The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-27
THE HIGH SCHOOL QUESTION.
As PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNOR
YESTERDAY by A DELEGATION
OF COLORED MEN.

OF COLORED MEN.
They Howl for constitutional Rig hts, :
ana Get some Plain Talk and
Healthy Advice.
Quite large delegation, some twenty-five o.
thirty In all, of the better Glass Of oolored men
the city, including several Of the wealthy Creoles
visited the State House yesterday for the pur
pose Of obtaining an expression of the views o
Gov. Nichols upon the report recently made b,
4 committee Of the city School Board recon
mending an
ABOLITION OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
The Governor. being engaged with another
committee at the time, was compelled to kee,
the delegates in waiting few moments, but soof
appeared and invited the delegation into til,
Office Of the Lieutenant Governor, in the rear
ence for over an hour.
The spokesman of the delegation. addressing
the Governor, remarked that he trusted his Elk
celency appreciated their situation in the matte,
OF the abolition OF the schools, claiming that the
object desired was the establishment of separate
| schools for the races, and casually mentioned
that IL such measure were carried through II
would be in spirit and in fact q
VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION,
but 1t would be also violation Of the pledges
made by the Governor. They had called, he
said, before the measure had been finally passed,
in order that the Governor might do them JUS
tice and that they might not suffer.
The Governor replied that he had not thought
much about the matter, but IL seemed to him to
be subject which belonged exclusively to the
jurisdiction Of the parish or city boards; that
1t was entirely beyond his control or duties, and
II It were rs clsimed, violation of the constiu-
ton, the courts were open to redress any wrongs.
He thought, as far as the matter OF authority was
concerned, that the city board had the authority,
but whether 1t was right or not be would not
pretend to say.
The spokesman argued that the constitution
said that the schools should be opened to all
children. without distinction as to race or color
He knew the present 'flaw" of the School
Board to be unconstitutional, and intimated that
the executive would "suffsr" were it carried out.
The Governor insisted that the courts were
open for the consideration of constitutional
questions, and thought that 1t had not come to
that point yet. He said, however. that they had
better wait and see what was going to be done,
and IL the
DIVISION WAS MADE
the best way would be to wait until the schools
had been opened, and then when one Of their
children was refused admission they could lay
the case before the courts For his part he could
not say that he saw any violation Of right in the
matter, though II their position and the ground
they took was the true one their remedy was In
the courts.
Another delegate Thought it was powerful
question, and they should take such steps SO
would prevent its being carried out, and init
mated that it might resolve itself into political
question. Before they began to agtate that
question, he said, they had come to the Governor
TO get his moral support. They knew he had
not the power TO prevent the adoption Of the
measure, but asked his influence to prevent the
division, which would place their children in
AN INFERIOR POSITION.
The Governor replied that he understood, even
with the new measure, that they were to have
equal facilities for education In every respect;
they would have just as good buildings for their
schools, just as good desks, equally capable
teachers, the same class Of books, and, in fact,
their facilities would be In no manner whatever
inferior to those Of the schools attended by white
children exclusively.
Another delegate spoke up quickly, claiming
that such division would be an
INSULT TO THEIR RACE,
that the constitution and statutory laws gave
them equal rights in all public schools, and the
doors could not be closed against them.
The Governor thought that even now they had
every facility enjoyed by the whites, and re-
even had exclusive rights, as no white children
attended the schools.
Antoine, the ex-Lieutenant Of Kellogg and
candidate for the Shreveport postoftice, who was
a delegate or member of the committee, thought
that was the fault of the whites alone, rs they
did not attempt to send their children to such
schools. He then
RANTED AROUND
about The equality Of the races, citing as an illus
tration the HiltOn-Seigman sensation, and
thought that the constitution meant that there
should be more aniiation between the races, and
by continuing the mixed school system it would
bring about better feeling by throwing the white
and colored children together.
The Governor thought the great object was to
have education general, and remarked that they
had better let such questions alone and they
would settle themselves.
Another committeeman wanted an expression
from the Governor Of his ideas OF the constitu-
tional rights Of the colored race under the law,
and threatened that il would
BE A FIREBBAND
il the programme was carried out as contem-
plated by Archibald Mitchell.
The Governor replied that he did not think the
question Of their constitutional rights was in
volved; if he did he would take different view
Of the matter, and If their constitutional rights
would be affected by the division the measure
would fail to carry out the very object for which
it was passed. Should the question be raised
legally in the courts, and should il be decided as
q violation of the constitutional rights of their
race, he as the executive, would bring the whole
power Of the government to bear to enforce the
laws and the decisions of the courts.
The interview lasted for some time, nearly all
Of the committee having something to say, but
all their arguments failed to make the Governor
deviate from the stand he had taken, and they
finally withdrew.
1t is contemplated, as q prominent member of
the committee stated to our reporter, to call a
mass meeting of colored citizens to take action in
the matter, and they may also take legal steps.
They will also send a committee to attend the
next meeting of the City School Board.
& WITH PROTEST
against the abolition of the high school, or any
division of the schools.
When the mass meeting is held fifty or sixty