The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-02
Tur P11LARs OF THE REpuBL1c-Of thu

elS, IN reference W tie Pei pC1utty VI VIC hioh
| and the future success OF the great experiment
Of republican government in the new world,
nothing deserves more attention, than the sys-
TENS Of public education, provided for, in the
disposition of the public lands by the general
government, and to which reference is SO often
| made, in messages, reports, speeches and docu-
ments, with very little tangible and practical
good effect. The ignorance and bigotry-the
spirit of intolerance abroad in the land, is owing
directly, to defects in our public school system
and there is more danger to the new light OF re-
publican America in this, than any other direc-
ton. That our government depends on the in
tellieence of its citizens for every breath of its
vitality, is fact, not clouded by a single shad-
ow of doubt, and that it is rapidly falling into
the hands Of demagogues and disorganizers,
owing to the fact of an alarming increase OF
foreign Ignorance, becoming migrated on full
stock of native imbecility, is also apparent,
whilst sectarianism in religion, is at war in a
strife to bend the public mind to some creed or
dogma, TO shape the spirit of the age to bigo-
try and fanaticism, opposed to the sacred prn-
ciples upon which the constitution of the Union
is based.
In this state, the systems of education, which
have been hastily cobbled up, to comply with
the constitutional provision, have been, and still
continue to be, the ver;est mockery. The state
superintendent office, had as well be abolished
for it is mere sinecure under the laws now in
force, which are absurd, contradictory and i'm
practicable. Politicians are entirely too busy,
making an equitable division of the spoiIs of
office, to give this matter any consideration, and
the committees that have been appointed from
time to time by the Legislature, on education,
have been composed of men unfit for any thing
else, who besides being total strangers to the
schoolmaster, have not had the capacity to de-
wise common sense plan of finances, whereby
teachers of schools could obtain the pittance
allowed them. No body now, can be found in
the country, willing to serve as a director, un-
less it be some fellow who makes an X for his
name, and the people cry out in vain, for the
miserable bauble to be removed What now
is the duty of the state superintendent? To
furnish the auditor with an superintendent of
the moneys on hand, at the commencement of
each quarter, which is easy enough to do, since
one apportionment is but copy of another.
This embraces his whole duty. He does not
even have to wise the warrants Of the parish
treasurers, as they come in.
In New Orleans, the city has taken the pub
lie schools under its protection, but in the coun-
try, the laws now in force are less operative |
than the laws of 1885. Shall they continue
thus? This is a question for every man to ask
himself There is no reason why Louisiana
should not have as good a system of public
education as any state in the Union. Comet
~~-c-~-~-~-~~-~~-~~~- ..a.s-
PROCLAMATION BY THE PREs1DENT.-The
Washington Union of the 18th ult., publishes
The following proclamation by the president of
'be United States, dated Washington, Deem
Der 8, 1855: -.
Whereas information has been received by
ne that sundry persons, citizens of the United J
States and others, residents therein are pre- +
pairing within the jurisdiction of the same to t
enlist, or enter themselves, or to hire or retain
others to participate. in military operations 5
within the State of Nicaragua: .
Now, therefore, I, Franklin Pierce, presi- v
lent of the United States, do warn all persons
gainst connecting themselves with any such $
Enterprise or undertaking, as being contrary to Y
heir duty as good citizens and to the laws of Il
heir country, and threatening to the peace of t
he United States. Il
| do further admonish all persons who may 81
epart from the United States, either singly or
| numbers, organized or unorganzed, for any 2
1ch purpose, that they will thereby cease to be a
ntltled to the protection of this government. D
l exhort all good citizens to discountenance h
i'd prevent any such dsreputable and crimi-
al undertaking as aforesaid, charging all Off a
rs, civil and military, having lawful power + f
the premises, to exercise the same for the "
1rpose of maintaining the authority and enfor-
ng the laws of the United States. n II
We are informed by the United States attor-
y for this district that the same instructions NJ
lating to unlawful enterprises against the 3
ate of Nicaragua that have been issued to the h;
torney in New York have been given to him re
I'd to attorneys in other districts The atten- Pr
IN OF the district attorney has also been called ~
the alleged existence of combinations for the "
llitary invasion of Ireland, and while it is
ffcult to believe that any such intention is 6t
ertained by any persons in the United States a. =,
e executive, solicitous thatno violation oflaw an
all go unrebuked and especially none which tn
uches our foreign relations and thus affects
e honor and peace Of the country, is particu W. W.
Fly DESTROYS that the proper officers should not tt;
i tonsttute criminal proceedings against any vi
rsons who shall be found engaged n~illegal IN n
is contrary to our relations Of amity with "a "a
'eat britain. Boston Post. R,
When Mr.. Fillmore published similar pro- no
lmatlon the democratic papers raised great sa
tory of Indignation. What have they now to Gel
= on the subject? tic
So~~o~~oo->oo. NJ,
The CINCINNATI CoNvENT1oN-We have Go
I'D the letter of the hon. J. L. Orr on the sub T.
It OF sending delegates to this convention, but to
confess we have not been able to change n
r former notions of the propriety of South gr
rolina keeping aloof from it. This talk ABOUT en- r
: isolation of the state from her sisters of the
18th is all CANNON And we confess we don't pa
preclate the Importance that politicians at Is Is,
III to the platforms erected by these irrespon- are
lie bodies. The constitution is platform :
ough for us, and ifa candidate can't be start OF
on that, we care very little about having one ri ri
e position which South Carolina occupies, i be1
the position she willing to take, in any fu- phi
e contest involving the rights of the south,
too well known to be matter of doubt with t ter
other states -having decided to cooperate r RI,
ii the south in protecting southern interests, bo
you'd be mere captiousncss in our sisters to wa
Il