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

! matter. Inc superintendent alOHe can no
appoint a single man to any position unde
the provisions of this bill. Those gentlemen
who are division superintendent reside il
different parts of the State: their whole tim
is devoted to this work of education. 1t il
made their especial duty. by the law. to pro
.tect the educational interests of the peOpl,
of this State; and, as far as know, they
are doing the work well. In the discharg,
of their duty, they necessarily come in con
tact with men in every part Of the State
who are the most deeply interested in thi
work of education and, do not think tina
could say the same of some Of the police
jurors in the parishes in this State.
1t is. at the present time, no par
Of the business of the police Juror.
to interest themselves as such il
matters of education and hence | think
| we have complete answer to the argument
of the gentleman from Caddo iMr. Mon
cure), vixen We say that these gentlemen
who are associated with the State Superin
tendent of Public Instruction. who form
| part OF this board. and whom we are asked
| to give the appointing power to. say II Is
| Il complete answer when we say that thASe
gentlemen know better what is the interest
of the schools of this State than the police
| juror. themselves possibly can know. BY
law they are compelled to visit every one OF
the schools. and az they visit them
VIII" are Interested in schools and
certainly they are enabled from this in
| innate connection with these gentlemen to
| decide better than any one else who are the
| persons best fitted to the work of subserv.
ing the interests of the schools and carry
| ing out the great work of education. The
| bill before It's is a tub that we have thrown
to the whale. l think it is "A very good sort
of tub.
We have had Il great deal OF difficulty in
| New Orleans in connection with this school
! matter. The bill is reported here bv com
! mon consent of all parties "a the best means
! of getting rid OF these difficulties. While
there may be some little difficulties in the
bill. l trust. however. We shall not forget. in
| our attempts to right these little difficulties.
that the bill Il, Il whole is the best that has
ever been presented. perhaps. before Il l.egls-
lature of the people of this State As one of the
members of tho committee have had some
little objections to the bill. hu; they ar: as
nothing compared with the great objects
that are to be obtained by it. l think the
best thing We can do us Legislature is to
pass this bill. 1t is a matter of very little
Importance to NE who has the appointing
power. but it is II matter of paramount I'M
pOrtance to every man who is the friend of
education that we should have schools and
that we should stop our sHuabbling and not
place our schools in jeopardy bv our minor
differences. ! believe this bill will give us
schools. You will find by and by that this
bill makes ii imperative that schools shall
be established. That il its grandcst tea,
ture, and We MAY have something vet be
fore the House still more imperative. These
gentlemen opposed TO education when this
bill is passed can oppose it. but their
opposition will be like the blowing OF the
winds. Schools we must have. and schools
wa will have. The Republican party is
pledged to it. and We will live up t" our
pledges. and | am perfectly satisfied tina,
the greater portion of the Democratic party.
like my friend from Caddo \Mr. Moncure,.
will raise their voices i'll favor of "a good
system of education. and | trust We will
have but little trouble. when We come to
take a v0t: upon this question. | believe
to pass this bill is the best thing we can do.
aud call upon every friend of education.
every colored man. I" support his race. and
say that they shall have riucaton and we
will say today that the whit" children shall!
also have their sll,r" of this education.
Gcntlemrn. the issue i, bctor. Us.
and We NAV n. we'll meet i. now
as at any other time. Our constituents. de
mand education FOR their children. and they
shall have II: and no man or 81; OF men
shall now hinder lis in This work No use
putting il OF: no ,.-c !ilibu>tcrin. about il.
We Will stand upon the educational bill.
until every child in this State shall have the
opportunity t" enjoy the God-given privilege
Of cultivat!ng their brains and preparing
themselves FOR future usefulness and respect
ability. in whatever vocation they may
choose to follow.
Mr.. Bentley. of 81. Mary: Mr. Speaker.
have one thin. To say i'll explanation and
think even III" gentleman from Caddo
iMr. Moncur.. himself will he salts
tied. | WAS glad TO have him an
nouncc upon this floor that he was the
friend "t education. He SAYS he
simply wants system tina. will be practical
bic. This section WAS put i'll tor that very
purpose. Iii TO remedy one of the great
est defects in the old law. The old law pro-
vidcd for too many school officials and too
much machinery. and the difficulty was yon
could not find active and skilled men 10 fill
the positions that We're provided for. BY
reducing the number of positions necessary
t" carry on the work. and concentrating
the work. ". accomplish Two tllings-wc
concentrate the responsibility and we are
not compelled TO appoint incompetent men
to take charge of them. Now. the gentle
man has been answered As to why the State
Superintendent comes here. and he has been
partly answered As to the State Board of
Education. II the State Superintendent
fails to 90 his duty. this Hons. can
impcach him. The State Superintendent APP
points the division superintendent. These
division superlntendcntS are subject to
confirmation by the Senate. and it is impos- /
siblc bad men should he appointed. unless
the Senate is a bad body of men. This pro-
vision wishes to do away with the appoint
ing Of schoo! directors for little municipali-
ties. providing great army of school oii.
GERS who are ottcntimes in conflict with and
not in accord with the State Superintendent.
l VIII state another reason. In my own
parish we have eighteen free schools and in
that parish there Is one ward which is con
'rollei by men of the political status of the
gentleman from CaddO .Mr. MoncureJ and
that is the only ward We hav. u" school in
object to parish officers having anythin.
TO do with the schools. They don't build
even our roads. and why should thew be
trusted with further authority about the
schools. The schools are OF more importance
than the roads. The division superintend-
cnts know the people in the different local.
ties. and i'll many instances appoint men
irrespective of party.
l hope there will be- II" objection to thi.
section.
Mr.. II. Lott. of Rapidcs: A tho subject
has been pretty well ventilated. and Il. we
understand pretty well tho views of the
Democratic members upon this floor who
are opposed to the education of colorcd
children. as they always have been. and
the Republicans are determined TO put this
matter through. !. therefore, move to lay
that amendment on the table.
Mr.. Stevens. of Jackson: l arise to a
privileged question The gentleman states
am opposed to the education of cOlored
children. ] am here to d" my duty for the
best interest of the State.
Cries OF "Question."l
Mr.; IL. Lott: ask that the Speaker take