New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-12
WARMING A SCHOOL TEACHER.
What is to Come Next 2
From the Jackson Pilot


We copy the following from the Columbus
| PreSs OF the sixth instant, and withhold
comment until we can learn further facts in
connection Herewith:
we have long been cOgniZant Of the fac
that opposition existed of the most unre-
lentlng character against the free school
system on the part of some of our citizens
but we did not suppose it had become so
bitter as to awaken in the bosom of those
| who opposed it, bitter hatred and ami
mostly toward the teachers in those schools.
But so it is.
Last week Mr.. Phillips. who is. teaching a
colored free school at Crawfordville, went
to the postoffice for his mail. On his return
he was accOsted by some ten or twelve men,
near the postoffice-who, in justice to the
citizens of Crawfordville, were not residents
of the place-and asked by them, "What in
the HI are you doing here2 We don't
want anv of your kind here. You are teach
ing a nigger school, amt yOuf'
Mr.. Phillips replied that he was.
well" was the reply, 1--WE airSt geing to
pay taxes to support you in teaching those
id niggers, and we think you had better
leave the country. If you havn't got the
money" says the spokesman for the crowd,
'I'll furnish yOu with the funds, We want
men of good character, and not carpet
baggers and thieves from the North"
MIR. Phillips told them that if he thought
they had any tight to ask it he could give
them any reference they desired.
a great many insulting remarks were
made about him and his school, which,
there being ten or twelve Of them, he Gould
not resent.
Mr.. Phillips is thorough Christian gem
tleman, a man of high moral character, and
was engaged by the county superintendent
to take charge of the colored school at
CrawfOrdville, with full knowledge of this
fact, knowing that his conduct from long
and intimate acquaintance with him) would
always be above reproach or invidions criti-
cism.
We have been acquainted with Mr. Phillips
for ever year and have never known of
one single act of his during that time that
would mark him as other than an honorable,
upright, firm Christian man and gentleman
He came from Memphis, where he sus-
tanned the same character. He was for
merly superintendent of white Sabbath
school there, and was engaged in the manu-
featuring business, in connection with Mr..
John nj. White, of that city, who is a dea-
con in the Cumberland church, n man of
probity, and well known as one of the lead
ing citizens of the city of Memphis, whom,
with the firm of Walcot & Smith. commits
sion merchants; Ferguson & Clay, whole
sale grocers, Front street and MANY others
we Hlgnt name, Will testify TO the TACT that
Mr.. Phillips always had the character of
high toned Christian gentleman while a
resident of that city.
What could have produced such das-
tardly attack upon Mr.. Phillips personally,
we are at loss to determine, unless it be
solely because he originally came from the
North. Abusing and villifying teachers Is
only an additional evidence of the deter
mination of the copperhead Democracy to
break down the free school system by every
means that malice can invent.
The thinking citizens of Crawfordville.
we are informed. are justly indignant at the
treatment of Mr.. Phillips, whom they are
anxious should remain, which he proposed
to do from the first.