New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-05

any city of China during half dozen
centuries.
Thirty years in New Orleans A retro
spect Of three decades not only requires
some effort of memory, but is sadly sug-
gestive of the fact that the sprightly
youth of a former generation is the gray
beard of this.
The history of New Orleans has from
the first been an eventful one. Founded
on the lowlands Of the great river which
drains the valley of the Mississippi, she
was forced to maintain perpetual strug-
gle against overflow, as we'll from the
river floods descending from the great
water sheds of the continent as from the
storm tides of the Mexican Gulf which
hurricanes in their fury roll in upon the
glebe. Then she has had to contend
against pestilence in its most exacting
forms, has been subject to the rule of
three separate nations, has suffered by
food, war and fire, and now, with her
mixed ind heterogeneous population, she
stands among American cities romantic
anomaly. Seated at the gates of empire,
the commercial sceptre she once held has,
for time at least, been wrested from her
grasp, and before she regains it she must
place herself more completely in harmony
with the progressive movements Of the
age.
Thirty years ago the city of New Or
leans consisted of a series of petty NUM-
cipalities, each governed by its special
officers, and each burdened by its special
debt. The population was about half of
what it is at present, though the business
was proportionally much larger. New Or
leans was then considered remarkable for
her wealth and wickedness; for the won
drous beauty of her daughters and the
Hotspur valor of her SONS. Somewhat
from q semi-tropical climate, somewhat
from unusual admixtures of blood, and
somewhat from the customs and peculiar
institutions which then obrained, these
results were due But whatever the cause
or combination of causes, certain it is
that New Orleans society was unlike that
of any other American city. In its fash
ions and ceremonies it reflected all the
gaieties of Paris; in its expenditures it
was royalty extravagant, while in courtli-
ness and chivalrous bearing it was pune
tilious to fault.
At the time of which we write the starry
banner Of the Union was advancing toward
Buena Vista, and old Trough and Ready"
through his military achievements, was
securing for himself that grateful appre-
citation which ultimately resulted in his
election to the presidential chair of the |
republic. Meanwhile, General Winfield
Scott was preparing for his marvellous
march upon the city of the Montezumas-
march almost as wonderful as that of
Cortez in his grand descent upon the cap
ital of the Aztec empire. Many of the hot
bloods Of Louisiana were in SCOTS COM
mand, and news from the Mexican battle
fields was awaited with intense interest
By all classes. A whisper of fresh intelli-
gence caused bellies to pause when the
whirl of the waltz was most exciting, and
gallants to season their compliments with
the flavor of military bulletins. Before
the newspaper Offices Of Camp and Poy-
dras streets anxious crowds awaited the
pony express of the day-tke only tele-
graphic line then in existence-and
pierced the air with shouts of exultation
when tidings Of victory were proclaimed.
Returning to matters Of merely local
interest, We may remark that the Fau-
oourg St. Mary was just emerging from
he swamp, and Samuel J. Peters and
James H. Caldwell had already secured
he golden opinions Of uptown residents.
There was prosperity everywhere, at least
I'M ong those who controlled the condi-
10 Us and claimed the right of being pros
,erous. African slavery, the foundation
lpon which much of this prosperity was
BASED, existed here in all its fullness.
This was the great slave market Of the
South. Here were the traders yards,
upplied from the plantations of Virginia
nd other States, and in the old Arcade
vas one of the more noted of the auction
lands at which human chattels were dis
,osed of.
Truth to say, slavery was then the mud
i'll Of our society, as it was throughout
II the Southern States 1t tempered and
the issues of our entire social
ystem, and was as wholly foreign to a
enuine republicanism as the rule of the
espot to the maintenance of selfgovern-
nent. But with the changes which have
ince occurred, old things have passed
way, and all things have become new.
he chattel is changed into his own mas
er, and stands in politics and before the
aw the peer Of his former owner. A
hange so violent could not be effected
Without disturbance. Before pride could ,
ccept its new conditions of humiliation
nd impoverishment it suffered as only
ride can suffer. While the enfranchsed
lave felt thrill of exultation at the free
ON which, almost unsought, had been !
estowed upon him, the DISTINGUISHED {
,aster felt his unaccustomed hardships
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