Hon. Edward Stanly was appointed by the President Provisional
Governor of North Carolina, and Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee.
The former signalized his arrival at his post by an official
movement against schools for colored children, as forbidden by
“the laws of the State,” meaning the Black Code, before the war.
Mr. Vincent Colyer, who had opened a school for colored
children at Newbern, came at once to Washington. Arriving
at the close of the day, he reported immediately to Mr.
Sumner, who without delay hurried to the Executive Mansion,
and, not finding the President there, followed him to the
War Department. Mr. Sumner related what had occurred, when
the President, with an impatience which Mr. Sumner never
encountered from him on any other occasion, exclaimed, “Do
you take me for a School-Committee-man?” Mr. Sumner replied
promptly: “Not at all; I take you for President of the United
States; and I come with a case of wrong, in attending to which
your predecessor, George Washington, if alive, might add to
his renown.” The President changed his tone, and with perfect
kindness proceeded to consider the case.
Mr. Sumner lost no time in laying it before the Senate.