USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 78
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written by Dr. J. Dickson Bruns, and was as follows: "For nearly two years you have been the silent but indignant sufferers of ont- rage after outrage heaped upon you by an usurping government. One by one your dearest rights have been trampled upon, until, at last, in the supreme height of its insolence, this mockery of a republican government has dared even to deny you that right so solemnly guaranteed by the very constitution of the United States, which, in article two of the amendments, declares that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.' In that same sacred instrument, to whose inviolate perpetuity our fathers pledged 'their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor,' it was also declared that Congress shall make no law abridging 'the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.' It now remains for us to ascertain whether this right any longer remains to us. We therefore call upon you on Monday morning, the 14th day of Sep- tember, 1874, to close your places of business, without a single ex- ception, and at 11 o'clock a. m. to assemble at the Clay statue, on Canal street, and in tones loud enough to be heard throughout the length and breadth of the land, Declare That You Are Of Right, Ought To Be, And Mean To Be, Free."
This call was signed by a number of well known citizens, and in response to it about 5,000 men assembled at the appointed place the following day. Robert H. Marr, who had presided at the Democratic convention at Baton Rouge the previous month, called the meeting to order, and after the election of Michael Musson as president offered a series of resolutions, declaring that John McEnery had been elected governor by nearly 10,000 majority ; that Kellogg was a usurper and denounced him as such : that his government was arbitrary, unjust and oppressive, and could only maintain itself through Federal interference : that the election laws under which the election of 1874 was to be conducted were in- tended to perpetuate the usurpation ; and demanding the immediate abdication of William Pitt Kellogg.
Robert H. Marr. Jules Tuyes, J. M. Seixas, John B. Woods and Dr. Samuel Choppin were appointed to wait on Kellogg, present him with a copy of the resolutions, demand of him an immediate answer, and report the result to the meeting. The committee re- turned about 1 p. m. and reported that they had called at Kellogg's offices, but he was absent. H. C. Dibble, a member of Kellogg's staff, received the committee, and a little later reported that he had communicated with the governor, who declined to receive any communication, and that he regarded the Canal street meeting as a menace. When this report was made Marr asked the people what they should do, and the reply came as from one man, "We'll fight!" Marr then told them to go home and get their arms and to report at Canal street again at 2:30. when they find men to lead them. In the absence of Gov. McEnery, Lieut .- Gov. D. B. Penn issued a proclamation, calling upon the militia of the state, embracing all persons between the ages of 18 and 45 years, without
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regard to color or previous condition, to arm and assemble under their respective officers, for the purpose of driving the usurpers from power." In the fight that ensued the people won a victory (See White League), but it was of comparatively short duration, for on the 15th President Grant issued a proclamation, stating that it had been "satisfactorily represented to me that turbulent and dis- orderly persons have combined together, with force and arms, to overthrow the state government of Louisiana, and to resist the laws and constituted authority of the state," and commanded "said turbulent and disorderly persons to disperse and retire peaceably to the homes, etc." More troops were ordered to Louisiana and Gen. W. H. Emory was instructed not to recognize the McEnery government under any circumstances.
On Sept. 30 Kellogg issued an address to the people of the United States, in which he claimed a reduction of the state debt under his administration ; stated that he had offered to arbitrate the situation with Mr. McEnery; upheld the election law, and promised a fair election. (As to the manner in which this promise was kept, see the article on Returning Boards.) As the revolution had failed to establish the administration of Gov. McEnery, a conference of prominent leaders of the two political parties was held, with a view to the establishment of some kind of an arrange- ment that would secure a fair election. In this conference the Republicans were represented by Kellogg, S. B. Packard, A. A. Atocha, B. F. Flanders, James Lewis, B. F. Blandin, W. G. Brown and B. F. Joubert. The Democratic or Conservative conferees were John McEnery, D. B. Penn, B. F. Jonas, Dr. Samuel Chop- pin, Albert Voorhies, D. F. Kenner, C. Beard, G. W. Mott and Duncan S. Cage. The result of the conference was an agreement to establish an advisory committee to participate in the work of registering the voters, etc. The Conservatives selected as their members of the advisory committee Albert Voorhies and E. A. Burke, and the Republicans selected S. B. Packard and B. F. Joubert. These four men agreed on Dr. M. F. Bonzano for an um- pire and hopes for a fair registration and election were entertained by the people. But the movement was not a success. On Oct. 15, Dr. Bonzano resigned and the other members of the committee met to select his successor. No agreement could be reached and the advisory committee came to an end.
In a special message to the U. S. senate on Jan. 13, 1875, Presi- dent Grant gave a review of the troubles in Louisiana since the election of 1872, and said: "It has been bitterly and persistently alleged that Kellogg was not elected. Whether he was or not. it is not altogether certain, nor is it any more that his competitor. McEnery, was chosen. The election was a gigantic frand, and there are no reliable returns of the result. Kellogg obtained pos- session of the office, and, in my opinion. he has more right to it than his competitor." The president, however, neglected to state that his opinion was based entirely upon information he received from the Kellogg side, as he refused to hear any argument from a
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committee sent by the Conservatives to Washington on purpose to . enlighten him. He also neglected to state how Kellogg obtained possession of the office-by the aid of Federal troops, of which the president himself was the commander-in-chief.
After the election of 1876 it seemed for a time as though the old warfare was to be resumed. The Republicans claimed the election of S. B. Packard as governor and C. C. Antoine as lieutenant- governor, and the Democrats just as firmly maintained the election of Francis T. Nicholls and Louis A. Wiltz. On Jan. 1, 1877, Kellogg barricaded the state house and admitted as members of · the legislature only those who held certificates from the returning board. The Democratic legislature was organized at St. Patrick's hall. Antoine and Wiltz were the presiding officers of the respective senates, Michael Hahn was elected speaker of the Republican house of representatives, and Louis Bush of the Democratic house. On the 8th Packard and Antoine were inaugurated at the state house, and Nicholls and Wiltz at St. Patrick's hall. Kellogg re- tired from the office and President Grant directed Gen. Augur to maintain the status quo between the two governments. The story of the final settlement of the dispute between Nicholls and Packard is told in Nicholls' Administration.
The constant political turmoil during Kellogg's administration had a deleterious effect upon the industries and the commercial and financial condition of the state. A good cotton crop was raised in 1873, but as a rule agriculture was allowed to languish because of the unstable state of government affairs. On Feb. 26, 1876, an exhibition of the products of the state was opened at New Orleans under the auspices of the Louisiana mechanics and agricultural fair association. The opening address was made by Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana, and the fair proved to be a success, at- tracting considerable attention to the resources and capabilities of Louisiana.
Kellogg's Landing, a post-hamlet of Madison parish, is situated on the Mississippi river in the southeastern part of the parish, about 20 miles below Vicksburg. Miss. It is the shipping point for the southeastern part of the parish and is a trading center for a considerable district. The population in 1900 was 70.
Kelly, a village in the southwestern part of Caldwell parish, is situated on Black creek and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., 9 miles southwest of Columbia, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice and in 1900 reported a population of 57.
Kemper Insurrection .- Although the United States acquired the title to the French possessions in America known as Louisiana. the Spanish set up the claim to West Florida, and continued to exercise dominion over it. In the district between the Perdido river and Baton Rouge there were a large number of inhabitants who were American by birth and in sentiment. Many of this class had joined Gen. Galvez in the movement to overthrow the British authority, and they now chafed at the thought of being compelled
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to live under the jurisdiction of the Spanish monarchy, when they felt that they owed their allegiance to the republic of the United States. In Aug., 1804, the Marquis de Casa Calvo, who had been one of the commissioners to transfer the province to France, and who still remained in New Orleans under pretense of looking after Spanish interests, complained to Gov. Claiborne that he had just been informed that Reuben Kemper, of New Orleans, had been writing threatening letters to the officials in the Baton Rouge dis- trict, and that his brothers, Samuel and Nathan Kemper, who lived near Fort Adams, were engaged in fomenting an insurrection among the people of the Baton Rouge and Tunica districts. lle asked Gov. Claiborne to prevent the rebellious subjects from find- ing a refuge in Mississippi territory, where they would be beyond the jurisdiction of the Spanish authorities. To this Claiborne re- plied that "the insurgents in .West Florida have received no en- couragement from the United States or its officers."
Casa Calvo's information was in the main correct. About 100 of Kemper's followers had made an attempt to surprise the fort at Baton Rouge and capture the governor, Col. de Grandpré, but failing in that had captured the captain of militia, Don Vincent Pintard, the magistrate, John O'Connor, and a planter named Terry. The affair apparently quieted down, but the movements of the Kempers were watched, and on the night of Sept. 3, 1805, while Reuben was visiting his brothers in Mississippi territory, the homes of Nathan and Sammel were surrounded by about 20 armed men, some negroes and some white men in disguise, the three brothers taken from their beds and after being beaten with clubs they were spirited across the line and turned over to a detachment of the Spanish militia under the command of Capt. Solomon Alston, who took his prisoners to Tunica landing, where they were placed in a boat and under a guard of 6 men started for Baton Rouge. As they were passing Pointe Coupée, the Kempers found an op- portunity to communicate their situation to Dr. Powles, who in- mediately set about securing their release. Lieut. Wilson, com- manding the U. S. garrison at Pointe Coupée, manned a boat, over- hauled and boarded the Spanish pirogue, and took the whole party into custody. A few days later the Kempers were taken to Fort Adams, where they were turned over to Capt. Sparks, who soon after delivered them to the civil authorities. Through the in- fluence of Gov. Claiborne the prisoners were liberated, but on recognizance to keep the peace, especially toward the subjects of the king of Spain. To prevent further disturbance, the two com- panies of the Mississippi militia were ordered to Pinckneyville by Gov. Williams. Gov. Grandpré wrote to Gov. Williams that he was about to take measures to put a stop to the trouble "which has risen to its full height on the territory of this government,-disorder, confusion, violations, outrages, plunder, insult to the magistrate, dragging him by a rope about his neck, attempts on the flag of the king, my master, and now the violations committed with the Kem-
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pers, authors of all the above, on the government of your excel- lency."
'The affair came into national prominence when John Randolph, of Virginia, reported a bill in Congress for the raising of an army to punish Spanish aggressions and expel them from the territory, but the measure was opposed by President Jefferson. The Kemper brothers, however, needed no support from Congress nor the national administration. They were able to make war for them- selves. Notwithstanding they were under bonds to keep the peace, they furtively lent their aid to keep alive the opposition to Spanish rule, and a few years later took an active part in the West Florida Revolution. (q. v.) Of their part in this uprising the historian Pickett says: "The Kempers, apart from mercenary motives for engaging in this rebellion, desired to gratify a feeling of revenge. Reuben and Samuel captured Kneeland, one of the kidnappers, and inflicted upon his bare back one hundred lashes, then one hundred more for their brother Nathan, who was absent, cut off his ears with a dull knife, and permitted him to retire. These trophies of resent- ment were long preserved in spirits of wine, and hung up in one of the Kempers' parlor. Reuben caught another of these wretches named Horton, and chastised him as long as the latter could re- ceive it and live. Barker, seized by the Kempers at the courthouse at Fort Adams, under the nose of the judge, was dragged forth and flayed until they were content. Capt. Alston, who received the Kempers at the line, with a Spanish guard, died of dropsy, con- tracted in lying in an open boat, at anchor, every night, to avoid the attacks of the injured brothers."
Kemper, Reuben, was a native of Fauquier county, Va., who settled in Louisiana about the time the province was ceded to the United States. Two of his brothers, Nathan and Samuel, located near Pinckneyville, Miss., and all three were interested in the move- ment to annex West Florida to the United States. Reuben was also connected with the Texas Revolution. He died while at Nat- chez on business, Jan. 28, 1826. Col. Gilbert C. Russell, of the 3d U. S. infantry, said of him: "He was an extraordinary man, pos- sessing a vigorous, mind, with a large stock of information, and an irresistible resolution and firmness of purpose, which carried him straight ahead to his object, in the attainment of which he always believed himself right. He was as sincere in his attachments as he was implacable in his resentments, when he felt that he had been injured or betrayed. In everything he did, he always exercised the utmost candor: was warmly attached to our government and country and in every sense a true patriot."
Kenner, a town of Jefferson parish, was incorporated March 27, 1867, and is one of the modern towns of Louisiana. It is located on the Illinois Central, the line of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation company and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley railroads. about 10 miles west of New Orleans, in the sugar and rice district and has sugar industries and rice mills as well as other manufactories. It has a money order postoffice, express offices, telegraph and tele-
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phone facilities, and in 1900 reported a population of 1,235.
Keno, a post-hamlet in the western part of Morehouse parish, is about 3 miles east of Ouachita, the nearest railroad station, and S miles southwest of Bastrop, the parish seat.
Kents Store, a post-hamlet in the eastern part of East Feliciana parish, is situated on a confluent of the Amite river, about 5 miles northeast of Clinton, the parish seat.
Kentwood, an incorporated town of Tangipahoa parish, is located about 5 miles south of the state line, at the junction of the Illinois Central, the Kentwood & Eastern, and the Kentwood, Greensburg & Southeastern railroads, and is one of the busiest Louisiana towns east of the Mississippi river. Being in the heart of the long leaf pine district, it has extensive lumbering interests, some of the largest sawmills in this section of the state being located in the immediate vicinity. The town also has a cotton seed oil mill, some wood- working establishments, a bank, large brickyards, an international money order postoffice, express and telegraph offices, a large retail trade, and is connected by telephone with the surrounding country. The population in 1900 was 1.313.
Kerlérec, Louis Billouart, Chevalier de, governor of Louisiana from 1753 to 1762, was born in France in 1704. Upon arriving at man's estate he entered the French navy, and in 20 years of service rose to the rank of captain and distinguished himself by his bravery on numerous occasions. He was appointed governor to succeed the Marquis de Vaudreuil; arrived in New Orleans on Feb. 3, 1753, and six days later was inducted into office. Bossu, the French traveler and explorer, who was in Louisiana at the time, says of Kerlerec : "He has qualities of heart very different from those of his predecessor ; but this new governor may give as an excuse that he did not come so far only for a change of air." His qualties of sound judgment were displayed at the outset in his treatment of the Indians, to whom he was especially kind, particularly to the Ali- bamons and the powerful Choctaw nation. English traders con- tinued to go among the Choctaws in large numbers, claiming and exercising the right to come to the left bank of the Mississippi, as well as to both banks of the Wabash and Ohio. They closely studied the wants of the Indians. and were able to furnish them with merchandise at a smaller price than the French traders. Kerlérec met this state of affairs by calling upon his government for larger shipments of goods wherewith to satisfy the demands of the Indians, and succeeded in gaining the good will of the Choc- taws to such an extent that he was known among them as the "Father of the Choctaws." The commissary La Rouvilliere having died, d'Auberville was appointed as his successor in 1754, and in marked contrast to the usual state of affairs, there was harmonious agreement between him and the governor.
Strict economy had been enjoined upon Kerlerec by his govern- . ment, and he early took steps to reduce the number of the military establishment to about 1.300 officers and men: even thus, the colonial budget for the year 1754 amounted to nearly 1,000,000 livres.
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The province was never more neglected by the home government than at this time. In 1754 Kerlerec wrote: "The English are mov- ing everywhere about us, and threaten to interrupt our communica- tions." He added to the garrison of Ship island, and repaired and strengthened the French posts on the Mississippi. Though the Seven Years' War did not begin in Europe until 1756, hostilities between France and England began two years earlier in the New World. Active hostilities broke out in Canada and the upper Ohio valley before any formal declaration of war, and Kerlerec fully ex- pected to be attacked himself. His appeal to France for 500 ad- ditional troops was disregarded by the dissolute and indifferent Louis XV, who was chiefly responsible for the calamitous results of the long Seven Years' War. By the year 1757 the British fleets were sweeping the seas, and practically all communication between France and Louisiana was severed. Kerlerec wrote in 1757 that he had not heard from France in two years, and he was even forced to send to Vera Cruz for a supply of ammunition and stores. He keenly felt the neglect of the mother country and the insecurity of his own position. Unable to obtain even the necessary supplies with which to satisfy the demands of the Indians, the latter began to grow restless and once more threatened trouble. In 1758 he re- ported concerning the Choctaws and Alibamons that they were able to muster between them 7,000 warriors, that the two nations were the bulwarks of the colony, and that they must be conciliated at any cost. A shipload of supplies arrived in 1758 just in time to buy their continued allegiance.
Up in Canada the brave Montcalm accomplished wonders with the slender resources at his command, but his brilliant victories at Forts Oswego and William Henry were soon followed by a chain of disaster to the French arms. The British captured the islands of Cape Breton and St. John, razed Fort Frontenac, and in the fall of 1758 captured Fort Duquesne. The garrison of the latter fort came down the Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans, where Gov. Ker- lérec erected barracks for them in the lower part of the city. It was at this period of the war that Kerlerec formulated a plan to unite all the tribes of the Mississippi valley, attack the English on the Atlantic coast from the rear, and thereby effect a diversion in favor of Canada. The plan was really an able one, and properly supported might have saved France at least a portion of her Ameri- can domain. But Louis XV was utterly incapable of directing any energetic measures at this time for the preservation of his American colonies, and the end of French dominion in America was rapidly approaching. Canada fell into the hands of the enemy, many Canadians, unwilling to live under English rule, came down to Louisiana, where they either joined the Acadians on the Mississippi or crossed the river and began the settlements of Attakapas, Ope- lonsas and Avovelles. Another result of the war was the cession of Louisiana to Spain by the secret treaty of Nov. 3, 1762. (See Treaties.)
Though the province of Louisiana lay well withont the actual
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theatre of war and was never invaded by hostile armies, Kerlérec was compelled with the feeble forces at his command to guard the whole line of the Mississippi, and to maintain the colony in the best possible condition to resist an attack which might occur at any time. In addition to the grossest kind of neglect by the mother country during the war, Louisiana was also torn with internal dis- sensions. The commissary d'Auberville died in 1757 and was suc- ceeded the following year by Rochemore, between whom and the governor serious misunderstandings arose almost from the start. Says Judge Martin : "It was the practice of the government to send large quantities of goods for the Indian trade; they were intrusted to the officers sent in command to distant posts, to whom they fur- nished the means of considerably increasing their fortunes. The ordonnateur, who had the disposal of these, found it an opportunity of attaching those officers to his party, which the governor com- plained, he did not neglect." Thus the old quarrels between gov- ernor and commissary were again renewed to the serious detriment of the province, the air was filled with tales of peculation, Kerlerec continually lost ground at court as evil reports of his administration reached the ears of the king, and the financial condition of the province only added fuel to the flame. In 1761 Rochemore returned to France and was succeeded by Foucault, who appears to have been guilty of grave duplicity, and while apparently keeping on friendly terms with Kerlerec, maligned him severely in his reports to his home government. On his return to France, Rochemore made a good case at court, and his charges against Kerlérec were · in the main sustained. The following report was rendered after an investigation into the facts: "It follows from the papers submitted to our inspection, 1st-that Rochemore has kept himself within the limits of his office, while Kerlerec has always abused his powers; 2nd-that Kerlerec has not only violated the ordinances by receiv- ing interloping vessels, without being compelled by necessity, since at that time the colony was not in want, but that he has committed a great imprudence, knowing that these interlopers were spies ; that, besides, it is probable that interest has guided him in these circum- stances, his secretary and himself having relations with Jamaica, whence come most of the interlopers. Another fact is, that the in- terlopers, according to a law established by M. de Kerlérec, were to land at New Orleans, and nowhere else in the colony ; otherwise they were not admitted, whatever were the needs of the colony ; that, besides, Kerlérec, according to the allegation of Rochemore, has re- ceived 10,000 livres from an interloper to assure himself that he would return to bring what he (Kerlerec) needed ; but that, on his return, the said interloper has not been able, by order of Kerlérec, to go up the river to New Orleans, or to get back his money." (See Fortier, History of Louisiana, Vol. 1, p. 145.) In this report a grave injustice was done to Kerlerec. as he is credited with honesty, whatever other faults of administration he was guilty of. In March. · 1763. the king of France announced that he had determined to dis- band his troops in Louisiana and maintain only a factory (trading
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