The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-30


The President then addressed the meeting.
He said
We have assembled here to take into con-
sideration question the Importance OF which
we can not over estimate. The management OF
any political issue. 1t is one that underlies all
others, and one in which every man here has the
most vital interests involved. Your children, the
very dearest to all, involved, and their educa-
ton is directly at issue.
All classes alike have sought to enjoy the bene-
fits of our present school system, and the reason
Of our meeting tonight is to protest against the
corruption OF our schools and the destruction of
that which is guaranteed by law. This question
is paramount to all others. 1t is not one which
will die away, but the effects will be remembered
as long as memory lasts unless some change is
effected. Heretofore the Public Schools have
been considered as being the very best IN this
country, but now We see an endeavor to crush
them.
These schools should be conducted in such a
manner that all children no matter OF what color,
should receive an education such as the State de-
sires to give to all. There is no disposition to
make any difference in the races, but what is es-
pecially desired is that they should be so con-
Quoted that all should receive the benefits.
The reason Of the meeting tonight is that
there should be some public demonstration indi-
cative Of the condition Of feeling in this commu-
nifty. [Applause]..
now nave tu6 pltdSuT0 VI luIO uClA9 w yUu
the Hon. J. H. Kennard, who will ADDRESS this
gathering on the questions before us.
Speech of Judge Kennard.
FeQo,o- Citizens Of all Parties-When it shall be
known, as it will be tomorrow, throughout the
length and breadth Of this land, thai on this
29th Of September, 1875, in the city OF New Or
leans, when there was not Immediately pending
any election, this vast assemblage has met, the
question which will be asked by the people on all
III Lck Ln,x lx,nn
strange thing must have happened. Why is it
that the merchant, the banker, the broker, the
minister, the doctor, the lawyer. the busy man
Of every calling, has thus laid aside his duties
to assemble at such time :? We, fellow-citi-
zens, are here to make answer to that question.
We are here to tell, not simply the people Of
this city, not simply the people OF this State but
the people OF the whole United States, that a
small cabal Of men, deriving their authority
from an illegal government, to which we have
by Federal bayonets [applausel, are arrogating
to themselves an authority which no law, hu,
man or divine, can sanction. We are here to tell
them in plain words exactly what the grievances
of the people are. And lest ! weary you,
must contine myself to dry facts and dry law, be-
cause l want to give you that which you can
carry home with you, and which, when written
down, as it will be, can be plucked out OF the
page.
ment Of Kellogg, [applause]. As violating what!
As violating the Constitution of the United States
as violating the Civil Rights bill; as violating the
Constitution Of this state, and as violating every
law that has been passed, even by their own RAD
ical Legislature. (Applausel. ! propose to dis
cuss this question in the cold light OF law of rea
son, of right, that has been established in this
country from the year 1776 and which has been
recognized under the most despotic governments
since there has been such thing as legal COM
munities.
Lest I may do injustice, i have here the rea-
sons assigned by this School Board for the action
which they have taken. Unfortunately for them,
fortunately for US, they had at their head a
would-be Senator OF the United States, who was
so much absorbed while in Washington for the
last two or three winters, in listening to the ar
guments Of Mr.. Morton in favor OF giving him
his seat, that he seems to have neglected the
legislation which was passed by Congress. This
man boldly in the School Board, assigned the
reasons for this action. Those propose to read
and make my comments upon. Speaking of the
promotion to the Boys high School of the man
Edmunds, he says:
"After being thoroughly convinced of his
competency to qualifications and fitness,
owing to his high personal character and integ-
rity, and with no intention to create sensa-
ton, but believing that it would furnish an ex-
cel,ent opportunity to test the sincerity of the
Southern people in their oft-repeated assertions
from the pulpit, the ros,rum and through the
press. that they accepted the civil and political
equality of all men before the law. they agreed
| to, and did vote his election. which was unani
NOUS"
| He proposed it because, in his own words, it
was fitting opportunity to make the test. A
| test of what? A test Of how much the white
| man would endure. [Applause This he fol-
lows by quotation from the Constitution of the
United States, and reference to the Civil Rights
bill. Now, 1 would weary you to read the extracts
which have prepared from the decisions of the
Supreme Court Of the United States, with refer
ence to this amendment to the Constitution which
| he quotes, and from the opinion OF the highes
| Judge who has ever passed upon the Civil bighti
bill. will confne myself to stating what ha'
been decided on this question. l said that Mr.
Pinchback was too much engaged with Mr.. Nor
ton to keep up with Congress, and l propose to
prove it.
| The Civil Rights bill, as you know, exercised
Congress more than any measure that was intro
duced there during the last session: After weeks
of angry debate, after the marshaling OF all the
forces OF their party, they were compelled, befor
that bill was submitted to the House for vote
to strike out the school clause. Applause.
Now, for the Constitution of the United States
They did pass a civil rights bill, leaving tn