Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-01-26

leho'd here is specimen OF the class whom we
are IN future to mingle you see.he is sensual,
venting in intellect, sc. | think you would
say it was unjust rs we'll as ungenerous if this
81, endowed with superior intellectual faculties?
You well say that there is nothing like it within
your know! edge, for tie horrors of American
slavery and It's results havo been but half tod
even by the most versatile Fen. History tells
thst among the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks and
the early Germans that the slave had certain
rigAt; which the master was not allowed 10
ovcrstep; but here the slave had no rights; tho
marriage tie WAS nullity, family ties rudely
severed and, TO quote the words of Chief JUS
lice Tnney. in the bred Scott case, that negro
had no right that White man vas bound to re-
Spect You also state IN your report, sir, that
l.1L books OF u special character are needed for
The colorcd people for one or two generations to
come, or in other words that the brain of the
negro is not sufficiently developed to master
even the common ruGiments taught in our
schools. In This respect think you err or else
:"u hsve not studied the negro character as we'll
is you state, and to retute ts assertion l will
give you the names OF few among the many
vino not only mastered the common branches
bat .l.2 portion OF the scier ces and languages,
ana have become famous rs theologians, doctors
and Ma.i.cma;ic!ans, AID these obt>ined their
education under the most adverse circumstances,
i'll dark corners, with pine knots, in the woods
" Stt-Lu, utlIlS So IL WIS uhH
gtr0lls to be found with book in their hands.
In very other respect these men some of whom
| will mention, were slaves, and served their
masters with fidelity. viz: Benz. Banneker, OF
Maryland; j. NJ. Langston, of Virginia; Mar
tin L. De"ny, Of South Carolina; Rev II. Ii.
Minister to HAyti; j. NJ. Turner, Consul Gen.
eral to Liberia; Dr. 2. Still, of New jersey
Dr. White and Rev. j. Peterson, OF New York;
+. Douglass, Of Maryland and Of later Date
would mention Prof. K. Ii. Greener, now Of
South Caroi..s. l name these men, for l think
you have no doubt heard Of some of them My
own experience Us u teacher has been practical
! Tot ;i"oc"iiea, and the gentlemen to whom
| refer you Will bear rne cut in the assertion
nske. While teaching in Leesburg in 1858 un.
der In: auspices OF the Presbyterian Board, my
school was examined at My request by Mr.. l.
Williamson, Principal of-the Leesburg Acade
ny, and All able Instructor of youth WHO de-
cIared that the children were as proficient in the
branches they studied MS any among tho whites
OF The samo age. | have mad control of one Of
The schools here snc: they were first founded D
The state They have been examined simi-an
| nua:!. by, our ELI; Superintendent and the
abe Board Of Examiners of which our Schooi
Board is composed. These examinations wer9
very searching, ana to quote the words of a
member to the pupils: I'VE want to find out
| Wtat yo do not know, not what you know;
| and ain happy to say they found out very
iitttc tina. they did not know, especially III
these bra!chcs whore it needs brains to solve
tie problems. Taking these examinations rs :
tost IS to the capacity OF the negro child t,
study thu same books as his white brother, /:
fully answered by the statement Of these gentle,
men, who on several occasions have said that
they (the colo-cd schnols) have stood e4amina.
ton equS! IT, any. | would not have you think
from this That the negro is without faults, for Et
has many which time on y and with the aid o
our white citizens will eradicate. The whole
history OF the negro will show you the absurdity
of inc charges that you make Of his being either
soclslistic or communIistic and needs no refu
talon on my part. T!at few men, rot of oul
class, have used them basoly for political pur
poses cannot be denied, but happy era even in
this respect is dawn 6, and tho time trust is
rot lar distant hen u more endearing relation
ship based on liberty and equal rights to all,
shall c%s! b;tween the whites and blacks of the
whole country. and in his hope you vii give
u your uid. Pardon me in being so lengthy in
SO crudeiy m batting your otherwise able report
| sm, esteemed sir, your humble and obedient
servant: w. f. POWELL,
PRINCIPAL Of SnOWden School