Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-03-03
LETTER FROM NEW ORLEANS
The Wine Cases sr-DUeIs-SerIOus and
Fatal Ones-The lie legislature The
Weather-Amusemen
NEw oElrANs. Februarv 2. lseg.

attempting to confiscste about 5000
worth Of wine, alleging that the price 8
which it has been invoiced is less thai
its real cost. The wine is marked s
BlBi Snperieur, but all parties agree tina
that quality Of wine could not be bough
at Bordeaux for the price given. Th
defendants, however, claim that tn
wine is correctly invoiced, it being wortl
no more than the price stated, but they
admit that it is falsely named. Tn,
| Government has brought over from
England, as witnesses, three Individual
who are claimed to be professions
tssters, on the faith of their having beer
employed in London as dealers in wine
for long series of years. And these
parties testify that the wine in contro
versy is BlRi Superieur, and that it could
not have been bought in France for this
price at which it is invOieed, while the
most experienced wine merchants Of this
city say that it is cargo wine, and worth
no more than the price given. Any
way, the importers are forced to admit
that they have been guilty Of fraud, Ell
ther against the Government or against
their customers. And SIS their customers
have no authority to confsoste, they
have chosen the latter horn OF
the dilemma, and acknowledge
that they hsve been most glo-
riously quilting our dear public,
by selling as Blai Superieur, wine which
they now confess was Of an inferior
grade. The Government witnesses, the
three COckney individuals referred to
above, have created qlits = stir among
the bon UiUd'ts Of our community, by
stating that none Of the first quality OF
wines are sent TO this country. And the
question, Have We any good wine
among US" promises to last as long, and
be as hoily contested as the celebrated
one started some years ago by PgtaGDs's s
Monthly in regard to q member of the
Bourbon dynasty. However, the cases
may be decided, they have been pro-
ductiVe Of display of learning and
elOquence on the part Of the counsel en-
gagged, and have also shown that some OF
our most talented lawyers are, or st least
claim to be, excellent judges Of wine. At
one time in the course of the trial, there
were several large mijohns standing
around, and in front OF nearly every one
present Was q glass Of wine, which gave
a jovisl or somewhat equivocai sppear-
ance to the court room. IL is said that
the gentleman employed by the Govern
ment as additional counsel has received
as q retainer $4,000, quite a bonnie
6ouche.
A duel last week has caused 3 great
deal of comment, on account Of the
social position of the antagonists, and
the almost 10 not ratal result of the rem
counter. This is the second noted duel
which has occurred in the last three
weeks, and in each the result has been
serious. The first was between s. Creole
and American, and was fought with
rRpiers, the Creole running his antsgO-
mist through the heart, killing him
almost instantaDeOusly. The second
wss between two Americans, the
arms used being Colts navy revolvers, at
ten pSces distance. One Of the parties
was shot in the left breast, and very
if not morlally wounded.
The origin Of the latter duel shows on
what slight acts human life may some
times depend. It seems that on Mardi
GrEs night young lady, in company
with her fiEnce, went to a masked bali.
During the evening the young geatle-
man left the ballroom for a while, and
as he went out, he laid his mask on ia
bic ia the hall. A young man who knew
the party 10 whom the mask belonged
put it on, determining to have some fun
at the young lsdy's expense. Entering
the ballroom he soon found her, and i'm
medistely commenced to quiz her, she sll
the time believing him to be her fiauce.
at last he carried his raileries so far that
she considered herself insulted, and de-
manded what he meant by his remarks.
J ust at this critical moment the brother
OF the young lady came up, and, hearing
that his sister had been insulted, he tore
the mask from our young Paul Pry and
struck him. A challenge was the result,
and 8 meeting accordingly took place
last week. IL was agreed upon that the
csmbstsnts should draw for the first shot.
The young lsdy's brother having won,
fired first, but missed his antagonist.
After this he stood up calmly and fixed
ly, with his left hand behind his back,
awaiting the fire Of his opponent, who,
after swapping cap in the first attempt,
rec0cked his revolver and shot him in
the 6iuE luEk uAlAtI NlG ACHAts 1 AC
wounded man is still alive, but is in
very critical condition. Many persons
blame the seconds for not having inter
fsred after the cap snapped. Such a duel
is not recognized by our code of honor,
although understand that it is by that
OF France.
The black and tan Legislature Is still
hard at work misrepresenting the once
IL ~
Toe last iBfsmy is the passage of the
Civil Rights bill, more generally known
as the social equality bill, which pro.
vides that no discrimination on account
Of race or cOlor shall be made in regard
to the admission of persons TO railroad
cars, stesmbo boats, or other vehicles that
no person shall for such reason be re.
fused admission to or entertainment at
any hotel, restaurant, or other place of
public resort; that all licenses to the
keepers Of hotels, etc., shall be subject TO
the condition that no such refusal shall
be msde; that any one violating the
provisions OF the act shall forfeit his
license, besides being liable to an action
for damages to the party to whom he
hiss refused admission or entertainment
And our honorable Governor has proven
himself to be libel and a disgrace to
his race and color, by approving the act.
Comment is almost unnecessary. To
think Uhite man would sign such bill
A similar bill passed the Legislature last
session, but it was vetoed. GOV. Wsr-
mouth received much credit for 80 doing,
to which be had no claim. The truth is,
he vetoed the bill last year because he
was afraid Of his precious carcass, for the
people showed then that they would not
stand IL. Now, having recovered from
bis fright, and probably relying on the
speedy arrival Of Gen. Sheridan and bis
bayonets for protection, for it is said that
one OF the first acts OF Gen. Grant as
President, will be to order Sheridan back
here, he has mustered up enough courage
10 sign II. Whether the people will be
more submissive now than they prom
ised TO be last year, time will show.
But it needs no prophet TO predict that
the bill will meet serious resistance, and
that the bloody scenes Of last September
and October viii be revived. Tne negroes
seem determined TO enforce the pro-
visions Of the bill, while the whites will
not tamely submit to their exlctiops,
Whether the redOubtsbse Sheridan and
his bsyonets can force the people TO
Weld, we will see. a bill was passed
yesterday remodeling the charter of the
city; its provisions are very long and
elaborate. 1t was first proposed 10 give
the Governor ihe right to appoint all