The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-07-31
NEW ORLEANS CORRESPONDENCE.

VIEW ORLEANS CORRESPONDENCE.
New ORLEANS, July Is, 1867. 4
Friend Democrat II took a walk
along our leyee few evenings ago. and
could hardly realize that the quiet place &
was on, was the same that 80 often before,
had seen full of hustle and activity. At
the coast-packet landing, there we're seven
or eight boats, around three of which there
were congregated crowd OF negroes,
laughing, talking, boxing, smoking or
lounging lazily about, but none Of them
with any visible intention Of working. At
the upper landing there was one boat, soil
tary and alone, where, in former years they
were so crowded that the last one in, found
room to land with difficulty. Along the
levee where We wont to see, great piles OF
-four, corn, potatoes, portland lower
down, cotton, sugar and lnolasses, | found
here and there few barrels, small stack
ofcorn, a few bales ofhay and some boxes
of general merchandise. In no part of Cur
city is the staguation oftrade more evident
tban on our levees, which are generally the
scene Of so much pushing, hurrying, driving,
business and tumult.
The reports we get from the country,
although not very encouraging in relation
to cotton, are better than was expected two
weeks ago and give hopes Of small i'm
provement on last year. To this we must
add that the people everywhere have fair
prospects Of a large yield Of corn and hay,
and other necessary articles, which have
heretofore added so much to their expense
account. five sell less Of cotton, which
is not probable now, this year than last,
tho crops Of other articles will reduce our
purchases to greater extent, than our
receipts will be reduced by short crops and
falling prices. All these things considered
we may hope to go through the season Of
81 and GS in better condition than the
one just past. Cotton pays heavy gov
eminent tax and is subject to many vicis-
itudes, while food products for both man
and beast can be cultivated with fair
certainty Of a good yield and are not re-
quired to pay an exorbitant revenue to the
government. When the South produces
her own wheat, corn, potatoes, hay and
meats, whether she has for sale large
crop or q small one Of cotton, she will have
something to eat, and will therefore be
more Independent Of her Northern and
Western neighbors. The farmers Of the
North and West provide for their own
consumption first, and sell the surplus
On their places will be found hogs and
cattle, which, OF the proper season arc
killed and cured in sufficient quantities to
last to the next season, their cribs IRE flled
with corn aud their racks with hoy and
fodaaaer, the amount laid by being governed
/ by the number ofstock they expect to keep
Il 80
on hand. They have their barn-yard fowls
and variety Of fruits, with vegetables in
large quantities. If any Of these articles
yield surplus over the wants Of his home
the surplus is sent to market. Il he re
CARDS one article more suitable and profita
bic for sale than another, particular atten
/ ton is paid to its cultivation, but herarely
lii ever, spreads himself on it . to tn
utter neglect Of other articles. Such
course adopted by our planters, would max
them more Independent, would break tn
chain that now binds them to their Com
mission Merchants, who, in turn woul
have less dependence on Northern Me.
chants and markets. Energy, prudenc
and self-reliance, are the attribnt es of tn
, reconstruction needed most in the Soutl
The Leyee Convention met pursuant +
} coll in this city on the 22d inst, but man
| of the Parishes most interested were no
represented. Col. w. W. Pugh was che
sen President and Col. g. w. R. Bale,
Secretary. On the first day . committe
was appointed to wait upon Gen. Sherida
to ascertain il the Convention met wit
: his approval, and what assistance or Ct
operation he would give. This Commute
reported on the second day, that they ha
been well received by the Commandiu
General, who stated that he should re.il
state his appointees as q Levee Board, th'
Governor Flanders was now on his wa
! from New York to this city, and when |
returned he hoped he would sign the 70,
million Levee Bonds authorized. by Il
!. Legislature, which he thought would se
; and that if necessary be might endor'
e them. The General had no doubt but TIL
, his Levee Board would act with the Coz
8 vention in the matter. After hearing tn
e report, a committee was appointed to CO.
= suit with the Levee Board, when the
8 we're ready for work. After some discu
9 sion on a motion to raise fund by dire
!. taxation to rebuild the levees, the Pres
D dent was authorized to call the Conventit
I together again, when he may deem 1t pr
J. per, and they then adjourned. The BON
authorized by the Legislature were not
be sold at less than eighty cents on Il
= dollar, but in the present unsettled state