The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-08-28
A BIT OF OLD GEORGIA.
The Quaint Town OF Louisville
and It's History
Oaoe . Prominent Slave Market
Where ThousaAds Of Negroes
Have Been Sold-SOne HIS
t0eic Events.

There stands in the center of the
principal street of the quaint old town
of Louisville, Co., queer structure. It
was built so long ago that those who
have grown old and gray in this former
capital of the state cannot tell of its
early history. Somewhere in the early
days before the "Yazoo speculation"
this old ''slave market" was erected,
and, although built of wood, it has
stood the storms Of time, and the hewn
post oak beams and pillars are as
sound now as on that day when the
wrought-iron nails were first driven
into them. and the bell, which now
hangs cracked and toneless as Curl
osity, pealed forth its sbrazen tones.
calling the dealer to bid at the "nigger
sale"
A very few people know that Louis
vile was ever the capital of Georgia.
The star of empire taking it's way west
ward came first to Savannah, then Au-
gusta, and on the 10th day of May, 1905,
the seat of government was changed
from Augusta to this little island viii
lage, and here remained until 1904
after which Mil1edgeville was selected,
and, at cost OF $l15,0O0, capitol was
erected.
1t was at Louisville that the papers
and documentA connected with that
giant swindle, the ~Yazoo frauds" were
burned by Gen. James jackson.
The story Of the Yazoo frauds is a
long and intricate history. 1t is stated
that more than 100 duels were fought
about it. The pith OF the story Is about
| as follows:
During the first years subsequent to
the revolution few wealthy and un-
scrupulms men under oath of secrecy
formed what was known as the Com.
bined society.
| Their scheme was to bride the Georgia
legislature and to buy from the state
$4,000 900 acres Of land in western
Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, and
the price for all this territory was only
to be $4,000
This purchase would have taken in
what is now the best part of three pop
ulous states. These old-time swindlers
only wanted part of the earth. This
would have been q deed to all Atlanta,
Chattanooga, Memphis, to say nothing
of 10000 smaller towns. The arch
swindler was one Thomas Washington,
alias Walsh, a man of wonderful parts
History tells of how the giant specu.
lator failed principally through the
courageous efforts of Gen. James Jack.
son. The conspirators actually car
ried their bill through both houses o,
the legislature and the governors sig
nature was attached
On January 20, 1895. the general al
sembly met and rescinded the action O.
the former body. Gen. jackson, for
merly United States senator, resigned
: his seat in the senate, cana home ant
was elected member of this legisla
ture from Chatham county. He en-
gineered the rescinded bill through
On the day following, by the order O
both houses, fire was kindled In til,
square and all the records and docu
ments were publicly burned.
The clerk Of the house was require,
to cry in loud voice: "God save tn
state and long preserve her rights, AM
may every attempt to injure her pei
ish as these wicked and corrupt act
now do"
: This occurred in the year Of our Lor
1899. NinetyIeight years ago. Ye
there can be seen in the courteous
yard, under the spreading shades, til
shallow excavation in the ground int
which the papers were piled.
The old governors mansion was onf
; torn away last year, the capitol disaI
peared many years ago, and the oil
slave market which inspires this skstc
] will soon, too, give way before th
8 march of nineteenth century push. /.
water tower win probably take th
place of this hoary sentinel of time.
An old gentleman whom I met on til
streets of Louisville, and whose gra
: hair and tottering form I could not hel
comparing to the ancient Landmark
. said:
II know I've seen q thousand Niger
bid off here. The bell which hangs il
tide you will notice bears the Frenc
soat Of arms and is stamped 1772.
aave heard that this bell was capture
, in colonial days from the deck Of
/. French privateer. It has only bee
tracked since few years before Il
war;"
1t The strangest part Of the story Is II
; wonderful preservation of the timbe;
i In the old structure. They are all hew
- oak, put together with wrought-ir
! nails, and the wood is so hard that
Il don't believe il would be possible !
70 drive . nineteenth century nail into
with an ak.
Louisville Of to-day is stin unprete
1t tious. It is the county seat Of Jefs
in son-named from that great father
in democracy and declarations.
It. Louisville has a one-gallus railroa
~