The national Republican., 1869-02-22

him, the French offered him protection and
restoration TO his property II he would sur
render. But no sooner had he surrendered
then he was seized as prisoner Of war and
carried TO France, where, by order Of Napo.
leon, he was starved TO death.
While the faithful Toussalnt was slowly
dying In his Icy dungeon In tho Alps, the
tabllshing slavery on the island. The peo-
pie saw at last that they had been basely de.
ceived, and then commenced that fearful
struggle, so often harped upon by the apollo
gists Of slavery In this countryside mas
sacre ofst. Domingo. The result was that,
with the aid Of the yellow fever, the French
were driven from the island. And at the
very moment "when the spring clods Of
France were rattling on the rude coffin Of
Toussaint, the last valley was being fired
over the surrender OF the treacherous enemy
at home;" and 81. Domingo has been an In.
dependent nation from that day TO this.
This story furnishes moral, that they
who desert old and tried friends TO follow
the empty promises OF those who have been
lifelong enemies are very likely to get sold.
Let us take warning from the past, and
never desert our principles or our friends.
Guided by this policy, we will, at no distant
day, achieve all that we desire.
In my opinion the greatest enemy that we
ihhtb hoW W tHtVuhttI u lkuOIuuCc. bTcuk
down all barriers In the schools and give the
colored boy and girl equal privileges with the
white boy and girl and soon we will have race
Of men and women that cannot be enslaycd
or oppressed or used by unprincipled dcma-
gogues or huckstering politicians, aud to
that end would have the Constitution so
amended as to require OF every State In this
Union that II guarantee to every child within
Its borders n common school education.
The recent bill passed by Congress, though
not all that desire, Ia a step In the right
direction. Let us not be 50 foolish as to re.
ject half loaf because VIC cannot get a
whole one.
Even II the present state Of things were
desirable, the present board OF trustees have
no reason to complain IL q change Is made.
They have had the Office several years. They
do not fairly represent the District. Why
select two OF the three from one ward II ID
complained that they have not been con.
suited In the matter, and that II Is unfair Ia
vote them out OF Office without consulting
them. There are no emoluments that
know Of attached to the office, and II there
were, know Of no reason why 1000 children
should be neglected In their education to &c
commodate three men. l have yet to know
| that those gentlemen have any more claim
upon the Office than many others that might
be named. One OF them Is wealthy mer.
chant, another holds a good situation under
Secretary Browning, to whom he has to re,
port; another holds most lucrative ofilcC
under the corporation. / believe him to be
q capable and efficient officer, and that he
has discharged the duties Of the office with
credit to himself and to the satisfaction OF
the people. Surely our friend, Hall, car
have no cause Of complaint II this Office oi
| trustee is now given to some worthy, intelli.
gent colored man, who holds no Office.
In conclusion, let us remember that "old
things are passing away and all things are
becoming new" The present system Of col.
ored schools has answered the purpose for
which 1t was organized, yizi as a stepping.
stone to something better. The people
have outgrown the system, and now demand
change. Let us remember that
| New occasions teach new duties,
| Time makes anclent good unonuth;
They must upward still and onward who would
| Keep Abreut OF truth.
| Lo before US CLEAN our esmp'hrcsl We our
selves must pilgrims be,
| Ltunch our Mnynower and steer boldly
| through the desperate waters sea.
| Nor attempt the futures portal with the past,
| blood .rusted key
Prof. VIM. J. Wilson, cashier Freedmen's
Savings Bauk, was the first speaker on the
negative Of the question. He approached
this discussion with considerable degree oi
timidlty, because he knew that quite degree
OF feeling had been occasloned in the com.
munlty by the agitation Of the question now
before US. He knew something Of the feel.
Ing now prevailing, and II ought not to exist
and In his case II did not exist. lie had been
In this city for the last five years sympa-
thizing with every effort made to elevate and
improve the colored race, and doing his part
to advance the interest Of his fellow citizens,
and he could say something on the subject
now before the meeting without being found
| "a, ale tvtth Thara baa haratof,ra ~,
much feeling displayed In discussing this
question; q calm and careful comparison OF
views was better than the hasty and violent
debates. The question for consideration Is,
was the passage OF the law for the abolish
ing OF the board of trustees to superintcnd
the education of the colored children of the
District correct lie believed that 1t was moi
correct, because Ii was done without thu
knowledge or consent OF those directly Inter
ested. The colored people Of this Distric
were not consulted, nor did they know any
thing about the bill until 1t was passed. Tn,
colored people Of this city have arrived a
that point when action In matters matcriall!
affecting their interest should not be takcl
without consultation.
We have for years past been fighting 70
equality, for equal rights, and does 1t sho,
that the colored man is an equal by thel
friends legislating for them without eve
|
: lie had taken great deal Of trouble to I'm
} out If single colored man In this city Ia
been consulted as to whether the passag
of this school bill, about which there Is s
much talk, would be acceptable TO them Q
J not. As yet he had not found one. TIL
} fact that they were not consulted In regar
! to the action Of Congress Ia degrading to tn
colored men OF the District. II was II lac
: OF recognition OF their manhood, shown
I.. tl.Aa aAln NnIa Ina uN
had been degraded. The truth Of thes
statements Is more fully cylnced becnus
the parties having the management Of th
bill had the opportunity OF consulting wit
the colored people every day. The best me
, of color In this city could have been casil
e reached. The passage Of just such bi
q was attempted last year without consultln
e n sufficient number Of colorcd people to wa,
], rant the urging OF the bill before Congress
I 1t passed the Senate, and he had gone I
; Senator Patterson himself, and after col
G versaton Of over an hour the Senator sale
"Mr. Wilson, had have known what d
, now, would never have offered the bill
/ And II was to the exertlons OF this gentl,
; men that the passage of the bill was stoppc
, In the House Of Representatives. This yea
the bill was passed without word of COZ
sultatlon or warning.
This law Is incorrect because 1t takes ava
hl VI tnc bCHUol uUNunthecs NulCn vi
cOlored people Of this District now posses,
and does not give them anything In return
, We want equal school privileges wlthou
condition, one law and one school, where al
children will be admltted-be they white q
black-wthout let or hindrnnce. The Ia,
us passed by Congress does not give us thes
privileges, but 1t takes away from the colore
people the right to control their own schools
to use their share of the money apprOpriG
ted for the colored schools, while il gives u
nothing whatever and leaves us to the mere
Of the local politics Of this city. If the CO.
ored people regard the welfare Of their chill
dren, and feel interested that they shall b
properly instructed they should not allo,
the government OF the cOlored schools TO b
mixed up In politics. The Republican part
are In power In our municipal government
for this year, II may SO happen that the
will not be in power next year. II the Ia,
passed by Congress transferring the dutic
Of the colored school trustees should
enforced the management Of the colore
schools would be left to the mercy Of I'll
party who may obtain supremacy.
On the other hand, should the law renal
as at present Secretary of the Interior, VIII
has the appointment of the colored trustees
| ,,,tn l,o a al hy nanaraI n Erant and 10