, 1865-09-23
OUR NEW ORLEANS LETTER.
The Political Sytuatlon-xsor. Wells md
the AmncatT Onal.-JcG. Thompson
CITY Goe@Ip.
Correspondence OF the Chicago THhnuc.1
New 0HLEASe, La, Sept. u, 1861.
THE AMNESTY OATH

CITY Gos%Ir.
Correspondents Of the Chicago Tdbnac.1
new OHLEASf, La, Sept. u, l6d3.
THE AMNESTY OATH.
So FAR, The returned rebel soldiers and others
connected with the rebellion, arc very rcluc-
tant 10 lake tic amncsty oath, which by the
generosity Of the Government confers pardon
far Fast Offences and insures protection for
tho future. Sot Mo1c than onc-third Of tho
number who come within its conditions hare
vet complied with Its provisions In this State
outside Of the city of New Orleans Some
have o kind nr false pride, which prevents
them afler having sworn allegiance TO the 40
called Confederate States, from linking tho
obligation necessary to secure again the rights
Of citizenship of the Unltol States, Others
arc contemplating the possibility Of emEgra-
tion TO foreign lands, and althoush;there Is
F.! little probability of my scheme Of emigration
Succeeding, 1t setves as an excuse for delay.
Still another class possess bitterness Of
spirit, which makes any duty pecu-
! liarly distasteful, that brings them In
| contact with any officer Of the
Government, or assume Ties of obligation aud
obedience to It. Many are so thoroughly dis.
gtstcd with tho treaehery Of their former po-
ln1cal friends, and the corruption Of political
parties, which they regard as primary cause
Of the war, IF not Of their final dcftat}, that
| they have determined to choose the opposite
extreme md have nothing to do With either.
Mr.. Wells, the Governor Of thc State, has
passed several weeks in travel through the
parishes contiguous to the Red River Hc
| ministeting tie Amnesty Oath to all uppli-
cants, and removing popular and often very
erroneous Impressions, as to the plaus and
purposes OF tic Government toward Its for
| mcr rebcllious citizens. Perhaps the Governor
may not be wholly disinterested In lis patri-
ing men to vote, he will not neglect to secure
their influence for hfs OWL interests In caso OF
his denomination Tor his present Office.
JEFF. THOMPSON.
There mny often be seen In his counting
room, OF engaged in promcnading the shady
side Of the boulevard canal, taEl man Of
about forty-f1ve years of aye, with lsandy COM
plexlnn and hair, keen grey eyes, and wear
ing a big broad brimmo1 hat. This dressed
figure makes up the tout ensemble Of II. Jetf.
| Thnmpson, an cx-Brigadicr General In the
rebel army former resident Of st. Joseph,
Missouri. at the collapse Of the rebellion,
| Jctt., probably acting on the principle that
"No man is without honor, save inilf3 own
country" pitched his tent In the Crescent
City lie entered ns partner few days ago
The firm now known as .'Mis, Thompson =
! was located at st. Joseph, Missouri. engaged
In the business Of q rcal estate or land broker.
| At one time he WIS Mayor Of the city. At
tho inception Of the rebellion ho became a
Kind Of monomsniac On the subject Of seces-
sion. Among other ra!g;aries ho was accus-
buglc, worn suspended about the
neck for the purpose Of calling his
followers together. Soon afler he wns made
| a Dsigadier General Of the rebel nrmy, aud
| published d proclamation 10 the pcoptc Of
Missouri, Of which tho following Is an cx-
! tract "Comef And stand not npon kAe ordc,
Of .eomtng! Take no thought Of he 'norrotu :!
| Unfortunately for tho rebel cause, but few
ca1ac at tho call Of JET. nnd he carried On n
I ifEd Of predatory warfare In Missouri and
Arkansas. He obtained once the honor OF
being captured aud confined at johnson q
Island. Subsequently securing bis release by
! the hitter WIS so sound1y whipped .bJ Rose
crans. underatanh that Gen. Thompson nc
! auirctt quite reputation In Missouri ns a
talker. and was also noted for his self-esteem.
Among his military exploits was the capture
Of q merchant steamer, which he released
afler drinking up the contents Of the har It
Is hoped that, as the transp1antattou OF fruits
and flowers often increases tho faror Of the
| ono and adds 70 the beauty Of the other, 30 tho
removal of jeff, to the land of the cane and
I the cotton, may be followed BIZ results
{iuusht Witl, blessings to himself and man
kind. -..-...zg- -.
DRINKING SALOONS.
Ever since man learned to express the jn1ce
| Of tho grape and enjoy the elect produced
| upon hts system from drinking it ID its fer
mented state, the blessings, the dangers md
] The evils that proW out OF 1t haye been placed
| within ordinary reach. The people Of New
! Orlesus have many peculIazttfcs, and one OF
the most noticeable Is their habit of drink
Ing. In many communities drinking Is tln-
popular. The mechap1c takes Ills MP from
| Jug carefully hidden away In the shop Or saea.
a private bottle in his office. II friends I'M
bio. Il IS IN come out-oEthe-way place. where
| n friendly screen or partition concea!5 them
from fhn passiDg eyc. Or cardamons o. h1shiT
| nerfi,med sweetmeats hide the tel-ta1e breath
fro,n wife or sweetheart. And to obtain posi-
IS sometimes nessisSafy 70 snt5 ts e31s.
rms would he unique Ia New Orleans.
G@rocesfss @ and drinking saloons tliyide
| hat1rcrn them nll the corners Of the city ;
tSnnGh the saloous arc ahead, from the fact
that Sbout ope-half Of tho grocefs possess
i;rrnsc to sell liquor. The amount OF business
transacted must be immense. The rich, the
ncnr as The hirh, the low, white and b1sek, all
drink Merchants make bargains and discuss
stocks oye1 their vine. Tho lawyer taefs his
brieE, the speculator his sugar and cotton
The men Of leisure and those who ore hurried
by many and pressing obligations, alike ind
lie time 10 take Their bsftrrs- Friends utter
their congratulations, and exchange their iarc-
wells over The bar, Liquor in Its yarious
firms. mincles with all the mercantile, COM
mcrcial, poiitical, civil, military and domss,
4ir rrInttnnDs NJ society, None are excluded