A proposition in the Legislature of the District of Columbia,
opening the Normal School without distinction of color, failed
through the vote of a colored member, which was the occasion of
the following letter, written in reply to an inquiry. The letter
was read by the chairman of a public meeting of colored citizens
on the evening of June 30, 1873, who said he had conferred with
distinguished gentlemen, legal and otherwise, regarding the right
of the District Legislature to pass such a bill, and all had stated
that their power was unquestionable. He had addressed a letter to
the Hon. Charles Sumner upon that question, and had received the
following reply:--
WASHINGTON, June 22, 1873.
DEAR SIR,--In reply to your inquiry, I have no hesitation in saying
that in my judgment the right of the District Legislature to provide
a normal school where there shall be no distinction of color is
beyond doubt. To call it in question is simply ridiculous.
Having the right, the duty of the Legislature is clear as sunshine.
It must open the school to all, without distinction of color. Should
any persons be shut out from this right on the wretched apology of
color, I trust they will make their indignation felt by the guilty
authors of the outrage.
I write plainly, because the time has come for those who love justice
to speak out. Too long have colored fellow-citizens been deprived of
their rights; they must insist upon them.
Faithfully yours,