New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-10

| bone of contention between tho two parties
| occupying seats on this floor. The gentle
man tells us that he is the friend OF cduca
ton. We will not doubt it. But. by way
of prcfacing the remarks which l shall make.
allow me to state to the two gentlemen who
have preceded me that they are mistaken in
the idea that the State Board of Education
has the appointment of every person in the
parishes and towns. without knowing who
! they are. Another thing upon this point
The State Board of Education is not com
posed of the citizens of New Orleans but they
are taken from every congressional district
in this State. and the supposItiOn is that each
division superintendent knows As much of
his division as a member Of Congress, does,
in the same ratio. These men ar" recon-
mended and appointed upon the recon-
mendation of each city or each ward of the
division superintendent and the Superin-
tendcnt of Education. The division suprin-
tendcnt docs not sit down III New Orleans
and appoint Tom. Dick and Harry. when
he don't know whether he lives III the par
ish of East Baton Rouge or the parish OF De
Soto. Care is taken in this thing in all re-
spects. and am satisfied when the fact is
well known that the very best men that can
be found, both Democrat and Republican,
are placed upon this board. 1t goes to show
that the State Superintendent and the Board
of Public Education in this State do all in
their power in order to make this
board as effective as they possibly can. In
relation to the argument which has been
brought forward to-day by the other side of
the House, consider it not only Il direct at
tack upon the educational intentions OF this
bill. but II direct attack upon those who are
carrying forward this necessary. this indiS
pcn,able work to all.who need its good i'll
tiuences. We understand that this board is
used for political machinery. Do they tell
Us that this board and all the ward boards
in the parishes have been used for political
machinery? Why. l am astonisird that IL
gentleman with the intelligence he
possesses. and the happy faculty OF Judging
well of everyone, will stand upon the floor
Of this house and make such charge here.
that these school boards have been made
use of for political machinery. Who are the
men that get all the money that is given.
These school boards receive no COmpensu-
ton; their duties are gratuitou>. They
travel over plantations and through the
parishes and institute these school, without
one single cent of pay, and let me ask right
here. who is il the school directors find the
greatest opposition from. especially the
c0lored school boards 1t is from the po-
lice jurors themselves l am speaking add
visedlv, because have acted on the school
board in my parish and l tell you. gentle
men. who speak so much of police jurors to-
day, that we arc unwilling to trust them.
for we know that when We undertook to
collect tax the greatest opposers we had
were the police jurors. We know them. We
have felt them in days gone by. and we do not
propose to feel them any more. The gen
tleman asks where did the State Superin-
tendent get his powers! He got them i'll the
same way that the gentleman from Caddo
tMr. Moncurc) got his-bv the votes of the
people of the State. Now. he is properly
and legally elected and as such is entitled
to all the rights and privileges ol his posi-
ton. and their futile efforts to impede TIE
progress of education shall surely fail. We
know the benefits OF education. and it seems
to me that if the gentleman wanted the law
carried out il its purity. that he would wish
to see the newly cnfranchised voters. scarce
yet twenty-one years of age. in school.
learning to read and write. and t" Sc" them
come upon this floor. as they surely will.
We wish il distinctly under
stood that we are here today to do
battle for education. We have come
prepared We have buck!cd on oar armor.
and we will fight this battle for education
through much heartier. l believe. than
some of us would our own election. Now.
rs said before. this gentleman who Orcu-
pies the position of school superintendent of
this State got his office entirely by the votes
Of the people of this State. We do not 90
back TO ten years ago I" know who was
elected Superintendent OF Public Education
in this State. but we go back to the time l,c
was elected. and hold that he is entitled to
as much respect for the manner III which he |
was elected rs any man who sits upon this |
floor. who got his election through the same
manner. The school interests OF the Stat. |
are not i'll the hands of one single man. !
1t il not az his control But he was !
elected there. and We talk TO him to-day |,
we tell him here to-day. at least a part Ot |
rs. that while he pucSUc> the same course |
IN carrying on the cducation OF this State. |
conducting the children of Israel that We
will hold up our rod TO keep back the hosts
Of Pharoah. and we will hold ont his hands
aven as did the children of Israel to Moses |
when he kept back the host, of Pharoail
rom them. and caused the Red Sea to TOW !
over those who would lead them back into
bondage. And We are glad that we can
place ourselves on record that we believe in
carrying ont the great principle. of cduca-
lion in its Democratic and its Republican
form. am sorry that the gentleman has !
orough: thi, argument where it is. |,
Do not ask us to. refer back two rr
hrce years in this State a. far "a
education is concerned. i. you do ;
We will bring to you visions OF murdered |
school masters and school-mistre,ses in this
state who have been hunted from their
nome. by some OF these very same police
jurors that the gentleman would now
nave to protect these children in their edu-
'a:ional pursuits. We don't wish to 90
nto this; we only wish that We may be
lble to present to the people OF tii, State
md to the children fair and square oppor
unity of being educated in every respect;
We wouldn't even be willing: mis h, say.
o trust the police jurors.
But the great difficulty i. here. If might
ligrcss. that the police juror, who We're
elected ten years ago, have forgotten that |
hey were elected for only tw" or three
ears and some of them are holding over
yet, and they hold on the same old opinions
hat they had when Il man of color didn't !
larc to know his Il C,. 1t il. true tn.
Republican party in this State has had two
" three tri,tmphs, and they hav" elected
police jurors of Republican prociivities.
But the Democratic jurors foi 1860. old ante
,ellum times. still hold on to the seats. and
;ou can't get them out till they die. And |
+ we have to wait until these men die our
'hildren will grow up i'll ignorance and We
viii have no children on hand to take Ou7
,!aces in these halls which w" now ado.n.
Laughter.l
hope that those who arc thoroU gi,ly in
crested III the great cause Of education
will stand to-day by me. voted to-day to
'eiuse to hold night sessions: but am here
or a night session. and all night. if neces-
'ary. to get through this bill. And be-
ievc we will sit her" until this end is con-
1t was made the special order
If the day. and we don't intend. if we can
help 1t. that Tomorrow morning will shine
upon tho children Of Louisiana without
their knowing the glorious. proud tidings
hat the school law is passed. You shall
have schools whether you are white or