Year: 1875

Of this appalling ignorance, We stand


here to-day debating the question


whether We shall guarantee free


schools to . free people Sir, il
you would have good citizens, if you


would make the foundations Of the


Republic secure, give to the present


and to the generations that are to


come after US the opportunity OF ac-


quiring that intelligence without


which no people can long hope to be


either great or free.


But it has been said that the black


people do not desire the enactment OF


this provision relating to common


schools. Sir, among the numerous


petitions that have peen presented to


this body praying for the establish


ment of free schools, | hold In my


hand copy OF one signed by ten


thousand citizens of this Republic.


Permit me to read it, and be this my


answer:


I'VE ask it at your hands because


We are citizens of this free Republic,


a part Of the body polite, and are de-


prived of rights and respect which are
justly due US. We cannot travel upon


the railroads, steamboats,, and GtGges


without being subjected to inconveni-


ence, prescription, and insult. and


when We apply for accommodations at


a public inn are refused. But We


meet the GREATEST barrier when We
present our children at the PUBLIC


SCHOOLS and are REJECTED. All this


and more We are compelled to endure


because We are colored. We pray you


to remove these hinderances. So that
= ..1I. t, 20
| which We are entitled as citizens, tax


payers, and members of the human
| family 1t is no special legislation in


our behalf that we ask for, but We ask
| you to remove whatever legislation
there is against us.


| Now. while there is conflict of
opinion upon the floor of this House
and in the country touching this
question of schools; while some are in
favor of no provision whatever for the
education Of the colored race, and
| others are advocating separate schools,
and yet others are favoring mixed or
free schools. for my single self L have
no hesitaney in declarine in favor of
that provision, and that provision
ONLY, which gives absolutely free
schools for every child OF the Repub-



For one, | protest here and now
| against entering upon that course OF
legislation which draws line Of de-
markation between American citizens
who by your laws and your Constitu-
ton stand in absolute equality on a
common flag. You cannot submit to
it without doing violence to the spirit
of your institutions, trampling upon
your Constitution, and inaugurating a
course of legislation whose legitimate
end is the subjugation OF the weak of
every class and race.


Mr. Speaker, | now desire to call
the attention of the House to the pro-
vision OF the bill which allows the
establishment of seperate schools
where the local authorities shall so
determine. In no event can l give
this provision my support. To per-
NIT such a system and say it shall be
compliance with the provisions of
this act is TO establish by Federal law
separate schools in the majority of the
States of this Union. Besides being
open to the criticisms which l have
already urged against class legislation
which no man can Justify. it is subject,
it seems to me, to other objections of
the gravest character. In the first
place, it must be admitted that there
can be no permanent peace in the
country SO long as there exists de-
termined prejudice and hostility be-
tween two great classes of American
citizens To allay this irritation and
bring each to the acknowledgement
and respect OF the rights of the other
is the first and highest duty of this
hour. Yet what do you propose by
this bill? While there was no pre-
judice existing between the white and
black children when the blacks were
slaves; while they fed at the same
breast and played together on the
same lawn, you now propose by this
bill to commence at the very tounda-
ton of society with the rising gener-
alton in your common schools and
implant in the breast of both races a
mutual adherence and detestation.
And what must he the inevitable
fruits of such legislation? AT the end
of generation you will have produced
a hostility between these races ten
fold more bitter than it is to-day,
ending in a war OF races and sea OF
blood.


But again. object to this provision
OF the bill, because it will work a
manifest injustice to both races.
Wherever you establish separate
schools in any district it will neces-
sarily do one of two things: 1t will
either double the expense of main
tanning the schools. or it will diminish
the school facilities by lessening the
term. Suppose, to illustrate. you
have a school district where 500 of
public money are expended for school
purposes and you have Fifty children
In the district of school age. twenty
FIVE black and twenty five white: and
suppose you can employ teacher at
S25 per month. Now. by maintaining
but one school you could have, with a
public fund of 800, school term for
eight months in the year. But divide
this fund, employ two teachers. build
two school houses for the two races.
place the whites in one and the blacks
in the other. and you will reduce your
school term to four months in the |
year Such policy is an injury alike |
to the black and white race. And |
this wrong is to be inflicted, not with |
the consent or at the request of those |
whom it most concerns, but at the be- |
hest of men whose better judgment |
can but condemn it, and upon whom |
rests the responsibility of shaping the |
destiny of the Republic, but whose
prejudice is stronger than principle.


Again, sir. this provision for the |
establisknent of separate schools is
open to another, aud. if possible. more |
serious objee tion. Ii it should be- |
come law, its pernicious influence
would be felt IN every State and Ter
riforv and reopen a contest in many