The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-16
AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT.
To the Editor of the Democrat:

| To the Editor of the Democrat:
| A publication ofmy protest" to which you
| refer, would be simple and conclusive an
swer to what you 50 inaptly term my Boom
erang' There is no disparaging allusion
therein to Prof. Fay, or to any other eandi-
date for the State Superintendency, but an
appeal to the sovereign people to do that JUS
tice to them all, which the Baton Rouge con-
yention failed to do, not from q want Of integ-
rity, but from desire to adjourn, In haste
The undersigned, as State officer, could
not neglect his official duties and visit Baton
Rouge to solicit the votes Of delegates In per-
son. He preferred the plan of addressing the
gentlemen In a circular letter, from perusal
of which they could learn his Views and prop
erly appreciate the public necessity which
made it his duty mot his choicel to become
candidate for reelection. This course was
adopted from profound respect for the intelli-
gence OF the citizens constituting that con-
vention and from belief that, on so fmpor-
tant an office as State Superintendent of Pub
lie Education they would act deliberately and
dispassionately, and that to the cause Of pop
uaar aa education, represented by such a State
sideration as had been shown to other repre-
sentatives of the civil service Of the State.
The protest which it has been my duty to
make, ls based on the record OF proceedings
ceedtngs show that the convention solemnly
and wisely adopted the rule that no candidate
should be deemed o nominee unless he re-
ceived full majority of all the votes In the
convention. This rule was faithfully observed
In the nominations for Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Secretary Of State, Auditor, and
Attorney General; and when the votes for
State superintendent were announced, the
chair properly held that 1T votes (the num-
ber. announced for Prof. Fay were not the
fore, there was no choice. The subsequent
vote by accamation for a minority candidate
was allowed by the Chair, in violation Of the
rules OF order OF deliberative assemblies; and
1t did not and could not show conclusively
that q majority OF the authorized delegates
voted for Prof. Fay; for neither the president
nor the secretary Of the convention could dis
tinguish the number OF voices shouting, nor
identify them all as legitimate representa-
tives of the people OF the State.
The undersigned is offering nofactious or
selfish opposition to any of the nominees OF
the Baton Rouge convention. He simply
urges the people to correct the error OF judg-
ment and consequent act OF injustice COM
that body; and he may with propriety also
urge you, Mr.. Editor, to counsel this correc-
tion In Difference to the wishes OF a full ma
iority of the delegates thereto, for he has
been assured by persons acquainted with the
views Of the delegates, that on the second
ballot, which should have been allowed, he
would have received the nomination by at
least two hundred and forty votes. Permit
him to add that such avote would have only
confirmed the expressed desires OF the most
boards of school directors In the
State.
Facts Of this kind, and strong desire to
prevent the destruction of the only ten
months free public schools possible in rural
Louisiana, have made it the duty OF
the undersigned candidate, in particu-
lar, to protest against the fndorse