Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-25

A meeting Of citizens who favor the passage OF
the bill introduced in Congressby Senator Sum-
ner, providing for one common school system in
the District of Columbia, under which there sh all
be no distinction in the schools on account of
race, color, or previous condition, was held at
Union League Hall last night A large majority
them leaders in their respective districts. Among
them were j. +. Cook, j. T. johnson, jerome
johnson, Henry johnson, Henry y. johnson,
Langston, u arshaiI brown, Joseph Brooks j.
w. Freeman, and w. II. A. Wormley. Among
the white citizens present were Judge Fisher, 3.
Well INV. ". b. chsse. {. s. Emery, W. H. Slater,
DR.. j. Taber johnson, A. b. johnson, N. H.
Miller, Chas. Champion, Martin Cronin.
Mr. John Thomas johnson called the meeting
to order, and Justice d. w. Anderson opened
with prayer. Mr.. johnson stated that the object
was to consider the bill recently introduced by
the great champion Of the colored people, Chas.
Sumner, [cheers.I He had given much thought
to the subject Of the bill. and believed they
should not take q backward step as to their
rights-they should demand equal rights in all
and every particular with their white fellow
citizens. 1t looked singular when the table of
liberty was set that they 1.-THE colored race) are
to be told, Go here and there, but thus far and
no further" As it had been said that the people
of the District did not want the bill, they had
met together to show that the colored people did
want one common school system. He moved
that Judge Fisher be elected president Of the
meeting; carried.
Judge Fisher was escorted to the chair by
Messrs. Anderson and Syphax, and made few
remarks. If they meant to say that they wished
mixed schools-one common system-fhey had
his hearty assent. This subject addressed itself
to the prejudces of the white men, and although
prejudice reyoited at the idea of such schools
from Maine to Texas, and from the Atlantic TO
the Pacific, we must soon be one people, and
prejudice must give way, for God had made of
one blood all the nations of the earth. The first
school to which he had been sent contained col
ored boys, and he associated with them later in
life as Sunday school teacher. He had taught
colored school, at the time he being a slave
holder. If a slaveholderS1could overcome mis-
prejudices, those who never owned a slave
should overcome them.
Mr.. j. A. johnson moved that the following
NJ. Brown, NJ. N. Holland, John f Cook, L. s.
Emory, John H. Brooks, w. H. A. Wornley
and'J. H. Smith; carried.
Mr.. WOrmley nominated q list of vice presi-
dents and secretaries, who were elected.
Mr.. George w. Mitchell was introduced, and
referred to what had been done for the colOred
race; but yet they DID not enjoy all the rights
were remnant of slavery, and distinction
made in the dark days of slavery is made in the
schools. They are q component part of this
republic, and are considered citizens, but vet
are denied the greatest of all privileges accruing
from so exalted a title-social eQuality-and for
that they propose to fight. They propose that
taxation, shall be thrown open in common to all,
to the cOlored man and child Is well as represen-
tatives Of Ireland, England, and Germany, and
obtain civil rights andsocial equality. No more
fitting place or locality could be chosen to inau-
gurate movement so important as this, the
national capital, Inhabited by Legislators, and
having so large body of colOred people.
The chairman introduced Prof. j. NJ. Lang
ston, who said lis only object was to diyest all
laws of any distinction on account of race color,
or previous condition Of servitude. How incon-
sistent it was to make a negro a senator and
deny his children the right to enter the white
schools You appoint Bassett a foreign minis
Qv n, his Aarr
a black school. hate these distinctions. 1
want no colored organization, and hate white
organizations: Jesus Christ did not make any
distinctions. He did not establish colored schools
nor Hebrew schools. 1 look upon one man as
good as another. If there ia anything that
hate and despise, it is to have white man pat
me on the back because 1 am q black man, and
nothing would make me spit in q mans face
and knock him down, if it were on the floor OF
the Senate, quicker than to have q man pat
me on the back because of the color OF
my face and the curl of my HAIR. We want
schools where We can turn out the best
educated men. who will be able to take
their place by the side of the best white
men, therefore am in favor of civil rights,
and common schools, and social equality. This
is all ask, and will take nothing less than
that: If the Sumner bill would pass to- morrow
and be signed by the President and declared a
law, and the colored children were to take their
seats among white children, white men would
adjust themselves to the circumstances, and no
more difficulty would accrue from it than has
the cOlOred man heretofore. There is one man
in this country who has always been consistent
in his advocacy Of the rights OF the colored
mana man who is second to none-a man who
Is at the head OF the country's literature-that
man is Charles Sumner. tApplause.1 The
speaker here read a letter from Mr.. Sumner
WHICH was intended to have been read at the
convention at New Orleans, in which the writer
indicates a course of action for the colored poll
tcians 10 pursue in this country in order to gain
perfect equal rights. In conclusion, the speaker
advised III IN to stand to their rights and let our
legislators t;ow it.
THE RESOLUTIONS
Inc committee on resolutions here reported n
series, which were adopted, to the effect that
/" Hon. Charles Sumner has introduced into he
Senate q bill reported favOrAby) to secure
equal rights in the public schools the passage of
which we believe to be essential to the proper
and thorough education OF the youth OF the
District; that we fully endorse said bill; that it
Is OF the highest importance to both races that
the children of each be SO educated that they
Will grow into manhood free from every yestiee
OF prejudice and CASTE that the arguments ad.
var by those who oppose the passage of the
bill are as inconsistent as those heretofore adj
vanced in opposition TO the rights already con-
coded; that we do not ask for the passage of this
Dill as favor. nor as compensation for our
political integrity, but in justice to the Ameri-
can youth; that we earnestly and respectfully
petition the Congress of the United States to
pass the bill; that copy Of these resolutions be
signed by A. M. Browne. john =. coos . Mgre
H. Brooks, John II. Smyth. L. s. Emery. M. NJ
Holland and VIM. H. A. WOrmley, committee
The following committee was appointed to pre-
sent the resolutions to Senator Sumner: Messrs
j. nj. LangstOn, John +. Cook, w. H. A. Worm
ley, VIM. Syphax, John T. johnson, T. w.
Chase and Robert HI. Booker.
Mr.. ID. A. Strayker read a short speech in
which he referred to the introduction of the
bill by that great hero of the colored race, Chas
Sumner, and hoped God would help him in his
grand undertaking. The separate school sys-
tenn was the birthplace of the X. X, aud for
that reason there ought to be a system OF COM
mon schools free to all.
MIR. John +. Cook said that his views were in
full accord with the provisions Of the BILL He
favored that system of reform, and felt that it
was as much ter the benefit OF the white man
as Tor the black man. 1t was q stereotyped
phrase going the rounds Of newspapers that the
colored man was not in favor of mixed schools,
which he said was false, and bore the appear
ance of falsehOod on its face.
Mr.. George L. Downing said he was not in
favor Of social equality in the abstract as 1t al
lowed thieves, drunkards and others into good
society. If the child is taught degradation i'm
Its youth, 1t will stick to its degradation in his
manhood, and he hoped that with the death of
slavery differences would die with it. In speak
ing OF personal experience in being thrust from
hrst- class car on his way through Kentucky
he said thatthe republican party Of the District
OF Columbia gave authority for such action by
saying. go into colored SCHOOL, and keep
int ho III