The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-04
no separate schools or institutions Of learning
established exclusively for any race by the state
4

estkDisueu e1cAuslVeiy iOr any race W tne ntass
OF Louisiana"
All the public schools here are established b,
the State OF Louisiana-Ths Legislature could
not establish separate schools or institutions ol
learning exclusively for any race, and oan IL be
possible for q school board 10 do IL? Gan the
legislative creature become more potent than th q
I'ower which creates It's creator, the Legisla
ture2
But again, we extract from the constitution:
| mo municipal corporation shall make any rules
or regulations contrary TO the spirit and inten-
ton OF article 1876, just quoted tSee article 1876
OF the ooDstituti tion.)
Your board comedies that appropriation has
been made for the support OF the schools your
committee would separate on account OF race and
color, and 1t therefore admits that they are the
public schools contemplated and provided for in
aud by articles 1856 and 1876 Of the State 6onsiit-
ton. Article 14O Of the constitution OF Louissn
| provides that "No appropriation shall be made
by the General Assembly for the support of any
school or any private institution OF learning what
ever. Now If the schools yonr report treats of are
public, your board is powerless to separate them
on account of race or color, Whatever may
be the consequence to public education
| as set forth in your committes's report; and il
they be private schools, the board cannot use the
school fund for their support. Such are the con-
sti utiopal requirements The So 1ool Board is the
offspring, ii it be Legitimate Of the constitution,
and 1t cannot, II it would. abnegate It's duties
under the authority OF thst Instrument. 1t swears
to support 1t. Here is the OATH Let every hon
est citizen read it, and see If ii leaves room In
| the conscience OF any officer who takes and sub
soribes II, for distinction OF races ON any &C
count, whether it be the deterioration OF public
edhcation,' or other pretext or consideration.
Every member OF your board, and officer OF
this State government, has taken this oath pre-
soribed by article 80 OF the state oonstiteton: II
do selemnly Tor affirm that acctpt the civil and
political equality OF all men, and agree not to st
tempt TO deprive any person or persons, on &C.
count OF race. color or previous condition OF any
| n01ikcp1 nj civil riuht rt1uitv
joyed by any oher class OF meni That will
support the constitution and laws Of the United
States, and the constitution and laws OF this
State and that will faithfully and impartisly
discharge and perform all the duties incumbent
on me as ------, asoording TO the best OF
my ability or understanding. 10 help me God"
| Constitutionslly, then, whaever sentiment may
dictate or zeal influence your board, you will
readily perceive that your contemplated action
will be IN violation Of law. Sentiments as to the
effect OF the common school system now in vogue
and In duration in our State for the past nine
years are not, gentlemen, with due respect both
for your duties as school directors and your posi-
| tion as public servants, what either the law or
constitution exact of you in your official acts.
Whether all that you urge In pies Oh your
proposed step be in any sense correct, we, your
| petitioners, will not now discuss. Our duty. both
rs your fellow citizens aud eonstii usnts, and OF
the class against whom you have been at pains
to express this wrongful in ent s, firmly and re-
spectfully, In the full dignity OF American citi-
zens, to protest; and In the name and behalf OF
that unity and exalted purpose which should in-
tion.
DR.. Fayerwes.her, after the readipg OF the
resolution. said:
Mr.. Preside,,t-I regret exceedingly that 80
serious = subject has arisen at this ti1ns for our
consideration and discussion, On the eve Of a
general election OF teachers, and having worked
harmonionsly and trustingly together with
unity OF purpose, with interests in common, and
those interests the advancement Of educational
work for the general good, IL seems pity that
we should be abruptly brought TO meet this
vsxed question. The surprise that aw 4itsd us at
the last meeting in the "High School Commit
tees report, instead OF abating, has rather iuten
siied, rs we have become more acquainted wish
it's nature.
When, at the solicitation OF an earnest and
influential number Of gentlemen, l consented to
become member Of this board, IL was after ma
duties and responsibilities. The assurances and
pledges OF our worthy Governor, off reiterated,
hsd left me nothing TO fear regarding the rights
OF our race. The oath Of Office, administered
and taken in good faith, was conclusive evidence
to mo that we were actuated by the best Of mo-
tives, and logical deduction necessarily re-
suited. viz: That colored men, having b sen cor
daily extended an invitation to become members
OF this board. and no disposition manifested
thus far to set them aside or treat them other
than as equals. what reason had we to suppose
that the children we're better than their parents ~
NOV, gentlemen, we solemLly swors to accept
the civil and political equality OF all men, and
agreed not to .ttempt TO deprive any person or
persons OF their rights, and to support the con-
stltuion and laws Of the State thev are, not o.
we desired them to be- 30 help US God.
Article 1856 OF the constitution reads All chill
dren OF the State, between certhin ages shall be
admitted to the public schools, or otner institu-
tions OF learning, in common. There shall be no
separate schools or Institutions OF learning es-
tabiished exclusively for any race by the State of
Louisiana,
With this light before us. are We expected to
forswear or stultify ourselves? Gan we admit |
by any action OF ours. and without sacrifice Of
self.respect and manhood, that we are not ALI |
peers? That the report is able and great ability |
expressed therein, we wculd not deny; but are |
forced to say, unhesitatingy, that on the eve of |
sleep Of security, go far as the thoughts Of our
rights being jsopardzed were concerned, the toe |
sin OF alarm has been sounded, and We cannot di- |
vest Ourselves OF the belief that the aim at the |
high schools s a fatal blow to us. for we are |
slow TO believe that New Orleans, the
Queen City OF the South, with it's magnitude and |
numbers, it's wealth and intelligence, il willing
10 proclaim to the world itsinability to retain and
sustain three high schools; that in this enight-
ened and progressive age, when the public-spr-
tied citizens in every community, North, East
and West, are bending every energy to perfect |
their systems OF education, and are pointing
with heartfelt pride and interest to their architec-
OIL VI iohFulHS3 We bhTry even On the
knowledge is power; the possession
,f it makes the maD, the want Of it the fellow
In the report" mention is made Of cities that
maintain separate schools. I venture to say that
heir constitutions read different from ours,
Ind would state that 1 attended schools
both in Connecticut and Rhode Island and ex.
oerisnced no difficulty On account of complexion.
iod is no respscter of persons. 1t further states
hat nne-tenths OF the coiored people warmly
approve it. My observation and experience ia
hat seven-tenths Of the entire community had
'ather this question had not been broached at
I'll. My opinion is it would settle Itself; for,
gentlemen, you are aware that under Repub-
ican administration and school board there was
Manifested no disposition to indscriminately mix
he schools, nor would there be. In converse
ion with great number Of persons, mostly OF the
business community, as well as able teachers
where the schools mixed comparatively, as
his school board is mixed. they one and all
ament the agitation Of this subject.
And why might not ths colored members OF
his board, on the same ground and for the ,
anne reason. demand separate board OF educa-
ion, demand that no white teachers shall teach