New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-17
McDONOGHTHE PHILANTHR0PIsT
Millions Of Dollars Accumulated Tor
the Cause Of Education.
TIE NOBLE CHARITY PLUN0ERED
4 Dead Mans Gifts squandered, and
Poor Children Robbed OF an
Education.

eccentricities been narrated. II becomes
our province to give. it possible, clearer
insight into bis character, the magnificent:
fortune he amassed, the noble objects to
which he applied the results OF his many
years Of toll and saving. and the wicked
manner in which his wishes were disre-
sarded by the living. and how those whom
he kindly helped to furnish with intellectual,
moral and religious culture. were denied
tna: benefit through the dishonesty and
rapacity of those who came to have the
management of the immense estates, long
before the advent of carpet-bagsers into
the lovely land OF Louisiana.
john McDonogh lived life OF extreme
frugality, and the people around him called
him miser. He was careful and exactin2,
and he was called hard-hearted and cruel.
His tastes led him to lead life not in keep
ing with the customs Of the age in which
he lived, and the society he discarded re-
paid him with obloquy and with hatred.
Not till that memorable morning, the
twenty-eighth of October, 1850, when Judge
Buchanan opened and read the will, before
a crowd of breathless listeners. in
the Fifth District Court. did the
community really comprehend how much
good the despised old man was planning to
bestow upon the people among whom he
moved, and their children and their chill
dren's children forever.
John McDonogh breathed his life away
about halfp two O'Clock, on Saturday,
the twenty-six day OF Octaber, 1850. at
his home in the little town of McDonogh,
on the other side of the river and about a
mile above Algiers. The next day, with
mesgre ceremonies, his body was inferred
in the midst of little group of graves of
his former servants and slaves. on his plan
tation, about half mile in the rear of his
dwelling house. A few of his trusted friends
were there-James H. Leveridge, j. B.
Watkins, Mayor A. D. Crossman, who have
since Joined him on the other side Of the
eternal river, and General Maurice Griyot.
Mr. Roselius and Mr.. Spear. who are yet
among the living. His old slaves. made
free in his will. gathered around the re-
mains OF their benefactor in stronger force.
It seemed as though, they with their strong
religious natures and intuirvie sympathies
stood closer to the heart of the worn-out
old man than any Of tho white men pres
ens and from them came the pathetic out
burst. Of grief and sorrow that mourned
the death Of friend, teacher and asso.
ciate. as the cod ratified down upon the
cOtfia.
When .he next day it was announced
the will was to be opened and read, the
courtroom wa. crowded. The document
was found - be dated December %, 1888.
After bequeathing to the children OF his
widowed sister. living in Baltimore, some
ten acres of land, which he became pos.
sessed of in 1919, and TO his sister the sum
$1,000. and providing TO: the immediate or
future freedom and necessities of his slaves.
his will gees on to state:
l give, will and bequeath all the rest,
residue and remainder OF my esta te, real
and personal, present and future. as well
that which is now mine as that which may
be acquired by me hereafter. at any time
previous to my death, and OF which l may
die possessed of whatsoever nature it may
be and wheresOever situated Subject to the
payment OF the several annuities or sums Of
money hereinafter divested and set forth,
which said annuities or sums of money are
to be paid by the devisees of this my gen
eral estate out of the rents of said estate).
unto the Mayor, Aldermen and inhabitants
OF New Orleans lmy adopted city,, IN the
State of Louisiana. and the Mayor, Alder
men and inhabitants Of Baltimore (my
native city,. in the State of Maryland, ard
their successors lin equal proportions OF
one half to each of said cities OF New Or
leans and Daltimore) forever. To and for
the several intents and purposes herein
after mentioned, declared and set forth,
concerning the same, and especially for
the establishment and support of free
schools in said cities and their respective
suburbs (including the town of McDonogh,
as q suburb of New Orleansj wherein the
poor land the poor Only) OF both sexes
of all classes and castes of color shall have
adnlitance, free of expense, for the purpose
of being instructed in the knowledge OF the
Lord, and in reading. writing, arithmetic,
history. geography. etc. under such regula,
tons as the commissioners ito be appointed
as hereinafter directed) Of said schools
shall establish: always understood and
provided, however. that the holy Elble OF
the Old and new Testament shall be at all
times and forever made use OF IN
these shcools as one land the prin-
cipal one, of the reading or class
books, which shall be used BY the pupils
therein as the first object Of every school,
and OF all teaching OF the youth OF our
country should be to implant in their minds
a knowledge of their duty to God, and the
relation of men to their divine Creator: and
that sin ging classes shall be established
and forever supported, and singing taught
as regular branch of education in said
schools. by which means every pupil will
acquire the rudiments OF the art and oh.
tain knowledge in singing sacred music.
The will next provides that no part of his
estate shall be sold. but the came shall be
leased from time to time for period not
exceeding twenty-five years at any one
time The whole of the estate is to become
a permanent. fund, no part of which should
ever be touched. divided, sold or alienated.
The net amount of rents which shall be
collected TO be divided equally between the
two cities of Baltimore and New Orleans,
after paying four annuities, which are set
forth, an amount not exceeding $25,00O
year for the term of forty years. to the
American Colonization Society, an amount
not to exceed, in all, 100000 tor the erec-
ton of IAN asylum for the poor OF both sexes
and of all ages and castes of color, where they
may be sheltered, clothed, fed and taken care
Of, made useful according to their respective
degrees of health, strength and capacity,
and mendicity thereby banished from the
streets Of the city and its suburbs. inciud-
ing the town of McDonogh;" an amount not
to exceed $400, 900 in all, in aid Of the $50
ciety for the Relief of Destitute Orphan
Boys" an annuity for the establishment of