The Louisiana Democrat., 1866-06-20

pix Except among a few Of Summers
bretbren) no fevers Of any description
The doctors are retrenching expenses.
ShfELFUNGUS.
New ORLEANS, JUNE l6, 1866.
/ EDITOR DEMOCRAT: Recorder Vennard
|of the Fourth District, has recently beer
reported by the proper officer as having ex
acted fines in his capacity as q magistrate
which have not been accounted for in his
return. This is the Same individual O1
whom / spoke in former letters, and who
whilst Recorder Of the First District, was
accused Of selling and otherwise appropria
ting to his own profit articles which had
been seized by the police as stolen. These
charges were snbstantiated by the affida
Wits of three creditable persons, and the
proper representations were made to the
authorities-yet fora length Of time this
big thief was allowed to sit in judgment
over his fellow thieves of punier dimen
sions, and finally when the pressure of pop
ular indignation became too strong, oas
permitted to resign his office, without having
attempted the shadow Of defence. Not
many months afterwards Vennard was
nominated by the, National Republican
party for the Office he now holds, and his
election was brought about by the votes
being split up among, a number of oppo-
nents. The historical epitome Of this dis.
honest magistrate may not be uninterest-
ing to your readers. He is by birth from
away down, in the New England States;
has been many years a trader and ner.
chant OF this city, possessing very bad re.
putatiOn both as a man of business and a
citizen, but amassing considerable for.
tune through means which would not
bear the test Of scrutiny. A good many
ships were consigned to him from Boston
and other Yankee ports, and he owned
two. both Of which were named after Nom.
bers OF his family. His eldest son went
into the Confederacy, with the paterna]
consent, and was member Of the Crescent
regiment during the war; Int after the
surrender, Of New Orleans, the father be.
came fervent in his idolatry Of Union, But.
ler and Banks, and as matter OF conrse
made himself influential with the worthies
who controlled affairs within the Federal
lines. By dint of seryility and ductile
conscience he got himself appointed Re
corder of the First District-the most i'm.
portant Of the four Districts, which com
pose the city. In this position Won car
fancy the extent to which he was tt liber
ty to carry on his predatory operations.
Cotton, sugar, tobacco, dry goods, every
thing. of any value which could be pouncetd
upon by a policeman without danger Of re-
prisals, were seized and deposited in the
lumber room Of the Recorders Court. As
the room waxed full, the contents were re.
moved to His Honor's" private store, and
there unblushingly exposed for public sale
Fines innnmerable were extorted from
those who had no voice with the military
authorities, and the money quietly deposi
ted in the pocket book of the faithful mag
lstrate. If some reckless sufferer appealed
for justice to Chief of Police French or any
other military myrmidon, an investigation
was promised but forgotten during the
courses of a fish dinner at the lake or a
champagne supper at Victors. It is aston.
lshlng how q sconndrel notoriously so cor.
rupt could be allowed to occnpy high ia.
dicial position in our midst And still
more should it excite our wonder that none
OF his fellow criminals when brought be.
fore him for trial should not at least at.
tempt to turn the tables upon him by be.
coming his accuser! It is proper to inform
you that Mr.. Vennard is strict member
OF the Church, and can be seen every Sab.
bath vending his sanctimonious way to
the sacred edifce with praybook under his
arm.
] The Reverend parson Conway, whom
yonr readers must still remember for his
psanks as an agent of the Freedmen's Bu-
reau in Louisiana, isnow in Europe giving
lectures, acting as agent for an immigra-
tlcn society, and playing flunky for the
aristocracy, about whom he writes the
most fulsome kind Of letters to the New
England press.
There have been a good many fires late
lly-bnt such is the efficiency Of the new
steam lire engines that the flames have no
show whatever against the immense and
overpowering streams Of water which
these admirable contrivances ponr upon
them It is really a beautiful and even d
fearful spectacle to see owe of these COM
pact and glistening MAJ hines drawn cla'.
tering over the smooth stone pavements Of
our thoroughfares, alta two-forty rate of
speed, by q magnificent Morgan trotter:
the black smoke belches in sulphurous
masses from its chimney, whilst its trail is
marked for scores Of yards blythe live Goals
which drop continually from its furnaces.
The thin streams Of water thrown from
the nozgles Of the old-fasbioned hand en-
gines make but ludicrous contrast with
the huge volumes which pour with anna
zing effect from the steam engine. There
are six or eight ofthese engines now in
operation, oil equally well served, all kept
in beautiful order, and each one rivalling
the Others in the strength, beauty and
swiftness Of its horses.
The new police get along admiralty
During my recollection Of thirty years, the
streets of New Orleans have never been 90
orderly and safe. The men that compose
the police are all returned Confederates.
men who by patience in suffering, BY s,,-
-bordination to discipline and ihy their sac
rifices have excited admiration and respect
everywhere. Rest assured there will be no
more rowdyism and bloodshed at the polls,
no more levying of black mail or COM
pounding felonies. The Courts, too, are
organized on a new basis-co,npeten men
are now officiating as Clerks and Sheriffs,
and even the men who were frmest In
their adhesion to the system Of pillage and
ineffciency in all the ramifcations of pub
ilicsoffice nnder military rule now admit
that the change in affairs is all for the bet
ter.
4. A great deal Of excitement and commits
seration was caused Yesterday at the ST.
James Hotel by the mysterious and unac.
countable death of a lady who arrived
there about ten O'clock The hight before,
and applied for a room, saying she was
just come from Brashear City at the upper
end Of the Opelousas Railroad. The clerk
hesitated to accommodate her, whereupon
she offered ten dollars in prepayment, and
begged so hard for room that he finally
gave her one. Not appearing next morn
ing the room was entered through a door