USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume II > Part 53
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Union, because of Lincoln's election. *
* We hold, with Jefferson, to the inalienable right of communities to alter or · abolish forms of government that have become oppressive or injurious; and, if the Cotton states shall decide that they can do better out of the Union than in it, we insist on letting them go in peace. The right to secede may be a revolutionary one, but it exists nevertheless ; and we do not see how one party can have a right to do what another party has a right to prevent. We must ever resist the asserted right of any state to remain in the Union and nullify and defy the laws thereof; to withdraw from the Union is quite another matter. And, whenever a considerable section of our Union shall deliberately resolve to go out, we shall resist all coercive measures designed to keep it in. We hope never to live in a republic whereof one section is pinned to the residue by bayonets.
Instances of this character might be multiplied indefinitely, but enough has been said to show that the idea of the legal right of secession was not confined to the South. The states that with- drew from the Union in 1860-61 justified their course by the claim that the national government was formed by a compact of the several independent states, each of which had the right to judge for itself whether the compact had been violated, and withdrew from the compact because of such violation. Although the elec- tion `of Lincoln was the immediate cause of secession, it is- worthy of note that during the quarter of a century preceding the presidential election of 1860 the interests of the North and South had grown widely apart. In that time the social and economic development of the two sections had been constantly diverging. The South believed that its immense agricultural interests and its peculiar institution of negro slavery were in peril; that its future depended on the perpetuation of its industrial sys- tem, now gravely threatened by the election of a man to the presi- dency-a man whose views were well known throughout the South-and that the "irrepressible conflict" could not be long deferred. Past efforts to secure a satisfactory adjustment of the differences by Federal administrations had been futile, and seces- sion was now adopted as a "dernier ressort."
Lincoln did not receive a single vote in Louisiana at the election of Nov. 6, 1860, a fact that shows clearly how the people of the state stood upon the great questions that were then agitating the nation. The first official protest of the state to his election was Gov. Moore's proclamation of Nov. 19, convening the general assembly "in extra and special session" on Dec. 10. The legis- lature met at the appointed time and was in session but two days. On the 12th an act was passed providing for the election on Jan. 7, 1861, of delegates to a state convention, which was to meet at Baton Rouge on Jan. 23. By a resolution adopted on the same day Gov. Moore was requested "to communicate with the gov- ernors of the slave-holding states the action of this session of the legislature, and request them to communicate to him the action
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and views of their respective states in regard to the present critical condition of the country."
With the passage of the bill authorizing a state convention the struggle for delegates began. The people were divided on the question without reference to previous party affiliations. One faction favored immediate secession and the other favored united action, or cooperation. with other Southern states in an effort to secure redress within the Union. Of the Louisiana statesmen who were opposed to secession, Randell Hunt and ex-Gov. A. B. Roman were probably the best known and the most influential. The former was a member of the state senate. and when the con- vention bill was before that body he made a strong, eloquent appeal to the members, warning them of the dangers of precipitate action. In the parish of St. James, the home of ex-Gov. Roman. the vote on Jan. 7 was 73 for secession and 509 for cooperation- conclusive evidence of his popularity and influence among those who knew him best. In the city of New Orleans the majority in favor of secession was about 400, though the "cooperationists" elected 5 of the 25 delegates. The vote of the entire state was: For secession, 20,448; for cooperation. 17.296.
The convention assembled in the hall of the house of repre- sentatives at Baton Rouge upon the designated day, and organized by electing ex-Gov. Alexandre Mouton president and J. Thomas Wheat secretary. Immediately after the organization was com- pleted a committee of 15 was appointed to prepare an ordinance of secession and report the same to the convention. On the 24th the committee, through its chairman, John Perkins, Jr., of Madi- son parish, reported the following :
"AN ORDINANCE TO DISSOLVE THE UNION BETWEEN THE STATE OF LOUIS- IANA AND OTHER STATES UNITED WITH HER UNDER THE COMPACT ENTITLED THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES :
"We, the people of the State of Louisiana. in convention as- sembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, that the ordinance passed by us in convention on the 22nd day of November. in the year 1811, whereby the Constitution of the United States of America, and the amendments of said constitution were adopted. and all laws and ordinances by which the State of Louisiana became a member of the Federal Union, be. and the same are hereby, repealed and abrogated: and that the union now subsisting between Louisiana and other states, under the name of the United States of America,' is hereby dissolved.
"We do further declare and ordain, that the State of Louisiana hereby resumes all rights and powers heretofore delegated to the government of the United States of America : that her citizens are absolved from all allegiance to said government; and that she is in full possession and exercise of all those rights of sovereignty which appertain to a free and independent state.
"We do further declare and ordain, that all rights acquired and vested under the Constitution of the United States, or any act of
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Congress, or treaty, or under any law of this state, and not incom- patible with this ordinance, shall remain in force and have the same effect as if this ordinance had not been passed."
But the ordinance was not to pass unchallenged. Mr. Rozier offered a substitute for the ordinance reported by the committee, and moved "as a safe remedy, that a convention be held at Nash- ville, Tenn., on Feb. 25, to take into consideration the relations the slaveholding states are to occupy hereafter toward the general government." This was carrying out the idea of cooperation that had been so prominent an issue in the campaign for delegates. Mr. Fuqua, of East Feliciana parish, offered another substitute providing for concert of action, ending in a general convention to be held at Montgomery, Ala. On the 26th the vote was taken. Mr. Rozier's substitute was lost by a vote of 106 to 24, and that of Mr. Fuqua by a vote of 68 to 47. The ordinance reported by the committee was then passed by a vote of 113 to 17, ex-Gov. Roman being one of those who voted in the negative, though he afterward signed the ordinance, along with 120 other delegates and the officers of the convention. As soon as the ordinance had been passed Mr. Perkins offered the following resolution, which was adopted: "Resolved, That we, the people of the State of Louisiana. recognize the right of the free navigation of the Mis- sissippi river and its tributaries by all friendly states bordering thereon." Dimitry says that this "was at once a tribute to the great river which swept a free wave past the hall in which the convention acted, and a warning to the unfriendly states bordering thereon."
Before the convention met, Gov. Moore had taken possession of the U. S. forts and arsenals in Louisiana. He appeared before the convention, reported what he had done, explaining his reasons for his action, and on motion of Louis Bush the governor's course in the matter was approved by a vote of 119 to 5 (see Moore's Administration). Before adjourning to meet on the 29th in Lyceum hall at New Orleans, Mr. Perkins, of the committee on confederation, reported an ordinance providing for the appoint- ment of delegates to a convention to be held at Montgomery, Ala .. Feb. 4, for the purpose of forming a Southern Confederacy. The ordinance was passed without a dissenting vote, and the following delegation was appointed: John Perkins. Jr .. Alexander De Clouet. Charles M. Conrad, Duncan F. Kenner. Edward Sparrow and Henry Marshall. When the convention met at New Orleans .ordinances were passed conferring the right of citizenship on all persons who were residents of the state at the time the secession ordinance was adopted ; making it a penal offense for pilots at the Balize to bring U. S. vessels of war over the bar: accepting the criminal code of the U. S. district court ; and adopting a state flag (see Flag). After transacting some other business, the conven- tion adjourned. to meet in New Orleans again on March 4, and on the 21st of that month. on motion of Thomas J. Semmes, the convention ratified the constitution of the Confederate States of
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America, adopted at Montgomery on March 11. and the state constitution was amended in conformity therewith.
The work of the convention was sustained by the regular ses- sion of the legislature, which met at Baton Rouge on the same day as the convention ( Jan. 23. 1861). The members of the gen- eral assembly had been elected without reference to the question of secession, but they were prompt in passing measures to put the state in a condition of defense, and in appropriating money for that purpose. On Feb. 18 the following resolutions were adopted :
"1. That the right of a sovereign state to secede or withdraw from the government of the Federal Union, and resume her original sovereignty when in her judgment such an act becomes necessary. is not prohibited by the Federal constitution, but is reserved thereby to the several states, or people thereof, to be exercised, each for itself. without molestation.
"2. That any attempt to coerce or force a sovereign state to remain within the Federal Union, come from what quarter and under whatever pretense it may, will be viewed by the people of Louisiana, as well on her own account as of her sister Southern states, as a hostile invasion, and resisted to the utmost extent."
These resolutions are here introduced to show that the senti- ment in favor of secession existed in a great measure outside of the convention that passed the ordinance which took Louisiana out of the Union. Although at the election of Jan. 7, 1861, the majority in the state in favor of secession was only a little over 3,000. it was not long after the passage of the ordinance until her people were practically a unit in their determination to uphold the honor, dignity and independence of their state under the new policy. Louisiana was not precipitate in her action in the adop- tion of secession. She had been preceded in the movement by South Carolina. Mississippi. Florida, Alabama and Georgia, in the order named, and was followed by Texas, Virginia. Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee. Shortly after his inauguration as provisional president of the Southern Confederacy. Jefferson Davis appointed three persons, in pursuance of a resolution adopted by the provisional Congress, to go to Washington and make an effort to establish friendly relations with the U. S. government. This commission consisted of Martin J. Crawford. of Georgia: John Forsyth, of Alabama, and Andre B. Roman. of Louisiana. It accomplished nothing, however, and after remaining in Washing- ton until April 9. the members returned to their respective states. after addressing a communication to William H. Seward. Lin- coln's secretary of state. censuring him for his refusal to enter- tain the overtures of peace. This incident cemented more closely the people of the South, and from that time until the close of the war Louisiana was firm and consistent in her support of the Confederacy.
Security, a post-hamlet of Catahoula parish, is situated on the Black river, which forms the southeastern boundary of the parish,
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about 8 miles south of Black River, the nearest railroad station. and 15 miles south of Harrisonburg, the parish scat. It is a land- ing on the river, the shipping point for a considerable district, and in 1900 had a population of 54.
Sedella, Antonio de (Père Antoine), a Capuchin monk, came to Louisiana in the early spring of 1789. Soon after his arrival in the colony he wrote to Gov. Miro that he came as a commissary of the Spanish Inquisition : that he had received official notice of his appointment in a letter of Dec. 5, 1788, from the proper author- ity ; and that he had been instructed to "discharge his functions with the most exact fidelity and zeal. and in conformity with the royal will." He further stated that he had made his preliminary investigations with the utmost secrecy and precaution, and that, in order to carry his instructions into perfect execution, he might find it necessary to call on the governor for guards at some late hour of the night to aid him in his work. What followed is thus graphically told by Gayarre: "Not many hours had elapsed since the reception of this communication by the governor, when night came, and the representative of the Holy Inquisition was quietly reposing in his bed, when he was aroused from his sleep by a heavy knocking. He started up and, opening his door, saw standing before him an officer and a file of grenadiers. Thinking that they had come to obey his commands, in consequence of his letter to the governor, he said: 'My friends. I thank you and his Excel- lency for the readiness of this compliance with my request. But I have now no use for your services, and you shall be warned in time when you are wanted. Retire then, with the blessing of God.' Great was the stupefaction of the friar when he was told that he was under arrest. 'What!' exclaimed he, 'will you dare lay your hands on a commissary of the Holy Inquisition?' 'I dare obey orders,' replied the undaunted officer, and the Reverend Father Antonio de Sedella was instantly carried on board a vessel, which sailed the next day for Cadiz."
On June 3 Gov. Miro, in a letter to one of the cabinet ministers, gave the following account of this incident: "When I read the communication of that Capuchin, I shuddered. His Majesty has ordered me to foster the increase of population in this province, and to admit in it all those that would emigrate from the banks of those rivers which empty themselves into the Ohio. This course was recommended by me, for the powerful reasons which I have given in confidential despatches to the most excellent Don Antonio Valdes, and which your Excellency must have seen among the papers laid before the Supreme Council of the State. This emi- gration was to be encouraged under the pledge, that the new colonists should not be molested in matters of religion, provided there should be no other public mode of worship that the Catholic. The mere name of the Inquisition uttered in New Orleans would be sufficient, not only to check immigration, which is successfully progressing, but would also be capable of driving away those who have recently come, and I even fear that, in spite of my having
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sent out of the country Father Sedella, the most fatal consequences may ensue from the mere suspicion of the cause of his dismissal."
So far as known, this was the only attempt to introduce the much dreaded tribunal of the Inquisition in any part of what is now the United States, and the action of Gov. Miro in banishing its repre- sentative met with hearty indorsement. It seems to have been Father Sedella's mission, however, to create disturbances. After the cession of Louisiana to the United States, he returned to New Orleans and soon became involved in a difficulty with Vicar- Gen- eral Walsh, who wrote to Gov. Claiborne under date of July 11, 1805, complaining of "the interruption of the public tranquillity which has resulted from the ambition of a refractory monk, sup- ported in his apostasy by the fanaticism of a misguided populace, and by the countenance of an individual (presumably the Marquis of Casa Calvo), whose interference was fairly to be attributed less to zeal for the religion he would be thought to serve, than to the indulgence of private passions and the promotion of views equally dangerous to religion and civil order." He further stated that two men had gone to Havana for the purpose of procuring a rein- forcement of monks to support Father Antonio in his "schismatic and rebellious conduct," and asked the governor to give him such relief as he could. Claiborne replied that under the government of the United States, where no particular sect is favored by law, the civil magistrates were bound to avoid interference in religious disputes, unless the public peace should be broken or menaced, and counseled "harmony and tolerance." Not long after this Claiborne himself had some complaint to make of Father Sedella. On Oct. 8, 1806, he wrote to the secretary of war: "We have a Spanish priest here who is a very dangerous man ; he rebelled against the su- periors of his own church, and would even rebel, I am persuaded, against this government, whenever a fit occasion may serve. This man was once sent away by the Spanish authorities for seditious practices, and I am inclined to think that I should be justifiable should I do likewise. This seditious priest is a Father Antonio; he is a great favorite of the Louisiana ladies: has married many of them, and christened all their children; he is by some citizens esteemed an accomplished hypocrite, has great influence with the people of color, and, report says, embraces every opportunity to render them discontented with the American government." Shortly after writing this letter the governor summoned the priest to the government house, where in the presence of the mayor and Col. Bellechasse, of the council, he told him of the reports concerning his behavior: and finally required him to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. "Pere Antoine" was dearly loved by the people of New Orleans and deserved their affection in spite of the reports of Gov. Claiborne. He died on Jan. 22. 1829.
Segura, a post-hamlet and station in the northern part of Iberia parish, is on the Southern Pacific R. R., about 3 miles northwest of New Iberia, the parish seat. It is in the sugar district, has a sugar refinery, rice industries, and in 1900 had a population of 42.
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Self, a post-hamlet of Natchitoches parish, is situated on the Rigolet de Bon Dieu, about 20 miles southeast of Natchitoches, the parish seat, and 2 miles west of Bills, the nearest railroad station.
Selma, a village in the northeastern part of Grant parish, situated at the junction of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern and the Louisiana railroads, is the trading and shipping station for the eastern part of the parish. It has a money order postoffice, tele- graph and express offices, and in 1900 had a population of 75.
Seminary of Learning .- (See State University.)
Senators, U. S .- (See Congressional Representation.)
Serena, a post-station in the western part of Concordia parish. is situated on the Black river, about 15 miles west of Fish Pond, the nearest railroad town, and 25 miles southwest of Vidalia, the parish seat.
Serigny, Sieur de (Joseph Le Moyne), 6th son of Charles and Catherine (Primot ) Le Moyne and a brother of Iberville, was born in Canada about 1675. In 1702 he came to Louisiana in command of a vessel called the Palmier, and aided in erecting the store- house on Massacre island. He then went to France, butt returned to Louisiana, arriving on April 19, 1719, bringing news of a war between France and Spain. This time he was under orders to inspect the coast, make soundings, and otherwise aid Gov. Bien- ville. On may 13, with 150 soldiers, he set sail from Massacre island, followed by Bienville with 80 men, in a sloop, and the next day assisted in the capture of Pensacola. In August following, he defended Massacre island against the Spaniards until he was re- inforced by Bienville, when the enemy withdrew. Subsequently he commanded a ship of the line in the French navy. He died as governor of Rochefort in 1723.
Seymourville, a village and station in the eastern part of Iberville parish, is situated on the west bank of the Mississippi river and the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 2 miles southeast of Plaquemine, the parish seat. It is a landing on the river, has a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, saw mills and other lumber industries, and in 1900 reported a population of 100.
Shady, a money order post-town in the southeast corner of Bien- ville parish, is the terminus of a branch of the North Louisiana & Gulf R. R., abont 25 miles south of Arcadia, the parish seat.
Shamrock, a village near the western boundary of Natchitoches parish, is situated at the junction of the Texas & Pacific and the Shamrock & Western railroads, about 15 miles west of Natchi- toches, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice and is the trading and shipping point for a considerable district in the western part of the parish.
Sharp is a post-hamlet of Rapides parish.
Shaw, a post-station in the southeastern part of Concordia parish. is situated on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 28 miles south of Vidalia, the parish seat, and is the shipping point for a large area of the alluvial Mississippi valley farming lands.
Shelburn, a post-hamlet and station in the northern part of East
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Carroll parish, is situated on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., 8 miles northwest of Lake Providence, the parish seat. It is the center of trade for a considerable district, and has a telegraph station and express office.
Sheldon, Lionel A., lawyer. statesman and soldier. was born in Otsego county, N. Y., Aug. 30, 1829. When quite young his parents moved to Ohio, where he received a liberal education, graduating at Oberlin college. He then studied law ; was admitted to the bar and began to practice at Elyria ; was judge of the probate court one term and delegate to the national Republican convention in 1856. Gov. Chase commissioned him brigadier-general in the state militia ; when war broke out he entered the Union army in Aug., 1861, as captain of cavalry : was soon chosen major of the 2nd Ohio cavalry ; by transfer became lieutenant-colonel and after- ward colonel of the 42nd Ohio infantry; was appointed brigade commander under Gen. Sherman; placed in command of the 2nd brigade, 9th division, 13th army corps, in 1863. At the close of the war he moved to Louisiana. settling in New Orleans, where he resumed the practice of law: was elected in 1868 a representative from Louisiana to the 41st Congress as a Republican, and reelected to the 42nd and 43rd Congresses.
Shellbank, a post-village near the western boundary of Cameron parish, is located on the east shore of Sabine lake, 5 miles east of Port Arthur, the nearest railroad station.
Shepley, George Foster, lawyer, soldier, and miltary governor of Louisiana, was born at Saco, Me., Jan. 1, 1819, his parents being Ather and Anne ( Foster) Shepley. He was educated at Dart- mouth college, where he graduated in 1837, then studied law at Harvard, and in 1840 began practice at Bangor, Me. Four years later he removed to Portland: was elected to the state senate in 1850; was appointed U. S. district attorney for Maine by President Pierce in 1853, and was continued in the office by President Bu- chanan. In 1860 he was a delegate at large to the Democratic national convention at Charleston, and also attended the adjourned session at Baltimore. In the fall of 1861 he was commissioned colonel of the 12th Maine infantry and arrived at Ship island with his regiment in Feb., 1862. After the Federals troops occupied New Orleans he was made commandant of the city, and in June, 1862, was appointed military governor of the state by the U. S. secretary of war, being promoted to the rank of brigadier-general about the same time. When Gov. Hahn was inaugurated as the civil governor of the state. Gen. Shepley was ordered to Virginia, where he was placed on the staff of Gen. Weitzel and for a time was in command of the 25th army corps. After the fall of Rich- mond he was appointed military governor of the city, which posi- tion he held until the end of June, when he resigned his commission and in 1866 was elected to the Maine legislature. He declined an appointment to the bench of the U. S. supreme court. but in 1869 was appointed judge of the U. S. circuit court for the 1st district, and held that office at the time of his death on July 20, 1878. . \
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