The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-02-20
NBW ORLEANS CORRESPONDENCE.

NBW ORLEANS C0RRESPO hDENCE.
New ORLEANS, February 18th, 1867.
Friend Democrat:-The great Cate
Imperial" so long in preparation and
so much talked about has been thrown
open to the public, and is daily throng-
ed with crowds of admirers and curious
sight -seers. The descriptions given OF
the nlagnifcence of this place fall short
Of giving even an idea Of the reality,
and our city, always famous for the ex-
travagance shown in the outfit OF such
places and in the patronage extended
to them, can now boast the possession
Of the most elegant Restaurant in the
world. The kitchen Of tho new estab-
lishment is an exact copy of that in the
palace of the French Emperor, and the
master of that department comes from
Delmonico's of New York. But how
ever thorough and complete the Impe-
rial may be, there are other places that
will long rival it in real enjoyment, and
it will take years to obliterate the kind
ly memories that are awakened by the
name of aVictor or q Moreau.
We thought last week that we had
entered upon Spring, and that for this
season old Winter had left us, but it
was all mistake. 1t has been bitter
cold-and on Sunday night we had
another furry of snow; perhaps "if
this continues some of the Northern
States will "adopt u.s." and we may be
thus reconstructed. The cold weather
stirred the people up some, and we have
had a very good business week.
The packets leaving for the coast and
upper country have carried away good
freights, and those arriving have
brought large crowds of passengers so
that our city looks full and lively.
The items of local news are without
much interest-the record of petty Of
fences is small, and contains the usual
round of larceny and drunkenness.
Some idea of the immense number of
persons doing business here, Or trying
to do so, may be drawn from the fact
that over six hundred thousand dollars
have already been paid into the city
treasury for licenses, and probably a
third have yet to pay. The expenses
of carrying on business are enormous
we have large City license, a State
license, and an Internalreyenue license,
State and United States tax on sales,
the Internal revenue tax on incorpora-
ted companies, Insurance, Gas &C., is
by them added to their charges against
the merchant-and all things are COM
bined to burden commerce here, while
on the other hand trade falls far below
the estimate of even our most cautious
men, and prices rule extremely low
A very large number Of persons enter
ed into the Cotton Factorage business
last Fall, many of them retired from a
business they were well posted in and
had made comfortable fortunes at, and
for time Cotton was all the rage.
The result has been very unfavorable
to the majority Of those new to the
business, and some who entered it rich
are now completely over board anoth-
er year if favorable to planting inter
ests may partially bring them out
And this brings us to the fact that all
our prosperity depends upon Mother
Earth-tho energy, tact and manage
ment of the planter. Whether the next
year will be one Of activity and resto-
ration in business and financial affairs
depends upon the success of the tiller
of the soil-rather precarious Deepen
dance in these days Of free and thicving
negroes. The planter RECEIVERS his spir-
it's after a reverse much more readily
than the merchant, and from all parts
of the country we hear that they are
going to work energetically to try it
once more.
The Radical Congress in relation to
the South is very much in the same fix
as the man who "drew the Elephant"
they don't know what to do with them,
and the question bids fair to split their
party call to smash" They have al
ready half dozen leaders, each with
his pet scheme which he is bent on car
rying out. The House has passed the
bill for reconstruction" reported by
the Riot Committee, which isa defeat
to the Stevens party, but in the Senate
the chances are against the bill, while
if it should pass that body the Presi-
dents veto is almost certain, and there
is not strength enough in the party IA
voring the scheme to pass it over
veto. This bill introduced by Elliot
uproots the government of our State,
destroys everything but her name
provides for our present government
by a Governor and Council of nine, to
be appointed by the President by and
with the consent Of the Senate. The
State is then to be organized as a Ter
ritory, form a new Constitution, and
apply for admission to the Union as q
new State. The greater part Of our
white population are DISTINGUISHED by
the act, and all distinctions Of color are
destroyed. The whole thing is an as
sumption of arbitrary and unlimited
power, aud if carried out in Louisiana,