The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-02-22
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA. THURSDAY FEBRUARY o. 1872

wherein it states that the schools 'sshaIl
free for the admission Of all children betwee
the ages of six and sixteen years. Now
what will be the effect of this in Virgin;
| where we have separate free schools :? A whit
school is not free to colored children. Vii
| GINA, under her present school system. woul
not be entitled to one dollar. She has a
this moment a free-school system as good a
any in the United States, the white and col
ored schools being separate and apart, eac
working in It's own sphere, with its own teach
ers. To show how the system works, / shall
/ quote passage from the report Of the Super
| intendent of Public Instruction of that State
He says:
Il have not been able to discover any dis
position on the part of school officers to dis
criminate against the coorcd people in the
school arrangements. The officers were in
| structed to be careful to avoid everything
that would even present the appearance o
unfairncss, and believe that they have Gu
deavored faithfully and impartially to execute
| the law. Many of the teachers Of colorec
schools during the past year we're persons o.
the highest social sanding
Again
Except in one district, in which the col
ored people voted adversely, the question o.
laying a local tax for providing school accom-
modations has been carried by large MAORI
ties in every case in which it has been present
ed to the suffragcs of the people. In one
large and wealthy district Of Henrico county
the colored people, who are in the majority
left the question Of the school tax to be entire
;ly decided by the whites, who were the pro-
pcrty-holders. Not colored vote Was cast
on the question, and the whites unanimously
voted a tax Of 1902
That is our system ia Virginia. We have
schools for the two races separate and apart
from each other, each one getting its quota OF
the money, and the people are taxed. and
taxed heavily, to support them Now, gen
tlemen want to force US to mix our children.
Isay it is wrong in principle and contrary to
the laws of God He has drawn His mark,
like the night from the day, clear and dis
tinct. He has made an impossible gulf,
which the gentlemen on the other side seek
to bridge over with this bill The gentlemen
who proposes this does not himself mix So
cially with the colored people. He admits
that this question Of social intercourse is a
matter of free will and election.
Here the hammer fell
Mr.. Harris, of Virginia Will the gentle
man allow me moment longer
Mr.. Storm: Certainly
Mr.. Harris, OF Virginia was going on to
say that the question ofmixed schools is a
social one. What relation is so absolutely so
cial as the mingling Of children at school )?
They sit on the same scat, learn from the
same book, recite the same lesson, drink from
the same cup. and in every respect arc as So
clal in their relation as brother and sister.
lest this doctrine at your own hearthstone;
offer your little children, who are not infu
enced by party or revenge, social entertain
ment, and tell them they must invite as many
black as white children, aud see how quick
God will speak through their innocent lips,
Then we will have no party We will have
no party"
If, then your children will not meet around
the festive board with the colored race. do not
force ours to meet and mingle with them
around the mcatal board where the fair haired
child must sit side by side with the negro
children from six to sixteen years Virginia
will do Justice TO the colored man, but money
cannot purchase her to the principles of this
bill. Offer to return to her all the rich do
main she gave you; lay at her feet all the
proceeds Of the public lands and the wealth
Of the whole cauatry as the price Of social
equality, and that eranl old State, with ma
jestic mein and escutcheon untarnishcd, will
proudly say (: 1--WE give the colored race equal
political and legal rights, but social equality,
meyer never meyer ~