Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-02-09
Oar Pnhlie Ach0ols.

Columbia, was taken up in the Senate vestes-
day afternoon. The bill has been printed IN
the start
motion, nv Mr.. Patterson. 70 strike ont OF
the siaih section that clause which prohibits
gDv distinction on account OF race, color, or
previous condition of ser vltude in the afmIss,o
of children TO toe schools ct in the mode of edu-
cation or treatment, gave Use to lengthy die
cussion upon the eIpediency and propriety OF
establthing
HIxRD SCHOOLS
in the District.
MIR. Patterson said: al was overruled in the
committee in this matter, AND feel Il to be IN
duty 10 state how the bill stood previous 10 that
amendment, as L am in favor Of the bill az il
originally stood. The bill ignored the question
OF race and color entirely, leaving to the school
board the duty of organizing the schools in the
District as they should see liz. providing for
mixed schools or separate schools Now, sir
do not differ with the majority OF the committee
a. 10 IrfpcipIe, but as 10 policy. in this matter.
1 think this amendment with tend TO destroy the
schools OF the city, or 70 put them back at least
ten or fifteen years. All preju,hces resting upon
mere race and color, which are physical, are
temporary and rsnsitorv; but those differences
whlch are intellectual and moral are the ground
OF pTejudices which are more stubborn. NV
idea was. in drafting this bill, to give 10 the
eoiored children and the white children alike
the best possible education which we c0ald in
this District; TO lift them up, if possible 70 the
8 me level Of intelligence and morality; and
the these pTeJudices. which are trsnstOry, will
pass away, and the children OF different races
and different colors will mix in the schools"
Mr.. SUMNER SAID:
.On that motion Ito strike o1t) ask for the
yeas and Lays; and wish TO say a word upon Il.
It thst clause is struck out l shall oppose the
tlli 10 the last 1 consider that that clause is
me vital part OF the bill, which will make this
biil benefaction to the District. By a higher
law than any from human power whatever is
correct In principle must be correct in practice
When the proposition for the abolition OF slavery
III the District was brought forward we were
m a I'm hat
would not work well-that il was not practical
so when the proposition was brought forward
To give the colOred people the night TO testify i'm
court, We were assured that il vas correct in
principle but that il would not be practical
The same objection was made TO the proposition
that colered people should ride in the horse
cars; and was gravely told that white people
would not use the cars if they were opened to
eolored people. The proposition prevailed and
you and others know whether any injury there
from has been done the cars. Then again
when II was proposed TO give the ballot to an il
was announced that ii might be correct in prip-
clple, but that II was not practical, and l. sir
was seriously assured by an eminent citizen that
NJ would bring about massacre at the polls.
Now that ii Is proposed to apply the same prin-
clPle 10 the schools, We are again assured with
equal seriousness and gravity that though cor
Iect In principle, II Is not practical. Sir, take
issue On that general proposition. / insist that
whatever is correct in principle il practical The
provision which my friend would strike out is
SIMPLY to carry into education the same princi-
pie which We have carried into the courtroom
into the horse.car and TO the ballot box that il
AL. IL there be any argument in favor of the
PROVISION III these other cases, allow me 10 saw
that II . stronger in the school-room, inasmuch
as the child is more impressionable than the
man: You should not begin life with . rule that
especially for the sake of children, for the SAX
or those tender years most susceptible TO human
influence, that We should Danish Q rule which
VIII make them grow up with separation which
for every prejudice is a burden to him who has
II, and burden to the black, who will suffer
always under the degradation"
Nh. CARPENTER
maintained that there lie no more ground or
reason IN discriminating as to color In the es-
tablisb Mt OF the common schools of the Dis
trlct than there is In voting at the polls and one
Cannot De gI anted and the other iusfified
Mr.. Patterson said IL shall be perfectly con-
tent If the Senate refuse TO blot out this amend
meDt. only wish to leave 1t to the Senate to
decide. In principle am with the Senator from
Massachusetts,. IL is simply question OF the
good CT tie schools OF this District.
MR. THURMAN
said If you want the destruction of thu
weaker race this is the way to begin it. Instead
OF antaeoniZing that race with the white YOU
ought 10 have done everything yOI could to
prevent antagonism. Friends Of the black
race, you ought not 10 have urged them on to a
battle against three times their number and ten
times their intelligence. And Yet this Is done.
urging them-now only about one ninth OF the
country, in a short time TO be only one ffteenfh
OF the population. in less than halt century TO
De only one twentieth OF the population-forcinc
,fem INTO contest, you keep up antagonism /
between the races; You force them INTO strife
with race far their superior in the energy OF |
us CD sraeter and tar their superior in the num-
bef OF its people. Do it, gentlemen, if you |
ture historian of America will record that YOU !
precilltated these people into q contest which |,
has resulted IN their utter destruction.
out this clause NOV ,ha. . :. h.r
ADO IL VIII De takeLS Is remuneration on the |
part OF the Senate of their faith in the universal
appheatlon OF me doctrine OF the equality of all |
men before the law. l shall therefore feel COM |
PEELED 10 vote to retain it. NV friend from Nav
hal pshire and were both born IN that portion |
u the country where tits very common thing to |
Ask him whether he does not in conscience he
ieve that, II this provision BY formal vote of |
ms BODY j stricken out, it will be taken AMI F,
inGerstood oy the opponents of mixed schools |
pie OF separate schools?
NT. Patterson think rot: and il i vary !
from my information whether a ma |
orty Of the colored people in this District desire
his clause in the bill. I have pretty GOOD rea-
On to think that majority Of the cOlOred peo- |
re IN The District do not want this provision in
lie bill. '
ME- Triton,
Text spoke on the amendment, and in closing |
eaarked lit Is said that because we have
,iyen 10 both races eQual opportunities of tn.
,allot-box we are bound to make all 20 into the
anne house and Sit on the same benches AZ |
ehool. You have but one place OF casting your |
)allots, and therefore you all 20 to the same |
1sEot-box. You have III this case but one foun
ain OF education, and you all 60 to that same /
ountain Of education. You have but one set or |
textbooks, and al participate in instruction TO
ne same ultimate extent from the same text
looks. And while that il the case, you ask me-
% lear that somebody will suppose that \ am
going backward In the cause OF humanity when
say that prefer, and intend TO have il in this
District so tar a. my vote is concerned, the
privilege OF giving the coloyed children of assO-
eating where they shall not be oyershadowed
by the superior advantage of your children AMI
nv children but for their own good | demand
tor them the high privilege Of separate schools.
Mr.. REvELs
'aid--in regard to the wishes of the colored
people OF this city, will simply say that the
trustees VI colOTed schools and some OF the most
intelligent colored men OF this place have said
TO me that they would have before asked for a
bill abolishDg the separate coored schools and
putting All children on an equality in the COM
mon schools If they had thought they could OBJ
iain IT. They feared they could not; and this is
the only reason why they did not ask for it be- |
Ore. ind that the pre- udi &c in this country |
10 color IS very great, aud sometimes fear thai
I Is on the increase. For example. let me re. !
mark that IL matters net how colored peopIe
act, II matters not how we'll thew behave them
selves, how well they deport themselves, how
intelligent they may be. how refined thew nav
= . a ~ rr1r. rz.l.