New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-09

good ability. We send after him in his new
home, our very best wishes for hiassuccess.
Captain INaRAHAM, who was the first
Vice President and really the President OF
the Convention, having presided over it the
three days prior@o our arrival, was emlnentiy
fitted for the place. He Is q fine looking
man, and we should think . man of fine
natural ability. We shall not be surprised If
he should be heard Of as very useful man in
the politics of Louisiana. He was the fast
friend of the much-lamented Governor DUNN,
the most popular public colored man in the
State. Mr.. G. L. RUFrIN, of Massachusetts,
won for himself the respect and friendship OF
all. He Is an excellent scholar, lawyer,
and an eloquent speaker, with considerable
experience as . legislator. But the time
would fail to tell of all who took prominent
and creditable parts in the proceedings OF the
convention. II is enough that we have given
this sample. PETER H. CLARK, Of Cincin-
natl, was probably the best and most culti-
waited debater in the convention, and we do
not say too much for him when we say that
he would adon any political body in which
he might be a member. Of course the con-
vention had some men in it who were better
fitted for other places. One man by the
name of BROOKS was such one. He seemed
to think that the object of meeting in con-
vention was simply to make display in the
way Of speech-making, and was a consum-
mate bore, speaking as he said to get himself
/" spread out upon the minutes"
Not the least among the pleasant things OF
our visit to New Orleans, was the several
hours spent in its neighborhood upon the
Mississippi. Hearing us express somewhat
earnest wish for marine view of the great
city of the South, Governor PINcHBACK,
with characteristic kindness, and we fear at
his own expense, chartered little steamer,
employed band Of music, and determined
to give us the much desired treat. The
excursion was every way most agreeable and
instructive. To know New Orleans, one
must see it not only as it appears while
walking or riding through its long and dusty
streets, hemned in on either side by pleasant
and beautiful residences, with their pictur-
esque galleries and gardens, 80 well suited
to the more than half tropical character of
the climate; he must see more than the ele-
gantly dressed people who crowd the pave
ments; the gay shops whose broad windows
TEEN with all that can tempt the tastes and
appetite of the passer; he must see more
than the splendid equipages which roll luxu-
riously through the length of Canal street
and other grand thoroughfares more than
the statue of HENRY CLAY covered with
white dust peculiar to the partly shell-paved
street on which it stands more than the
gloomy, unfinished, but imposing, custom
house the st. Charles, better named the
Sinner Charles, the gilded scene and foster
mother of all the fashionable vices of the
city; he must see more than the French part,
with its narrow streets and old-fashioned
dwellings, in contrast with the English
speaking part, separated by few feet, but
representing two types Of civilization, which
neither time nor association can blend or
obliterats; but he must see New Orleans
from its far-reaching, broad, and slightly cir
cling water front; he must see the city from
that which made the city, from the bosom of
the great river; he must see the vast fiat
country opposite the shores of the city, dotted
with g. old plantations" but over which the
father of waters rises with destructive power /;
the wilderness of ships loading and unload
ing, arriving and departing coming from
every part of the civilized world, and return
ing to every part; one must hear the chatter
along the shore of all languages, see the
busy and meandering levee piled high with
cotton, sugar, casks Of molasses, and other
merchandise, swarming with hsrses, mules,
and men; choked with drays, carts, wagons,
and other vehicles he must see the laborer-
aye, the hard-handed black laborer, with his
arms like FURNISHED iron, shining in the fiery
rays of the Southern sun he must see the
palatial river steamers, SO light and airy,
peculiar to the Mississippi, and to the rivers
that flow into it; the interminable RATS
moored and protected from the quick-moving
current, which would else sweep them into
the Gulf-some such huge timber as fioated
in fire to meet General Butler on his first
visit, giving him warm reception. Not to
see New Orleans thus, is not to see New Or
leans at all.
We were told, however that, busy as this
water line now appeared, it is dull compared
with thirty years ago. 1t was then the great
depot of all the shores of the Mississippi.
Everything then Neutrality-suspicious. mineral,
animal, or vegetable-foated down the broad
river to New Orleans; but now powerful
rivals have arisen ON its waters st. Louis
now attracts vast amount of business, which
formerly belonged to New Orleans railroads
have almost reversed the whole current of
trade, whirling the riches of the Mississippi
valley over land to New York, Boston, Bal
timore, and Philadelphia, and leaving New
Orleans and the sea but small share of
what they were once the exclusive owners.
Nevertheless, we still believe in New Or
leansas a grand and fourishing city. Let it
conquer its prejudices, let it avail itself Of its
vast natural advantages, let it improve its
health by proper drainage, the introduction
of pure water; let it initiate the skill and
industry Of the Dutch who won their country
from the waves of the sea let them invite
capital and labor from the North and
South and from the ends of the earth,