New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-25
LETTER FROM THE STATE SUPBRIN-
TENDENT.

TENDENT.
EDITOR REPUBLrCAN:
The New Orleans TIMES sees fit to
indulge in Wholesale abuse Of me be-
cause discharge my duty az a
public officer. I would gladly answer
every accusation In the eolanns Of that paper
were it not that already its editor, after
malgning me in every possible way, declin-
cd publishing my rejoinders. The fact is
that care nothing for it's ISLANDERS and viii
tications Indeed. 1 welcome them IN every
shape in which they can appear. History is
not silent in the evidence it furnishes In
proof Of the truth of the old proverb that
"The arrow sent from the bow of the per-
sccutor is certain to rebound and pierce the
heart Of the one who sends it,"
l have been in Louisiana nearly eight
years, and have, most of the time, held pO-
sitions of important public trust; but, up
to the present moment no charge has been
presented against me, except that Of dis
charging my lawful duty, regardless Of the
threats Of my enemies, the offers Of bribes
by brokers, or the personal interposition of
friends. Ny idea, as an officer, is to do my
duty rs understand it, leaving eonsequen-
ces to take care of themselves. If my duty
is unpleasant to my enemies, cannot help
it. will proceed as have done, and do as
the law requires. and as my oath OF office
oblieates, it matters not what may be said
by the editor Of the Times or ybody else.
MY family affairs are even drawn into the
controversy against me, and even the hand
! of death which bereaves me is turned to
| my dctriment. But, as to that, need say
nothing. The weapon is already turned
| against the man who used it; and why: Be-
| cause its use in such an instance is despica-
BILE and inhuman.
am presented to the public in every
issue of the Times as earpetbagger; a
.moral rhinoceros;" a man Of "slimy
habits" Puritan:" a parson "who wears
the livery of heaven to serve the devil in;'
man who "pays no taxes here;' one who
keeps his family mid away in some remote
corner of the North, instead of keeping
them here where he lives, and where he
holds public Office; a man without even ed
ucation "enough to teach a negro school, "
etc.
The editor Of the Times is not carpet
bagger, perhaps, because he came from Nova
Scotia, and is to-day Democrat, tomorrow
peoples party man, and the next day a
Republican, especially if an immense profit
can come from the Slaughterhouse project.
The owner of that paper, Mr.. C. A. Weed,
late of Stamford, Connecticut. Republi-
can, as radical as Governor Warmoth, o. j.
Dunn, Michael Hahn or myself, is not a
carpet-bagger so long as he employs an edi-
tor from Nova Scotia who will write articles
on purpose to please a Southern comma
nifty, made up of braver and better stuff
than ever entered into his composition.
The editor of the Times has, of late, hon
ored himself with the acquisition of family
in this city. He says hide mine away in
some secluded corner Of the North. If be
will call at No. I39 Customhouse street,
where have lived for some time, he will
ascertain how untrue his statement is. He
says pay no taxes. If he will inquire OF
J. j. Aston, on Carondelet street, of whom
purchased real estate in this city. he will
find an answer which may suggest the idea
of how enormously he speaks.
Let the Times proceed. Everybody
knows that its attack is an evidence of its
weakness. The school question ia far less
mine than the Legislatures. lam a Repub
lican-not Republican when money can be
made las the Times made it), when the
Slaughterhouse bill was in the scale, but a
Republican under all circumstances and
when needs be, against all odds.
do not, as charged. love the association
of the negro always better than of my OWL
race, nor, perhaps, quite as well as some
Democrats have been known to do, but dc
insist that the colored man is entitled to al
rights-of public character-which are en-
.joyed by white people, including equa
facilities lin all the schools) for the educa
ton of his children. Let it be remembered
that it is greatly to the interest of all classes
in the South-white as well as black-tha,
public distinctions on account of color OF
race should die away at once, and, therefore
! that it is to the real interest OF the white
population that every obstacle against the
| education of the colored children, in any
and all of the public schools of the common
wealth, should disappear at as early u mo-
ment as possible. Indeed, it seems to me
that We should all be glad that every OBJ.
stacle has been swept away already.
! The Times intimatcs that leading men of
the Republican party have opposed the
practical application of the principle laid
down, Ton the subject of education) in the
constitution and law of the State. In an
swer to this will state, so far at least as
relates to Governor Warmoth, land might
mention others,) that before and after the
election he said to me: Eve must settle the
school question for ever. We must do it
now, and do it by allowing colored children
| to enjoy the benefits of education in any and
| all of the public schools. 1t may result in
| some white children leaving for a while, but
the schools will soon fill up and we will
have the advantage of seeing this question
settled for all time"
For myself, have taken my stand under
| the law and on the platform approved by
| my conscience, and do not propose to
change my position, even if a Niagara of
| newspaper abuse should pour down upon me-.
Respectfully yours,
THOMAS w. CONWAY.
State Superintendent of Education.
GRAND BALL OF IvANHOE LODGE
Iyanhoe Lodge No I, Knights of Pythias,