New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-20
sELr-INTEREsT AND LAW.

sELF-INTEREST AND LAW.
The recent decision of Mr.. Justice Mil
Ter. in the case of Cannon VS.. the city o
| New Orleans, furnishes q remarkable ex
ample of regard for self-interest being IN
forced by law. The clause of the consti
tuition referred TO in the decision, particu
larly in its application TO the case at bar
may be likened ito the canon 'gainst self
slaughter"
That a great commercial city like New
Orleans should impose an arbitrary and
onerous tax upon the vessels plying the
water courses of the State, and bringing to
market all manner of produce, must ap
pear astonishing; but perusal Of the fol-
lowing facts will cause the sensible reade,
TO marvel not SO much at the stupidity
that originated such q tax. but at the
apathy with which our business men have
segarded its collection.
There are two steamers in the Vicks.
burg trade that brought to this port dur
ing the past week nearly 10000 bales
of cotton. For the privilege of landing
and discharging their cargoes each steamer
is taxed $50 per trip. involving an annual
expenditure of nearly $4,000. Is it not
manifest that, in order to compensate
themselves in some measure for this out
lay of capital, the owners of the boats
should maintain commensurate tariff of
freight? This, of course, throws q share of
the tax on the planting interests. As the
interests Of the merchants, factors. traders
and dealers are thoroughly identified with
those of the producers, it also follows
this community suffers by this tax. And
what has been given to the people of this
city and State in return for the immense
sums that have been collected2 Only
broken and dilapidated wharves, INSULT
Gent landing room. and muddy, Doggy
discharging grounds-levee and wharves
being in such condition that freight is
often damaged and the boats made to pay
therefor. To protect himself the steamboat
owner introduces into the bill Of lading
clauses of exceptions. This item, too, in
the cost of our worthless whar YES, is thus
paid by the plaptey.
In the few cases, where any repairing at
all has been done to the wharves, bonds
have been issued to those who have done
the work, and an unjust burden is thus en-
tailed upon the rising generation.
It is matter Of regret that the law. which
prevents commercial city from taxing
the tonnage that brings to it the produce
of the country, is not supplemented by a
law compelling such city to blu lid and
maintain suitable wharves.
Reviewing all these facts, the people of
New Orleans must acknowledge that it is
we'll for them that the law of the land
forces them to take some care Of them
selves.
THE SCHOOLS.
The president of the Board OF Public
School Directors and the Superintendent
have taken the only wise step possible in the
present emergency-that, namely. of tenn
porarily closing the schools. It now be-
comes the duty of the board to adopt such
measures during the recess as shall en-
able the schools to reopen iE the begin
ming of the year with ample provision for
The separate and equal instruction of the
colored children in every depa rtment,
from the primary to the high schools. ]
This, under the present constitutio n and
laws of the State, can be done only by
tacit understanding; one of the high
schools in locality where the colored
portion of the population preponderate
being by agreement devoted to colored
pupils. and similar arrangements regu-
ating the distribution of the grammar
md primary schools. This will greatly !
increase the expenses of che sch DOL de- |
as we'll as mountaineering the !
pupils Of either color who live at dis
ance from the schoolhouses. Like all other
matters accomplished by indirection, it will !
doubtless be attended by many other
difficulties and annoyances; but the indul-
,ence Of prejudice like that Of all other
uxuries necessarily entails increased
expense. Those who dance must pay
he fiddler. One thing is certain. law and
ustice alike demand that the colored chill.
lren of our community shall receive just
IS good an education as the State affords
o children not colored; that the teacher
hosen to instruct them shall be to the full
s competent and as cultivated as those
Who preside over the white schools; the
buildings, furniture and general appur-
enances shall likewise be equally good.
Under these circumstances we think the
olored pupils will prefer separate schools
b attending mixed schools where they
,ould be made to suffer that most sting
ng of wrongs contumely of their
The present outbreak against mixed
chools, which have been in peaceful
peration in many parts of the city for
early two years, is undoubtedly reac-
on against the excessive prominence
iven to the colored population during the
asst few years; a reaction aided, in a great
leasure, if not wholly produced by the
,cent Democratic victories all over the
ountry. Like reactions in general itmay