New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-17

to the honor of God and the benefit of
generations yet unborn through all ages OF
the world.
And again:
If nv mind has been virfuously disposed
in life I am indebted for it, under the Most
High. to the education bestowed upon me
by virtuous and piOus parents (blessed be
their memory9 and especially to the care
they took in instructing me and having me
| instructed in music. At time when there
was no other teachers in the city Of Balti-
more but singing school for youth, held
at night. my beloved father would take his
sons and daughters by the hand and lead
| them there nightly, staying there with
! them, taking part in their singing and ex-
| ercises, and then would lead them home.
| That love for singing and music given me
| in my youth has been the delight and charm
| Of my existence throughout all its subse
quent periods notwithstanding, from the
| multitudlnous occupation, of my lite, have
| been able to give it but little of my time;
| still its love and charm pervaded my ex-
| istence and gilded my path to comparative
| happiness here, and. as l said above, led
| me, as / firmly believe, under the Most
High, to what little virtue have practiced.
With something akin to prophesy. the old
| man said:
| In the course OF my observations,
through long life, having seen almost
| every bequest or endowment; of the nature
| of those I have herein made, perverted,
| after certain lapse of time, from their
changed as to serve other and private ends.
lpiaced the whole Of it 1.-THE real estate]
i in one city and State and make another
| city and State equally interested in its
| preservation and correct management for
| the mutual benefit and security of both.
| trust the Most High will bless the intention
| and render it effectual.
| He makes feeling and pathetic request
| tha: his ashes. and those of his parents,
may be gathered together and placed in a
| tomb in Baltimore. That there might be
Of his will, he WAS buried in small grave
| yard near his last residence. where neglect
| and indifference have suffered the rank
vegetation, swamp water and decay almost
to obliterate all signs of its sacred char
| acter.
| Assooa as the will was admitted to pro.
| bate. commenced the struggle for the spOils.
Instead of trying to carry out the intent Of
the will, improve the property and devote
| its proceeds to the objects OF the bequest,
all parties devoted their energies to divert
| them. The very safeguards that McDonogh
threw. around the trust proved its ruin.
The two cities to be benefited desired to
| sell the lands and seize the money. The
| heirs attempted to set aside the will, and it
| required a decree of the United States
Supreme Court to quiet their claims. The
States of Louisiana and Maryland inter
vened. The African Coloniza ton Society
came into court and complicated matters.
From the day Of the testators death to 1855
the history of the fund is one of litigation.
| Enormous fees were paid to counsel, experts
to value the property and execu'
tors. Fortunes were made Of money
that was intended to benefit the poor. At
last the Supreme Court of the State
affirmed decision of the Fifth District
! Cour: that utterly annililated the will.
The provision that none of the property
should be sold was declared illegal. That
prohibiting the cooperative bodies Of the
cities from receiving any of the funds was
disregarded. The cities compromised. The
Otner ieSattcS were dWdrueu CtIldiu sums
and became content. The magnificent prop
| erty which, under John McDonOghs man
agement, had grow to be worth S3,0O00O0
was found to have deprecated. been frit-
tered away and abused until only $l.5oo,O00
| were left. This was divided between the
two cities. That portion which New Or
leans received was abused still more. On
paper it now amounts. after neraly twenty
years mismanagemen. to a beggarly pit
| tance The estate. which at the time Of
the death of Mr.. McDonogh. amounted TO
| $3000,0O0, and which should be worth
| $9,000O00 to-day, is represented by S3, 1000
| in real estate and $l67i Al cash. according
| to the statement made to the City Counci!
January 90. 1872.
The balance sheet indeed foo:s up
$l.li5, ,9O5 7s, which is $36. a, - more than
| the statement Of assets calls for. Real
estate to chat amount is on the balance
sheet, :,ut no scheduia Or mem Orandum
given: $3333,67! "A is all the estate is worth.
| outside OF overdue Dape. OF individuals.
| city bonds, etc.
This result is obtainel hy rearrange-
| ment Of the recapit ula.ion of assets:
| Real estate ................5 2,Hoe %
Cas!. ........................ 49,! 49, 2s'; II