USA > Louisiana > A history of Louisiana, revised edition > Part 19
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QUESTIONS.
What was Banks' whole force? What was the difference of opinion between Taylor and Smith? Tell about the battle of Mansfield. How many soldiers fought on each side? Tell about the battle of Pleasant Hill? What was the result of Banks' Red river campaign? Describe the pursuit of Banks. How did Porter pass Red River Falls? How did the war end? Give an account of Governor Allen.
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CHAPTER XXXVII.
AFTER THE WAR.
Reconstruction .- Louisiana had suffered terribly during the war. Her rich fields had been laid waste, her sugar houses had been burned, and, saddest of all, thousands of her brave sons had perished on the battle field. When the survivors returned to their homes, they took up once more the duties of life with the hope of restoring their fortunes by courage and industry .* The war had served one good pur- pose ; it had taught those who fought in it to bear misfor- tunes bravely. But alas! for the next twelve years Louisiana was destined to suffer almost as much as during the war itself.
In December, 1865, there was added to the Constitution of the United States the Thirteenth Amendment, which declared that slavery was forever abolished. But Congress, which was now largely composed of Republicans, was afraid that the freedmen might not obtain the right of suffrage in the South. It decided, therefore, that the Southern States should not send representatives to Congress and should not control their own governments until they had been "reconstructed." This meant that in these States strong military governments were to be established by the President, and that these were to frame new constitutions, guaranteeing to the freedmen the right to vote, and excluding from office all prominent Con- federates. ¡ As soon as the rights of the freedmen had been
* General Richard Taylor tells us that at the close of the war his plantation had been confiscated, and that his whole fortune consisted of two horses, one of which was lame and unfit for service.
¡After "reconstruction" these Confederates were not admitted to Congress until they had been pardoned.
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thus secured, the States were to be readmitted to the Union.
Political Adventurers .- In 1868, Louisiana having been duly "reconstructed," was readmitted to the Union." But this was not to be the end of her troubles. Crowds of Re- publican adventurers, who had hurried down from the North, got possession of the State Government. This was easy to do ; for according to the new constitution, framed in 1868, the Southern Democrats who had taken a prominent part in the war were not allowed to vote, and the freedmen naturally thought that they must support the Republicans, who had abolished slavery. Hence, a bitter contest arose between the Democrats, who owned all the property in the State, and the political adventurers, who held all the offices. These latter were called in the South "carpet-bag" politicians, because it was said that they brought with them from the North noth- ing but their carpet-bags.
The new-comers soon began to seize the public money, large sums of which they put into their own pockets or spent in keeping themselves in office. All their actions were sup- ported by a band of soldiers called the Metropolitan Police, and by United States troops, which had been sent by the President " to keep order in Louisiana." Hence there fol- lowed a period of shameless corruption. In a few years the public debt of Louisiana was increased by the sum of $40,- 000,000. Taxes became extremely high, and the people of the State, who had been much impoverished by the war, were now overwhelmed with debt. After a while, however, the Republicans began to quarrel among themselves. H. C. Warmoth, who had been elected governor in 1868, was im- peached and suspended from office in 1872 by a hostile wing of his own party. For one month P. B. S. Pinchback acted
* Michael Hahn, who was elected governor in 1864, resigned in 1865, and was suc. ceeded by another Union man, J. M. Wells. The "reconstruction" governors were B. F Flanders and Joshua Baker. The former served from June, 1867, to January, 1868, and the latter from January, 1868, till July of the same year.
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as governor. In 1873 he was succeeded by another Repub- lican, Wm. P. Kellogg.
The White League .- The Louisianians soon saw that if they wished to enjoy their right of free government, they must take up arms against the oppressors. A great number of the most prominent men in various parts of the State, therefore, formed themselves into what was called the White League.t The object of this organization was to rescue the State from the "carpet-bag" government and restore it to the white Democrats. "Resistance to tyranny !" was the cry in all the parishes. At St. Martinsville the people rose and drove back an armed vessel called the "Ozark," which the Repub- lican governor, Wm. Pitt Kellogg, had sent to arrest the principal citizens of town because they refused to pay taxes . for the support of his government. Finally, on the 14th of September, 1874-a day ever memorable in the annals of New Orleans-there was a battle between a detachment of the League and Kellogg's Metropolitan Police. Some fire- arms for the League had been brought to the city by steamer, and Kellogg declared that they should not be delivered to their owners. The forces of the White League, under Gen- eral Fred N. Ogden, marched to the foot of Canal street with the intention of taking possession of the arms. Here they were met by the Metropolitan Police under General Longstreet, and there was a sharp contest, in which forty men were killed and one hundred were wounded. The White League was victorious. The Metropolitans were scattered, and the pieces of artillery which they had placed upon the levee were turned against themselves.
When the battle was over it was found that sixteen mem- bers of the League lay dead upon the street .* With their
* On the 14th of September. 1891, a monument to the memory of these heroes was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies. It stands at the foot of Canal street, and bears the names of those who fell in defence of free government. These names should never be forgotten: Bozonier, Betz, Brulard, Crossin, Considine, Feuil. lan, Gautier, Gourdain, Graval, Lindsey, Mohrman, Newman, Robbins, Tole- dano, Wells, and West.
Outside of New Orleans, " The White Man's l'arty."
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deaths, however, began a new era in Louisiana ; for the peo- ple of the State felt that their cause had been sanctified by the blood of these brave citizens, and that they must never give up the struggle until they had won back the right to govern themselves
Kellogg's troops had been defeated; but he himself had taken refuge in the Custom House. While here he appealed to the President for help. His request was granted, and with the aid of United States troops he was once more installed as governor .*
F. T. Nicholls, Governor .- In 1876, however, a new election was held. The Democrats, by a majority of 8,000, carried the State for Francis T. Nicholls. Many of the colored people, preferring to live in peace with the white landowners, left the Republi- can party of their own free will, and voted with the Dem- ocrats. Kellogg's party, how- ever, maintained that a ma- jority of the votes had been cast for their candidate, a United States marshal named .FR Packard, whom they hoped to keep in office by means of FRANCIS T. NICHOLLS. United States soldiers. Nich- olls, who had been a brave soldier, now showed that he was a devoted patriot. With calm courage he declared that at all hazards he would guard the rights of his State. "I " have been elected governor," he said, "and I intend to " be governor." The Louisianians rallied around him, ready to defend him at the point of the bayonet.
* The Democrats had elected John McEnery governor, and D. B. Penn lieuten- ant.governor, but both were now forced to retire.
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In January, 1877, therefore, two governors were inaugu- rated in Louisiana; Nicholls openly on the balcony of the court building that overlooks Lafayette Square, and Packard behind closed doors in the State House (now Hotel Royal). Here, guarded by Federal troops, Packard and his followers remained for several months, while the White League held all the courts for Nicholls .* Finally, in April, 1877, a committee sent down from Washington to to investigate the strange condition of affairs in Louisiana, advised the President to withdraw the Federal troops. Without troops, Packard could do nothing, and his govern- ment immediately fell to pieces The "carpet-baggers" soon after departed from Louisiana, and the State once more enjoyed a free government
Such is a brief summary of the important events from the close of the war to the year 1877. It is a far more agreeable task to take up the subsequent history of Louisiana, and tell how the State drew herself out of the " slough of despond " and began again that career of wonderful prosperity which had been interrupted by the war.
QUESTIONS.
What was the Thirteenth Amendment? What was "reconstruc- tion? " Tell about the " carpet-bag politicians," and the increase of the State debt. What was the White League? Tell about the " Ozark." Tell about the Fourteenth of September Whom did the Democrats elect governor in 1876? Tell about the two governors. How did the contest end?
*The seizure of the Supreme Court on Jackson Square by Governor Nicholls' troops was one of the most exciting and important events that occurred during this period. It was on the oth of January, a bitter cold day. At six o'clock in the morning the White League, well armed, gathered around the court, in which Pack . ard had stationed a guard of Metropolitans. Cannon were placed at the head of neighboring streets; for it was expected that the Republicans would make a fierce resistance and that the United States troops would lend them aid. At the last moment, however, the courage of the Metropolitans failed them, and they decided to sur- render. There being no actual confhet the United States troops refused to interfere. As Packard's judges had already left the building and sought places of safety, Nicholls' appointees took their seats. They were Judges Manning, Marr, Egan, Spencer, and DeBlanc, with Alfred Roman as clerk. The other courts having been surrendered soon after, the judicial business of the State was conducted wholly by the Nicholls government.
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CHAPTER XXXVIII.
PROGRESS.
Nicholls and the New Constitution .- We have seen that, in 1868, under the Republican administration, a new constitution was framed for Louisiana; but it was clear that this constitution contained many unwise provisions, which must be corrected or removed. Accordingly the leading men of the State assembled in convention at New Orleans and drew up the constitution of 1879, which remained the . organic law of the State for nineteen years.
This constitution contained some important changes. In all previous constitutions (except in one framed in 1864, during the military rule of General Banks), there was a provision that the governor should not be elected for a second term until four years after the expiration of his first term. This provision was now abolished. Moreover, the courts of the State were remodeled on a novel plan, the chief feature of which was the establishment of courts of appeal, subject to the supervision of the Supreme Court. In general, we may say that this constitution made provision for the immense debt that had been contracted by the State ; it provided for the usual system of public schools, though granting scanty funds for their sup- port ; and it confined within very narrow limits the powers of the legislature, so that the State might not be injured by un- wise laws.
Louis A. Wiltz, Governor, 1880-81-S. D McEnery, Governor, 1881-88 .- Louis A. Wiltz, who had been elected governor under the new constitution, was inaugurated in January, 188o. One of the provisions of the constitution was that the seat of government should be removed from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. The old Capitol build- ing in the latter city had been burned during the war, but immediate steps were now taken to rebuild it. Wiltz, who had been lieutenant-governor under Nicholls, and had won
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n enviable reputation for himself as mayor of New Orleans n 1872-74, did not live through lis term. At his death, in 1881, he lieutenant-governor, S. D. McEnery, succeeded him, and ifter serving the unexpired term, le was elected governor in 1884. Governor McEnery thus held the highest position in the gift of the people for seven years.
The Jetties .- Up to the year 1879 New Orleans lacked a good channel through the mouths of the Mississippi. Dredging ma- chines had been used to remove . GOVERNOR LOUIS A. WILTZ. the sand bars that constantly formed in the passes, and at various times iron harrows had been dragged over the obstruc- tions; but nothing permanent had been accomplished. Vessels containing a million dollars' worth of goods were often aground on the bar for days, and the commerce of New Or- leans was seriously injured. In 1874, however, Captain Jas. B. Eads, a distinguished engineer, proposed to try a plan that had been suggested by a French en- gineer soon after the founding of New Orleans. This was to build jetties, which, by confining the immense volume of water be- GOVERNOR S. D. M'ENERY. tween them, would force the river to dredge itself. The United States Government thought favorably of this propo- sition, and made large appropriations for the work. Thus encouraged, Eads began his jetties in 1875 and finished them
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in four years. They are built in what is called the South Pass, and consist of two long lines of willow " mattresses," ballasted with stone and held in place by piles. The east jetty is a little over two miles long, while the west one is about a mile and a half. The work was a perfect success ; for a channel from twenty six to thirty feet in depth was obtained where there had not been fifteen feet before ; and large vessels can now come up to New Orleans without any detention. Up to the year 1881, nearly six millions of dollars had been spent on the jetties ; and the success of the plan gained for Captain Eads the gratitude of Louisiana and a world-wide reputation.
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THE JETTIES.
The Levees .- About the time the jetties were completed ( 1879), important progress was made in protecting Louisi- ana against the overflows and crevasses which every year seemed to become more destructive. In 1882, however, there came a great flood, which produced 284 crevasses. The extent of levee embankment swept away amounted in all to more than fifty-six miles. At first it seemed impossible to raise enough money to rebuild these levees, though it was clear that
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the prosperity of the State depended upon the protection of the rich plantations that lie along the banks of the rivers. In 1883, however, a levee convention was called in Baton Rouge ; great interest was aroused; money was raised; and levee building on a large scale was undertaken. Timely assist- -
ance, moreover, came from the United States Government, which had already begun to appreciate the fact that the care of the levees on the Mississippi is a matter of national im- portance. In meeting the terrible difficulties of this period, Governor McEnery showed such zeal and ability that he gained for himself the gratitude of the whole State.
This good work was continued on a larger scale than ever before during the second term of Governor Nicholls. From the time of the convention down to the year 1893, the sums spent upon the levees by the General Government and the State Boards amounted to many millions of dollars. The results of this wise policy were seen in the flood of 1890. In this year the water rose higher than in 1882; but the whole breakage in eleven hundred miles of levees was only four and one-quarter miles in extent .* Since then the United States Government has made an appropriation of ten million dollars for the Mississippi. With this sum and the amounts raised by the States most interested, it is promised by the en- gineers that the South shall have "a system of levees capable of controlling all floods in the Mississippi."
Maritime Sanitation .- In 1878 over four thousand per- sons died of yellow fever in Louisiana. Some years later, however, Dr. Joseph Holt, of New Orleans, established at the mouth of the Mississippi a system of disinfecting vessels which won for him a national reputation. Improvements were made by his successor, Dr. C. P. Wilkinson, and by Dr. S. R. Oliphant, until the quarantine station is now the best equipped in the world. After the establishment of this new system there was no yellow fever in Louisiana for eighteen
* "Memoirs of Louisiana."
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years. At last it seeme I that the State had been freed from the terrible scourge which had done so much to injure com- merce and discourage immigration. When the disease re- appeared in IS97, and in subsequent years, it assumed a milder form than ever before, and the rate of mortality was very low. Even during these years Louisiana was one of the healthiest States in the Union ; for the mildness of the cli- mate, and the out-door life which such a climate renders pos- sible, preserve the inhabitants from many of the terrible dis- eases so common in the North.
THE CAPITOL AT BATON ROUGE.
The Cotton Centennial Exposition .- In the year 1784 the earliest shipment of cotton was made from Charleston, S. C. It consisted of six bags (about one bale). To cele- brate the one hundredth anniversary of this event, a great Centennial Exposition was opened in New Orleans during he year IS84. The largest exposition building the world
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had ever seen was built, and thousands of visitors flocked to Louisiana from the North, the East, and the West. They saw the beauty of our Southern land and enjoyed the hospi- tality of our Southern people. The Exposition, if it accom- plished nothing else, enabled the Northern and Southern peo -- ple to know each other better, and removed much of the bit- terness that had been handed down as a relic of the war.
The annual Carnival of New Orleans, probably the most splendid pageant ever seen in the world, has also played its part in drawing the two sections of the country more closely together.
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THE LEVEE AT NEW ORLEANS.
Nicholls' Second Term as Governor. 1888-1892 .- In 1888, Francis T. Nicholls was called once more to the governor's chair. His great services in asserting the rights of his State and standing firm during the troublous times of 1876-77, had greatly endeared him to the people of Louis- iana, and they showed their appreciation of his sterling qual- ities by giving him a second term. During his administra- tion a fierce contest arose over the renewal of the Louisiana Lottery charter. As the Lottery Company offered a large
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annual sum to the State for this renewal, many people were in favor of granting it. But the Governor and some other prominent men declared themselves opposed to the contin- uance of lotteries, and a strong anti-lottery party sprung up. As both sides canvassed the State, there was a great deal of excitement. Finally, however the United States Govern- ment refused the Lottery Company the use of the mails ; whereupon the managers of that corporation withdrew their offer.
Murphy J. Foster, Governor. 1892. -.- Murphy J. Fos- ter, "the man from St. Mary," who had been the anti-lottery candidate for gov- ernor, was soon after elected over three opponents. The lieutenant-governor chosen at the same time was Charles Parlange, of Pointe Coupée. Coming into office after this bitter contest, in which the passions of two parties were greatly excited, Governor Foster, by his personal mag- GOVERNOR MURPHY J. FOSTER. netism and his wise adminis- tration, won the praise even of his political enemies.
Prosperity .- During the last sixteen years the prosperity of the State has been very remarkable. Now that there is deep water at the mouth of the Mississippi, thousands of ves- sels visit every year the docks of New Orleans, and bear away to all parts of the world not only sugar and cotton, the products of the South, but also great cargoes of grain sent down by the Western States.
Sugar and Cotton .- Improved methods have made great changes in the sugar industry. "A quarter of a century ago " the yield of sugar was one pound from forty-five pounds of
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" cane ; at the present day in large factories the yield is one " pound from nine pounds of cane." Moreover, large cen- tral sugarhouses have been built, which buy the cane from the small planter and save him a great deal of expense. This economy in the manufacture, together with the bounty now paid to the planters by the United States Government, has given a new impulse to sugar planting.
The cotton crop of 1900-1901 was one of the greatest in the history of the South. It amounted to more than ten millions of bales. Of this crop Louisiana produced about 719,000 bales-more than her usual share.
Immigration from the West-Cultivation of Rice .- Within the last few years a thousand families of settlers from Iowa, Kansas, and other Western States have crowded into the parishes of Southwestern Louisiana. The changes that these worthy people have produced in this portion of the State are so remarkable that they seem to be the result of a magical transformation.
The chief settlements of the new-comers are in Calcasieu, and in parts of Vermillion and Cameron. At first they de- voted themselves more particularly to grass-growing, fruit- raising, and the breeding of fine stock. In all these they were very successful on account of the new and improved methods which they introduced. Their greatest success, however, has been won in the cultivation of upland rice. This was first tried on a small scale, but the crop was made with so little expense, and was so profitable, that more lands were soon drained and more rice was planted, until an immense area is now under cultivation. In St. Charles, Plaquemines, and other river parishes, rice has been cultivated for a num- ber of years. In 1880, however, the crop of the State was only So,000 barrels ; while in 1900, with the addition of the new plantations in Southwestern Louisiana, it excelled all previous crops, reaching 2,000,000 barrels. Hence rice must now be placed among the great staple products of the
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State. Formerly it was grown chiefly in the Atlantic States ; but Louisiana now yields far more than all these States to- gether. As the quality of the Louisiana rice is very fine, and as the crop can be produced here at less expense than in any other State, the planters have a new source of wealth.
The settlers from the West, therefore, have introduced a wonderful spirit of activity and enterprise into Louisiana. The Acadians themselves, who have generally been slow in accepting improvements, are now imitating their Western brethren, and are trying new methods of agriculture. As a result the assessed value of property in this portion of Louis- iana has been trebled during the last ten years. No wonder, then, that the Louisianians appreciate the importance of bringing good immigrants into their State.
Education and Literature .- Louisiana may well boast of her progress in education and literature. Every year her public school system is improving .* It is now clearly seen that the State can not depend upon private schools, however useful they may be; a public system is the true method of preparing the youth of the land to become good citizens. In the higher education, also, there has been much progress. The Universities for white and colored in New Orleans, the University at Baton Rouge, the Normal School at Natchi- toches, together with the numerous colleges scattered over the State, are offering better advantages than ever before. The young men of Louisiana no longer need to seek an edu- cation in Northern colleges or in foreign countries.
Finally, with peace and prosperity, there has sprung up in the South a new literature, and in the production of it Lou- isiana has played an important part. Brilliant writers in French and English are to be found within the State. Creole and American authors are successfully describing to the out- side world the manners, the customs, and the scenery of our
* New Orleans owes a debt of gratitude to John McDonogh, who gave a large sum of money for the erection of handsome school buildings in the city.
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Southern land. This new literature has excited great en- thusiasm in the North, and we may predict that Louisiana will gain a high place for herself in the literary world. Her writers have an interesting field to explore, for no history. is richer in romantic incidents than that of Louisiana.
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