The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-06-04
coI, n = BcYn,

his accounts with the new Board OF the
Louisiana State University and Agrlcui-
.tural College, and hence that it was Il
matter of just pride not only to his friends
but to the entire State with which hc IS
SO lonorably identified that the sever
ance Of his official connection with the
University was not accompanied by the
flintest imputatioa ON lis personal in
tcgrity.
Col D. I. Boyd has been connected
with the Louisiana State University from
its foundation at Alexandria to its re-
moval to Baton Rouge after fire had
destroyed its beautiful buildings in the
pine woods near Alexandria. He was
its head and life during the cventful re
construction period; and to his energy,
faithfulness and nnrivalled personal mag
netisll, the State owes the preservation
of the Seminary fund and its application
to the same policy and traditions that
governed it when Gen. Sherman organ
lied it and started it on its career.
1t is well known that some Of the ultra
men Of the radical school, during the
administration of Cows. Warmoth and
Kellogg, sought to make this mixed
institution, the effect of which would
have been, owing to race pr,judices, to
drive out the white boys and make it an
exclusively colored University. 10 pre-
vent this and to preserve this institution
for the benefit of the white race, Col.
Boyd made a struggle which, though in
Il small arena, is unsurpassed by any
thing in the civil history of our State.
He made his struggle almost single
handed, in the midst Of an epoch when
the rights and prejndiccs Of the colorcd
people were more regarded than the
wishes of the whites; and without I'M
dertaking here to express cur approval
or disapproval Of his policy, We have no
hesitation III saying that but for the tact
energy and the personal influence of Col
Boyd, colorcd cadets would have become
State beneticiaries and the whole Semi
! nary fund would have been practically
dedicated to the exclusive benefit Of the
colored people. Of course Col. Boyd
found help and assistance among the
conservative Republicans, including some
of the colored leaders, and it was in part
i'll grateful recollection of these services
that a powerful influence was success
| fully cxcrtcd upon the Constitutional
Convention of 1879, overwhelmingly
| white and Democratic as it was, to make
| theQibe:al provisions that it did to en-.
dow University exclusively fol
colorcd students. But the Convention
found little difficulty i'll adopting 4 pro
vision 50 fair to the colored people, for it
must be said, to tie credit Of the Demo
cratic party of this State, that it has, il
the matter of education, dealt fairly anG
literally with the colorcd people.
During his long connection with til,
University Col. Boyd has cndcarel him
self to almost all the boys Who have re-
ceived their education within its pre-
cincts. These boys have been daily wit
nesses of his earnest and unscltish tlcvo
ton to their real interest, and now
| grown to mans estate in nearly ever,
parish Of the State they testify by t}ei
good conduct, their honorable position
and their learning, to the beneficial in
i tluencc under which they were trained
TO all rules there are exceptions, bat tn
cases are rare and few where the youn!
men educated nnG,rr Col. Doyl7s direction
do not regard him with reyc.cnt atlec
ton and admiration
In our opinion formed from such fact
as have fallen under our observation, w
mold Col. Boyd to be the best educate
in the South, and regard his career 4
honorable to himself and Of vast hcncti
to the State. While we regret his scp;,
rat ,pu from, the University we have tn
kindcst wishes for the success of Co
only hope that his career may encountc
fewer difficulties ana accomplish is mnc
good as the administration Of Col. Boyl