New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-13
Advertisenaent
THE SLAUGTERHOUSE QUESTION
LETTER FROM COLONEL 7. G. NOEL

A Raised Curtain-Msney no COnsidera
tien-The Omcers Of tie Monopoly
Feet, Head and Gsre-Want of Facfli
ties-DiscOvering a I" Moral Wrong -
Declaration of Independence and Con
stftutional Amendments-Let's go Il
Texas-The Refrigerating Process
stray Animals and Thieves-Clay, Rose
Inns. Hunt & C0.-Dibble, Bradley nnd
Durell-Free Trade and Sailors Rights
Bad Logic of the Times-The GascOnf
are Men and Chrfstinps-A Question
Of Militia Rank-IIe Quotes Franklin
$500, ,OOO-A Question of Interest
Think of 1t, $2O,0 GOO Worth OF Meal
Desfroyed-The Last Epistle.
| deem it not only incumbent on myself
as an individual. but duty which owe to
| the public, who are thOrOugly cognlZant o!
the position which from the beginning
have maintained in regard to the Slaughter
house embrOglio, to make hnal protest
against the monopoly, ana snow my 1flehas
| and those whose opinions are antaganlstlc
to nv own. how stand and, with the assist
ance of Providence, never mean to falter.
| The reason for such Il course on my part Is
obvious, and l hope cOgent, seeing that
| have crossed the river under protest Of the
| strongest nature. just one year ago, COM
menced to combat this monopoly, and
although thoroughly disgusted with the
course of events in connection Herewith,
entered into the fray with the best feelings
of head and heart. Being free American,
and merchant Of New Orleans Of thirty
years standing, none can deprecate my con-
duct, if firmly believed should enjoy the
right Of dispOsing of my stock at any point
which was the best market
When the law took effect on the first of
June, 1869, the curtain was raised to my
astonished eyes, disclosing peculiar state
of affairs. They were these: Now, you
might as well 60 in with us, because We
have secured the executive and all the
judges. They are arrayed against you, and
Notwithstanding the prepOsterOus and out
rageOusly unjust monopoly, it makes little
difference to YOU whether the people pay
one dollar extra day for their provisions,
by going over the river. To fight the mo-
nopoly would be like butting your head
against brick wall"
Those who know me well will, tiatter
myself, cOncede that have ever endeav-
ored to be an honest citizen, and hence the
sequence of my dislike to yield to anything
wrong for the simple reason that money
could be more accumulated in enforcing it,
l informed nv opponents that would fight
it out to the bitter end, and that no pecuni-
ary recompense would cajole me into bar
tering my principles for sOrdid gain; that
when they succeeded in forcing me across
the river, it would be by the so-called strong
arm of the law that would move my person,
but not my principles.
Let me preface any further remarks with
the remark, now that have under compul-
sion changed my quarters, that l lind the
chief officers and their subOrdinates at the
Crescent City Slaughterhouse agreeable and
gentlemanly. Even the captain OF the ferry
steamer does all in his power to accOmmo-
date us. However, have frequently stated
to those slaughterhOuse officials that if any
good finally resulted from the change,
would be the first to accord my verbal and
heartfelt appreciation of it, and never speak
of any evil unless it existed. l find that on
the first instant, a notice was posted up. to
the effect that one dollar per head would be
demanded of us, for the privilege Of killing
beef. together with our having to leave the
feet and head and gore, such as the law III
its clemency allows the mOnOpOlists. Now
these gentlemen led us to understand a few
months ago, that if their charges were
deemed exorbitant, they would endeavor
to meet our ideas; vet, SO soon as they get
us there, they try to extOrt everything that
the law allows them.
The facilities given lis are wretched in
the extreme. Were they ample we would
offer no murmur of complaint, but the sim
pie truth is that the slaughterhOuse is not
large enough by One-half to accommodate
the three parishes. There is absolutely not
a place to put our horses in-not an apart
ment for our working men-not a location
for our implements, unless we leave them
at the mercy of the prowling thief or pay a
caretakcr while to this is added the de-
plOrable fact that the present sale pens are
badly constructed and unsuitable.
1t is therefore palpable that there does
exist somewhere a great moral wrong, ana
to discover this moral wrong is my object
and aim. for am convinced Of a great in
fiingement on the rights of citizens, both as
regards the law under which they suffer and
the civil rights which it is supposed they
eniOy We maintain what is now termed
law in the case under discussion is diamet-
rically opposed to the principles and
the policy of the Declaration OF
Independence, as well as contrary to the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments OF the
constitution. No one can impartially CON
clude, after visiting the Crescent City
their vocation there do SO under protest.
Having now openly asserted, fearless OF
contradictory proof, that such wrong has
an existence, let me endeavOr to sift out the
cause. The Governor has told us he was
opposed to it, vet he signed its enforcement.
The seventeen mOnOpOlists, and the limbs
of the law, and all those human mosquitoes
who have a direct or indirect pecuniary in
terest in it, seem to think that although we
are trampled upon in an illegal manner,
they have withal legal right to make
money in an illegal manner. What care
they whether their conduct is detrimental
to the best interests of the city, so long as
their exchequer is kept replenished out of
the pockets of the sons of toll That act
which has passed and just going to take
effect, if persisted in, will be OF greater
detriment to the future commercial pros
perity of New Orleans than the railroads
from West and North going into Texas;
yea, even if they were to come to the mouth
of the Red river or to the city OF New Or
leans. thus taking our stock and commerce
on to the North. Why, even our people say
that they only wish they could leave the
city advantageously, because it is becoming
80 oppressive to the poor.
Now, as regards the refrigerating process
by which it has been asserted meat can be
brought from Texas in a fresh condition. On
this point will offer no definite opinion, as
| have not been called on so to do. This
much however, will offer-and L think
have on other occasions delivered some
what similar opinion, namely, that l care
little how much OF how little Texas meat Is
imported under such circumstances, or how
cheap it can be disposed of, provided the
comnany do not demand of the next Legis
lat,,re a charter. which will give them any
exclusive privileges which may infringe on
the lawful rights of labor Any enterprise
which is calculated to cheaper the trans
pOrtation of Southern products to our mar
ket, whereby remuneratlve proht Is returned
NSNvnfy I'M .pnn