New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-01-29

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fnartiai exploits Of that time. IT must8be recol.
laeted that the native .ouisianians and to them
adioin necessarily the colored on free mulattost
young men, always under the Spanish as well %
the former French regime, distinguished them
selves BY great disposition for the military ca
reor. This natural 4 penehant' for whatever re-
lated to the martial profession was, as it were, in
stinctiye, no doubt inherited from the first set
tiers and colonizers Of the country; all more
Of less in military employ and discipline So much
so was this natural inclination in the Louisiana
born population, that to crafty this distinction,
she Spanish government, notwithstanding It's ms
trust and jealousy towards the creoles Of the coan
try, had found it polite to crafty this propensity
and hence special regiment of Louslanans " was
formed, in which were enlisted al the Warhke
Youths IF the first families Of the country. ms
regiment, though regular, was much more looked
UPON as corps d'elife, as q regiment 81 Lille
Guards, than the ordinary troops Of the line and
it was with certain spirit Of pride, or esprit de
corps that nearly oil the young men OF that time
that is to say, before the cession OF lsoS--had
been either members Of this famous regiment OF
Iouisiana Or Of the Cadets, younger corps,
under the Spanish government.
N Ii strikes me that the United States government
committed blunder, when acquiring Louisiana
from France, iii not institutng or retaining SINH
lar corps among the Louisianians, for the martial
spirit then pervading the whole youth and male
population Of the country would have received .!
proper direction, and been under military discip-
line, which might have prevented many II fatal
duel and bloody rencontre IN after times. When
the natural disposition Of population is not taken
advantage Of it is impossible to obyiate the neces-
sary consequences from such d neglect. The last
experience, which Il doubt enlightened our gov
eminent, will, we doubt not induce the authorities
not to overlook this particular martial spirit in our
youth, and which, properly directed, will be of
the greatest advantage to the country. It's notin
the common regiments Of the line that the Lou
isana youth will find pleasure Of enlsting for the
military service hut II they are offered anything
like select corps, You will find the best material
for such selection in our very midst. Hence, let
our men of the military art take hints from these
lines They are given by one who, though young
at the time, was in the midst Of the grand Napo-
leonc scenes of 1878, IA and IL the other side
of the ocean.
& Often, when visiting the habitations Of ancient
Creole families in the city as well as the country
and our particular ayocations did procure US
numerous occasions, we did observe almost inya-
riably among the family portraits or pictures dis
played in the parlors or saloons, their ancestors
or relatives in military uniforms. This was 50
universal that we could name the families some
at the old settlement OF the Bayou st. John,
some in the parish Of Natchitoches, in fact in the
very first establishments Of the French colonies
for it must be remembered that for near two
whole generations those military stations had been
continuously supported by the French govern
ment till the transfer took place, in l763, to the
Spanish monarchy. During all this time, that is to
say, from 100 to 1903, the military element was
predominant; agriculture langushed, and so did
navigation and commerce.
But when the Western country took its start and
Louisiana was incorporated into the Union, then
only the scene took another shifting, and
the peaceabIe pursuits Of industry were gen,
! orally preferred by the men population. Unit
that time and more particularly under the popular
4 administration of Baron de Carondelet, the ambi
1 ton Of most Lonisianians, as ] have often beer
assured by the old inhabitants, was to form part
the military establishment of the government
/ Their mode Of country life was eminently esp
ducive to form the best military material, 70
either home service Or long expeditions among TIN
Indian tribes, with which the government had u
ways considerable matters Of discussion Unde
these circnmstaneesdaf after the cession, grea
change was wrought in the disposition of th
creoles of the country, at first not at all favorable
TO the new government for in particular at the mil
itaFy post fNatchitoches such foreign commander
\ had been placed by the Washington administration
I as were, indeed, calculated to ALLEVIATE the whole
of the ancient popY nkion Happily that the mis-
takes were IN some sort corrected by the thel
Governor of the Territory, the late w. G. g. Clai
/ borne, much regretted BY the whole people at hi
early demise III 1916. This public man, after benl
icompletely identified with the native Louisanians
had done everything to reconcile the chafed feel
ings Of the Unborn population, and although h
! was succeeded IN the governorship, by one Q
1 the most popular men, then, Of the country, Go,
ernor Gabriel Villere, it must be stated to til
honor Of Claibornes memory, that he had full
succeeded in restoring the ancient inhabitants to
return Of cordial and loyal feelings towards th
Washington regime five must keep in mind tina
the bestsystem Of laws, and tie bestmode of admir-
istration, may become irksome and disagreeable
people, if their par ocular fancies or customs ar
interfered with; indeed, these considerations ar
often of more import than. all the rest.
81 shipwreek of a Brazilian Colony.
Il ~ 81