Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-02-08
Our Washington Letter.

gives the lac 70 and forever slenccs the last argu-
ment Of prejudice against race or color This
event was the graduation and comforting Of the
degree of Plchelor Of Laws upon the first class oil
the Law Of the Department Of Howard Uniycr-
sty, composed exclusiyelyof young colorcd men.
While the issues Of the war which resulted in
the emancipation of the slaves were yet undecided,
schools were established by benevolent societies
Of the North, in all the large southern towns
/ held by the Union forces for the education Of the
coored race The best teachers which the North.
ern States could produce, generally young Indies
Of the finest education and accomplishments with
a hcrosm and solfsacrihce only cQualled by their
/ brothers in the field, gave themselves for years
to the unpopular work of Niger teachers.
These schools were crowded by the colorod people
with little distinction Of age the grny'hcaded
grandsirc often learning to read from the same
primer rs the grandchild. The rapid progress
made BY the Younger classes ast5nishel the icach-
ers Themselves and amazed the chance visitors
who occasionally dropped in TO listen 10 their re-
citations
While admitting that they could be taught s1me
things, prejudice Sagcy claimed that their at
U tlluNNNNIS MNNll If NNliNNA aN NNN f.'. 'i.H 'i
education, such as reading, writing and gcogm-
ply. which could be addressed to the eye, and
which required an exercise Of the pcrceptiyo fac
Iultes When it came to the higher branches
/ like mathematics and The scien, which rcquir-
ed an exercise of the reasoning or reflective fac
ultcs prejudice confidently predicted That they
would utterly fail.
L. I.a a. ID %
among the friend. of The colored race General
Howard and few associates, inspired by q larger
faith. conceived the project of establishing at
Washington a University, which should open to
the colorcd student un avenue b the subIimcst
heights OF science and philosophy, and ENABLE
him 10 gain an honorable admission into all the
learned professions. As they believed 50 they
wrought; and 10 a few months beautiful and
imposing structure. ilankcd and supported by
immense dormtories, rested like a crown upon
the hill to the north OF the city. Th, was How
ard University and here the experiment OF con-
baHqq the education of the cJl0rcl race was
made. Learned professors and experienced teach
ers were abuudanty provided, and everything
done to make it fully equal to older colleges
which the poverty Of the Institution would allow.
While these few earnest men patiently ab,rol
against peeulardiscouragemnnt' prejudice wait
ed to sneer at their failure.
On Monday evening their faith in the capacities
of the c1lorcl race was triumphanlly yindicales,
and their labor a5undantly rewarded. Ancr two
years Of study and preparation the law class had
been subjected to the task OF final examination.
have examined the list Of questions nearly two
hundred in numbcr--used upon the occasion. and
will venture the opinion that no Law School in
the country ever subjected a graduating class 20
a more thorough examination. OF course some
failed but majority of the class proved by pass
ing the examination that the predictions Of prciu-
dice were false, and that the highest educational
attachments lie within the limit, Of their capacity
The exercises at the church consisted of orations
By various members Of the graduating class,
which would have done credit to the graduates Of
Harvard or Yale The collrel people as q rlce
are natural orators, and when this faculty {.
developed and directed 10y culture they often max,
the most eloquent and impressive speakers In
this instance, though mode-ty dope, the speeches
were delivered with confidence AMI easy sell
possession that excited the interest and admira
ton Of those among thoaudience who have rcaped
the laurels Of oratory upon the platform and Ga,
floors Of Congress. The diplomas were presented
aud the degrees conferred by Gen. o. o. Howard
President Of the University, after which addresses
were made by Gen. Howard, Gen. Sherman, Sen
ator Sumner, Senator Wilson, Senator Sherman,
Attorney General Alderman, Representative May
nard, aud others.
/ The Howard University is male seii-su-tain
ing that is, it is not sustained by the government
and manufactures are being established in con.
necton Herewith wherein poor students can
delny the expenses of their education in Who'll,
or in part by their labor
The Freelmans' Bureau for year or so past
has been confined in its operations % the clllc,-
ton Of biuntie- and pensions due from the gov
eminent to colorel soldiers, and 70 assistance
rendered in maintaining schools among the
colored people when not provided flr By local
authority
The tenth annual report Of Rev ) W Alyorl,
Superintendent Of colorcl schools, which has just
been issued, shows that there are unlcr the pat
ronage and supervision of the Bureau, 2G07 da]
and night schools, with 1900 teachers and % =
jSl pupils and SOP Sunday schools with G0O7
teachers and o. ,752 pupils. The freedmen them.
selves sustain in whole. or in mart. 32i or Nh,
above schools and own 592 OF the school build
ings The whole expense for the six months pre-
ceding the report was a little over 900 600, o
which benevolent societies, churches and ndigid
uals, contributed nearly 100000
The last scn.,tio, loro l. ,l,o orr;,,l "a f,,,,
nese Embossy Who rnder clorr. If .r,si,o tIi..,
bnmie To. Assistant SECRETARY Of Finance If tro
Jononeso Emnire have hae, .o,t nv, tboir ,.,vorr
ment 10 study tbe financial sv.te,n If the I-nito,
States There arc ol,,nt twenty in tbe c,nn,n,,
including minor officials and servants. most o
whom speak English with ease and accuracy
They dress in European costume, and, excep
their yellowish olive complexion and peculiar for
nation of features, there is nothing about then
to indicate the foreigner They were receives
upon their arrival with due courtesy by Secretar
Fish, and on Wednesday last were presented t
the President and Cabinet. The next day the
visited the Treasury Department and were show
through the vaults and the printing bureau, an
the processes Of the manufacture and issue of pa