Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-08-31
Letter from New Orleans.

New ORLEANS, La, Aug. Is. 1866.
Editor Ph0nir:-By an extract in the
New Orleans Times of the 18th inst, from
Gems. Steedman and Fullerton's official re-
port Of the operations of the Freedmen's
Bureau in Louisiana, sec it stated that the
freedmen's schools in this State are support
ed by funds derived from the government
Having been employed for ten months in the
educational department of said Bureau, and
seven months of that time as director of
schools for the city of New Orleans, and ex-
aiming committee qualifications of teach
ers, | think l have right to know what are
and have been the operations of these schools
and from whence they have derived their
support.
L have frequently made explanations upon
this subject in private letters to friends in
the North, who have applied to me for posi-
tons in the government schools, and now,
as such explanations to my friends have been
made a lie by the aforementioned official
report, request the privilege of giving them
to the public through your columns.
Schools for colored children were first
opened in New Orleans by different individ-
uals, without much concert of action other
than that they were all striving for the same
great end, Prominent among these was our
old friend 1t. W. b. Stickncy, who opened
the first school (colored) in the State of
Louisiana. Later, in 1868 and 1864, the cause
was thrown undoE the control of a regularly
organized board of education, under the SUI
Of I .
licient and popular officer In July, 1865.
he was relieved by II. II. Pease, Capt. S4th
u. $. c. l., and it was under this officer that
my connection with the Bureau commenced.
The system by which these schools were
established and maintained was originated
in 1864 by Major Gen. Banks, at that time
military commander of the Department of
the Gulf BY virtue of General Order No.
3S, current series, tax for the support of
schools under the system inaugurated, was
levied upon the real and personal property
owners of the State, the benefits of which
were alike extended TO freedmen and white
refugees. The collection of this tax, known
as the school tax, was carried on under the
direction of the military authorities, and
many and tlourishing schools We're establish
ed and carried on in spite of the numerous
obstacles thrown in their way by the enc
mics of human progress.
Nov 9TH, 1865, this tax was suspended by
order of Gen. Fullerton, Qhe same whose
name appears rs constituent of the lnNesli-
eating Committee of the Freedmehs Bu-
reau,) then Assistant Commissioner oil the
Freedmen's Bureau in the state OF louisa
ma, and the schools nearly persisted. About
tbis time Cen. Fullerton was relieved by
Gen. Baird, and by an order of Gen, How 3So
ta>,' y,oe roscinded and its collection contin-
ned Again the schools began to flourish;
AGENTS were sent through the parishes and
schools sprang like magic, and just as we
conld begin to see the fruits of our labors,
came an edct from the President himself
once more suspending the tax, and this time
to us hopelessiy. Since then, notwlthstand-
ing Gems. Steedman and Fullerton's report,
the freedmen's schools of Louisiana have
received not one dollar of support from the
government.
BY Circular No. 81, issued by Gen. Baird
Dec, 81, 1865, the schools were closed for