The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-05
THE RECONSTRUCTION CONVENTION
FIFTY-sIXTH DAY.


mittee upon the subject, reported that up to the
18th ult., 1906 40 had been paid in 10 the State
treasurer by Thomas Askew, State tax collector
Of which $500 30 was in warrants, mostly col
lected from insurance companies Of this city in
payment OF the special tax levied by the cOnven'
ton.
An article. snnexing Agiers to this city aud
constituting it the Fifth District, mot military
was tabled by vote Of 46 10 10. Ia the debate
thereupOn the proposition was characterized as
one designed TO secure the election Of majority
by the aid Of the Republican vote Of Algers.
Crane, Of Orleans offered an article, providing
that all taxes State, parish and municipal, com
bined, shall not exceed per cent. OF the value
Of property taxed.
Judge Cooley ably demonstrated the suficieucy
OF the proposed rates, oeprecating any higher
figures.
The article was tabled by heavy vote.
The following further articles of Constitutio
were adopted:
TITLE vII-INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
ART. 1885, There shall be elected by the quail
fed voters a State engineer, skilled 10 the theory
and practice OF his profession, who shall hold his
Office at the seat of government for the term OF
four years He shall have the superintendence
and direction Of all public works in which the
State may be interested, except those made oy
joint stock companies, or such as may be under
the parOchial or city authorities exclusively. and
not in conflict with the general laws Of the State.
He shall communicate to the General Assembly,
through the governor, annually his views con-
corning the same, report upon the condition Of
the public works in progress, recommend such
measures as in his opinion the public interest OF
the State may require, aud shall perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by law. His
salary shall be I'VE thousand dollars per annum,
until otherwise provided by Law. The mode of
election, plumber and salaries of his assistants
shall be fixed by law. The State engineer aud
assistants shall give bonds for the performance
Of their duties as shall be prescribed by law. TIE
General Assembly may create internal improve.
ment districts, composed of one or more parishes.
ard may grant right to the citizens thereof to
IA or imDrOVampnta Saii in
ternal Improvement districts, when created, shall
have the right to select commissioners, shall have
power TO appoint officers, fix their pay and regl'
late all matters relative to the Improvements OF
their districts provided such Improvements will
not conflict with the general laws of the State.
The General Assembly may grant aid TO said
districts out of the funds arising from the swamp
and overlooked lands granted to the State by the
United States or otherwise.
The General Assembly shall have the right of
abolishing the office Of state engineer, by ma
joTity vote Of all the members elected to each
branch, and Of substituting a board Of public
works in lieu thereof, should they deem it neces-
sary.
TITLE vIu-EDUCATIoNAL.
ART. 1874. The legislature shall establish at
least one free public school in every parish
throughout the State, and shall provide for their
support by taxation or otherwise All children
OF this State between the ages of six f6) and
twenty-One t2l) shall be admitted to the public
schools OF other institutions of learning sustained
or established by the State, in Common, without
distinction Of race, color previous condition.
There shall be no separate schools Institutions
OF learning established for any exclusive race by
the State of Louisiana.
The following protests were recorded against
the passage Of the foregoing:
By Blackburn, Of Claiborne. vote "nO" becau e
such article, II attempted TO be carried out pract-
cally, will break up our free public schools sys-
ten, az least virtually exclude the colored chill
dren from all participation therein. | am friend
OF all men-and more especially of all children -
regardless Of race or color, but | desire aud ain
to be 30 upon safe and practicable basis.
By George W. bearing, of Rapides: While I am
committed TO free public school system, sup
ported by taxation, and while am willing 10 give
my vote TO tax the property OF every tzeu in
the State TO support free public schools, and BE-
ieving that the parents OF "a large number don't
wish this am unwilling TO inaugurate system
Of schools in the present immoral state of society,"
which am forced to believe will have such de-
moralizing influence. ! am therefore compelled
to vote against this article.
By G.. Snider, of DeSoto: | do most heartily
protest against the l3lth article of the COnstita-
ton, and think il will be the great means Of de.
ftsting the Constitution on the day of ratlfca
ton.
BY O. II. Hampstead: vote "no" because
want TO give children at the age of four years an
opportunity TO attend the public schools, and not
because am opposed to the system proposed
By McMilen, of Carroll: | vote against this
article for the that it will defeat the organi-
cation of a complete, thorough, common school
BY l.. W. Baker, of Bossier: vote ono" be-
cause such system Of schools will benefit few
at the expense of the many, aud. in my opinion,
will hereafter be most complained of by those
who favor 1t now; and will share the fate Of all
paper guarantees not founded on common sense
and practical utility.
ART 1856. No municipal corporation shall make
any rules regulation contrary TO the spirit ami
intention of this article.
ART 1856. There shall be elected By the quail.
fed electors of this State a superintendent OF
public education, who shall hold his Office for four
years. HIS duties shall be prescribed, and his
salary shall be $1,000 per year, payable quarterly
upon his own warrant. The superintendent Of
public education shall have the supervision and
the general control of all public schools through.
out the State.
ART. 1877. The general exercises in the public
schools shall be conducted in the English Ian
guage.
ART. l3S. The proceeds Of the lands hereto
fore, and that which may hereafter be granted by
the United states 10 this State for the pur-
pose OF the public schools Of the State, and the
proceeds of the estates OF deceased persons 10
which the State may become entitled by law. shall
be and remain a perpetual fund on which the
State shall pay an annual interest OF six (6) per
cent which interest together with the interest Of
the trust fund deposited with the State by the
United States under the aetof Congress, approved
June g. 1886, and all the rents OF the unsold lands,
shall be appropriated to the support OF such
schools. And this appropriation shall remain Inc
Vlolable.
ART l39 All moneys accruing from the sales
which have been or may be heretofore made Of
any lands heretofore granted by the United States
to this State for the use OF any institution of
learning whatever. Tor from any kind of donation
for the purpose Of establishing school or schools,
or any institution of learning Whstever,l shall be
and remain perpetual fund, the interest Of
which, at six lG) per cent. per annum, shall be
appropriated TO the exclusive benefit Of the said
school or schools or institution OF learning; aud
no law shall be made diverting said funds to any
other use than TO the establishment and benefit Of
said institution Of learning. The legislature shall
have power TO raise funds flr the Organi7a len
and support Of said institution in such manner a.
il may deem best.
ART. l40. No appropriation shall be made by
the legislature for the support of any private
school or any private institution of learning
whatever, when distinction is made by its rules
and regulations on account Of race, color, or
previous condition.
ART. l4. A university shall be established and
maintained in the city OF New Orleans. 1t shall
be composed of Fix faculties to. wit: One Of Law,
one of medicine. one Of natural science, one Of