The national Republican., 1869-02-16
LOCAL DEPARTMENT..

/
Cosonrss AND rHr CoLoREp scHooIs.-
A very full meeting Of colored citizens was
held at Union League Hall for the purpose
Of taking action in regard 10 preparing
memorial TO Congress TO request the passage
Of the bill In rcfntion TO colored schools,
lately vetoed by the President. At O'Clock
Thomas Martin called the meeting TO order,
and, on motion Of Mr.. Hutton, Rev. Anthony
Bowen was selected as chairman.
Mr.. Bowen, on taking the chair, an
nounced that the meeting would be opened |
with devotional exercises.
A verse Of the hymn commencing, "Oh,
God our help In ages past" was then sung; |
amer which Mr.. Bowen offered up fervent |
prayer.
Mr.. Tompkins was then elected secretary.
Mr.. Bowen returned his thanks for the |
honor conferred upon him In selecting him as
chairman. The purpose Of the meeting was
to demonstrate to Congress- what the desire
Of the colored men OF this city IL In regard TO
the colorcd schools. He hoped harmony
would prevail In their councils.
The colored men Of this city had been
favorably spoken Of heretofore, and he
hoped there would be no cross-hring at this
meeting. This meeting Is called to express
to Congress their appreciation ofthelr action.
He warned the parliamentarians In the
assembly that he should decide all questions
submitted 10 him according to his best judg-
ment.
Mr.. Thomas Martin [''not Mr.. stclla Mar
tin" said the Chair1 offered the following
resolution;
Andrew johnson TO veto an act Of Congress
that transferred the duty Of the trustees Of
colored schools 10 the trustees Of public
schools without authority Of the people OF
Washington and Georgetown: therefore be II
Resolved, That we deem 1t an outrage upon
our race to ask favors Of our enemies, and
denounce those who assume the authority.
And BE- u JsrtA<r rsso,red, That we desire
the act Of Congress, which passed that hon
orable body TO become q law, and pray that
your honorable body will pass II over the
veto.
And BE- u further resolved, That the chair
man appoint a committee Of nine to report
the action Of this meeting to the Senate aud
House Of Representatives.
Mr.. Martin, In offering the resolution, said
he supposed II was generally understood why
the meeting was called. II was TO decide
whether they would indorse Andrew John
son or Congress. [Cries, Congress, +" 'Con-
gress for u.s.
After a good deal Of discussion on points
OF order the resolutions were adopted.
Marshal Brown moved that the Chair ap-
point q sergeant-at-arms to aid him In pre-
serving order. The company wero present
for the purpose OF discussing the matters
which brought them here.
On motion Messrs. Brown and Alexander |
Henderson were appointed scrgesnts-at-
arms.
David R. Parker offered the following rcso-
lutions.
Resolved, That the preamble and rcsolu-
tion adopted at the meeting held at Bethel |
church, February Q, 1869, are in direct op- |
position to the views and interest Of the vast |
majority Of the colored people OF this city.
Rfa0lFf1 That the Cd al Int nFI
our race demand that our school system shall
be committed to the wisdom of the board OF
trustees OF public schools of this city, thus
striking down the distinction between white
and colored schools.
On tho question Of the adoption of these
resolutions Mr.. @. W. Hatton was the first
speaker.
He was astonished to take up that dirty
sheet (the Taf,Iigeneer) 10 read that the veto
message was the theme in all the colored
churches, and, as would be seen by the re-
port, that the veto Of Andrew johnson had
been sustained.
The Chair said that was not the case at
St. Pauls.
Others cried, ''Not at the Nineteenth street |
either;" "Yes, 1t was" Laughter and ap-
Ilause.1
Mr.. Hatton resuming, said the hteihigen-
cer's account was In some respects true. for
II the paper was false, the reporter could be
COrrtCt. lnerc was one Cnurcn IN tnlS city /
where Andrew johnson was indorsed.
Mr.. Peters. "I emphatically deny that"
Mr.. Henderson wanted to ask u question, !
and insisted upon being heard, but the ser |
geantat-arms persuaded him to sit down.
Mr.. Hatton resumed; Ever since 1861, our
friends have been In the majority, and have |
labored to secure US our rights. He was
surprised to find that the men who had not |
had our privileges should meet and tell Con- |
gress that we wanted schools for our chill
dren exclusively. IL was telling Congress
that our children stink, and were not 1T to
sit with white children. The only ground
that the opponents of Congress take In this
matter, Is that 1t does not strike at the
roots.
What was the resolution adopted by the
meeting at Israel church 1t was q resolu-
tion deploring the action Of Congress. He eX-
pected they would soon be deploring the ac-
tion Of Congress In giving us the right to
vote, and deploring a certain amendment |
which had just been passed. It was said at |
the other meeting that the law had been
passed by Misrepresentation. II there was
ever Misrepresentation 1t was done by the
man who waited upon Andrew johnson. He
took their petition there and he groancd out,
"Now you see who your friends arc"
[Crics Of "Namc him!" "Tcll his namc!"
"Who was he!" ''Let's have his namer"1 |
Mr.. Hatton. You don't know but that |
nn make little money by not calling his |
name. The representation was false and we |
denounce the men as traitors to the black |
man and traitors to the Republican party |
We tell Congress, "By your action you gave
us the right to vote, and by our vote we In
tend to hold this city for ninety mine years. |
[Great applause. He said that II you go to
the rebels in Maryland for subscriptions for
the education Of the colored children they |
would contribute freely.
Mr.. Henderson asked If they were better |
than Andrew johnson.
Mr.. Hatton said they were not.
Mr.. Henderson, "Then why do you ask
them for money!"
A good deal OF confusion ensued, includ-
ing a number Of "points Of order" and vain
attempts TO preserve order, when the Chair
said II they did not behave he would call
upon the secretary to read General Grants
speech to the colored convention.
James Reed said he was one Of those who
sustained the resolution offered at the Israel
church, he did not exactly understand the
resolution at the time. When the resolution
was passed the committee were instructed
not to 60 to the President.
Mr.. Walker interrupted Mr.. Henderson by
saying that committee did not 20 to the
President, Ii was another committee. Al
the Israel church on Sunday they did not
pass a resolution endorsing the action of the
President. The resolution passed on Sunday
night was an outrage on the colored people
OF the city. The colored people of his ward,
the Fifth, heartily endorsed the action OF
Mayor Bowen, Interpretations had been
made 70 some Of the colored people, hence
the action at the Fifteenth street Presbyte-
rian church on Sunday night.
MI. Frank sayerns said that he was pres
ont at Israel Bethel church, and as remarks
repudiating him and those who were present
had been made, he thought it but right 10
say q few words. mass meeting of the
citizens was held at the church; call was
issued and public notice was given. The
action Of that meeting was considered the
action Of the people. II those who STAYED
away are dissatisfied, II Is their misfortune.
He was appointed member of the commit
tee to walt on Congress. He had never done
so, and he had heard Of no meeting OF the
committee. lie did not believe that Congress
would ieel aggrieved at being asked not TO
pass the colored school bill over the veto, be-
eanse congress had been mislcd In passing
II any committee had waited on the Presi-
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