The national Republican., 1869-02-16

great confusion and cries Of "Order,n and
he finally yielded 70 Msjor Morse.
Major Morse counselled harmony, and
gave some good advice 10 the assembly. He
spoke Of the meeting held at Israel Bethel
church; said that this bill now before Con-
gress should become q law over the Presi-
dents veto, and offered several good reasons
therefor, claiming that the veto was gained
by Democratic lodges, and to aid the Demo-
cratic party to obtain the ascendency In this
city by causing contentious among the Re
Publicans. In the course Of his somewhat
had to get his coat on TO it-but notwith-
standing loud voice and violent gesticula-
tions the noise and confusion was so great II
was impossible for the reporters TO catch q
portion OF his address. Finally Major Morse
mounted the platform and offered the follow
Ing propositions, which he said represented
the views Of the Mayor and were inlorsed by
him during conversation held with him
yesterday afternoon
The propositions submitted were In rela-
ton to the bill which had been vetoed, the
passage OF which Major Morse claimed
| would, 1st, serve to put down the dlstlnctlon
/ now existing on accounts Of color. The
trustees will have to visit all schools, white
and colored, which will so fnmiliarizc the
teachers and scholars as to make q feeling
OF interest on the part Of both, and soon the
public mind Will be prepared to place white
and colored children In the same schools,
Under the system proposed 1t Is intended to
give the colored people Mt least four trustees
In the board who will be selected for their
education and intelligence. ID. II will place
all the schools on the same footing, the
children will all be ontitled TO the same priv
ileges. The teachers will bc paid the same
salaries; will be examined by the same board;
have the same textbooks, and be governed
aan 4.
case, and thereby secure the employment Of
none but competent teachers.
y. There will be strict accountability for
the disbursements Of the moneys used for the
colored schools. This Is not the case under
the present law.
4. There will be no more contention and
Jealousy about the distribution Of funda,
which has been most embarrassing to the
corporate authorities aud disadvantaKeous to
the schools themselves.
by the exertions Of colored men this bill
shall fail to become n law, the weight Of the
wrong inflicted upon the common rights Of
mankind will fall upon the very men who
are elamoring for an equality Of rights.
Who is IL that some Of our friends would
gross
Twill answer when have stated few
questions. :
To whom are you indebted for the laws
passed In relation TO colored schools In the
District Of Columbia
Who drafted, and by his influence had
passed, all the bills, including the present
one, relating 10 colored schoolsi
To whom are they indebted for their right
10 testify In COURT
To be out after ten O'Clock at night with
out pass from n white mani Who, for
twenty-four years, has been your friend and
protector, and is still your friendi answer,
Il was Sayles J. Bowen, the Mayor Of your
city-the friend Of your interests and the
parent OF the colored schools Of the District
Friends, this bill should become law; your
Interests demand 1t; and II you would he Just
to yourselves you will give II warm and
The following questions were propounded
to Major Morse, during his address, by Mr..
g. T. Downing Do you, In the position you
occupy, speak by authority Of the Mayor
To which the Major replied, that he spoke
the views enunciated by the Mayor at the
conversation yesterday.
Question by jerome johnson: Is Mr..
Bowen In favor Of consolidating the colored
and white schools Of the city
Major Morse. He is.
Do you speak by authorityi speak the
language Of the Mayor.
Question by Charles syPhax: Did not Mr..
Bowen say In his annual message to the
councils that he was uncompromisingly op-
posed to consolidating the colored and white
schools1
Answer. / don't know about the word un-
compromisingly.
Question. Mr.. Bowen was for several years
a member of the board Of trustees of coiored
schools; did he ever, during his term, advo-
cate or urge the consolidation Of the schools
or endeavor to have them placed under one
board Of trustees
Answer. ! don't know, but am confident
that the Mayor Is now In favor of aboishing
both boards Of trustees and placing the whole
school system In the hands Of a board OF
trustees selected by the people.
Question by Mr.. Downing. Is the present
board Of public school trustees in favor of
consolidating the white and colored schoolsl
To this the Major replied that he was not
prepared TO speak for the board as an organ
ization, but he knew that certain Of the |
members were In favor OF II. Here a scene |
OF the utmost confusion ensued until finally |
the chairman refused positively to listen TO |
any motion until order was restored.
Major Morse then concluded his address, |
after which the resolutions offered by Mr. |
Parker were unanimously adopted.
The Chair announced the following as the
committee to present the views Of this meet
ing to Congress: Thomas Martin, George
Renfrew, Cornelius Clark, George Winters,
VIM. Taliaferro, George W. Hatton, John T.
IL.
Jones.
After the announcement of this committee,
Mr.. George I. Downing obtained the floor,
| and said: This was serious moment. What
goes forth from this meeting will 20 out as
the sentiment of the people Of the District Of
Columbia. Therefore, 1t is necessary that
the persons present should be careful. What
Is published from this meeting will be con-
sidered as the sentiments Of the colored men
Of Washington. He did not want Congress
or the public to form an erroneous opinion
as to their action. Because we have the mis-
fortune to be black, are we to be prescribed
on that account Are our children to be
kept from attending the same school as our
white neighbors : (Cries OF "No, no."1 We
want our children to attend the same schools
and use the same text books as the white
childrcn-whitc and black to ahare alike.
[Cries Of eyes, yes."l
lie had opportunities OF knowing some
thing OF the feeling OF Senators and MEM
bers OF Congress, and he did not believe that
they thought It best 70 pass the present bill
over the Presidents veto, because the pres
sent bill does not give us what we want
We want equal school rights, regardless OF
color, and he believed that Senator Sumner
and other warm friends Of the colored people
In Congress would use their influence to
prevent this bill from passing.
ThOs. Martin here interrupted the speaker
to say that from what he knew Of Senator
Sumner and other members they would favor
the passage of the bill. Senator Harlan had
told him that he disapproved Of the action Of
any colored man waiting on the President to
ask him to veto the bill; and he thought that
when the sentiment Of this meeting was pub
lished he Mr.. Harlanl would be active In
securing the passage Of the bill.
The interruption OF Mr.. Martin had the
effect of creating great deal of confusion,
the Chair raPping to order In vain, and the
sergeant-at-arms standing on the platform
In much despair. In vain Mr.. Downing at
tempted to get the floor or secure hearing.
Mrs. Josephine Griihng was announced 20
speak by the Chair, who stated that the lady
was true friendj but 1t was evident that |
the fame Of Mrs. Grifiing had never been |
made known to that audience.
Loud cries were made for Downing to Ego |
on"
Mr.. Downing Indignantly refused TO sur
render the floor to Mrs. Grifiing, and in loud |
voice claimed the right to be heard, and |
called on the audience 10 protect him In his |
rights.
The disorder finally became so great that |