Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-09
THE HOUSE THE BUFFERS
OPENED.

| tt4 VI GN4Us
| Interesting "Reminiscences Of Ben
Buffers Reign tn New OrIeaas-ke'
Rigson, Business and Gambling
Kellogg and His Men.
1:4S From the New Orleans Herald.
As soon a. Butler had got over bis scare,
amer taking up his headquarters in TINS
| city, among his first acts, was The issuance
of 8 proclamation that gall churches, thea
tres, gambling saloons, and all osher places
OF public amusement should be opened and
the people be encouraged to attend the
same Thes, were, we believe, the exact
words Of bis profane order.
The first house opened under this order
was the FL Dorado, at the corner OF Ex-
change place, the principal capitalist and
chief manager OF which was A. j.. Butler,
the brother of Gen. Butler, and the sutler
of the army, with large exclusive privileges,
which enabled him to monopolize the COM
merce of this city-all It's purveying and Its
carrying. Associated with Butler in this
enterprise was the present most prominent
counsellor and largest stipendiary and moss
efficient manager of Kellogg.
This house was opened with great splen-
dor. In the midst Of the commercial power
ty and destitution Of the people, its frequen-
ers we're RECALLED with every Injury which
money could command. It's rooms were
crowded every night with the officers OF
the army and Of the Government, the con-
tractors, jobbers, and the numerous and
mongrei horde of followers of a great army.
Here our citizens had to 60 to buy passes
and make arrangements for sending relief
to their friends in the country.
BUSINESS AND GAMBLING.
After transacting this businessthe parties
could lounge into the gambling rooms and
engage in little game of faro roulette, or
rouge ct noir. Nothing could be done in
the multifarious transactions with Butler
except IN this gambling establishment.
Even the most sober and pious persons
having any business with him had to repair
to this he'll to hold their interviews with
the brother and partrsr Of the General.
Thus was open gambling not only legal
lied in this city by order of the United
States General commanding, but It was
given special encouragement and advanta-
ges over all other occupations. Col. A. j.
Butler was regarded as the partner and
agent OF his brother, to whom be obligated
all bis powers, enforcing all bis demands
with the military power to the point Of pun
ishing and confiscating the property of all
persons who would not yield to A. US re-
quirements.
People were compelled to sell or transfer
property to him under threat of imprison-
ment with ball ard chain. The banks were
notified that If they refused A J.'s over
drafts they would be prosecuted for some
old offenses. Arrests and charyes were held
Ia suspense over the heads of all persons
who hesitated or refused to accept the offers
or comply with the demands of Butler. all
these villainies were Matched and arranged
in the El Dorado gambling saloon.
KENO, FARO, AND ROULETTE.
The system thus initiated in New Orleans
by Federal General, at the head of an ar
my renresenting the morality and piety cf
New England, has been maintained ever
since by the Radical party. As soon as
they got into power in the State Govern
meHt, they passed an act placing public
gambling On the same footing as all other
occupations.
Under this law, scores of keno, faro, and
roulette establishments were opened on
our principal thoroughfares. They were
crowded all the day and night by the dissO-
lutte, idle, and unwary Of our population.
The din of these perpetual games silenced
even that of legitimate commerce, and the
scenes of rowdyism which surrounded their
shops virtually blocked some of our most
important thoroughfares to the passage of
all decent citizens. a blight was cast q pom
every locality where they were opened.
1t was in vain our people manifested
their disgust at this shameful spectacle.
What cared these Eeartless spectators and
plumbers for "these pes.ilent rebels" Il
was only when some of their own party
came to this city and witnessed these scenes
when some of their members of Congress
on a visit here were the victims of the wiles
and tricks of these public gamblers, that
sentiment was created which finally COM
PEELED them 10 repeal tho law authorizing
public and licensed gambling.
A NEW LEASE FOR GAMBLERS.
For some time after this the gamblers
were restrained and driven into dark cor
ners, back rooms, and third and fourth
stories. And so they contriyed 10 remain
invisible under the protection OF subsid-
lied police until Kellogg was installed.
Since that baleful event they have again
emerged into public, and now by his special
favor and un0er his protection, have re-
vived the system which existed here under
the previous law licensing gambling shops,
with this advantage, however, to those who
now carry on the business, that they pay
no license therefor. They are, however,
protected BY Kellogg and his Metropolitan
Commissioners, as other cit liens are not
protec ed in their property and lawful ocen-
pations.
And for this new blessing we are indebt-
ed to w. P. kellogg, whose principal ally,
counsellor and supporter is sanity and
goodly man, who lately acted as Viee-Pres-
ident of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation.
We need not dwell on the indescribable
mischief and decentralization that must re-
suit to our city from this encouragement
and maintenance of these gambling dens in
our midst.
Any one who desires to form just idea
of the extent of this Generalization has
only TO visit these establishments on st.
Charles, Canal and Royal streets at night,
and survey the crowds there assembled.
He will see where the wages of labor, the
hire of clerks, and alas! too frequently, the
money of their employers, are nightly trans
ferred by thousands Of dollars into the ever
open pouch of the very worst Of the many
vicious classes that infest the city.
NEWS FOR BALLOONISTs.
A rather astonishing bit of chemical news
appears In Paris letter to the Turf, Field