^ LC ^ . :»i>i >■> : > .■3> "> > '■ J ■•> >" >;>_,- 'o:>'' ■.>-X> li - »• Jt>:>£2 '-^•.:S> 1)23 > >i> ■ o> Sf>> v-:>s> >1? -^at^ -O'^y^- >"""5Er^ *9»S3> ■^^ > ^^^^ .-^>ti>:u3) ^.^^^ -^ yySny ^T^wmr^^^ ^T^ "H^S^^^ ^>3> h UBRARY OF CONGRESS. Chap. -LL'._-L£-.§. 1 Shelf ...Axn^i.^ ^laiEiSEISTTEXJ B"Z" \-k^<\ UNITED STATES OF AMEEIOA. 53d Congress, ) SENATE. \ Keport M iSesaion. S '\ No. ;304. h IN THE SENATE OF THE TNITED STATES. Apiul b, 1894.— Ordered to be printed, ft/wo/ yUL.icAAUA> ^ 3Ir. Kyle, from tbe Committee on Education and Labor, submitted the following REPORT: [To accompauy araeudmeut intended to be proposed to H. E. 5575.] The Committee on Education and Labor, to whom was referred the "amendment intended to be proposed by Mr. Kyle to the bill (H. E. 5575) making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Govern- ment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895, and for other purposes, viz: insert the following: For the maintenance of the law department of the Howard University, $8,000; for books for the library of the law department of the Howard University, $1,000," respectfully report the same to the Senate with the most earnest recommendation that the amendment be adopted in its entirety for the reason that the public need which it meets is urgent and the duty of Congress, in respect to it, absolute, paramount, and extreme; and for cause the committee say as follows : The amendment is but another step in furtherance of the policy which has been pursued by the American people towards the millions of per- sons suddenly delivered from slavery by a civil war of unparalleled magnitude. France, after seven years of liberty, reenslaved the freedmen of her West India colonies. England, with her well-nigh perfect instincts of freedom, imposed upon the colored population of Jamaica a humiliating apprenticeship; and in the Republics of South America emancipation has come to the oppressed bondmen by slow steps and uncertain stages; but the American people, in spite of revolution, made their bondmen freed- men, and the freedmen citizens, and responded promptly to the duty of placing within the reach of this added element of citizens, whose situ- ation was exceptional and peculiar, facilities by which the duties and responsibilities as well as the rights and ]3rivileges of constitutional political equality might be fully appreciated and safely conferred and enjoyed. Under the authority conferred by various acts of Congress, particu- larly section 13 of the act of July 16, 1866, and the proviso in the Army appropriation bill approved March 2, 1867, and section 3, act of June 24, 1868, Gen. O. O. Howard came to the assistance of the Chris- tian and benevolent associations, which, just after the civil war, were engaged in establishing in this District, and in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the Southern States, educational institutions which might be ade- quate to the work of fitting teachers and qualifying persons of color 2 HOWARD UNIVERSITY. . |l| -J fl ^ for the learned professions to labor among tlieir own people, tlie great mass of whom the institution of slavery had necessarily kept almost as ignorant as the beasts of burden and almost as wretched as the reptiles that crawled among the cotton and the cane. As a result of these joint efforts of i)rivate benevolence and public provision by law, the Howard University was chartered by Congress in 1867, as follows, and a bureau of the Government located upon its property from which the institution derived the greater part of the means necessary for its temporary equipment and current support: [Cliap. CLXII, U. S. Stal. L., entitled '-An Act to inoorporatu the Howard University iu tbe Dis- trict of Columbia,' api)roved March 2, 1867.] He it enacted by the /Senate and House of Ilepreseiitativets of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be established, and. hereby is established, iu the District of Columbia, a university for the education of youth in the liberal arts and sciences, under the name, style, and title of The Howard University. Sec. 2. Jnd be it furtlier enacted, Ihat Samuel C. Pomeroy, Charles B. Boynton, Oliver O. Howard, Burton C. Cook, Charles H. Howard, James B. Hutchinson, Henry A. Brewster, Benjamin F. Morris, Danforth B. Nichols, William G. Finney, Eosw'ell H. Stevens, E. M. Cushmau, Hiram Barbour, E. W. Robinson, W. F. Bascom, J. B. Johnson, and Silas L. Looniis be, and they are hereby, declared to be a body politic and corporate, with perpetual succession in deed or in law to all intents and purposes whatever, by the name, style, and title of The Howard University, by which name and title they and their successors shall be competent, at law and in equity, to take to themselves and their successors, for the use of said university, .any estate whatsoever in any messuage, lauds, tenements, hereditaments, goods, •chattels, moneys, and other effects, hy gift, devise, grant, donation, bargain, sale, ■conveyance, assurance, or will; and the same to grant, bargain, sell, transfer, assign, convey, assure, demise, declare, to use and farm let, and to place out on interest, for the use of said university, iu such manner as to them, or a majority of them, shall be deemed most beueticial to said institution; and to receive tlie same, their rents, issues, and prolits, income and interest, and to apply the same for the pro]3er use and benetit of said university; and by the same name to sue and be sued, to implead and be impleaded in any court of law and equity iu all manner of suits, actions, and proceedings wiiatsoever, and generally by and in the same name to do and trans- act all and every the business toucliing or concerning the premises: Prodded, That the same do no l exceed the value of iifty thousand dollars net annual income over and above and exclusive of the receipts for the education and support of students of said university. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted. That the hrst meeting of said corporators shall be holden at the time and place at which a majority of the persons herein above named shall assemble for that purpose; and six days' notice shall be given each of .said corporators, at which meeting said corporators may enact by-laws not incon- sistent with the laws of the United States regulating the government of the cor- poration. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted. That the government of the university shall be vested iu a board of trustees of not less than thirteen members, who shall be elected by the corporation at their first meeting. Said board of trustees shall have per- petual succession in deed or in law, and in them shall be vested the power hereinbe- fore granted to the corporation. They shall adopt a common seal, which they may alter at pleasure, under and by which all deeds, diplomas, and acts of the university shall pass aud be authenticated. They shall elect a ]jresident, a secretary, and a treasurer. The treasurer shall give such bonds as the board of trustees may direct. The said board shall also appoint the professors and tutors, describing the number and determining their respective salaries. They shall also appoint such other officers, agents, or employees a,g the wants of the university may from time to time demand, in all cases iixing their compensation. All meetings of said board may be called in such manner as the trustees shall prescribe, and nine of them so assembled shall constitute a quorum to do business, and a less number may adjourn from time to •time. Sec. 5. And be it furiJier enacted. That the university shall consist of the following- departments and such others as the board of trustees may establish: First, normal; second, collegiate; third, theological; foni'th, law; fifth, medicine; sixth, agri- ciilture. Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the immediate government of the several departments, subject to the- control of the trtistees, sliall be intrusted to their respective faculties, but the trustees shall regulate -tihe course of instruction, pre- HOWARD UNIVERSITY. 3 scribe, witli the advice of the professors, tlie necessary text-boolvs, confer degrees, and grant such diplomas as are usualh' conferred and granted in other universities. Sec. 7. And he it further enacted, That tlie board of trustees shall have power to remove any professor or tutor or other ofticers connected with the institution when, in their judgment, the interest of the university shall require it. Skc. 8. And be It further enacted, That the board of trustees shall publish an annual report, making an exhibit of the affairs of the university. Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That no misnomer of the said corporation shall defeat or annul any donation, gift, grant, devise, or bequest to or from the said corporation. Sec 10. And be it further enacted, That the said corjjoration shall not employ its funds or income or any part thereof in banking operations or for any purpose or ol)iect other than those expressed in the lirst section of this act ; and that nothing in this act contained shall be so construed as to prevent Congress from altering, amend- ing, or repealing the same. Api^roved March 2, 1867. The iiuiversity being- thus launched uuder the patrouage of Con- gress and the Executive Departments of War and of the Interior as one of the instruments of Government to hasten the proper assimila- tion of the colored people into the body politic, and to render them more capable of intelligently sustaining the burdens, performing the duties, and wisely using the advantages of citizenship, was not included in the plans and provisions of the philanthropists of the North, whose munihcent benefactions have carried forward a similar work in the various States of the South and Southwest. Howard University, with the exception of its theological depart- ment, has been and still is regarded as the charge of Congress at the seat of Government, to which it must look for resources to carry for- ward its work, designed only to promote the public good and the national welfare. Accordingly, after the Freedmen's Bureau expired by limitation and the university lost the help derived from its situation in tlie buildings of the institution, the resources of the university became so reduced and so precarious as to seriously cripple and retard its work. Congress then came forward and made such provision for the nor- mal, preparatory, collegiate, and industrial departments as enabled these to continue the important, useful, and rapidly growing work appropriate to each of tbem; but there is a disposition on the part of Congress each year to reduce this allowance, thus making it necessary to curtail the work each year by reducing both the number and com- pensation of the professors, so that, if the professors were not conse- crated to the work, men of tirst-rate abilities could not be kept by the university. The theological department has always been well provided for by the various churches, one af which has erected commodious buildings near the university for the accommodation of divinity students. The medical department has derived some advantages of a quite help- ful nature from the facilities afforded by the Freedmen's Eospital, which is located upon the property of the university and supported by Con- gress through appropriations disbursed by the Interior Department. The agricultural department of the university had to be given up entirely for want of means to establish, equip, and conduct it, and is not at the present time in operation. This is not only unfortunate for the country, but a most serious deprivation to the colored people when it is considered that nearly ninety thousand of them reside in this District and here and elsewhere are excluded from the trades, trades unions, and aven ues of every kind of employment except that of a menial character. In the nature of things a large portion of these people must be redistributed by some means to agricultural life and pursuits. This would help those , 4 HOWARD UNIVERSITY. SO given a lite ot employmeut and independence, and those who remain a part of the population of the District. It would help the adjoining- States whose lands are declining in value and fertility on account of the need of an increase iu their sturdy and intelligent rural population, and the appropriation to accomplish this beneficent, just, and patriotic object could be met out of the retained- bounty fund of 30,000 col- ored soldiers now in the Treasury and amounting on March I, 1870, to $1,256,991,25. If the already great and steadily enhancing values of laud in the District should prove an embarrassment to the trustees in providing a farm of suitable dimensions for all the purposes of its agricultural department the Government reservation of Fort Wash- ington, on the Potomac River and near the city, might be devoted to this purpose without detriment to the public interests and without inter- ference with the fortification and armament being made there; and if the reservation should prove inadequate to the needs of such a school located upon it, adjoining lands could be leased or purchased at a most reasonable figure. Here, also, both on account of the uses of the res- ervation and the width and depth of the channel of the river at the landing, might be established, in connection with the agricultural school, a military and naval training school which would supply to the colored youth of tbe country opportunities now lost to them of partic- ipation in tbe advantages of the academies located at West Point and Annapolis ; and in order to make these advantages general each mem- ber of Congress should have imposed upon him the duty to nominate each year a student from his State and district to be trained in the school, and if such students have not been prepared elsewhere to under- take the studies suitable to be entered upon here, then the other depart- ments of the university should be authorized to fit them. The committee spoke above of the serious deprivation to the colored people involved in thus neglecting this agricultural, military, and naval training which might be aflbrded by the Howard University. The com- mittee might have gone further and described this deprivation as not only most serious, but as most unjust, because of the 100,000,000 acres of public lands which the Government has donated to the States for school purposes the colored people of the District of Columbia have never had so much as the proceeds of a single acre. They have never had a dollar from the 155,000,000 acres given to the railroad companies; nor have they enjoyed any benefit whatever of the •$28,000,000 of surplus then in the Treasury divided in 1836 among the States as a gift to their agricultural colleges, because iu those States where the colored population is greatest the foundations established by this national donation are not open to the admission of colored peo- ple. Besides, under the law making the grant, the District of Columbia was entitled to its pro rata share, but has not yet received a single cent; neither have they received any share, as the committee is informed and believe, iu the benefits of the act of Congress giving the States the swamp and overflowed lands, of which the States had selected, up to October, 1889, some 80,000,000 acres more than those above enumer- ated. The committee had intended to include in the amendment an item providing $15,000 for the establishment and maintenance of the agri- cultural department of the university for the current year but have omitted it, fearing that such action might unfavorably affect the amendment for the maintenance of the law department, already in part provided for in the bill, and which, in i)oint of immediate and direct public usefulness, exceeds in importance all the other depart- ments of the university, because through its instruction a large incre- HOWARD UNIVERSITY. 5 nieut of citizens must learn tbe character of tiie laws and institutions under which they live and the nature and functions of the Government of which they form a very considerable part; if one-eighth of the whole of our country in the sum of its industry — its fidelity to the prin- ciples of liberty and equality, its obedience to law, its loyalty and patri- otism in times of national peril, its fortitude in adversity, its magnan- imity to bear burdens that posterity may reap the benefits, its faith in the honor and integrity of fellow-citizens invested with the duty to legislate in prudence and justice both for the informed and the igno- rant, the rich and the poor, the high and the humble, the Avhite and the black — be deemed of value in estimating the qualities and resources of a great and enduring nation. The committee ha^^e therefore omitted this item from the amendment and eontevit themselves with recommending that the Appropriations Committee incorporate a clause in the bill directing the Secretary of the Interior to include in his estimates for the coming year provision for the agricultural department of the university on a basis of an alloivance of $15^000 per annum. The law department of the university, subsequent to the removal of the Freemen's Bureau from the university and prior to 1891, was practi- cally without resources, was almost suspended several times, and at best merely languished upon the charity of the instructors and the pro- ceeds of a small sum left to it by Gen. Howard. Perhaps no better description of its condition can be given than that wliich occurs in the correspondence which appeared in the public press between the presi- dent of the Columbian University of this District and Wm. H. H. Hart, esq., now a member of the bar of the court of appeals and of the supreme court of the District, and who was appointed special assistant H. S. district attorney in and for the DivStrict of Columbia by Attorney-Gen- eral Garland. The correspondence is given in full in order that the denial, upon con- sideration, of admission of colored persons to the white law schools even in Washington may appear, and is as follows; [The National Repv^blican, November 2, 1885.] THE COLOR LINE IN COLLEGE — IT IS DRAWN ANEW XT THE COLUMIUAX UNIVER- SITY — INTERESTING CORRESPONDJINCE BETWEEN PRESIDENT WELLING AND AN AMBITIOUS APPLICANT FOR ACADEMIC HONORS — WHY THE RACE ISSUE IS RAISED The following correspondence lias taken place in relation to the admission of col- ored students at Columbian University : Washington, D. C, October 16, iSSo. Hon. James C. Welling, President of Columbian Law School: Sir : Four years ago when you matriculated a gentleman of color in your law school, and refused the urgent demand of a large body of students to send him away, all good men rejoiced and regarded your action as another great stej) in the direction of equal opportunities of culture for all persons of good character and proper mental training, irrespective of creed or color. And when the young man won the second prize, which was conferred upon him by your own hand, together with a decoration of the degree of bachelor of laws, the friends of liberty and equal rights concluded that the matter was settled and a great victory won, so far, at least, as your university, the best equipped in the national capital was concerned. Imagine my surprise in view of the above-named facts, therefore, when on Wednes- day evening last several gentlemen of color, myself among the number, were refused permission "to attend the coxirse of lectures to be delivered to the junior class. After being sent away by you I called upon Mr. Mattingly, chairman, I believe, of the board of trustees. He stated in substance to a mutual friend, a lawyer, who presented the case to him, that the committee had promised the white students some time ago not to admit gentlemen of color to the lectures, because the presence of such persons in the hall might prove objectionable to the other students. But it was suggested that if the other students would indicate their willingness to allow colored candidates to become members of their class the executive board would gladly admit them; that the board had already manifested a desire to open b HOWARD UNIVERSITY. tlie doors of the university to all worthy applicants by receiving several colored students within the last four j^ears; hut that uow the board thought it prudent to adopt a different policy, and in future would be governed in the matter by the wishes of the white students. In the first place, the white students finally acquiesced in your action of four years ago, and since then have regarded this question as res Judloata and signified their approval of your decision by becoming and remaining members of your school; and it seems reasonable to suppose that so far as the white students are concerned the issue of excluding colored applicants is being unnecessarily revived. In the second place, your present unexcelled facilities as a university became a possibility through the benevolence of the distinguisned philanthropist, W. W. Corcoran. If, therefore, the students, who are, in a measure, recipients of this great public benefactor's bounty, should combine to exclude other worthy individuals from a participation in the same they would thereby be placed in the unenviable attitude of selfish monopolists of another man's charity; and I firmly believe that, if it were proper to submit such a matter to a junior class, the vote of the members would be for admission and not for exclusion. But the president and honorable board of trustees of Columbian University are the custodians of a great public trust, and as upright adininistratorsof that respon- sible trust they can not allow the unreasonable prejudices of impetuous and inex- perienced undergraduates to dictate the policy of the university. Some have hinted that the induction of a national Democratic Chief Executive into power has caused your change of front, but this could hardly be true, because the greatest instrument to which the signature of His Excellency ever gave life and power was that declaring all the schools of the P^mpire State open to the children of all the citizens of that Commonwealth ; and as President, Grover Cleveland has never in a public or private capacity said nor done anything that could lead men to believe that he would act otherwise than he did as governor. Others have wondered whether your action was not prompted by the example of ftie national law school. This, I take it, could scarcely be true, because, though some governments favor the aggrandizement of one class of citizens at the expense of the rights of another class, yet our countrymen have never thought such a system worthy of imitation, and if one law school, ignoring the light and duty of the pres- ent, chooses to dwell in the darkness and prejudices of the past, that siii'ely could not influence you, who are not only abreast, but as an educiator of men, ahead of the times. In the wretched and gloomy days behind us there was a reason originating in our condition of ignorance and slavery for ostracizing us, but now, under the new dis- pensation of Providence, such reason no longer exists, and they who assist in perpet- uating this prejudice against us, now that the reason of it no longer exists, are engaged in the unholy cause of sowing among their fellow men seeds of sufiering and ''Discord! dire sister of the slaughtering power. Small at her birth but rising every hour, While scarce the skies her horrid head can bound, She stalks on earth, and shakes the world around ; The nations bleed, wlier'er her steps she turns, The groans still deepen and the combat burns." You, sir, and the honorable board of trustees, may disclaim any such far reaching intention in your denial of the advantages of Columbian University to worthy colored applicants. If, however, you will but reflect a moment you must recognize the fact that he who is aware of the evil tendencies of his volitions, and yet puts them into exercise, becomes morally responsible for their ultimate effects. Nor will the plea of public opinion at all justify you. As the president of the leading university in the nation's capital you should be a leader of public opinion, and not its blind follower; a champion of truth, justice, and benevolence, and not a servant of error. As the president of the leading law school in the nation's capital, the guide, friend, and philosopher of the growing hopes of our country, Avho are to become ministers of justice, exponents of the great regulative science, custodians of the honor, for- tunes, and welfare of the citizens of the republic, you should bid pride of race, pride of purse, pride of name, ^jartiality, unjust discrimination, caste, prejudice, and the whole foul, harpy brood stop at the door, and not offer them a place in your lecture hall nor in the hearts of your students. In his introductoiy lecture Blackstone dwelt upon the importance of making a knowledge of the laws of one's country a part of the education of every scholar, divine, and statesman, as well as of the common lawyer. If that were true of England more than a hundred years ago, how much more important it is in our country and age, where the most humble citizen of to-day may be lifted to the most HOWARD INIVEWSITY, 7 t^xiilted station to-moiTow, and among- a composite people as we are, where so many pecnliavities must arise from family seclusions, it is important that all the elements of our nation should be brought together in schools, where they nuiy become ac((uainte(l with each other and not grow np and go out into active life as sti'angers, for to be a stranger is to most persons to be regarded with a greater or less degree of hostility. And since those of the profession of the law are to contend in the same race for the same })rizes it is important that they should, as ;i. rule, train in the siime palestra. These, sir, are a few of the public aspects of the case. Permit me now to call your attention to some of its individual eft'ects. Try to imagine for a moment what an upright, refined, and sensitive nature must sutt'er in being thrust out from his fellowmen as if he were a leper, scorned and insulted as if he were an open and confessed criminal, denied the society of the beautiful and the cultivated, refused converse with the eloquent and the talented ; to strive for the world's gi-eat trinity — pleasure, profit, and honor — and yet find every avenue leading to them closed as with walls of steel against him; to live through the fever and fret of life without any of those mollifying solaces that spring from the kindly interest and sympathy of neighbors and friends; to see other men measured "-by the standard of character and attainments and find himself inexorably damned by an extraneous and accidental mark of birth, for which in law and reason no on© can be held accountable and forced to suffer. By treading the whole circle — "I could a tale unfold whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul; Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, Thy knotted and combined locks to part; Like quills upon the fretted porcupine." But I desist; the picture is too dark for your long contemplation; though the reality of it, in my everyday experience, is sufficient to make one seriously question as to whether life upon such conditions is worth living. 1 am well aware of the courage it requires to make a departure from the customary practices of the society around us, even when such departure is in the interest of justice, reason, and relig- ion; but rest assured, sir, that the right will triumph, and liring with it the rich reward of approval, both at the bar of public opinion and in the forum of conscience. The present unaraicable relations between two elements of our people cannot con- tinue for a very great while. We are objected to because it has been the custom to maltreat us, and most men are but mere imitators, who take the fashion of their minds as well as the cut of their garments from those of the higher ranks. Once let persons in your high station condemn by precept and example all unjust dis- crimination against us, and yon will be astonished to see how qnickly all animosity and friction will disappear. There is no point where a more effective beginning could be made than in the schools, and for this section than yonr university. Then, when in the future some Dumas shall instruct, charm, and delight the com- ing generation; some Douglass warm to life and rouse to activity the sense of jus- tice now dead in the heart of a nation totally absorbed in gain, or some Aletes, skilled in the art of diplomacy, fortified by the resources of philosophy and the learning of the school, represent the nation abroad, concerning whom, in the words of Tasso, men may say — "Alete e I'un, che da principio indigno Tra le brutere della plebe e' sorto." (Aletes is the one who, from origin unworthy, among the •fiftlf()f the people is sprung.) You, with the complacency arising from a consciousness of duty done, may reflect that such persons did not rise in spite of you, but that their promotion, nsefulness and dignity are in a large measure the work of yonr hand. When such a spirit of justice shall pervade the hearts and characterize the actions of all the prominent men and men of affairs of our country, then will come — •' Felix ille dies, felix et dicitur annus, Felices, qui talem annum videre, diemque!" Hoping that the thoughts here, though crudely presented, may move yon and the honorable board of trustees, to make a favorable reconsideration of your decision in regard to this matter, I have the honor, sir, to subscribe myself your humble and most obedient servant, Wn.MAM H. H. Hart. 8 HOWARD UNIVERSITY. President Welling' s reply. The Columbian UniverssIty, Washington, October 27, 1885. Mr. W. H. H. Hart: Dear Sir : I have pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your interesting commnuication under date of the 15th instant. It did not come to my hands until yesterday. As the members of the corporation, and not the faculty, are the governing power of the university, you will perceive at once that I am not competent to deal with the questions which you discuss. These questions are already before the corporation, which reserves to itself the right, as it alone has the power to decide them, for the government of the faculties in all our departments of instruction. You are quite right in supposing that neither the action of the National University Law School nor the election of a Democratic President had anything to do with the action of our universitj^ authorities in reserving to themselves the ultimate decision of the question to which you refer. The question in the District of Columbia is not so simple as you seem to think. The Congress of the United States, responding to the wish of the colored popula- tion, has given to them colored public schools and a colored 8uj)erintendence, distinct from the schools and superintendence of the white population. The colored people show no disposition to give up their exclusive schools; more- over, the Congress gives large and liberal grants to Howard University for the especial benefit of the colored race, while to the Columbian University it makes no grants, but rather impedes its operations by levying taxes on its library and endowments. In this state of affairs our authorities wish to inquire what their duties really are, so long as existing legislation makes a legal discrimination in our public schools and lavors the colored race by giving to Howard University valuable grants and immunities which are denied to the Columbian University. If we are to share in the duties of Howard University we exjiect to share in the privileges. Yours, very truly, James C. Welling, President. I A closinr/ plea for civil rights. Washington, D. C, October 28, 1885. Hon. J as. C. Welling, President Columbian Universiti/: Dear Sir : Y'our anxiously awaited answer to my communication of the 16th instant came to hand this morning, and I hasten to reply. I have read your ansAver carefully, and am forced, both by the general tenor of your note and the irrelevant pleading of special Congressional grants to Howard University, sorrowfully to conclude that whatever hope 1 may have entertained of a favorable reconsideration of this matter by the govei'ning power in the university, of which you are pi-esident, was futile. Y'on set forth as a justification of the course now being pursued by the author- ities of the Columbian University the fact of a legal discrimination in existing legislation between the white and the colored population as to the public schools of the District of Columbia. It is an axiom of the law that the spirit which inspired its creation must charac- terize and direct its enforcement and not the strict letter in which the law is expressed; because, on account of the constantly changing surrounding circum- stances, the letter of the law is often found directly opposed to its spirit and the ends of justice defeated, instead of promoted, by observing the letter and ignoring the spirit of a legislative enactment. It is no less true of the municipal law than of the divine that "the letter of the law often killeth while the spirit maketh alive." The exclusive colored schools, under colored superintendence, was inspired by an honest desire, on the part of those who framed the law creating them, to benefit the colored people by placing in their hands the honorable positions of superinten- dents and teachers. Without doubt the inspiring motive was to benefit and strengthen the colored people, and not to injure and cripple them. lint all history declares, and all experience confirms the truth, that class legislation of whatever kind, and however well meant, invariably proves pernicious in the end, besides being especially repugnant to tlie principles upon wliicli our Government rests. And the case in question is no exception to the general rule. To secure some dozens of individuals positions and salaries as superintendents and teacheis all the HOWAKI) UNIVEIISITV. » cliildren of a wliite population of 150,000 souls are legally separated, witlidrawu, and estranged from all the children of a colored population of 80,000 persons. The youth ofthe.se two classes of citizens, living under the same Government, speak- ing the same language, woi'shiping the same God, arid promoting the same civiliza- tion, are from their infancy made to regard each other, not as members of the same national family, vf ith a common interest and a common destiny, but as distinct, alien, and hostile to each other. The impressions planted and fostered in childhood crystalize in manhood and womanhood, and end by developing a permanent caste prejudice in the stronger class, and, besides producing a sense of inferiority in the weaker class, it ojjerates to retard their progress upward in nearly every relation of life. Thus you perceive, by observing and perpetuating the letter of this law, you injure both whjte and colored people and benefit neither; moreover, in practice, this measure is found to be diametrically opposed to the proper spirit and function of a law which should be an expression of the best order of things, producing har- mony between otherwise conflicting elements and not encouraging disorder, conten- tion, and hate. The law is a bad one, even where it is binding; how iitterly unreasonable and unjust must it then appear for your university, Avhich it does not reach and for which it was not made, to invoke its malign power. With equal commeudatiou could Shylock exclaim, while whetting his knife to slay a fellow-citizen— ' ■' I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond." Besides, the causes of morality, religion, and humanity suffer by forcing or allow- ing large masses of colored people to be drawn oft' into churches and schools under the leadership and control often of ignorant and weak individuals, whereby the educative, elevating, and refining intluences which would spring from the daily association and contact with the better classes of the white people in the class room and in the churches are wholly lost. And I believe that any really good man who thinks and reflects exhaustively upon this subject will find it impossible to decide against all the children of the Union receiving instruction from the same lips and taking the holy sacrament from the same hands. Laws then should be framed and interpreted to bring your people and my people together, and every statute book in the Republic ought to be, and in time will be, purged of every legislative enactment which keeps or forces them apart. But enough on this point. I'ardon me, however, but I must add that I fail to see how the establishment of colored public schools by legislative enactment can be urged as a reason or even ottered as an excuse by the authorities of the Columbian University for excluding gentlemen of color from their law department. I now come to the last point in'your answer to my appeal, namely, that Congress makes large grants to Howard University for the exclusive benefit of the colored race. I have first to say that Howard UniVersity is not a colored people's school any more than it is a white people's school. It declares in its charter that Howard Univer- sity throws open the doors of all of its departments of instruction to all persons of good character without discrimination on account of sex, creed, or color. There are now, or have been, wliite students in all of its departments, and five-eighths of the names upon the roster of the medical department are those of white students, and among them are the names of the son and daughter of a U. S. Senator from California. The reason of this is that the Howard University medical department, as your law department, is the best equipped school of that profession in the Dis- trict of Columbia. Secondly, the law department does not receive 1 cent of the moneys appropriated by Cimgress ; these means are available for the academic depart- ments only of H(jward University. The law department of Howard University has no source of revenue except the pitiful sum paid as tuition fees by some dozen students. The chairs of this depart- ment are filled by noble, generous-hearted men, who serve for sweet charity's sake, and not for fair compensation. The quarters are cramped, the facilities inadequate, and a proper esprit de corps among the students wholly wanting. In short, this is the conclusion of the whole matter. Desiring to study the science of the law I find that on account of my color the National University Law School will not admit me. The Georgetown University Law School excludes negroes and women, and the Columbian University L;iw School closes its doors in my face. The authorities of the Columbian University have done me a great wrong, and the law ought to furnish me a relief from it. But your friends have the ears of justice ; they have wealth, intelligence, power, position, and everything upon their side except law, except reason, except the divine teachings of Christ, except benevolence, except blind, exact, severe justice, and except that jewel of the Anglo-Saxon heart, fair play. Undeservedly wounded and humilated beyond expression, I have the honor to subscribe myself," your humble and most obedient servant, Wm. H. H. Hart. 10 HOWARD UNIVERSITY. This correspondence having- come to the attention of Senator Wil- liam M. Evarts, of Isiew York, and Senator George F. Edmunds, of Vermont, they verified the statements in it as to the denial of admis- sion of colored students to law schools in this District and elsewhere near the mass of the colored population, and the want of facilities by the law department of the Howard University to provide this train- ing; and Senator Edmunds undertook to provide law books for the law department of Howard University and Senator Evarts undertook to in'ovide a building by private, benevolent contribution of money to erect it and to secure an appropriation by Congress with which to employ and compensate a corps of instructors and otherwise maintain the department. The Congressional Eecord shows the following pro- ceedings in the premises : [Proceedings of the Senate April 8, 1S9U, ]). 3252 I'ougressionai Ret-ord.] Mr. Edmunds introduced a joint resolution (S. R. 71) directing the Librarian of Congress, the Librarian of the Senate, the Librarian of the House of Representa- tives, and the Librarian of the Department of Justice, respectively, to deliver extra or duplicate copies of law books to the law department of Howard University; which was read twice by its title. Mr. Edmunds. On the question of reference, I think it to be a duty to say now that I have recently heard with astonishmei't that a law school in this District of Columbia, connected with a college which exists under the authority of the United States, has deliberately, on consideration, refused to allow a person with some African blood, and in every respect a gentleman of extraordinary ability, to attend its law lectui'es on account of his having African blood in his veins. The Howard University has also a law department, and I have introduced this joint resolution in order that copies of law books which are not needed for the public service may be donated to the Howard University so that portion of our fellow-citizens who are denied equal rights in other universities in this Distinct may have a chance to learn some law. ^ The President jrro tempore. The joint resolution will be referred to the Com- mittee on the Library. [Proceedings of the Senate, April 12, 1890, p. 3465, Cougressioual Record.] LAW BOOKS FOR HOWARD UNIVERSITY. Mr. Evarts. From the Committee on the Library, I report favorably the joint resolution (S. R. 71) directing the Librarian of Congress, the librarian of the Senate, the librarian of the House of Representatives, and the librarian of the Department of Justice, respectively, to deliver extra or duplicate copies of law books to the law department of Howard University. It is a joint resolution that was referred to the Committee on the Library, and I am instructed by the committee to report it and to ask that it may be immediately considered. Its title shows exactly what it is. The Presiding Officer. The Senator from New York asks the unanimous con- sent of the Senate that the joint resolution be considered at this time. Mr. CocKRELL. Let the joint resolution »itself be read for information, subject to objection. The Presiding Officer. It will be tead for information, subject to objection. The joint resolution was read, as follows: "Resolved, etc., That the Librarian of Congress, the librarian of the Senate, the librarian of the House of Representatives, and the librarian of the Department of Justice be, and they are hereby, authorized and directed to deliver to the dean of the law department of Howard University, as a gift to the said law department of How- ard University, for its use and behoof, one copy of such law books as are now in the above-mentioned libraries which are extra or duplicate copies thereof that may be spared without injury to the public service." By unanimous consent, the joint resolution was considered as in Committee of the Whole. The joint resolution was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed. HOWARD UNIVEESITY. ll [Proceedings House of Jleiiresentatives August 16, 1890, p. 9420, Cougressioiuil Itecord.] Lf W-JJOOKS FOR HOWARD UNIVERSITY. Mr. O'Neill, of Pennsylvania. I ask unanimous consent to take froui the calendar of the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union and put upon its passage a joint resohitiou relative to the library of tlie Howard University. It involves no appropriation. It has been passed by the Senate and favorably reported by the House Committee on the Library. I think its consideration will not occupy a moment. As the new session of tlae university will commence in about two weeks, it is important that the resolution shonid be acted on now. The joint resolution was read, as follows: " .Joint resolution (S. E. 71) directing the Libr.iriau of ConnTess, the librarian of the Senate, the libra" riau of the House of IJepresentatives, and the librarian of the Department of Justice, respectively > to deliver extra or duplicate copies of law books to the law department of tlie Howard University " Besolved hy the Senate and House of Bepresentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Librarian of Congress, the librarian of the Senate, the librarian of the House of Eepresentatives, and the librarian of the Department of .Justice be, and they are hereby, authorized and directed to deliver to the dean of the law department of Howard University, as a gift to the said law department of Howard University, for its use and behoof, one copy of such la-w books as are now in the above-mentioned libraries which are extra or duplicate copies thereof that may be spared without injury to the public service." Inhere being no obje(^tion, the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union was discharged from the further consideration of the joint resolution, which was ordered to a third reading aud read the third time. Mr. McMiLLiN. I wish ito inquire of the gentlemain from Pennsylvania [Mr. O'Neill] whether it is not necessary that in tlie different libraries mentioned, especially the law department of the Congressional Library, there should be kept more tlian one copy of different books for the use of Congress? Mr. O'Neill, of Pennsyh'ania. Oh, yes; in many instances there are many more copies than one; in almost all cases there are several copies of each volume. Mr. McMiLLiN. Does the joint resolution provide that volumes shall not be taken in this way from these libraries except Avhere there are more than two copies of any particular volume, or is it provided that even where there are only two copies one shall be given away in this manner? Mr. O'Neill, of Pennsylvania. The idea, of course, is that these libraries shall not be stripped of duplicates. The resolution was approved, after careful consideration, by the Joint Committee on the Library, composed of the Senate and House commit- tees, it being thought very proper that the surplus volumes should be disposed of in this way. Mr. McMiLLiN. I am entirely willing that any extra copies not needed in actual use shall be disposed of where they will do good in educational institutions of this kind within the District. But it is the experience of all of us that more than one copy of each volume should be retained in these libraries; otherwise we are liable to be found without copies for the use for which they were originally intended. Mr. O'Neill, of Pennsylvania. If the gentleman desires to amend the resolution in that respect, I will not object. Mr. Springer. The resolution is already sufficiently guarded to obviate the objec- tion of the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. McMillin]. The Speaker. The resolution in its closing language provides only for the disposal of "extra duplicate copies that may be spared without injury to the public service." Mr. McMillin. I will ask the clerk to read, with the indulgence of the House, the preceding provision. The joint resolution was again read. Mr. McMillin. Now, 1 think there ought to be a proviso that in no instance shall the number of copies retained be reduced below two of each volume, because in the Congressional Library there are some books of which there are half a dozen copies, and yet we sometimes are unable to obtain any. Mr. O'Neill, of Pennsylvania. I have no objection to such an amendment. Mr. McMillin. I move to amend by adding — " Provided, That there shall not be left in either of said libraries less than two copies of any one volume." Mr. O'Neill, of Pennsylvania. That is satisfactory. The Speaker. This amendment requires unanimous consent, as the question is now upon the passage of the joint resolution. Mr. McMillin. I suppose there will be no objection. The Speaker. In the absence of objection, the amendment will be regarded as adopted. The Chair hears no objection. Mr. McMillin. I call attention to another thing that may result from the operation of this joint resolution. Tiiere are four different sources from which these books 12 HOWARD UNIVERSITY. are to be olitaiuecl, so that the library to which the extra volumes are to be dis- tribmed may get duplicate copies of the same book. Mr. O'Neill, of Penusylvaaia. The intentiou is so apparent, I think, from the wording of the resolution, that that can not happen. The joint resolution as amended was passed. [Public Resolution— No. 35.] Joint resolution directing the Librarian of Congress, the librarian of the Senate, the librarian of the House of Representatives, and the librarian of the Department of Justice, respectively, to deliver extra or duplicate copies of law books to the law department of Howard University. Resolved by the Senate and House of Bepresentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Librarian of Congress, the librarian of the Senate, the librarian of the House of Representatives, and the librarian of the Department of- Justice be, and they are hereby, authorized and directed to deliver to the dean of the law department of Howard University, as a gift to the said law depai-tment of Howard University, for its use and behoof, one copy of sucli law books as are now in the above-mentioned libraries which are extra or duplicate copies thereof that may be spared without injury to the public service: Provided, That there shall be left in each of said libraries not less than two copies of each book. Approved, August 28, 1890. PursnaHt to this law the president of the mniversity, accompanied by the dean of the law department, called upon the various librarians embraced by the act, but obtained nothing from any one of them. The Librarian of Congress said that such books as could be spared for the Howard University were packed away in the crypt of the Capitol and that he had not any spare help to get them out and assort them before delivering them, but that as soon as Congress provided him additional assistants he would do the best he could for the university. It is the opinion of the committee that if provision were made for a special assistant to the Librarian of Congress to overhaul the packing-rooms and sort out these books stored there and then keep charge of them at the law school so that the title to them and the control of them would not pass from the Government, better results would flow from a second application to the Librarian of Congress than befell the officers of the university on the occasion of their first one. Be that as it may, the fact is the law school is practically without books. Senator Hoar, having visited the school and being aware of the efforts made to secure text-books and reports and reference works for the school, wrote the following circular letter to the editors of the Boston newpapers and the I^ew York City newspapers and newspapers in other cities, and it appeared in the columns of many of these journals in due course without, however, j)rocuring any books for the school up to this time. Washington, D. C, January 6, 1894. Sir : Will you kindly allow me to call the attention of liberal minded persons, especially members of the bar, to the law school of Howard University, of this city? This is an excellent institution. It has an able and learned faculty and very intelligent and promising pupils. It is the only institution in the South where young men who have any mixture of the blood of the colored race in their veins can be educated to become lawyers or have facilities for a thorough study of the Constitution. It is highly desirable that future leaders of this race, unmberiug now more than eight millions in this country, should have sitch opportunities somewhere, and that they should not be compelled to go North for the purpose. This school has a good building, known as "Evaxts Hall," which is largely due to the generosity of Mr. Collis P. Huntington and Mr. William M. Evarts. But the library is sadly deficient — hardly large enough for a young lawyer beginning prac- tice. If any generous person would make a gift of money to endow the library, or if any person possessing duplicate law books which he does not desire to use, would send either to the law school of Howard University it would be a very useful public service. Let there be no fear of sending old editions. They will be extremely useful . HOWARD UNIVERSITY. 13 Books ami ilouatious t'oi' this purpose, or communications with rolereuce thereto, maybe addressed to rrof. William H. H. Hart, Law Department, Howard University, 420 Fifth street NW., Washington, D. C. I should be glad to answer further inquiry. Prof. Gray, of Harvard, has this winter delivered some admirable lectures before this school. I hope his example Avill be followed by other instructors from Northern universities. I am, faithfully yours, Geo. F. Hoar. This kind and forcible appeal appeared in tlie Boston and New York papers on or about the 8th of January, 1894, and no response of any moment having as yet been made to it the faculty exi^ect none, because if such matters appearing in the columns of the daily press are not acted ujiou promptly they are soon forgotten. The public resolution of August 28, 1890, indicating the disposition of Congress in the matter, having failed, or being in abeyance, the committee have reported the item embraced in lines 3 and 4 of the amendment to supijly the law school with a set of text-books and reference books to meet the needs of the students unable to purchase them. One thousand dollars will not go very far in this direction, but it will be a beginning, and Con- gress can add each year to this nucleus of a working library for the school. Senator Evarts then addressed himself to providing a building for the law school by private benevolence and a fund for the maintenance of the school by appropriate legislation. The following three circular letters were given to Prof. Hart, with initial subscriptions, to be brought to the attention of those likely to sympathize witli the work of the school and disposed to help it with their means : 52 Wall Street, Neio York City, May 20, 1891. Dear Sir : I beg leave to ask your kind attention to a matter in which I feel great interest, and to Avhich for some years at Washington I have given much attention, that is to say, the competent and adequate education of colored youug men of the South for the profession of law. The law schools in that portion of our country are not accessible to this class of our community. But in the law department of Howard University, at Wasiiington, there is a good foundation already laid for this professional education, which may be developed and expanded with sure promise of most fruitful results. A moderate contribution to enlarge a small laAv building now at the service of the University, and to prepare it to accommodate the increasing number of applicants for this instruction, is all that is needed to have the school in readiness for the October term, when it is x)robable as many as a hundred students may wish to receive this instruc- tion. But for even this moderate expenditure the University is without means, as all its funds are strictly applicable to particular and current use. While the legal profession will more readily appreciate the benefits to arise from benevolent contribution to this end, I beg leave also to commend it to all who take an interest in the Avise instruction of the colored people of the South, as in my judgment promising very great and always increasing benefits from a very moderate charitable expenditure. Prof. Wm. H. H. Hart, who is well known to me, has been authorized by the trustees of Howard University to receive contributions or subscriptions for this object, and he is entitled to entire confidence in all he shall say or do in this matter. Contributions may be paid to him or remitted to his address. No. 420 Fifth street, NW., Washington, D. C. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant. Wax. M. Evarts. Governor's Island, New York City, May 19, 1891. Dear Sir : While I was president of the Howard University in the District of Columbia, I subscribed $10,000 for the foundation of the law department of that insti- tution. The trustees have wisely used this sum, with accrued interest, to purchase' 14 HOWARD UNIVERSITY. a lot frontiug on Judiciary Square in the city of 'Washington. There is at present upon this lot a small building in which the sessions of the law school have been held, but within the present scholastic year the attendance of young colored men from the South upon this department has been so great that the present quarters are totally inadequate to accommodate the students. The trustees of the university have no funds which they are authorized to use in extending or improviug this build- ing, though the size of the lot is adequate for this improvement. Congress has made no provision in this direction. Recently the attendance upon the law department has greatly increased. This is easily accounted for in the fact that students prepared in the various academic insti- tutions of the Southern States, iinding themselves excluded from the law schools of those States, desire to come to Washington as offering to them the only opportunity to be fitted for the legal profession. In view of this pressing emergency, I heartily concur with the trustees in com- mending this subject to the benevolent attention of all interested in wise efforts for the ediication of this class of our community. An expenditure of something like $5,000, according to the estimate of practical builders, will prepare the law building for the reception of the students at the Octo- ber term, and the work can be completed by that time if the means are provided. Contributions may be given to Prof. Hart in person, or forwarded to his address, viz, Wm. H. H. Hart, esq.. Law School, Howard University, No. 420 Fifth street, NW., Washington, D. C, who has been authorized by the authorities of the univer- sity to solicit and receive such funds on behalf the board of trustees. O. O. Howard, Major- General, U. S. Jrviij. Stokes Building, Nos. 45, 47, and 49 Cedar Street, Neiv York City, May W, 1891. Dear Sir : I am deeply interested in the effort^ mentionM in the letter of Mr. Evarts, now being made by Prof. Hart to obtain from members of the New York bar the sum of $5,000 with which to erect a suitable building for the uses of the law school connected with Howard Uuiversity. The value of such a school to the whole colored race can not be doubted. A moderate contribution from a small number of our profession here will accomplish the desired result, and it would be a very hand- some thing to say for both givers and beneficiaries that the members of the New York bar furnished the students in this school with a building in which to pursue their studies. Surely there are fifty lawyers in this city friendly to such a school who will cheerfully, by gifts of $100 each, make up the needed amount. Cephas Brainerd. It was fouiid, after the architect had completed the building, that it had cost $12,000. The trustees helped a little, and the following named friends of the cause contributed to the building fund: William M. Evarts, J. Evarts Tracy, Joseph H. Ohoate, Mrs. Eoswell Smith, widow of the late president of the Century Company, Cephas Brainerd, Thomas H. Hubbard, Collis P. Huntington, Thomas Stokes, James Stokes, Anson Phelps Stokes, William Bayard Cutting, Bayard Brown, E. Fulton Cutting, Edward T. Hunt, John W. Ambrose, William A. Stephens, Charles F. Southmayd, William Mitchell, Edward Mitchell, John Notman, William Allen Butler, John T. Lockman, Arnold, Con- stable & Co,, Bush & Denslow Manufacturing Company, trustees of the Phcenix Chemical Works, William M. Evarts, additional to com- plete the fund ; thus giving the trustees the building free from debt. It may not be inappropriate to give the account of the dedicatory exercises attendant upon the completion and opening of this new build- ing as reported in the press with the accompanying editorial, because of the valuable letters it contains : HOWARD UNIVERSITY. 15 HOUSEWAl!MIN(i ALUMNI AND KNCOlKAGlN(i I Colored Aincrican, Juun S, WXi.\ AND r.ANQUET— THE WM. M. EVAKTS HALL FILLED WITH HAl'l'V AH'.MN.K — TOASTS KESPONDED TO AND LETTERS KILLICD WITH WORDS FROM PROMINENT MEN READ. fj;"Half an liiindrod alaiuni and iilunuiie were seated at tLe ban(]uet table on the evening of May 30, the occasion being a reunion of the gradnates of the law depart- ment of Howard University, and the dedication of the new bnilding constructe( for the law school by the Hon. William M. Evarts, Hon. C. P. Ilnntingtou, C'eijha Brainerd, esq., of the New York City bar, and other gentlemen of that city. "\A'iji. M. Evarts Hall, Howard University Law School. The table was in the form of the letter L, running nearly the full length of the amphitheater of the building and nearly across one end. Prof. William H. Richards sat at the head of the table and presided, with President Rankin and Trustee William Waring on his right, and Everett J. Waring, esq., of the Baltimore bar, and Mrs. Ruth G. Havens on'his left; Prof. William H. H. Hart sat at the foot of the table, and Arthur .S. Gray, the \aledictorian of the class of '9o, occupied the seat at the end of the short arm of the table. The hall was tastefully draped and decorated with the national colors. The menn was served by J. A. Berry, of the colored Y. ]M. C. A. building. The table was beautifully dressed and labored beneath its tastefully arranged tiers and figures of fruits and flowers. President Rankin blessed the table, and the company merrily fell to the discussion of the good things of the feast. When this had proceeded for some time Prof. Richards rose and congratulated the company upon the reunion and the occasion of it. He spoke briefly and eloquently of the nniversity, its great work and its pros- perity under the splendid administration of President Rankin; he then referred to 16 HOWARD UNIVERSITY. the law department and spoke feelingly and affectionately of the two senior mem- bers of the faculty, the dean, Benj. F. Leighton, who for many years has labored against all odds and discouragements to graduate men and women from the depart- ment when the school had no friends and its students no funds. He then spoke of the Birneys, who have touched the colored race in this country at three epochs; the elder Birney, who freed his slaves and devoted his life to promoting the liberty of his fellow man. The second generation that went through the war on the right side, one of whom was slain in battle, and the third, represented by the Hon. A.A. Birney, now U. S. district attorney, who, though pressed with a large practice aud responsible official aud public duties, takes the time to carry forward a large part of the work of the faculty. He then introduced Jesse Lawson, esq., who read letters received from distinguished alumni who could not be present. Letters were read from the Hon. D. Augustus Straker, the Hon. John F. Cook, aud the Hon. J. H. Smythe, and others. Thomas Campbell, esq., then responded to the toast, "The class of 1893." Mrs. Ruth G. Havens responded to the toast, "Woman at Howard;" aud R. H. Terrell, esq., responded to the toast, "Our pro- fession," Dr. Julia R. Hall responded to the toast, "Greetings to the Esculapians ; " Andrew F. Hilyer, esq., responded to the toast, "Our business men;" William E. Mathews, esq., responded to the toast, "Equalize the power and preparation of the department of the learned professions; " Everett J. Waring responded to the toast, "Hints to beginners;" and William H. H. Hart responded to the toast, "The Wil- liam M. Evarts Hall." He referred to the forces, moral, mental, and material, embraced in the phrase, "The progress of the world," which resulted in the civil war and the emancipation of the slaves, and the great statesmen of our country who have shaped its course from the repeal of the Missouri Compromise to the present time; the great events of the Lemon case; the nomination of President Lincoln; the foreign policy of the war period; the impeachment trial of President Johnson; the disposal of the prosecution of the chief of the Confederacy, and the conduct of the Department of Justice ; the great arbitration at Geneva ; the Electoral Commission and the central figure as counsel before it; the conduct of the Department of State, its consular service, and the Southern policy. The return like Cinciunatus to the plow of the greatest figure in all these trans- actions, whose enumeration alone fatigued the ear, to the work of his office and the duty of the citizen until called again to the national Senate to promote the prosperity of our country and of Howard University, and particularly its law department, and the great place it fills and will continue to fill in establishing liberty, equality, and fraternity in our country. He then referred to the forces and the friends helping forward this great work; the Judiciary Committee and the Appropriation Committee of the Senate, and all the members of the Senate without one dissenting voice; philanthropists with princely fortunes amassed by personal industry aud activity and foresight, and in this connection read the following letters from the Hon. C. P. Huntington, in honor of whom the trustees of Howard Uni- versity have established the C. P. Huntington professorship of law, and the Hon. George F. Hoar: 23 Broad Street, New York, May 25, 1S93. Prof. Wm. H. H. Hart, Howard University Law School, Washington, D. C: My Dear Mr. Hart : I thank you sincerely for your kind invitation to attsnd the graduating exercises of the law classes of Howard University law school on the 29th instant. Were I in a position to accept it I should be greatly pleased to go to Washington and witness these interesting ceremonies, so significant to those in whose interest they are established, for they mark the completion of one long step in their careers, the preparatory work of their life, and the commencement of a still longer and more serious step, the actual and never-ending struggle for existence ; but my time is so filled with days' work that I find it impossible to get away at present, even for a day. In fact, I believe that in the fifty-seven years that I have been in business for niyself I have never taken six consecutive days for recreation. But if I can not be present with you in person I can at least wish for you pleasant skies and a full attendance, and hope for your young men the very best results from the knowledge they have gained under the judicious teaching of earnest and con- scientious instructors. May your students, flushed with the importance of this, their great day, keenly appreciate the significance of the greater to-morrow! So much depends "upon it! Is it to be begun with the sun, or shall the clock mark the proper hour for a legal day's work to commence? It is infinitely easier to slip into a habit of pleasure and comfort than to form the habit of work. It is infinitely better to acquire the latter. Everybody who has thoroughly tried the first knows that the continued search for pleasure becomes in time the most wearisome and unsatisfactory labor ; so that the habit of pleasure may be said to ultimately turn itself into the habit of work, and the worst kind of work, because unremunerative. HOWARD UNIVERSITY, 17 The habit of work, if couscieiitiously i>er.si8ted in, sees a like curious change, for there finally grows out of it a real love for work, and thus it resolves itself at last into a habit of pleasure, and brings to its possessor the substantial rewards of tinan- cial success and the comforts, physical and moral, that are the net earnings of a busy, economical, honest, and reasonabh; life. It ought not to be hard to choose between them. With kind regards, I am, yours, sincerely, C. P. Huntington. WoucESTKK, Mass., May 26, 189.3. William H. H. Hart, Esq., IISO Fifteenth Steeet, NfF., Washinyton, D. C. : My Dear Mr. Hart: It will be quite impossible for me to attend the graduating exercises of the law school of Howard University. But the young gentlemen have my Avarmest sympathy with the good hopes which the Republic holds oitt to them. They have many obstacles to encoiinter and overcome. But obstacles are the stimu- lants to ingenious souls. Steadily and surely are the colored youth of our country taking a higher place in our national life. In this noble eli'ort those who have devoted themselves to our profession must be, as the members of our profession everywhere in the Republic nuist be, among the leaders. I hope every word that will be uttered will be a word of courage and hope. I am, with cordial regard, faithfully yours, Geo. F. Hoar. Prof. Hart then gave an account of the interest manifested in the law school by the Hon. George F. Edmunds and the Hon. George F. Hoar, in concert with the Hon. William M. Evarts, in securing the legislation providing an appropriation for the law school professorships and books for its library; and later of the large contribu- tion in money and the great aid in work given by Mr. Evarts to secure the new law school building, and the great satisfaction he finds in the prosperity of its work, and then read the following letter to the alunmi and alumme : 231 Second Avenue, A^ew York, May 37, 1893. To the Alumni of the Law School of Howard University : Gentlemen: I sincerely thank you for the kind invitation I have received to x)ar- ticipate in the banquet by which you are to celebrate the completion of the law build- ing of the university. While I am obliged to regret that it will not be in ray power to visit AVashington for this interesting occasion, I most heartily congratulate you and all friends of legal ediication upon this permanent establishment and prosperous condition of the law school of Howard University. At this school the youth of our colored population will find themselves at home and at ease in the prosecution of the studies of that noble profession which, under the free and ec^ual institutions of our country, is so largely intrusted with their care and maintenance and a steadfast and intrepid defense of their practical enjoyment. There are many law schools of great eminence and value distributed through all parts of our country, and accessible to the youth of our white population and from which the ranks of the profession are annually filled from their educated numbers, but the law school of Howard Univer- sity must for the present stand, and perhaps always, as the great and conspicuous law school for the education of the ambitious, patriotic, and public-spirited youth of the many and growing millions of our colored population. The occasion, therefore, of your celebration, however interesting and important to you and all of us in any point of view, in the aspect of the great promise and prospect of constantly increasing numbers that shall here seek their education, must find impressive reasons for our congratulations upon what has already been achieved, and upon the wider hopes of inestimable benefits which lie before us in the future. The city of Washington, as tbe seat of our Government, has some most important advantages over all other parts of the country for the prosecution of the studies of constitutional and political law. Here the Supreme Coui't of the United States holds its sessions; here the Congress, the lawmakers for the whole nition, and the Chief Magistrate of the country, charged with the execution of these laws, have their seat of authority. Here, too, are collected, from time to time, the eminent lawyers from every part of our wide territory. Tiiese incidental advantages in making these law students observant, as a part of their daily life, of public men and public affairs are most valued by those Avho are most conversant with this educational influence. It may, therefore, be confidently expected by all the friends S. Rep. 304 2 18 HOWARD UNIVERSITY. of Howard University, aud of its law school, that the latter may easily maintain, in the eyes of the colored youth of this country, an unrivaled superiority over all others which may be open to them. With my best wishes for the success of the festive celebration to which you have extended to me the honor of an invitation, and for the welfare in all things of the law school of Howard University and its learned laculty and the scholars under their discipline, I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Wm. M. Evarts. Prof.. Hart sjiolce at length without notes and concluded as follows: JLt might not be uninteresting at this point to examine for a moment the nature of the work of those characters in past and present times whose memory is cherished and whose lives are extolled by numkind. Observation aud reason seem to indicate that human effort is fruitful or barren, long sustained by fame or ephemeral and idle, in proportion as its motive and effect contribute to general happiness or purely selfish interests. Experience teaches and history contirnis the truth that the greatest security of human happiness is liberty; not liberfas qaidlibctfaciendi, which may be either the timidity of the lamb or the ferocity of the tiger, but civil liberty or individual and collective freedom from all restraints n])on natural liberty except those imposed liy wise aud beneficent laws for the public good. This liberty is the idol of the most vigorous stocks of the human race, and those who havede fined it have accordingly been considered great and learned, as Aristotle, Justinian, Montesquien, and Blackstone; those who have warmed the heart ancl kindled the imagination in describing and applying its powers and virtues, its value and benefits, have been pronounced divinely eloquent, as Demosthenes, Cicero, Burke, and Evarts, and those who have fought its battles and won its victories have become famous heroes, as I^eonidas, Hannibal, Toussaint, Garibaldi, John Brown, Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan. The want of civil liberty is regarded as thereproachof ages past and the fullenjoy- ment of it as the most precious heritage destined for the generations to come. " The liberty of the people" is but another expression for the prevalence of salutary laws, devised and framed in wisdom and executed in Justice and judgment, which discipline and restrain the strong, and protect and support the weak, which renders to each his own, giving life its security, property its value, labor its reward, and society its peace, order, power, and prosperity. That especial line of human effort aiul systematic work must be, then, the most Worthy which has for its purpose the establishment of liberty for all the people, and that is the mission of the departmeut to which we belong and whose usefulness we are met here to-night to celebrate and extend.. Whoever, therefore, labors to push outward the boundary aud intehsify the influ- ence of the principles and practice of liberty is a disciple of truth aud a benefactor of his kind, whetlier his place be that of the sturdy husbandman or of the casual speaker upon the platform or hustings, of the journalist to his ftjw careless readers, or of the clergyman to his few hearers, or whether his genius hath exalted him in importance and jjower far above all these to become the statesman of his country and to shape its ilestiny in the forum or the Cabinet or the Senate. Who in providence, then, hath written, highest aud brightest and largest by service, his name on the pages of the history of his day in the promotion of the liberty of his country, and stood oftenest in the breach when grave perils threat- ened its safety ? His should be the chosen name by which our work may be designated and our Inn of Temple nominated, and accordingly we have written in golden letteis, just beneath the architrave, across the very front of our airinm, the words " William M. Evarts Hall." But, gentlemen, the youth who throng the eastern gateway of our law school must be taught that if human happiness depends in a large degree upon civil liberty, liberty itself can not exist without virtue. Character can be developed and main- tained in no other way than by denying oneself all desires which reason does not authorize aud regulating one's conduct in all things by prudence, fortitude, temper- ance, justice, and benevolence. Integrity, without break or blot, and conscience, alive aud alert, softened by a genial sympathy and sweetened by courteous readi- ness for service to others, are the attributes of a virtuous character. What name represents these qualities so deserviag of admiration in the friend, the citizen, the patron, and the statesman f Here there must be no error in selecting the courtly and brilliant ideal as the exemplar of our youth rather than the plain and simple, but withal composed aud honest, features of the maid who met Hercules in the way and repaid his favor with the distinction and power so justly praised by the moralist i\nd so widely celebrated Ijy the poets. HOWARD UNIVERSITY. 19 We ii<>, 181tl, Mr. Evarts reported tlietbllowhi.ii' inneiHlineiit from the Ooininittee on the Jndicitiry: 51st Congress, H. R. 134B2. 2(1 Session. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. Fkbrcary 16, 1891. Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed. AMENDMENT rei)orted by Mr. Evarts, from the Committee on the Judiciary, and intended to be proposed to the biIl(H. R. 13462) making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending .June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, and for other purposes, viz: On page 71, after line 14, insert the following: P'or the uiaiiiteuaiice of the law department of tlie Howard Uni- versity, eight thousand dollars. On February 27, 1891, the bill having been amended by the Senate, the action of the Senate with respect to the Judiciary Committee amend- ment is shown by amendment Xo. 153. 51st Congress, H. R. 13462. 2d Session. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. February 27, 1891. Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, with the amendments of the Senate, and ordered to be printed. [Omit the parts in brackets and insert the parts printed in tfaJics.~\ AN ACT making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Bepyesentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled] That the following sums be, and the same are hereby, appropriated, for the objects hereinafter expressed, for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, namely: * * * * * * * [Page 77.] HOWARD UNIVERSITY. For maintenance of the Howard University, to be used [Page 78.] in payment of part of the salaries of the officers, professors, teachers, and others regular employees of the university, the balance of which will be paid from donations and other sources, (153) [twenty] twenty- eight thousand three hundred dollars. (154) And the proper officers of said university shall report annually to the Secretary of the Interior how the appropriation is expended. For tools, materials, wages of instructors, and other necessary expenses of the industrial department, four thousand dollars. For books for library, book cases, shelving, and 'fixtures, one thousand dollars. 24 HOWARD UNIVERSITY. For material and apparatus for cliemicalj physical and natural his- tory, and laboratory, five hundred dollars. For improvement of grounds, one thousand dollars. For repairs of buildings, two thousand four hundred dollars. Instead of putting in the entire amendment alter line 4, on page 78, as proposed by Mr. Evarts, the Senate was led to put it in by increasing the sum of the salary clause of the professors and teachers of the university from $20,300 to $28,300, as may be seen by an inspection of the items in the amended bill and in the appended amendment: 51st Cougress, H. R. 13462. 2d Session. IX THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. Febkuaky 16, 1891. Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed. AMENDMENT reported by Mr. Evarts, from the Committee on the Judiciary, and intended to be proposed to the bill (H. R. 13462) making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, and for other purposes, viz : On page 78, after line 4, in- sert the following: For the maintenance of the law department of the Howard Univer- sity, eight thousand dollars. This proved a most disastrous arrangement to the law department amendment, because when the bill went to the conference committee the House conferrees attacked this eight thousand dollar increase to a clause in which they themselves had allowed $20,300, according to the -estimates of the Secretary of the Interior. The Senate conferrees yielded $4,000, reducing the clause to $24,300, thus giving the law department only $4,000 of the |8,000 voted by the Senate. And there, ever since, the law department appropriatioii has stood as a cushion on the top of the column, protecting the academic appropriation beneath it, and itself being reduced lower and lower each year. The same amendment was inserted in the sundry civil bill the follow- ing year, the House of Representatives appropriating $20,000 in the clause providing salaries for the professors, thus ignoring provision for the law department, and the Senate adding $4,300, so as to include the estimates of the Secretary of the Interior for the law school. This action of the Senate appears- in the following draft of the bill: 52d CongTess, H. R. 7,520. 1st Session. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. July 15, 1892. Referred to the Committee on Appropriations with the amendments of the Senate and ordered to be printed. [Omit the parts in brackets and insert the parts printed in italics.'\ AN ACT making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending .June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums be, and the same are hereby, appropriated, for the objects hereinafter expressed, for the fiscal year ending June thirtietli, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, namely: * * # * * * * HOWARD UNIVERSITY. 25 [Page 74.] HOWARD UNIVERSITY. For maintenance of the Howard University, to be used in payment of part of the salaries of the officers, professors, teachers, and other regular employees of the university, the balance of which will be jiaid from donations and other sources, ('306) [twenty thousand] twenty-four thousand three hundred dollars. And the proper officers of said uni- versity shall report annually to the Secretary of the Interior how the appropriation is expended; (207) and the Secretary of the Interior shall estimate in detail for the next fiscal year the items of expenditure iwovided for in this paragraph ; For tools, materials, wages of instructors, and other necessary [Page 75.} . expenses of the industrial department, (208) [two] four thousand dollars; For books for library, bookcases, shelving and fixtures, (209) [five hundred] one thousand dollars ; For material and apparatus for chemical, physical, and natural his- tory, and laboratory, five hundred dollars; For improvement of grounds, (210) [five hundred] owe thousand dollars ; For repairs of buildings, (211) [one] tico thousand dollars; In all, (212) [twenty-four thousand five] thirty-two tliousand eight hundred dollars. The following year Senator Hoar again reported the Judiciary Com- mittee amendment again providing $8,000 for the maintenance of the law school for the ensuing fiscal year: 52d Congress, H. R. 10238. 2d Session. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. Febkuary 3, 1893. Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed. AMENDMENT reported by Mr. Hoar, from the Committee on the Judiciary, and intended to be proposed to the bill(H. R. 10238) maliing appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending .Tune thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-lour, and for other purposes, viz: Page 17, line 48, insert the following : For the maintenance of the law department of the Howard Univer- sity, eight thousand dollars. The sundry civil bill being under consideration by the Senate Febru- ary 21, 1893, the Congressional Eecord of that date discloses the fol- lowing disposition of the amendment: Mr. Hoar. I was not aware that the committee had taken such action. I with- draw the amendment and move another to come in at the same place. The Vice-President. The amendment proposed by the Senator from Massachu- setts will be stated. The Chief Clerk. On page 48. after line 17, it is proposed to insert: "For the maintenance of the law department of the Howard University, $8,000." Mr. Allisox. I will say to the Senator from Massachusetts that the committee have also made provision for thai in a diiierent way, however, under the head of " Howard University." Mr. Hoar. On what page? I do not iind that. Mr. Allisox. On page 63. The committee have recommended an increase in line 12, on that page, which the Senate has already agreed to as in Committee of the 26 HOWARD UNIVERSITY. Whole, of $24,300, from $18,500. That is the amount estimated for iu the Book of Estimates for the law department of Howard University. The House failed to appropriate for the law department. We have added just the amount of the esti- mate for the law department in the bill. Mr. Hoar. Then the only question of difference between me and the committee will be a question of $1,500, which 1 do not think I shall detain the Senate by debat- ing, but I have given considerable examination to that subject, both at the present session and in former years, and I wish the Senate would so far consent to a modiii- cation of the Senate amendment as to add after the word " dollars," in line 13, "of which $6,500 shall be for the law department." Mr. Allison. I do not object to that. The Vice-President. The amendment will be stated. The Chief Clerk. On page 63, in line 13, after the word "dollars," it is proposed to insert : " Of which $6,500 shall be for the law department." The amendment was. agreed to. 52d Congress, H. R. 10238. Calendar No., 1338. 2d Session. [Report No. 1287.] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. February 3, 1893. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. February 13, 1893. Reported by Mr. Allison with amendments, viz: [Omit the parts in brackets and insert the pai'ts printed in italics.'\ AN ACT making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, and for other purposes. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums be, and the same are hereby, appropriated, for the objects hereinafter expressed, for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety- four, namely : [Page 63.] HOWARD UNIVERSITY. For maintenance of the Howard University to be used in payment of part of the salaries of the ofQcers, professors, teachers, and other regular employees of the university, the balance of which will be paid from donations and other sources, [eighteen thousand five] tioentyfour thousand three hundred dollars. And the proper officers of said uni- versity shall report annually to the Secretary of the Interior how this appropriation is expended. For tools, materials, wages of instructors, and other necessary expenses of the indastrial department, [two thousand five hundred] three thousand dollars. For books for library, bookcases, shelving and fixtures, three hundred dollars. HOWARD UNIVERSITY. 27 For material and apparatus for chemical, physical, and natural history, and laboratory, tive hundred dollars. For improvement of grounds, five hundred dollars. For repairs of buildings, one thousand dollars. Page 64. In all, [twenty-three thousand three] twenty-nine thousand six hundred dollars. The bill then went to the conference committee of the two Houses of Congress carrying an appropriation of $18,500 for the salaries of professors other than those of the law department and $0,500 for the professors of that department. The conference committee struck out the special provision limiting $6,500 to the law department and reduced the gross sum of the clause providing for the salaries of pro- fessors from $24,300 to $23,500, as appears from the following provi- sions of the sundry civil appropriation law : HOWARD UNIVERSITY. For mainteiiauce of the Howard Uuiversity, to be used in payment of part of the salaries of the officers, professors, teachers, and other regular employees of the uni- versity, the balance of Avhich will be paid from donations and other sources, twenty- three thousand five hundred dollars. And the proper officers of said university shall report annually to the Secretary of the Interior how this appropriation is expended. For tools, materials, wages of instructors, and other necessary expenses of the industrial department, three thousand dollars. For books for library, bookcases, shelving, and fixtures, three hundred dollars. For material and apparatus for chemical, physical, and natural history, and labora- tory, five hundred dollars. For improvement of grounds, five hundred dollars. For repairs of buildings, one thousand dollars. In all, twenty-eight thousand eight hundred dollars ($28,800). The final result being that the law department, so far from getting the $8,000 recommended by the Judiciary Committee, or even the $6,500 secured by the substituted amendment of Senator Hoar, as above set forth in the Record, was made to bear the loss of the entire $800 by which the conference committee reduced the amount of this particular clause; and instead of getting even the $4,000 it had enjoyed the two previous years it only received for the current year $3,200. And this is not the worst feature of it, for the Secretary of the Inte- rior bases his estimates for the ensuing year upon this reduced allow- ance, as the estimates for the present bill disclose in the excerpt appli- cable to the law school. 28 HOWARD UNIVERSITY. [Extract from p. 238, Estimates of Appropriations.] Estimates of appropriations required for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895. General object (title of appropriation) and details and explanations. Maintenance of Howard Universitj^ : Maintenance of the Howard University, to be used in payment of part of tlie salaries of the oificers, professors, teachers, and other regular employes of the university, the balance of which will be paid from donations and other sources, being for a portion of the salaries of the following, to wit — President of the university Secretary and treasurer Six professors, at $1,350 each One professor One professor One teacher Three teachers, at $720 each One teacher Two teachers, at $540 each One teacher One matron One librarian Two professors in law department, at $1,000 each . . One professor in law department One lecturer in law department Total. Date of acts, or treaties, providing for the ex- penditure. Mar. 3, 1893 ...do..--... Eeferences to Statutes at Lar^e, or to Revised Stat- utes. ^ol.or p 27 595, '6 -do . .do .do , -do -do .do .do .do do -do -do .do -do Sec. Estimated amount re- quired for each detail- ed object of expendi- ture. .$2. 800. 00 1, 600. 00 8, 100. 00 1, 080. 00 800. 00 800. 00 2, 1'eo. 00 630. 00 1, 080. 00 310. 00 540. 00 400. 00 2, 000. 00 800. 00 400. 00 23, 500. 00 These estimates j)rovide only for four in embers of the law school faculty at a rate of compensation much less than that paid to the mes- sengers of the Senate ; whereas the faculty consists of five instructors and a secretary, in addition to whom are needed a librarian, a janitor, and means with which to provide for lig'ht, fuel, furniture, stationery, and the incidental expenses attendant on having distinguished lec- turers from the Harvard and Yale universities occasionally at the school. The committee deem $16,000, the sum first fixed by Senator Evarts, not too much, but assuming that a special assistant to the Librarian of Congress will have charge of the library, $8,000 could be made to cover the work on an estimate allowing for — 3 professors, at $1,680 each $5, 040 2 lecturers, at $880 each 1,760 1 secretary 500 1 janitor*. 300 Fuel, light, furniture, and stationery 400 The Senate has repeatedly voted this amount to the school and the committee to whom the amendment was referred at this session of Congress have been careful to recommend what the Senate has already endeavored to secure for this work from which all the States derive direct advantages; for if Senators will examine the catalogue of this law school they will find that of the 77 members of the classes of the session 1891-'92, 1 was ft-om Alabama, 3 from Arkansas, 2 from the District of Columbia, 3 from Georgia, 1 each from Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas, 7 from Kentucky, 3 from Maryland, 1 each from Michigan and Minnesota, 3 from Missouri, 5 from Mississippi, 1 each from ISTebraska and New Hampshire, 2 from New York, 7 from North Carolina, 2 from Ohio, 1 from Pennsylvania, 7 from South Carolina, 5 from Tennessee, 2 from Texas, 12 from Virginia, and 1 from West Virginia ; showing that HOWARD UNIVERSITY. 29 24 States participated in the beuetits of that single year. The com- mittee therefore recommend that the amendment be incorporated entire in the bill onjts own footing and then be insisted upon without modi- fication by tm? Senate in its action upon the conference report upon the bill. The special claims of the colored people are seldom urged upon Con- gress, and they participate only in a very humble way, in the great appropriations made for all the purposes of Government. They are not contractors or public carriers or proprietors of valuable riparian rights, to be enhancedby the river and harbor approi^riatious, nor judges, legislators, or cabinet ministers, to share in the dignities and emoluments carried by appropriations for the judicial, legislative, and executive establishments; nor ambassadors abroad to enjoy the honors and profits and courtesies originating- in thediplomatic appropriations ; nor builders of ships, and officers of squadrons, and of army corps, to have a part in the distinction, the authority, and applause supported by the army and naval appropriations. They are only humble toilers who sweat in the fields, the highway, the mines, and the quarries, for a daily pittance, and are strangers to the amenities, the comforts, the luxuries, the pride, the pomp and x>ower, which are the common possession of the white people of our country. Therefore the committee feel that the desire of our colored fellow citizens to have an opportunity to study the law, to which all alike owe the blessings of liberty, ought not to be disaijpointed ; for in the stately words of Clarendon : The law is the standard and guardian of our liberty; it circumscribes and defends it; but to imagine liberty without law is to imagine every man with a sword in his hand to destroy him who is weaker than himself. ■^ X?>'^ -= LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ^ n 019 601 699 5 ii;?^m^^&S: ^^^K^ ^'~SJj5X>>/ »»i.'> 35-5. '^'v-- ^^ "^^^^