Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1859-05-28
THE DEMOCRAT
Special Correspondence Of the Democrat
New ORLEANS, May 10, 1850.

New ORLEANS, May 10, 1850.
Ed. DENocnAT:-Fr0m the period of
the ccssion Of Louisiana to the nited Ii
States, in 1903, repeated spasmodc e!- !
forts have Uecn made to establish c,lu-
cational institutions OF the higher grade
in this commercial emporium. 10 be-
come identified with such All enterprise, /
and to be known as the founder Of such
all establishment, was one oi the tund
aspirations that naturally flowed from
the benevolent heart Of our first Amer
lean Governor, YIN. Charles Cole Clai-
borne. hurttg his administration, the
college Of Orleans WAS founded upon |
magnificent scale; 4 president and pro
lfcssofs, from France, were imported, to !
whom large salaries We're given. Alter |
few years Of sickly existence, the ln- |
istitutiou became involved III debt: the |!
professors appeared to be continually at !
!oggcsheads withteac other, and vented
their reciprocal abuse iii the public pa
pers Of the time, in re;a bllllngSgate
style. The president, Lachnal, who had
held some public office under Napoleon |,
was quite belligelent in hts communlca
.tions, some Of which would serve as cx-
|cellent models for modern thugs and
'fre-eaters. As natural consequence,
the people and directors became dis
gustcd, the college went down for want
of funds and pupils, and ks former ex-
iistence is only remembered as matter
of history.
The puLlic-school system was estab-
Ilished in the city, in lS4l, through the
Iinstrumentalty Of Recorder Baldwin,
Sam. J. Peters and others They were
Hooked upon at first with considerable
distrust, and were for long time but
slimly attended By degrees the system
became popular, and within a few years
: since, were among the best of their kind
lin the United States, both as regards
discipline and scholarship. Oflate years,
having been exclusively under political
! l,ltmana cement, the city schools have great
h iv deteriorated, and are rapidly lessen
Il ing in public confidence.
t In lS47, in conformity to a Constit'-
: tional provision, the University OF Loul-
p siana was organized The Medical De
partnient had been in hourishing exist,
e ence for several years previous. his
K wear the Law School was completed,
and the several chairs supplied with
!competent professors. The Rev. Fran
: els L. Hawks, D. D, was chosen by the
Board of Administrators as President oi
:, :, the University. The Doctor, who had
n been accustomed to receive large sal
is arv, was extrayagant in all his ideas,
n and formed system Of organization
e aoreeablv to his own views OF what
such an institution should be, His pro
,e nositions were: lst Toraise the stand
N a,d.of preparation ior the University II
N all our primary schools. Cd To make
the benefits of the University as exten
sive as possible. /. 3D.. 10 adapt tt.
= course of instruction 10 the actual contl
tjon and wants of the country. 4tlL Il
a insure faithfulncss and diligence II
= those employed in the work Of ii,sttne
IN IN ton. 5th. TO gather men OF letter
lg around the University. 9th. 10 max
he literary honors badges of real, not nom
o. inal distinction To, effect this, he dc
d. d. signed, Independent of the schools q
Law and Medicine not less than ten o
ee' dozen protessorships in the scho"ls
Natural Science and the College OF Lee
Iters. in addition to which was anncsc
% \ Grammar school. The method usual
's : adopted for paying salaries to profess
~ Il, ors, by fixed sum, irrespective 81 tn
VI " number Of pupils instructed, was ~
y caried By the Doctor as one OF the con
~ ~ honest errors of the day; and he recon
~ ~ ,mcnded that they should depend upo
Il the sale of tickets Of admission 10 the
rooms. 1t is needless to say that til
Grand schcue failed, and now the bull
Iings intended for Instruction in the Al
and Sciences are occupied by TIM
rate grammar school-the law scho
ms being totally excluded from the premise
hat having no other than a nominal come
essI ton with the University! There sure
never was more palpable instance
the mountain laborins and lrlngi'
on. forth mouse, than this Of the UnV'
to sity of I.ouisiana-l mean the LlteI
!, Department. f@
Il What the Stale has been for years e
deavoring to establish at the expense
.wo hundreds of thousands Of llars VAN
20 as1 lavished, has been within few yea
an an passed effected by the enterprise OF o.
individual. allude to Do1bears oo'
ote mercial College, which is now incori
II rated, with full powers to add an g
l. cultural and Mechanical Department,
- that Students may receive. not oIay
classical, but scientific education,
T. Ifit them directly for those importa
pursuits in life The gentlemen as
l;..o3 -r;+l, Nr NoTtoar as Tr1.tos,s. /.