USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 27
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One of the first things to engross the attention of the governor after his inauguration, was the condition of affairs in some of the parishes that had been created out of the territory annexed to the state under the act of Congress of April 14, 1812. In a message to the general assembly on Aug. 14 he called attention to the fact that in the parishes of Feliciana, Baton Rouge, St. Helena and St. Tammany "the civil authority has become so much weakened and relaxed, that the laws have lost much of their nfluence." and recom- mended legislation to correct the abuses there existing. Another embarrassment resulted from the difficulty in finding suitable men
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to accept public office. This was especially true of the judges, for the reason that part of their duty was to collect the taxes of their respective parishes. To remedy this, the governor suggested the division of the state into four or more collection districts, with a tax collector in each, a system that was subsequently adopted. Soon after the legislature adjourned it was called to meet in extraor- dinary session on Nov. 23, to provide some method of choosing presidential electors. The electors were chosen by the two branches of the general assembly in joint session on Nov. 30. They were Julien Poydras, Philemon Thomas and Stephen A. Hopkins, who, on the 1st Wednesday in December, cast the first electoral vote of the state for James Madison for president and Elbridge Gerry for vice-president.
Early in the year 1813 the governor undertook the suppression of the smugglers of Barataria (See Smugglers). About the same time the Choctaw Indians got into the habit of visiting New Or- leans, where they could obtain liquor, and would then commit depre- dations in the parishes east of the Mississippi. Many of the settlers in that locality became so alarmed that they abandoned their farms and removed to the west side of the river. A great flood this year caused much damage to the plantations along the river, and a num- ber of incendiary fires in New Orleans produced considerable alarm in that city. On June 26 the governor offered a reward of $1,000 for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the incendiaries, and soon after a negro girl, 13 years of age, was found guilty of arson and sentenced to death. Claiborne granted a reprieve, but as doubts were raised as to whether he had authority for such action. the case was referred to the attorney-general, F. X. Martin, who replied that he "could not find anything in the consti- tution or laws of the state which authorized the governor to com- mute the punishment of any person, free or slave, and did not believe that such a power was impliedly vested in the governor by virtue of his office." The opinion further stated that "the governor might reprieve any person. bond or free, after conviction, till he should have an opportunity of consulting the senate. The power of reprieving is expressly given by the constitution in cases of high treason. Hence a plausible argument might be drawn that he may in lesser offenses. But the power of pardoning must include that of reprieving: for, during the greatest part of the year, the senate being in session. if the governor cannot reprieve alone, cul- prits must undergo punishment before the senate may be consulted. unless the court will postpone the execution of their sentence till the meeting of the senate." This was one of the numerous ques- tions that arose during the early days of statehood on the con- struction of the constitution.
In September news of the Creek war reached New Orleans. As some signs of hostility were to be seen among the Choctaws. Clai- borne sent a circular to all militia colonels, admonishing them to be ready for any emergency, and then made a tour of the state to make such preparations as he could for defense. From Natchitoches, on
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Oct. 18, he sent a "talk" to the chief of the Caddoes. After com- paring the English with the Osage Indians, with whom the Caddoes were then at war, the governor said: "Brother, the English, un- willing to fight us man to man, have called upon the red people to assist them. With tongues as forked and poisonous as snakes', they have told the Indians many lies, and made fair promises which they will not and cannot fulfill. Thus it is that many of the red men have been prevailed upon to throw away the peace-talks of their father, the president. But the Americans have the power and the will to punish all their enemies. * * I wanted to send you a token of my friendship. To a chief, a man, and a warrior, nothing could be more acceptable than a sword, but a suitable one could not be obtained at this place. I have, therefore, directed that a sword be purchased at New Orleans and forwarded to Dr. Sibley, who will soon present it to you in my name. Farewell, brother: I pray the Great Spirit to preserve you in health and happiness." This "talk" and the present of the sword doubtless had much influence in keeping the Caddoes on friendly terms with the Americans, and the anxiety in Louisiana was relieved by the news of the victories of Gens. Jackson, Floyd and White over the Creeks.
In his message to the legislature on Jan. 14, 1814, the governor discussed at some length the war then going on with Great Britain ; referred to "evidences of industry and economy" he noticed on his recent tour through the state: the disasters resulting from the war, floods and hurricanes, which "depressed commercial enterprise and discouraged agricultural exertion ;" the financial embarrass- ments resulting from these conditions; the difficulty in some of the parishes in meeting the payment of taxes; and recommended a revision and compilation of the laws. Judge Dominick A. Hall, of the supreme court, had been appointed by the president to the office of district judge of the United States, leaving a vacancy on the supreme bench of the state, and during this session the state senate rejected five successive nominations of the governor. Near the time for adjournment the governor submitted to Atty .- Gen. Martin a series of questions relating to the matter of appointments, viz .: Whether the governor is not bound by the constitution to exercise his free agency in making nominations, and whether he should not resist all attempts of the senate to influence such nom- inations? Whether, if the senate continued to reject every one pro- posed by the governor. the vacancy might be filled during the recess of the legislature? If the vacancy could not be so filled, would two judges of the court be considered as competent for the transaction of business? Mr. Martin rendered a rather lengthy opinion, the substance of which was that the governor should exercise his free agency and not yield to the senate; that, under the circumstances he could not appoint a judge during the recess ; and that two judges would be competent for the transaction of business. This opinion failed to bring harmony, and the legislature adjourned without an appointment having been made.
Some excitement in military circles occurred in the early part of
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the year 1814. Late in the preceding December Gen. Thomas Flournoy, commanding the U. S. forces on the Mississippi, reported to Gov. Claiborne that not more than 700 men could be concen- trated in Louisiana, and made a requisition for 1,000 of the state militia to be employed in the U. S. service for six months unless sooner discharged. On Christmas day Claiborne issued orders to carry the requisition into effect. The 2nd division marched to Maga- zine barracks, opposite New Orleans, which place had been desig- nated as the general rendezvous, but the Ist division failed to re- spond. A second order on Feb. 21, 1814, met with no better result, and on March 3 the governor wrote to Flournoy: "With the ex- ception of three or four companies of the city militia, whose con- duct met my highest approbation, my orders were not only disre- garded, but resolutions of determined disobedience were entered into by the non-commissioned officers and privates of several sepa- rate corps, and transmitted to me." Gayarre says: "The secret of all this opposition was, the invincible repugnance of the Creole and French population to be enlisted in the service of the United States under officers not of their own choosing, and their apprehension of being sent out of the state, for which alone they were disposed at that time to shed their blood." On the refusal of the militia to enter the service of the United States, the 400 men at Magazine barracks were disbanded, and on March 30 Claiborne issued a cir- cular vindicating the authority under which he had acted. Later, when Louisiana was actually invaded by the British, the militia of the state rendered a good account of itself.
On Aug. 29 Col. Nicholls, of the British artillery, issued a proc- lamation calling on the inhabitants of Louisiana to join with the British forces in "liberating from a faithless, imbecile government, your paternal soil." This stirred the people of the state to action, but not in the direction Nicholls had hoped. Early in September the governor addressed a letter to Mr. Girod, the mayor of New Orleans, requesting him to use the greatest vigilance concerning the admission of strangers into the city in order to avoid the entrance of spies. A few days later he issued general orders calcu- lated to arouse the patriotism and zeal of the militia, and on the same day wrote to Gov. Shelby of Kentucky, asking him to forward troops for the defense of New Orleans. On the 15th a meeting was held at Tremoulet's coffee house, at which resolutions were passed declaring the attachment of the people of the State of Louisiana to the government of the United States and that "they will repel with indignation every attempt to create disaffection and weaken the force of the country, by exciting dissensions and jealousies at a moment when union is most necessary." On the 21st Gen. Jackson issued two proclamations-one to the white people of Louisiana and the other to the free colored men of the state-calling on them to rally to the defense of the country. From that time on until the actual commencement of hostilities the preparations for war went on with unabated vigor. When Jackson arrived in New Orleans on Dec. 1, his presence inspired both confidence and patriotism, and
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though there were some differences of opinion, some bickerings and jealousies, the main object was not lost sight of, and the Louisian- ians never wavered until the invaders were driven from their state. (See War of 1812.)
The legislature met on Nov. 10, but was not able to do much toward the defense of the state. The condition of business at this time is thus told by Latour: "Credit was annihilated : already for several months had the banks suspended the payment of their notes; to supply the want of specie one and three dollar notes had been issued, and dollars had been ent as a substitute for small change. On the banks refusing specie, the moneyed men had drawn in their funds, which they no longer let out without a usurious · interest of three or four per cent. a month. Every one was dis- tressed, confidence had ceased, and with it almost every species of business. Our situation seemed desperate."
On Dec. 14, the governor, in a message to the general assembly, recommended the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus for a limited time, but as on a former occasion, in the territorial days, it met with determined opposition, and a bill to that effect was defeated, though it was supported by both Jackson and Claiborne. On the 16th the governor advised an adjournment of the legislature for two or three weeks, owing to the unsettled conditions, but the assembly declined to adjourn on the grounds that "accidents might happen, and unforeseen cases might occur. when the interference of the legislature might be necessary." Jackson thereupon pro- claimed martial law and issued one of his characteristic proclama- tions to the people. On the 18th the governor approved an act granting delays in certain civil proceedings, for the protection of those who might be called upon to perform military duty, and on the 23d the British appeared before the city. The assembly then ceased to sit, as its members were engaged in the work of defense in various capacities, though every day at noon a few members of each house would meet at their respective halls and regularly ad- journ for the day. On the 28th the halls of the assembly were closed by military authority. When Mr. Skipwith, president . of the senate, and two or three members of that body attempted to enter the senate chamber they were warned away by a sentinel on the staircase, who presented his bayonet, and the senators repaired to the city hall. where the adjournment was effected. The order closing the halls was revoked the next day. This incident led to an exhaustive investigation by a joint committee of the two branches of the assembly, and was the principal reason why the legislature refused to extend a vote of thanks to Gen. Jackson as it did to the other military commanders who took part in the battle of New Orleans. This vote was taken on Feb. 2, 1815, and on the . 6th the legislature adjourned. (See Louallier, Louis, and Hall, Dominick A.)
Early on the morning of March 13 a courier arrived with a dis- patch announcing the treaty of peace. The order proclaiming mar- tial law was revoked, and on the 14th Jackson began preparations
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for disbanding the troops. The people returned to their several avocations and Louisiana began an era of prosperity that continued uninterrupted until the beginning of the Civil war in 1861. On. Jan. 8, 1816, the first anniversary of the battle of New Orleans was celebrated with imposing ceremonies. On March 23 Gen. Jackson visited the city, where he remained several days as a guest of honor. and on July 4 a magnificent dinner was given at Jackson Hall, at which the following toast was received with enthusiasm: "Maj-Gen. Andrew Jackson -- In the hour of danger our country was fortunate in finding a second Washington."
The presidential campaign of 1816 aroused very little interest in the state. Monroe received the electoral vote. The principal con- test was between Gen. Jacques Villere and Joshua Lewis, the candi- dates for governor. The vote as announced by the general assembly, which was convened on Nov. 18, was: Villere, 2,314; Lewis, 2,145. On Dec. 17 Gov. Claiborne retired to private life, after having been governor for thirteen years. The strifes and animosities that arose at various times during his administration were forgotten. In con- cluding his farewell address to the legislature he said :: "I cannot retire from the station to which the people of the state were pleased to raise me, without tendering to them my sincere acknowledge- ments. Had this station been free from every embarrassment, I might not perhaps have justly estimated their generous patronage. but in moments of my greatest difficulty the proofs of personal confidence, and the ready support afforded me, were such as can never be forgotten-they are deeply engraven on a grateful heart."
Clarence, a village in the eastern part of Natchitoches parish. is on the line of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation company, about 7 miles northeast of Natchitoches, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, an express office, telegraph and telephone facilities. and is the shipping point for a large agricultural district. Its popu- lation in 1900 was 125.
Clark, Daniel, a prominent figure in New Orleans about the be- ginning of the 19th century, was a native of Ireland. His grand- father, whose name was also Daniel, had commanded a Pennsyl- vania regiment in the royal service, was at one time clerk to the council of West Florida, and was one of the first to obtain grants of land in that colony. In 1786 the nephew came to New Orleans upon the invitation of his uncle, whose wealth he inherited. When the Territory of Orleans was organized he was appointed a member of the first legislative council, but declined the seat because he had been active in calling public meetings and memorializing Cou- gress not to erect the new territory. He again came into prom- inence through his association with Aaron Burr and Gen. James Wilkinson, the latter of whom he accused of being connected with the scheme to secure the secession of the western territory from the United States. In 1805 Clark was elected delegate to Congress and served until 1809, when he was succeeded by Julien Poydras. He was secretly married in Philadelphia in 1803. and to this mar- riage was born a daughter. Myra, who afterward became the wife
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of Gen. E. P. Gaines. The date of his death is somewhat problem- atical, but his will, dated in 1813, left all his property to his daughter. (See Gaines, Myra Clark.)
Clark, George Rogers, Revolutionary soldier, was born in Albe- marle county, Va., Nov. 19, 1752. He was educated chiefly in a private school kept by a Scotchman, among whose pupils was James Madison, afterward president of the United States. Before Clark attained to his majority he joined a surveying party working on the upper Ohio river, where he became the owner of a farm. He was a volunteer under Gov. Dunmore in the war with the Shawnee Indians, after which he pushed on westward beyond the settle- ments into Kentucky, and by his prowess against the Indians he came in time to be recognized as the protector of all the frontier settlements of what is now Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. In 1776 he was commissioned major in the Virginia militia by Patrick Henry, was promoted lieutenant-colonel the following year, when he raised about 200 men, and in Feb., 1779, captured the British fort at Vin- cennes. Subsequently the posts at Kaskaskia and Kahokia on the Mississippi river surrendered to him, and when in 1781 he was com- missioned brigadier-general in the Continental army, he began making preparations for carrying out his long cherished project of capturing Detroit, but was unable to raise a sufficient force to make the expedition. His "Conquest of the Northwest" played an impor- tant part in the adjustment of the boundaries of the United States possessions at the close of the Revolution. Pierre Chouteau, of St. Louis, Mo., a descendant of one of the founders of that city. says: "While not a part of Louisiana's history, the conquest of the Illinois by Col. George Rogers Clark in 1778-9 was the most potent factor in shaping its destinies. By this campaign the Amer- ican commissioners to the Congress of Paris in 1783 were enabled to establish and maintain that a government de facto as well as de jure had been established, thereby defeating the contentions of the foreign governments, and placing the western boundary of our young republic on the Mississippi river. The Creoles of Louisiana have a pardonable pride in the part taken by their ancestors in this campaign ; and that Clark was not unmindful of the services rendered by the Creoles is evidenced by the bountiful manner in which offices of honor and trust were conferred on them after the acquisition of the territory by the United States." Gen. Clark died near Louisville, Ky., Feb. 18, 1818, and his remains rest in an unknown and unmarked grave. The reward he received was in no. wise commensurate to the services he rendered.
Clarks, a village in the southern part of Caldwell parish, is a sta- tion on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., about 7 miles south of Columbia, the parish seat and nearest banking town. It has a money order postoffice, an express office, and is the trading center of a considerable territory.
Clay (R. R. name Elmore), a money order post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Jackson parish, is on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R., about 7 miles northwest of Vernon, the parish seat.
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Clays .- The opportunities for the development of the clay prod- . uets industries in the State of Louisiana are manifold, for in various regions, especially in the alluvial and bluff formations, excellent deposits of clay are to be found in abundance. The chief clay prod- ucts produced in the state at the present time are common, pressed and vitrified brick and blocks, sewer pipe, drain-tile, and flue and stove linings. Shreveport is the principal brick and tile producing center of the state, fine deposits of clay being found in its imme- diate vicinity. In fact these deposits are extensive and numerous throughout the northwestern portion of the state between the Sabine and the Red rivers. The total capital invested in the brick and tile industry in the state in 1900, according to the U. S. census report of that year, was $672.138, of which sum $182,255 was in- vested in land. $209,280 in buildings, $112,901, in machinery, tools and implements, and $167.702 was in cash and sundries. The aggre- gate value of the brick and tile produced in the state increased from $282,625 in the year 1890 to $553.465 in 1900. an increase of nearly 100 per cent. in ten years. The increase in the total value of com- mon brick during the same decade was about equal to the above increase in the aggregate value of the brick and tile industry, while the number of common brick produced in 1900 was more than twice that of ten years before. The number of pressed brick put on the market in 1900 was approximately three times that produced in 1890, indicating that those who are rearing brick structures in the state are becoming reconciled to the fact that these buildings should be ornamental and pleasing to the eye. at the same time possessing the qualities of strength and durability. This variety of brick is manufactured extensively along the lines of the New Orleans & Northeastern and the Illinois Central railways, as are :also articles of common earthenware, and in the Grand Gulf hills are extensive deposits of white clays which some day will undoubt- edly be utilized for the manufacture of ornamental brick and pot- tery of the finer varieties.
Clayton, a post-hamlet and station in the northern part of Con- cordia parish, on the New Orleans & Northwestern R. R., about 12 miles northwest of Vidalia, the parish seat. It has an express office and telegraph station and in 1900 had a population of about 35.
Clearlake, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Natchitoches parish, is situated on Sabine Lake, about 6 miles east of Caspari, the nearest railroad station.
Cleora, a hamlet and station in the central part of Morehouse parish, is on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., about 6 miles southeast of Bastrop, the parish seat. and 4 miles southwest of Mer Rouge. It has a money order postoffice and some retail stores.
Cleveland, a post-hamlet in the central part of Jackson parish, is situated on Bayon Beaucoup, about 7 miles west of Avard, the nearest railroad station.
Clifford, a post-hamlet and station in the northwestern part of Webster parish, is on the Louisiana & Arkansas R. R .. about 3 miles south of the state line.
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Clifton, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Washington parish, is situated near the Bogue Chitto, about 6 miles north of Franklinton, the parish seat, and 4 miles south of Magee, the near- est railroad station.
Climate .- The climate of Louisiana is semi-tropical. The fall of the year is the most pleasant season in the state, and when the wind is from the north the sky is clear and serene, the air bracing and invigorating. The transformation from winter to summer is by an extremely short spring ; the winds are changeable and erratic, blowing within a short time from every point of the compass, but the fall is long and pleasant. In order to give an idea of the climate of Louisiana, it will be necessary to make comparisons with other sections of the country. Considering the heat, the normal mean maximum temperature for the hottest month, July, taken from the data of the U. S. weather bureau reports, covering a period of 15 years, it is seen that the section of the country from southern Illi- nois, southeast Missouri, to central Minnesota, has an average highest temperature of 84°, with an average lowest temperature of 65°, making the daily range 18°. For Louisiana for the same month, the average highest temperature was 99°, the average lowest temperature 74°, making the daily range 17º. Considering the coldest month, it was found that the upper Mississippi valley (the first named section) had an average highest temperature for Janu- ary of 31°, and a lowest of 13º, or a daily range of 18°, Louisiana had for the same month, an average highest temperature of 59º, an average lowest of 4°, or a daily range for the month of 15°. The maximum temperature of the Mississippi valley for the summer. recorded at Des Moines, Ia., and Cairo, Ill., was 103°, the lowest temperature for the same section, in winter, was 43º below zero at La Crosse, Wis., or an absolute range of temperature of 146°. The highest temperature on record for northern Louisiana was 107°, recorded at Shreveport, and the highest on record for south- ern Louisiana, was 97°, at New Orleans. The lowest temperature recorded for northern Louisiana was 6°, at Shreveport, and the lowest temperature reported for the southern part of the state was 20°, at New Orleans, making the absolute range for the northern part of the state 101°, and for the southern part, 77º, which is a much smaller range than that of the northern Mississippi valley, Missouri valley or the northwestern section of the country. Com- paring the mean relative humidity of different sections: from a record of the U. S. Weather Bureau, covering a period of 15 years, it was found that the mean annual relative humidity of the upper Mississippi valley was computed to be 69 per cent., the mean for the Missouri valley, 74 per cent., the mean for Louisiana 71 per cent, being but 2 per cent above the former section, and 3 per cent. below the latter. The highest mean monthly for the year in Louisiana, was 74 per cent., while the highest in the other sections was 91 per cent. The average yearly rainfall in the upper Missis- sippi valley is 39 inches, most of which falls during the summer months. The average for Louisiana is 60 inches, 4 to 6 inches of
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