Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-26
Two Decades in Louisiana,
FROM 1850 TO 1880.
EMBRACING THE ERAS OF SECESSION
WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION.
IN. 0. Democrat


II Baton Rouge may Justly claim the tit
of the historic and classic city of Lou
siana. This claim does not re
| on its antiquity, or ou it's rap
! rapid growth and commercial inpo
| tancc. These, for an American tow
\ have been exceptionally slow and in col
| siderable. Its selection by the frs
| French voyageurs, who descended th
4 Mississippi from the French colony {
Il 'berville at Biloxi, as Il landing place fo
their frail and rude craft, antedatcd til
stalking off by Bienvilleof the site of th
present great city Of New Orleans an,
the passage of the real mouths of th,
Mississippi river by the English ships
\ IL was IN this little town that, at th,
beginning ofthe present century, the
once proud and powerful Spanish vice
i royalty, which had SO long welded it!
scepUre over the vast territory of Loui
slana, had made its last stand agains,
the constantly advancing and aggres.
sive Anglo.American population.
| 1t is novel spectacle in history, illus.
tratlve ofSpanish pride and tenacity,
that with so feeble grasp and snrroun-
ded by so many perils of serly and even
tual absorption or forcible expulsion by
the eager and enterprising Anglo-Am-
erlcans, Spain should have maintained
even the semblance of authority in this
remote little town, over narrow dis
located slip of territory for the period
of six or seven years after the cession Of
all the territory to the south, north and
west, and it's occupation by aconstantly
angmenting population of the most pro-
gressiEe, enterprising, and, as to all
claims or pretensions of European pow
ers, the most aggressive and conquering
of all the eolonizing races of the world.
But SO it was; down to the autumn of
1910 there existed at Baton Rouge
Spanish Governor and Captain General,
with q full staff and all the parapherna-
liza and surroundings Of viceroyalty.
The grand flag of old CASTLE and ARA
son waved detiantly over strongly
built fort, which occupied the now ever
green-shaded and picturesque heights
where for so many years the United
States has maintained large, commodi-
ons and beautiful barracks, and arsenals
stores and pleasant residences for officers
of the army.
This Spanish flag was great ot,ynse
to the crowds Of American emirrsnts
plying in their Aatbosts, broad. horns
and RATS along the Mississippi. Why
should 80 hated power be permitted to
hold this much cherished and eligible
site for town, and WELD . despotic and
foreign power over the beautiful mag
|aolia.covered hills and rich valleys of
the lovely country lying between the
line Of the Mississippi Territory and the
bayou hapchsc, dignifed 10 history by
tito title Of lberville river. This charm.
ling section Of the Mississippi valley, the ,
atmosphere Of which is fragrant the
Whole year found with the bloom Of it's
deise evergreen tropical forests, and
will shrubbery, and musical with the
not's Of millions Of gaily adorned birds,
WAS regarded BY the depressing Anglo
Americans as the appropriate home of a
libery-loving, progressive people, with
Pargecapacities for the proper use and
.evel'pment of its great ma tnral advan-
t"ges.and with strong passions for rural
ite AMI pursuits.
10 ills pervading sentiment and pas
sioh OF the Anglo-American settlers of
thls sec ION must we ascribe the appear ;,
ancc IN he streets of Baton Rouge, be.
fore the break of day, in September,
ielo, OF abody of llorsemen. riding from .
the back 'onntry known as the Plains. .
There Wee a hundred or more of these u
pnen. The were clothed in homespuu, .. .
bore in ther hands the long rifles and =
|n their blts the long knives of the
'ack-woodsaen. Rough, stalwart, fear =
eSs and determined was the aspect of
these men. U
Their leade was a giant in limbs and n
Mature, with he voice of Stentor and =
the air of command of an old soldier. a :,
He wore a lar;e broad sword, and rode
a powerful hore, and held his followers
nnder absolute control. The sacacious
.hS -, -. Il !