Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-08-28

0' i" Afso Feass1 WHose eye scaENt
the course Of the Father of Waters. |
1878, gallant F'renchman, ty The nam
OF LAsALLE, started with small part
: OF French and Canadians, from til
4 French possessions in Canada, in scare
OF the Mississippi. Having found th
river, be followed its course until nea
ITS mouth, on bis Journey, he was. hop
ever, killed by one of his men, and th
prospects Of founding q French settle
ment On the banks of the Mississippi
died with the daring adyenturer. ChecI
ed In his career By the hand Of death
L4SALLE has the glory of having take
possession of the country be explored il
the name of the King of France, ant
giving it the name of Louisiana, Thi
Territory Of Louisiana extended from th
frontiers OF Canada, to the Gulf of Mex!
co. Bounded On the East by the British
possessions of the Atlantic coast; its west
ern limits were lost in the soitudes OF tht
Far West.
g. The Territory was named and taker
possession of, but that was all. The
apathy of the French Government ne
elected her American possessions, The
fact is, that America was 10 some degree
neglected BY all the nations of Europe,
aud It was in q great measure peopled
by those, who driven from their country
BY religious fanaticism, fed the perse-
cutions Of intolerance and sought land
in which they might enjoy liberty of con-
science. Thus America has always been
the home Of the oppressed. It was only
in the year 1899, that the French sue
ceeded in establishing a colony in LOUISE
ana. In that year a settlement was
formed on the coast Of tile Gulf of Mexi-
co by lBERv1LLE, xllo establishing the
head Of the colony at Biloxi Bay, com
the exploration OF tAe country.
In 1918, BlEsv1LlR, brother Of IBEn-
vtLLs, laid the foundations Of New Or
leans. The event has proven that be
was judicious in the selection OF Ioca-
lion whereon to build the metropolis of
The South. 4 prophetic genius seemed
10 have directed him and revealed to
him the great destinies Which awaited
he city of which he laid the corner
stone.
Oh, could BrENv1LLR rise again from
he dead! could he awake from bis long
md dreamIess sleep, and return to the
and which he had explored! What a
;bange would be find! What would
% bis astonishment il viewing that city
II New Orleans, whose foundations be
aid. The French colony OF Louisiana
vas however onerous TO the mother coun-
y. A great deal was spent yearly to
The settlers who had been sent
0 !he colony, and nothing was had 10
etarn. Thus far from being a source of
eyenue to tbs government, it could not
upport itself, and depended entirely for
subsistence on the bounty Of The French
rown. It muat seem to us strange tha.
i land as fertile as ours, colony pro-
ided with tools and all things necessary
or clearing and filling the groand, should
ot be able to support itself; especially |
,tleu the rivers abounded with fish, and |
he forests with game of all kinds
bis wall, however, be understood when
g know that instead OF turning their
ttention TO agriculture, the colopists
=
hos sole object wa. TO acquire riches,
1ought Of nothing else but seeking gold
Inch they supposed existed in abun-
anee IN the Territory, and for such
1imeras they neglected that alone which
,uld be productive Of good. Besides,
Anchmen are not ft for settlers :; their
enius is for war, then nothing j. impos-
bic 70 them. But to settle new Terri
'ries, which requires perseverance, TO
and al sorts Of 1ardchips, and indomi-
Die energy TO conquer all obstacles,
,ey are not ct. For that the Ang'o
l j i