National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-23
THE ST Arus OF coLoRzD SCHOOLS.

I'M srtant Meeting Of colored Citizens.
ID q adverse decision Of Mr.. Stanton, Attorney
ior. the District Of Columbia, AZ 70 the right Of
he trustees Of eolored schools to purchase sites
and erect school buildings for the education Of
colored youths In the cities Of Washington and
Georgetown, Is creating considerable feeling
among our colored citizens, and for the purpose
Of having o unity Of action among them-an in
formal meeting was held on Saturday at the res
idence Of Mr.. Avery Patterson. Fifteenth street,
Northwest, to take into confederation the best
course TO pursue The meeting was organized by
the election Of DR.. o. B. Purvis, President, and
MI. Jerome A. Johnson, Secretary. Dr.. Purvis,
upon taking The chair, stated the object Of the
meeting, which he said was for the purpose Of
insisting that the Congressional law made for the
government and protection Of the colored schools
be adhered to. and II necessary to appeal to the
courts and test the right Of the honorable Com
missioners to set aside Congressional enactments.
He was now, ~ heretofore, in fsver Of one school
system, but as has been evidenced by both politi-
cal parties in their opposition, there Is little hope
ut present Of securing it. He was,
therefore, in favor Of having not only
existing laws enforced but that the colored
schools should be placed absolutely under
the control OF the colored people-subject to the
provisions contained in the laws before referred
to. On motion Of Prof. Sampson, Q committee Of
three were appointed to draft q resolution ex-
pressive of the sense Of the meeting. The chair
appointed Messrs. Sampson, CLARK and Emerson.
In the absence Of the committee Q general dis
cussion ensued relative to the status Of the col
ored sehools, and all were unanimous In their
opinion as to the illegality Of the order Of the
Commissioners, consolidating the colored schools
with the whites Of the District of Columbia. and
the same humanity Of feeling was expressed, fav-
orable to the government OF colored schools by
colored people direct. The committee submitted
the following:
nWheress, The recent opinion of the Attorney of
the District Of Columbia relative to the power Of
the trustees Of schools for colored schools In the
cities Of Washington and Georgetown is subver-
siye Of the best interest Of our schools and .
demonstration Of the plain provisions Of the
laws of Congress pertaining to said schools. And
Whereas section 294 OF the consolidated. Statutes
of the District Of Columbia provides shat there
shall be board Of trustees Of schools for colored
schools in the cities of Washington and Geore-
town, consisting Of nine persons, seven Of whom
shall be citizens of Washington and
two, citizens Of Georgetown"
Whereas, the best interest of the Colored
schools Of said cities demand that the above Sec
ton Of the law be faithfully obeyed, therefore
resolved, that we disagree with the District At
torney In his construction Of the law, both in let
ter and spirit. Resolved further, that the CON-
missioners Of the District Of Columbia be and
they are hereby respectfully requested to re-
establish the Board Of Trustees of Schools for
colored children in the cities Of Washington and
Georgetown, in accordance with the law. Re-
solved, that Q committee Of five, Of whom the
chairman Of this meeting shall be q member, be
appointed to present the above preamble and re-
solutions and the views of this meeting as to Its
wishes concerning the schools for colored child
rem in the cities of Washington and Georgetown,
to the Honorable Commissioners Of the District
Of Columbia, and report the result of the confer
ence at the next meeting. The CHAIR appointed
the following named gentlemen to serve on the
COMMITTEES: Hon. Frederick Douglass, DR.. y. B.
Purvis, Prof up. Sampson, J. A. Emerson, ESQ.,,
Rev. William Warrisg and Cornelius CLARK,
Esq, AFTER which the meeting adjourned.