The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-08-17
An OLD REVOLT.
The First Attempt TO Found an
American Republic In 176S.

New Orleans Republican,
How many people are there who know
that in Louisiana as far back as 1868
there was an attempt made to establish
republic upon the soil of North Amer
lea, and that five cirizens of New Or
leans paid for the attempt with their
lives! Yet such is the fact, and the
dusty records in the official archieves a,
Madrid and Paris bear testimony to their
gallant but fruitless endeavor.
1t occurred shorty after France had
ceded Louisiana to Spain. The helpless
inhabitants disliked the transfer, but
they were iewerless to help themselves
Although the Spaniards formally &C
cepted the gift in 1852, the first Span
ish Governor, Ulloa, did not arrive in
Louisiana until four years afterward =
The colonists had made up their minds
to dislike him, and they did so. He
seems to have been gay, good humor
ed, and not very dishonest ruler, who
tried to suit his unruly subjects, and
found that he had set himself an impos
sible task They were scandalized be.
cause he married without the consent OF
"Father Dagobert," and hurt because he
sent to Havana for nurse for his child.
Was not Louisiana able to furnish 8
good enough nurse2 The colonists
complained of his presence at New Or
leans, but declared that he had insulted
them when he stayed at Balize for eigh,
months. They shut him and his wife
out of society, and then accused him O
naughty .exclusiveness. One of the Sc
rious charges against him was that he
made the inhabitants of New Orleans &C
six miles out of town in order to whiI
their slaves, because, forsooth, Madame
Ulloa's nerves were disturbed by thu
shrieks of the victims of the LASH
When he saw that the colonists hat
agreed to disagree with him in every
thing, be gave up trying to please them
secluded himself and studied science, tC
which he was devotee. Meanwhile
the popular discomfort grew apace.-
Twelve prominent citizens formed .
plot to overthrow the Spanish authority
and establish Republic under the pro
lection Of the British officer then com
manding at Pensacola. October 25
1853, the crisis came. Armed band
occupied the streets of New Orleans
Ulloa fled to friyate which lay off th,
city. The Superior Council met, ex
PEELED, in the style of more recent days
all the adherents of the other side, ant
adopted an address declaring that tn
colony's allegiance was due to France
not Spain. This was blind. The rea
intent, as the archieves of Paris show
was to establish a republic modelled al
ter the Swiss Government. Ulloa re
ported to Madrid One plan was IL
transform the colony into a republi,
under the protection of England, br
seeing that they could not obtain frou
her the assistance they wished for, the
came to the determination to rise witt
out it, and to trample under foot th
orders Of their sovereign"
i For several months the colonists wer
left to rule themselves Then the f,
ture grew dark. France and Englan
both refused their aid. Spain sent th
Irish O'Rielly, with twenty-four ship
and more than three thousand troop
to seize the rebellious colony Whe
the feet came in sight, advancing up tt
Mississippi, one of the conspirators
Marquis, proclaimed the Republic, br
less than hundred men responded t
| his call for troops. O'Rielly landed III
disturbed. Four days aiterward tt
J twelve leaders were arrested. A mont
of torture and trial ended in the sci
. tence of five of them to death. Or
, had already been killed while trying
speak to his wife, The lack Of q haus
man saved the five from the scatfold.-
They were shot onsthes.m marning of O.
tober 26, 1869 the first. martyrs t
American Independence.