The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-07-25
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OFFICE or SrArESUpr. OF Pun. En-.
New Orleans, July l4th 1866.

-
OFFICE OF SrArESUpr. OF PUB. Ed.
New Orleans, July l4th 1866.
To the Editor efthe Louisiana D~mocat
SlR:--The Act Of the Generally Assem-.
bly,, No. "a, "for the relief Of the Tax-pav
ers Of the State approved, February lsu
1866 suspends 'the Assessment and Col.
lection Of the State and Parish taxes s,r
1860, 81, 81, So, and GA, until the first dav
OF January, 1862 but provides "that every
person Uho 0ishes to pay his or her .are.
for any Of those years, may have the priyi,
lege Of doing SO, free from any additional
expense"
As all such taxes are now payable in
United States and Louisiana issues Of M.
per money it is obviously the interest Of
every citizen, who has suficiency Of such
funds, to pay his back taxes without de-
lay.
In view Of the importance of the educa-
tional cause in our State, and of the largo
number of white children now awaiting the
re-opening of Schools, in every town, vii.
liage and hamlet and, at every cross.road
within her limits, the undersigned takes the.
liberty Of requesting you, while the Sheriff
is collecting the taxes Of 1865, to urge pay
ments, also, Of the mill and poll faces due
on account Of previous years. This request
is made for the reason that the School tax.
es for 1865, will not probably suffice to
sustain more than one OF two village
Schools in each parish, and such Schools
only in case that the Police Jury shall 80
re-districted the Parish as to give them
the benefit Of the entire parish hnd; and,
hence, in many neighborhoods, il not in
the entire parish, the whole system Of Free
Schools will have been suspended, and q
large number Of white children left to pine
in hopeless ignorance.
Ifthere be any difficulty in asccrtaining
the amount Of mill taxes due for previous
years, the undersigned would suggest pay.
ments equal to the mill tax ofl865. AZ
to the poll tax, contribution ofone dollar,
per annum, by each white male citizen,
would Of itself provide sufficient fund for
the support Of School in every villiage,
for such children as ore not able to attend
a private or paying institution. Can any
such citizen refuse this mite in behalf OF
the moral, mental, and social improvement
of his own race.
You are also requested to use your mo-
raj influence in persuading some Of the
competent young men and educated ladies'
of your parish, to September or October
next, the organization. and direct manage
nent of village and neighborhood Schools,
for the benefit Of their friends and neigh.
bors' children. Their presence in such III
situations will relieve The "Free SCHOOL,
system Of any prejudice that it may hereto
fore have encountered; and, by their zeal
and intelligence, they will unquestionably
promote the honor and prosperity Of Louis
ana. Be pleased, also, to say to such 1t
them as may be willing to teach, for five
or for only three hours, each day, that, II
they will address this Office, it will furnish
them sucAeuggeations as may ease the Or
binary labor Of teaching,
You are aware, sir, that, for forty years
past Louisiana has made persistent efforts
through legislative enactments, to advance
the cause Of education; and that, during
the last IL to Is years, she has raised, BY
taxation alone, . half million Of dollars. per
annum, for the support Of free public
schools. She has nevertheless been r.
preached by Radical politicians, with hay-
ing neglected the education ane enlighten-
ment Of her poorer citizens! It is trusted
that her people will no longer tolerate this
foul calumny; but that now, when the integg-
rity Of the State is imperilled by faction, and
the dignity o her citizens is obscured BY
vindictive legislation, they will, with one
acclaim vindicate the honor and suprema-
Icy Of the Caucasian race; and, to this end
will cheerfully make such contributions to
the educational fund, as will enable your
parochial authorities and local directors to
train and improve every white child in the
parish.
Be pleased TO show this circular to all
citizens interested in the cause Of humane
improvement, and to communicate, on the
subject, at an early day, with
Yours, respectfully.
ROBERT NJ. LUSHER,
State Superintendent.
Y@- A sermon in.four words on the van
ity Of earthly possession s" Shrouds hare
no pockets"
The PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION. The
Augusta Constitutionalist says Of THE Con
vention
The whole thing -mark us il il do not %
turn QUITS q juggle. No party 10 the
North upholds it--no popular sentiment u
that section has evoked It. It is the work