hall to consider the
recent veto BY the President OF the bill passed
by Congress in relation To colorsd schools
The hall was closely packed with coiored
people. and few white men and three white
woman, including Mrs. Josephine 3. Drifting.
Ats o'clock an organization was effected by tle
election OF Rev. Anthony Bowen as chairman,
and Richard Tompkins, secretary. Thomas
Martin offered resolutions, 'sthat, as there was
aparty who called on Andrew johnson TO veto
an aW of Congress that transferred the duty OF
the Trustees of COlored Schools to the TIN stees
of Public Schools without authority of the
people OF Washington and Georgetown, we
deem IT ar outrage upon our race to ask favors
our enemies, and denOunce those who assum-
the authority that We desire the act OF Con
gress, WHICH passed that honorable body To b.
cine law, and pray that your honorable body
Will pass itover the veto; and that the chair
man appoint committee OF nine TO report the
action OF this meeting TO the Senate and the
House OF Representatives"
Thomas Martin, IN Offering the resolutions;
SAID 1t was generally understood why the
meeting was called. 1t was TO decide whether
they would endorse Andrew johnson or Goa.
gress. After a good deal OF discussion. the
resolutions were adopted.
David k. Parker offered resolutions which
set forth shat the preamble and resolution
adopted at the meeting held at Bethel Church,
February Q, 1868 are In direct opposition to
the views aud interest OF the vast m jority OF
the colored people of this city; and that the
educational interests of our race demand that
our scht oil system shall be committed to th-
wisdom OF the Board of Trustees of Pubic
Schools Of this city, thus striking down the
| diStincuon bel ween White and cOlored schools"
On these resolutions protracted discussion
eDsutd, during which the IHtIti0sRceT news
paper was denounced by Mr.. George Hatton,
Charles Peters and others as a rebel shres.
| which had IN its comments upon the school bill
at Issue villified and outraged the colored PEG
pie OF the District. All the speakers sustained
Congress in its actions against the veto Of
! Pres johnson, and recognized in the veto
| OF Mr.. johnson not so much An effort on MS
part TO do Justice 10 the colored people Il DIS
| position TO create discord among the Rspuh.-
| cans OF Washington. Francis Taverns aud
| Charles Peters sustained the action par of
| the Israel Bethel Church meeting, bu, uuqual,-
| fedly express themselves in fsvor of stand
ing by congress IN IN, opP1s''i9a to the
| party, in the course OF his remarks, declared
himself in favor of n full board Of colored tra--
| tees, and said that he had long since ceased -
| have any confide Icc In the white men OF tle
| District. Ma or Morse deemed this position a
| dangerous one, aud an INVASION of mis- rights
| AZ a white man He maintained that the &C
| ton OF Con gress was perfectly right and such
| as would eventually result in Just what
colored people wanted. 1t was laying the
| foundation for blotting out anything like dis
| tinCton between the races, hen there Won ID
| only be one school system. one school fund, Que
| school board. and the black mans ana the
white mans child should SIT side by side in the
| same school. This end, ne said, was devoutly
10 be desired, and he did not hesitate to express
| himself as in favor o. IL. The bal, he said,
the work Of Mayor Bowen, whom he was In N
| present to defend as truly the colored mans
frierd. Several persons here Intercepted Ma.
| jor Morse as to the MAJORS present views pom
the colered school DECENTRALIZATION he had re-
caAted his position against consolidate on aid
| down in his last message. Major Morse re-
piled that he felt authorized to say that
Tas spS S n OF
confusion now prevailed in all parts OF the
| house, when Major Morse pulled of his coat,
ana mounting the platform, proceeded TO read
the following propositions, which he ssid,
represented the views Of the Mayor, and We're
endorsed by him during a conversation held
tons were IN relation to the bill which had
been vetoed, the passage Of which Major Morse
claimed would, LIST, serve 70 put down the dis
nnction now existing on accounts Of color
The trustees will have to visit ain schools.
white and colored, which will SO familiarize
| the teachers and scholars to make q feeling
| Of interest on the part Of both, and soon the
public mind will be prepared 10 place white
and colored children in the same schools.
| Under the system proposed II is intended 10
az
| ucation ana intelligence. I'd. 1t will place AL
| the schools on the same footing; the children
| will De entitled TO the same privileges. The
teachers WILL be paid the same salaries; Will g
| examined by the same board; have the zane
xt-books, and be governed by the same disc i.
| pline, which is not now the case, and thereby
| secure the employment Of none but competent
teachers. 3. There will be a strict accounta-
bility for the disbur ,ements OF the moneys used
| tor the cOlored schools. This is not the case
| under the present law. 4. There will be No
more contention and jealousy about the distri-
button offunds, winch has Deen most EN- oar
raising TO the corporate authoiitie and di sad
vautageous to the schools themselves. Ii by
the eHeTtiOns OF colored men this bill shall I Ill
to become law, the weight of the wrong in.
nieted u on the common rights OF mankind Will
| fall upon the very men who clamoring for
| an equality of rights.
MAJOR Morse, after a half hours speech,
| during which be was frequently interrupted,
/ concluded, when the resolution was adopted,
| and the CT air announced the followin COM
| mittee, provided for therein :-Messrs- Thomas
| Martin, DECREE RaufreW. Cornelius Clark