New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-30
~.,,rencement Exercises


Of all these things, gladly, Mr.
= IN do /, as the agent Of the government
He'the executive order, and transfer to
Of for the American MISSIONARY Associa-
on, this beautiful and well arranged Uni
vepsity, and may it's present prosperity bt
long Be spared to see, respecting it, you,
most sanguine hopes realized.
Mr.. President, ladies and gentlemen-We
have met at this time and place to formally
dedicate this material structure to the great
work of education. find its inception and
n ls;o,y which hold in my hand, and
M1hites St i e fellows:
1.-The acknowledgment of the slaves and
their necessitous condition led the American
Missionary Association to plant schools in
the South, whose immunities should be en-.
joyed by all, without regard to race or
previous condition. Through this unsecta-
rian agency, hundreds Of elementary schools
and colleges have been opened to the col
ored people. New Orleans, the commercial
metropolis of the Southwest, seemed
especially to demand school OF higher
learning, for one half of its population are
of African descent, thousands of which, free
born. are persons Of wealth and culture. To
meet this necessity, in the spring of 1863,
8 few gentlemen conceived the plan of plant
ing this University.
The Freedmen's Bureau and American
Missionary Association at once pledged
their cooperation. A site was selected on
one Of the most beautiful streets in the city.
The American Missionary Association pur
chased the grounds and the government
assured the erection of buildings to the
value of $4,000. An act of incorporation
was secured June %, 1869, with the power
to confer all such degrees and hOnOrs rs are
conferred by universities in the United
States Of America" and representative men,,
in sympathy with the work, were chosen a
Board Of Trustees.
3 normal department was opened in one Ct
the churches, which numbered about sixty
students. February, 1870, the building was
completed, and at once occupied. The
providence Of God seemed to favor the en-
terprise from the beginning; and, within
these brief months, more than eight
hundred students have been in
tructed. Its beautiful and well ar.
ranged apartments, ample modern facilities
for instruction, scholarly and consecrated
teachers, and the high moral tone of its cul.
ture. render it pre-eminent as q school for
youth. Distinguished gentlemen, familiar
with the best methods OF instruction, have
expressed the highest commentator. Be-
cause it is so catholic in its aims and thor.
ough in its culture. several students of the
Saxon race have availej themselves of it's
,pected that all nationalities will freely enter
its departments.
This building, erected by the government
for the American Missionary Association
am ordered by Major General o. o. How
ard, the commissioner, to transfer to that
Christian body. This, do. most cheerfully,
because I am fully persuaded, that it will not
tion-the education of students, without re-
GARD In race or cOlOr.
The history of the American Missionary
Association needs no extended recital by
me. Like the Freedmen's Aid Society, and
kindred organizations. believe they were
Heaven ordained. When other missionary
boards were false to the African race, this
association sprang into being.
The South had been at once the field OF its
missionary work BUT its fidelity to freedom,
barred its entrance to this Southern field,
and 90 its energies were directed to African
missions. 30 soon as the war unbOlted the
door it turned its attention to the freedmen
of the South. The Northern people gave
freely to this unsectarian organization, and
so efficient had it proved itself to be, and so
economic were its disbursements, that
SCENTS of the BureaV in all the States sought
its cooperation.
It planted the first freedmen's schools in
this State, and the bureau found it occupy.
ing the ground.
General Banks promised to assume and
faithfully perform this educational work in
Louisiana, and this association withdrew its
corps of faithful teachers, and directed its
resolved to devote its energies to the erec-
ton of buildings for elementary aud higher
learning, this association re-entered this
ield, and by the untiring energy OF its agent,
Rev.J. w. Healy, commenced the erection
Of school buildings and the organization of
schools, by the cooperative aid of the gov
eminent. Other associations have re
ceived similar and greater aid, and
conditions prescribed by the government
have been complied with. We have aided
the Methodist Church to the amount of
$40 900, the Baptists $50, 900, and this asso-
citation about $4,000. Without making |
invidious comparisons. facts warrant me in |
saying that this association has done more |
educational work than any other. Its score |
OF school buildings, all occupied with eff |
more than sixty teachers, are evidences |
that 1t means work. This university, which |
has instructed nearly nine hundred students |
the past year, and the results witnessed in |
these examinations are full proof of it's |
faithful work.
Rev. Mr.. Healy, in accepting the transfer
OF the property to the association, of which |
uc 10 HScut, SPOKE rs IOllOWS:
In behalf OF the American Missionary
Association, accept the transfer of these
buildings and furniture, which you have /
formally delivered to us by order of the |
Secretary of War. This do, not TO enrich |
the association, which / representation it is
a most valuable and generous donation
but accept 1t with the sincere and pro-
found conviction that the educational de-
sign OF the government, in the erection and |
tro eff mil ho fait fill
carried out. What we have done the past
year, is pledge of what we purpose to do
in yet greater measure.
But, sir, what is the educational design |
OF the government? / need not say to this |
people who have been so largely the recip.
tents OF the benefactions of the Bureau,
that Its animus is humane and praiseworthy. |
Under any circumstances, it is the duty of
the State and nation to educate its people:
and this is an especial duty of Republican
government. Ignorance is the bane of re.
publics, and education-the education of the
entire peoples the safeguard of liberty
and Republican institutions. A king.
dom or an empire may abide
and the masses remain illiterate, but not SO
with republic. A government like ours,
which comedies individuality and political
equality, must by education fit its subjects
for self.government and intelligent citizen
ship. A system of labor, such as has here
obtained for past generations, denied the
enslaved the culture of that mind which is
The. glory of our manhood. and so slavery
aud ignorance are everywhere and
always twin sisters. Denying the
right of self-culture; this system
has sapped the life of the commons
YEA lth; and, had II become national, the
republic had disintegrated and fallen. The
iod OF our fathers, the guardian of these
States, by the severe logic of fratracidal
war, exercised this demon, and permitted
IN enfranchised race to Yiudicate THAR