New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1867-06-07
GOVERNOR B. E. FLANDERS.

has now been offered to Hon. Is. F.
Flanders. We have not learned whether
Mr.. Flanders will accept or decline the
honor, but from the fact that be is in the
city the presumption is fair one that his
| views'on the subject were known to the
general before the selection was made. 1t
may be assumed, therefore, that he will ac-
rept the position. The order OF appoint
ment directs that he shall enter upon the
dates Of his office at once.
| Mr.. Flanders was born in Bristol, New
Hampshire, on the 26th day of January,
1916; he graduated at Dartmouth college
in 1912. He devoted a short time
subsequently to the study Of law, and came
to this city about the year ls43. About
that time the system of public schools was
initiated in this CITY, and Mr.. Flanders took
an active part in the first organization. He
accepted the position of principal of the
Cont street school, which, however, he re-
signed some months afterward to 20 into
the publication of the Tropic newspaper,
in which he was associated with Colonel
T. B. Thorpe. He soon sold out his in
terest in the paper and resumed the bust
ness of teaching. While engaged in the
schools he was elected member of the
board of aldermen of the third municipal-
ty, comprising that part of the city known
as the third district
In 1858 the people of New Orleans began
TO turn their attention to the project OF
building railroads. Mr.. Flanders took an
active part in promoting this class of i'm
provements, and was elected by the board of
directors secretary and treasurer of the
New Orleans. Opelousas and Great Western
railroad. He discharged the du ties of the
position until 1861, when he was obliged
to leave the State on account of his we'll
known attachment to the Union and his
opposition to secession. He passed with
some difficulty through the rebel country,
then under command of the Reverend
Bishop Polk, who had the direction of
military affairs in Tennessee.
He had interviews with General Butler
in New York and in Washington some
months before the latter came to this de-
partment. His intimate acquaintance with
the topography and personnel Of New
Orleans enabled him to give the
general many valuable sugg estions in
regard to the field upon which he was soon
10 become famous. As soon as Mr.. Elan
ders learned that General Butler was here,
he returned, and was shortly afterwards ap-
pointed city treasurer. in place of Adam
Giffen, removed by the commanding gen
eral. In July or August he organized the
system of free markets, by which some six
teen or seventeen thousand poor people
were fed daily from General Buffers COM
missary stores.
In November, 1868, Mr.. Flanders was a
candidate for Congress from the first district
of this State, in which he was opposed by
J. E. Bouligny, who had represented the dis
trict in the previous Congress. Mr.. Elan
ders was elected by an immense majority.
He then resigned his office OF city treasu
rer, in which he was succeeded by Mr. John
S. Walton.
Upon the expiration of his congressional
term in 1868, he was appointed supervis-
ing special agent of the treasury by Secre-
tary Chase. In the latter part of the same
year he assisted in organizing the First
National bank of New Orleans, and was
elected the first president of that institu-
ton. Finding, however, that the duties of
his Office, and those required of him as
president Of the bank were too arduous,
he resigned the latter, and devoted his time
exclusively to his federal office.
During the canvass of 1864, Mr. Elan
ders was one of the three candidates for
governor, and received large vote. With
this exception he has devoted the last three
years of his time to the duties of his Office
of special agent; and although most of
them have been terminated by law, he has
had large work to perform in closing up
the affairs of his department
We have known Mr.. Flanders intimately
for many years, and have ever found him
to be man of invincible honor and integ-
rity. He is man who will follow out the
line Of his duty, OF at least what he con-
ceives to be such at the risk of making
himself unpopular" His appointment
as provisional governor is one Of the most
Judicious of General Sheridan's Official
acts. His intimate acquaintance with the
affairs of the city and State, his long resi-