The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-05-03
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Il WASHINGTON, D.sC., April ~, III
ED1roH CHEF: Y y
I The Commissioner of Education is
receiving numerous applications from
the newly elected county superintend-
ents Of education in Tennessee, 70,
the reports and documents of the
Bureau. Under Gov. Brownlow's
administration there were $4,000
pupils enrolled in the public schools,
but educational interests were shame
fully neglected when tho State gov
eminent changed hands.
According to a resolution of the
Senate, the committee appointed by
virtue Of it, will meet in October next,
with q view of determining the best
method Of electing president and vice
president. 1t is thought that the COM
mittee will recommend the abolition
of the Electoral College, and will
suggest q substitute for it. There
certainly can be no reason now why
the president should not be elected
by the popular vote.
The National Academy of Sciences
is now holding its sixteenth annual
convention in this city. 1t numbers
among its membership many Of the
leading scientific men of the country,
OF which Professor Joseph Henry of
the Smithsonian Institute is president.
The Academy was Incorporated in
1868, its charter being granted upon
condition that whenever called upon
by any department of the govern
ment, itwould investigate and report
upon any subject of science or art,
without compensation. The actual
expense of said investigation to be
borne by the government. The ses-
sions thus far have been occupied in
very learned discussions of scientific
questions, with which the general
reader is only slightly acquainted,
and takes but little interest in. The
proceedings seem to delight the
learned men of science who listen
with rapt attention to essays on "The
need of more accurate investigations
and tables of the celestial motions j"
"The determination of singular points
Of curves and surfaces by the methods
Of Quaternious;" Determinations
Of longitude between Europe and
America J" "The Cincinnati anti
climal," etc. It will be noticed that
these subjects are not of every day
discussion, and Oh the principle that
a pebble thrown into lake will cause
a ripple on the entire surface, these
essays will no doubt influence the
public but to an inapprcciable extent.
We may never know to what source
to credit some Of our greatest bless
ings; but as, science has pushed on
the wheels Of progress, we hail with
pleasure the meeting of these scientists,
believing that their deliberations will
advance the people to a higher ciyili-
zation.
Poor 10 has been very we'll rep
resented here in Washington during
the last four years. SO wellrepresented
that on general occasions two or three
tribes have been represented at a time.
En- route to and fro from their hunt
ing grounds they have invariably been
kindly treated by our people. When
in Washington they are always well
coined by the President and heads of
the departments, especially by the
Secretary of the Interior and the In
dian Commissioner. Presents from the
government have been lavishly dis
tributed among them, and their wishes
i'll respect to the location of their
hunting ground have been usually
with. Yet after all that has
been done for them, their brutal
natures are continually cropping out.
A few peace men here of the Quaker
are still induced to believe
that there may turn up some reason
able excuse for the recent massacre.
Their sympathy for poor Lo suggests
The following:
[1o the poor Indian, with unprovided ration,
See s Grant at the White House--hears of him
at the station.
His soul proud science taught him how to
play,
With his gentle tomahawk, in an unreveng-
full way.
And through mighty forests, with stately
fstcalthy1 tread