New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-07-03

NUMBER EIGHTY SIX.

|
| We had intended in our last number,
whilst speaking Of the old French commercial
firms, before the transfer Of Louisiana to the
Union, to make mention of some other
| houses, but we shall now resume this subject.
As we had already occasion of stating, an era
of prosperity, commercial as well as agIicuI-
tural, had dawned upon the lower delta during
the latter period of the Spanish colonial
regime just before the advent of the United
States government The liberal policy which
the last governors under the Spanish crown
had adopted in order to attach to them the
old creole population of the country, as we'll
as all new comers, of divers origin or nation
ality, whom the commerce and trade attracted
to our then infant city, oremerging metropolis,
had further produced the effect of creating
that spirit Of universal tolerance, which to
this day is distinguishing characteristic of
our population. Without going into any
elaborate details to establish this position,
and to trace its first origin back to the liberal
sentiments of the French colonists, who had
established the foundation for New Orleans
society, we shall here only make mention of
that remarkable circumstance which, even in
a much later time during the command of
General Butler) was cause of the expression
that New Orleans seemed to be governed or
guided by some occult administration
hidden agency with which the ostensible GOV
ernment had actually no connection Now
this invisible agency is no other than the old
fraternal sentiment which has always existed
in our midst, and has principally been fos-
tered by the commercial and industrial classes
III their several associations and benevolent
societies. This same spirit peryaded all the
ancient commercial firms, which will at once
appear when we shall name some of the more
influential members of the Masonic fraternity.
who in those times were also the partners
OF the most important mercantile establish
ments. Duprelong Peytayier, one of the
founders of the Polar Star Lodge in 1898, was
long at the head Of one Of the most active
commercial firms both in New Orleans as
well as in the country. Laurent Sigur first
worshipful master Of the Perfect Union |
Lodge, had even been installed anterior to
that dale, say as far back as the spring Of
1884, who also then was in most important
commercial affairs, both in town and tha |
country parishes The honorable persons |
1homi we have thus named, have left a nu-
nerous posterity in the interior of our State,
ome of whom form now already the fourth
u fifth generation Eugene Dorsier, after
Fhom that short street is named which
uns from Canal street to Customhouse
treet Immediately behind Old Levee street
'as also then eminent in commerce, and an
ctive member Of the Masonic fraternity, be-
lg the founder of Charity Lodge, installed
S far back as 1904. But we shall not extend
lls list of commercial men, of those times
'ho, by their connection with the fraternal
ssociation, spread through the whole com
lunity that spirit of harmony and iberality
'hleh is absolutely indispensable for the adj
of new settlements or new social
We shall, however, upon this
ceaslon name the composition of the first
ity administration, as we find the same noted
own in some obsolete work of our city t,an-
actions. Etienne Bois was the first mayor
and sauvG were associated with
I'M The first council was COMPOSED of
hYaudais, Petit, Cavelier, VillerG Jones
ortiel, Donaldson, Faurie, Allard, Tnreopd
nd Watkins Derbigny being secretary, ana
abntut treasurer. This was in 1904. Now
our readers will allow us some comments [
pom the foregoing honorable names. tbev
i'll have perceived that in several Of opg
rmer numbers we have already made men
On of some Of these public characters For
stance Liyaudais is Francois, with torp-
me- the very planter whose plantation we 2
sited after the overflow in 1916 Cayeler is
doubt zenon, thelong-respeeted president q
the Orleans Bank, the only monetary inst-
lion gof the ancient time that survived all "
} commercial commissions. Villere, yerv N
obahly the afterwards elected governor in
.6 Donaldson has left his name in the
m site laid out by the late John KcDonog
the other side of the river Of Allards -
tairie establishment we have given ample
ails Fere Fortier with DEAN Soulie, we
e already reeited as being enninently active
patriotic during the British invasion in 7
4 and Is, and afterwards, in 1916 and ~ hel