St. Mary's beacon., 1854-05-04
.iIirEw ORLEANS N 1905.

We have rarely encountered, more
Interesting and graphic article than one
Y ia the last number Of Blackwood's Maga-
Lime, reviewing book entitled FIT v
Years IN Both sHemispheres, or Remih-
iscences of a Merchants Life"
- The work is from the pen OF a German
named Vincent Nolte, now nearly eighty
years of age, who spent his life in Sc
iries of the most exciting scenes which
could possibly. occur to person who
pretended TO follow the usually quiet
walks Of commercial life. The events of
which. he speaks extend over period Of
mere than fifty years, embracing many
of the. most important occurrences in
Europe and America from 1886 to 1850.
Mr.. Noltc hal come to this country az
The agent OF one Of the largest mercantile
establishments Of Europe, and his duties
compelled him 10 take up bis quarters at
New Orleans, then in its infancy as
commercial CITY. and in the worst possi-
bic repute, having recently. with Louis
lana, been sold 10 the United States. II
had a population ofSabout 10000, three
'tifthS OF whom were French by birth or
extraction. The character its citizens
then enioyed I'm the Northern states may
.beliudged oflby an anecdote told by Mr..
Nolte 10 the following effect: A friend OF
his, who had just formed an establish
ment at New Orleans, finding himself at
Boston. and seeing vessel advertised to
sail thence for the former city, called
upon the owner and asked him to consign
the ship TO his house. ,Whereupon the
owner told him in strict confidence that
he had Just as much intention Of sending
his ship In the Moon as to New Orleans,
1ment merely in the expectation that
amongst the persons applying for a pass
age ne should find rascal who had de-
fsauded one Of his friends of a considera-
bic sum. eft is probable. ne added,
"that he viii Try to get to New Orleans.
that being the natural rendezvous OF all
rogues and scoundrels."
--- Accordingto Mar. Nolte, not cne of the
eighteen or twenty commercial houses
existing at New Orleans, when he first
went there, possessed capital worth the
naming, and a respectable character was
nearly as grest rarity as ready CASH
Razuery, disguised under the polite name
of "cleverness," was commonly practic-
ed indulgcntlg viewed. Juries. and au-
thorities were corrupt, false witnesses
easily purchased, and justice was hard to
obtain. In illustration of this state of
things, Mr.. Nolte tells some curious sto-
ries, one in particular, in which the cell
ebrated American jurist, Edward Liv-
inoston, figures. "Iwell remember, y he
SAYS, /" the remarkable trial of a certain
Beleurgey, the editor of one Of the first
American newspapers which appeared in
New Orleans, IN 1905 and 1907, in
French and English, under the name of
lie Telegraphe. To obtain money he had
forged the signature Of 4 rich planter, to
whom, when his crime was discoveG; he
wrote, confessing his guilt, and earnestly
entreatIng him not to prosecute him. The
planter seemed disposed to accede to bis
prayer, but the letter was already in the
hands ofjuslice. How then did Livings-
ton contrive, as Beleurgey's counsel and
defender, to obtain his acquittal in spite
ofthis dannning proof of his guilts Da-
,vsxac {Eivingston's brother-in-law and
Ifactotum) brought forward Witnesses who
swore that they knew Beleurgy tob such
: ALTAR that no word of truth had ever is
sdea from his lips See here, then said
Iixingston to bis French jury, ..it is
psoEed that the man Is incapable Of speak
Inc the truth; the very confession is a lie,
for none but madman would accuse
himself. So thai BeIeurgey either has
lied or is out Of his senses; in either case
he, knew not what he did, and cannot be
foaHd guilty! And the jury acquitted
him."
New Orleans was evidently not q
tempting place TO settle in, for an honest
man. with money to be robbed q; but
thea with conduct and Judgment there
was money to be made. and moreover
Mr.. Nolte. as mere agent for others,
had no choice but to abide there. Pre-
sently The arrival in quick succession OF
three fast sailing vessels from Vera Cruz,
bringing hall . million Of Mexican dol