The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1870-01-08
COLORED SCHOOLS !
IMPORTANT MEETING LAST NIGHT
VIEWS OF PROMINENT COLORED MEN
GLASS LEGISLATION DENOUNCED
NO DISTINCTION IN THE FUTURE
4 Reorganization Of The Schools Suggested

VI warrington and Georgetown, In re-
Spouse to recent call OF many Of their
fellow-citlzens, announced that they would
meet those having direct interest In the
cause OF education among tho people, at
Union League hall last evening, aud that
they would be pleased to give such lnforma-
ton relating to the business Of their trust as
might be required, aud to receive any sug-
EcstlonS having for their object the promo.
tion OF harmony and efficiency In said boaId.
Among those present were DR.. ]. E. snod-
grass, Col. E. B. 0lmstead, J. Geo. Adams,
Martin Cronin, ]. Bell Adams, Aldermen
Champion and Stewart, Councllmen Will
llams, Hatton and Piper, Mr.. A. Z. Newton,
q. I. Downing, James Wormley, J. II. Cross.
man, Rev. A. Bowen, IT. johnson, Walker
Lewis, DR.. @. b. Puryis, and others.
The meeting was called 10 order by the
Rev. Anthony Bowen, and the published In
mtAtlon OF school trusteos was read by J.
Thomas johnson.
On motion Of Geo. W. Hatton, Carter A.
Stewart was chosen chairman, aud Henry
johnson, secretary.
Mr.. Stewart said, on taking tho chair, he
did not expect to be called upon 10 occupy
so prominent n position. He had cone for
Information, and as the representative Of the
First ward In the Board Of Aldermen. He
deemed It but Just for him to gain such in.
formation as he could for the benefit Of his
constituents.
His sentiments In regard TO the school
question were we'll known. He believed
the time had come when there should be but
one board OF trustees Of public schools, and
one class OF schools. Whether his Views
were concurred in by tho meeting, he could
not say but those wero his sentiments.
He hoped the meeting would DO entirely
harmonious, as they had come to deliberate
upon very important matter.
IL was well known that Georgetown had
complained seriously Of her treatment.
They said the appropriation was not sum
Client for the purpose OF sustaining their
school. II separate board was organised,
the Georgetown people would have 10 look
out Tor themselves, and the complaint would
then DO wholly among themselves. Again
eounseling harmony, he sald he was ready
TO hear any motion.
Mr.. Charles II. Peters asked II the board
OF trustees Of colorcd schools was repre-
scented, and the Chair replied that he saw
present majority of the board, Nessrs,
Charles King and Alfred Jones.
The letter OF Mr.. William syphnr. tho
third member OF the board, declining to take
lows:
wAsHrNoroS, D. O., Jan. !, ls,o.-GsaIi,.
n,fH have received your letter addressed 10
the Board OF Trustees Of Colored Sohcois' S.l,
log us 70 meet our fello " citizens for the pur
Pese OF mutual sEplanAtions 10 regard 10 *.
~ tbs S aSpIt , A. an Individual member
! think tLAt such = meeting AZ you desire
might, on some future occasion, result in
s9poYs, yst, 10 view o. the fact that the Unitsd
tees TO examine into the Standardization OF
the trustees OF the oolored schools" and also
W. !. eo1Iltion Of said schools, do not think
,oI Any meeting 70 take place prior to the
mai action OF said Committee Under these
S, aSIp therefore, think It my duty
lam very truly your friend,
10 " Enoeh An'1ush, q. W. Milton. s. gafisr
On motion, the letter was received.
MI. !. I. johnson said he thought Il
would be practical for the meeting 10 nm.
point committee TO confer with Inc trnst-
sired. '''''' Nv
Mr.. c. King said, with reference to the
proposed action OF Congress, the committee
was appointed to ascertain the mann.r ~
conducting the colored schools, and their
condition, aud not to inquire Into anything
relative to the administration OF the board Of
trustees. "
DR.. Purvls said he did not understand that
there was any difference In the proposed In.
vestlgation. The matter was 10 be thor.
oughly llfted. 1t was plain 10 all that A
serious difference does exist, and that "a Il
has become public, the SENATE have for This
very purpose appointed this committee TO In |
existed In the affairs of the board, an exam.
inatlon would not be necessary. IL was The |
disturbance In the board and nothing eIse
that prompted the appointment OF the COM |
mlttee by Congress.
He thought a committee should be nm
pointed 10 confer with the trustees. "a sng-
gested by Mr.. johnson, and that tho time
had come when the old differences should be |
forgotten and new interests unite them on
tho common platform Of equal rights while
they were called upon TO bear their propor-
tlon OF the corporation taxes. he beId Il n
be sound law that what was good enough
Tor the parent was good enough for INC
child and II colored men were competent 10
hold Important public Offices, to bo members
Of the City Councils, their children Certainly
we're entitled 70 sit In the school. houses and
share In public instruction. Equality e1-
Isted In the public conVeyances, and ii was
recently suggested to him by a United states
Senator that II In the street cars the colored
laoorer could ride beside the wealthlest
white lady, why could not tho chlldfcn of
the white and colored parents sit side by side
In our public schoolsi lie hoped the meet
Ing would distinctly declare against the
fostering OF these personal distinctions Of
race. He esteemed his child as the equal of
any child In the District, and he wanted the
children oil the col9red people to be SO es.
He regarded the meeting called to-nIgb,
As unfortunate. The trustees should moi
have allowed the people Of Georgetown IN
draw them Into any sach trap. He thought
y was an admission that their admlnIsiTn-
lion OF Affairs was not tho best.
NOW that the meeting had been called, he
trusted those present would unite In adopt
ing resolutions expressive ofthelr contempt
Of the present ProscHptlYe system, and de-
n9Inee the differences fosiered In their
midst by class legislation.
He offered the folloNlngi
RssOlptd, That 1t 10 the opinion Of thI, mat.
nE OF the eolored citizens OF thIH eifv and ~
1eotgetown that there should be no WhIIe
nor no black schools, but one school for All
Inc remarks OF Mr.. PurVis were onthn-
iiastically applRuded.
Mr.. HRtton offered the following aH m
amendment to the resolution Of Mr. Puryis.
ThatA committee Of one from each ward and
Dhe IRON ueoTgetoWn be AppOlnted bV The
'hAirmAn OF this meeting to oonfeT with The
5ommitiees on the DISTRICT ofUolumba OF the
.sk a reorganization OF the school sy,tsn " of
his District, without AOy dlstinction on &C.
'ouht Of color.
The amendment was accepted, and the
esolutlou was the subject OF discussion,
Mr.. Edward Ambush thought the object
u the meeting was not being carried out, ,
md hoped the call would DO adhered TO. He
ia not think there was such a representa- !
lon OF the colored people here as there !
hould be, aud no resolutions should be !
.dopted. He argued with DR.. Puryls thai ,
he board Of trustees should not have called
his meeting. Let the Senate committee 20 :
IN aud Investigate the cause Of the trouble !
low existing, and we will and must abide
y their action. Somehow the trustees Of
he colored schools could not furnish the
itiEens with their reports, or else they had
one to make. Tho press was always the
nouth'plece OF every cause, but In reference Il
Q the affairs Of the colored schools supreme i
Hence reigned Let the Senate committees !
hen give us fair exposition Of the result a
I their examination. i
Anlhnnv nnNuap L..