National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-26
CoL0RED SCHOOL LAW.
Answer to the Card Of Mr.. Charles n. Thomas

Answer to the Card Of Mr.. Charles N. Thomas
TO the Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: The importance and gravity OF the ques-
ton 70 the colored people in the District OF Co
lumbis at Issue relative to the legal status Of the
colored schools Of Washington and Georgetown,
induces me to crave your indulgence for space In
your Journal In the Chroniets Of the 18th instant
ESQ.,, sustaining the position assumed by the
Commissioners in consolidating the several
SSn0od BSsIos sogstnsr ,S Stn Lecture 70 the
colored schools some rights which the COMMITS
sioners are bound to respect. The history Of the
embraces considerable congressional Legislation
from their inception, made necessary by the refu-
sci Of the whites to take part in educating col
ored children, and q perusal Of the consolidated
statues will show that not Q feature Of the laws
Of Congress relating to colored schools Inns been
disturbed. Mr.. Thomas states that the Commits
sions have the right to remove the trustees for
colored schools. On that there Is q difference Of
opinion. But when he asserts that they have the
right to consolidate the Board of Trustees,
thereby destroying the distinctive identity re-
cogniEed by Congress
HE Is ENTIRELY WRONG.
Iftbst be so, why not as matter Of economy,
consolidate the Fire Commissioners with the Pc
lice Commissioners and thereby save to the citl-
either enc Board or the other. Mr.. TSo%as iS.
pores the fact that the trustees for Oolored
schools were created by Congress and not BY the
crate board are the same aow as then, exbept the
appointing power IL vested In local authority. If
the Commissioners are greater than The power
from them is more potent and binding than Con.
gressional Enactment; but II they are the Great
ures Of Congress their duty is plain in observing
Purpose Of the colored gentlemen who give so
much offence to Mr.. Thomas, is not to draw q
color line, fer that was drawn by the representa-
striking out the Hmixed" school clause in the
Civil Rights Bill their real intentions to de-
mand that the congressional laws made for the
protection Of the Colored schools shall be obeyed
both in letter and SPIRIT and not be so construed
as 70 leave eli the obectional features Of separate
schools, with their Gate prS9dlee remaining, and
that which u calculated 70 elevate And Inip,rs
eradicaied. The colored people have, during the
brief period Of ten years, under the protection
q Congressional laws, and the gersrosity Of
never demurred In contributing for the education
Of oolo5ed youth, IN the District Of Oolum6la)
succeeded IN building up school system which
ADMIRATION OF EDUCATORS
throughout the land and when they ask to he
allowed to manage the education Of their own
children on account Of caste distinction being
o
God, such an expression emanated rom the same
coiored man who, when asked TO labor for the
sSan he osus lsf r s.a Ss
letter am compelled. a. fsr Is he 10 personally
concerned, 20 agree with him. In conclusion
would ask, Mr.. Editor, what benefit has been de.
rived by the oonsolidstionf Dan Trustee John
son, holding o com mission a. trustee for all the
public schools fin the DJstric1 Of Columbia, grant
permission 70 his children 70 attend Session"
school building-the one nearest his homef Will
0 ticket OF admission from Trustee Brooks admit
pupil in the white schoolsi Has thers been
any change in the course OF study benshclsl 70 the
colored sohools7 Have the schools been managed
any better7 Have the white trustees visited on
caly the colored schools, and the colorsd trustees
the white schoolsf ! have 70 from responsible
authority that the colored schools are managed
with economy-thatt their system Of grading equals
that OF the whites-and that the rules and regula.
tons governing their schools were 10 many cases
considered preferable 10 those adopted BY the
whites. would state for the information Of Mr..
Thomas (ss II occurred probably before he grew
TO prominence) that the substance Of the order OF
the Commissioners fthe District Of Oolumbla IN
abolishing the trustees for colored schools and
consolidating the oolored school board with the
white, was smuggled through Congress, and was
vetoed By the late Andrew johnson, then Presi.
dent OF the United Statesj and when the intent
and purpose Of the legislation were shown 70 late
Senator sumner he, with the other Republican
Senators, permitted the veto 10 stand-the only
one sustained during the political conflict between
In the Senate Of the United States JUsftcK.