New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-30
District Matters.
..,,r.d school Question,


;umedately affected thereby, as of but little
;mnortance: but to the large class OF our citi
cons directly interested in the result, it lie
deemed all important, that the position taken
bv the Board be INDICATED and fully sustained.
The effect Of the claim made by the Auditor, if
submitted to, would be to take the control OF
,bc school fund out of the hands Of the Trus
tees. and place it in that of the Auditor and
COMPTROLLER of the District, and that, too, in
direct opposition to the oft repeated acts Of
Congress, all of which are so plainly expressed
that their meaning and effect cannot be misun-
derstood by any man possessing ordinary COM
mon sense, and a reasonable degree Of respect
for law. In order to place before our readers
clearly what's claimed let US illustrate. Suppose
the Board should decide to purchase lot upon
which to build an additional school-house on
the Island, where there are more than three
thousand of our children Of the school age to
be educated, and where at present accommo-
dations Of the most discreditable kind
claimed that before the money can issue
the transaction must be submitted 10 the
Auditor, who, if he chooses, can dIsapprove 1t
and return the papers to the Board win MS
disapproval endorsed thereon, and the enter
prise falls to the ground, leaving the Board
powerless .to provide suitable school-rooms
and teachers for such number OF children as
will in their opinion best accommodate the
children of the respective Cities" thus subst-
tuting the opinion of the Auditor for that oil
the Trustees, who have been appointed by Con-
gress, and empowered in the language quoted
above to provide the means of education for
these people. But suppose still further, that
the Auditor, in his proposed gratultous gener-
osity, should condescend, out of the abund
ance of his heart, to allow the Trustees of
Colored Schools to buy a lot which will be
useless without a house, and they proceed to
contract for one equal in every respect to the
one now being built on the Island for the other
Public Schools of the city (which, we under
stand, when completed, including furniture
and apparatus, will cost at least $685.
OOO,) and the bills are presented for tho
money to the Auditor for his approval, and
he concludes this time not to throw away
his generosity, but to be economical with
money over which Congress has said he has no
control, and decides to disapprove the bills,
upon the grounds, if you please, that the house
is too large, or too good for negroes, or it can
not be afforded, or any other reason satsfac-
tory to his comprehensive intellect, what is to
be done, but to modify the plans, change the
contract, and have an inferior house built at
his dictation, and thus continue to educate col
ored children in barracks and easements per-
petuating the "barbarism of Slavery" indefi
nitely? 1t may be said that our present Audi
people. Admitted, if you please; but how do
you know that he will always be there Some
one may succeed to his place who is not par
excellence the friend of equal rights. But
more than all this, the supreme law of the
land has relieved US of this surveillance and of
this liability to the dictation of others, some
of whom may still feel 'that the black man has
no hts that white men are bound to respect"
and has given as the control of our
schools and until the prejudice OF the
olden times has become merged and lost ia the
era of 1.-The better time coming" and all chill.
dren, regardless of nationality or color, are
Unfortunately admitted to all our schools,
no colored man can be found base enough to
consent to yield that control, either under a
corrupt construction of existing laws, or the
enactment of new ones.
So far as our observation goes the people
Interested in thia nnast;on ,;ya M rnoarta;c
utterances of their sentiments and feelings but
are determined to stand by the Trustees who
have SO nobly and firmly resisted the proposed
prostitution of the plain letter and spirit
Of the law, and with their united 5000 or more
votes in this District will sustain them and
oppose any attempt to change the present
arrangement, the result of the wisdom and
patriotism of three different Republican Con-
crosses from 1862 TO 1866. The voters in
terested in this question have stood by the
Republican party Of this District under all
circumstances, and never expect to do other
wise; but they claim of that party and all
others perfect freedom in the management of
their schools; they expect and demand that in
the selection of Trustees their voice to be
potent, and that the funds appropriated
for their support shall be expended according
to their judgment, free from the dictation of
so called friends, or clique partisans.
Wholesome regulations for the care and safe
custody of the fund will meet with no opposi-
ton from them, and a report to the proper
authorities Of all expenditures after they are
made, from month 10 month, with the right to
call for explanations and to investigate all
charges of irregularity and means for the pun
ishment of wrongdoers, are deemed emnently
proper measures to secure faithluiness. and
will receive their sanction.
No people ever advanced far in securing the
respect OF others, who were Indifferent to their
own rights, and no race of men have ever ar.
rived at any respectable position in the hstor,
OF the world who failed TO claim every adyan
tage and privilege conferred upon them by
law, but many have lost a dearly bought libert,
by being unmindful of the first attempts O.
their former oppressors to disregard provision,
OF law made for their security. These lesson.
the colored man of our country cannot afford
to disregard, nor do we believe he will.
James Il. " ormley.
This enterprising young gentleman, of whom
mention was made some months ago, is rapidly
gaining the esteem of the community in which
he resides and carries on business. He ia the
first colored man in Washington Tn omen n dr,,