USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume II > Part 59
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O'Reilly, during his brief administration, announced to the pco- ple of Louisiana that it was contrary to the laws of Spain that the natives should be held in a state of bondage, and that they must prepare for the manumission of their Indian slaves whenever di- rected to do so by the king. Nothing further was done in the matter; the king had never expressed himself on the subject, and
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the Indians continued as slaves until late in the year 1793, when they applied, almost in a body, to Gov. Carondelet for their free- dom. He managed to quiet them by somewhat evasive methods, . but early in 1794 they again came forward with a demand for their liberty. On May 17 he wrote to the Spanish government as fol- lows: "There are many reasons to suspect that the movement observable among the Indian slaves who have lately made a rush to claim their freedom according to the tenor of our laws is at- tributable to the suggestions of certain secret agents, who do not lose any opportunity of exciting in these provinces the dissensions which have produced the ruin of the French colonies." A com- promise was effected, but the agitation finally culminated in the emancipation of the Indians.
. Besides the uprising of the Indian slaves, the principal events to disturb the serenity of Carondelet's administration were the cir- culation of the Jacobinic circular early in 1794; the machinations of Genêt ; the negro insurrection of 1795; a renewal of the attempt to secure the secession of the west; and the treaty of Madrid, by which the people of the United States were given the free use of the Mississippi river. ( For an account of these several incidents see Jacobins, Genêt, Negro Insurrection, Carondelet Intrigue, and Treaties.) On the other hand, it was during this administration that Bore succeeded in making a better quality of sugar than that hitherto produced in Louisiana : the French revolution had driven a number of prominent people from France to America, quite a number of whom came to Louisiana, among them Marquis de Maison Rouge, Baron de Bastrop and St. Vrain, all of whom were given grants of land, for the purpose of colonizing thereon a num- ber of their unfortunate countrymen, but as these grants were made under certain conditions that were not fully complied with a full title never vested in the grantees. In 1794 "Le Moniteur de la Louisiane," the first regular newspaper published in the colony, made its appearance.
Carondelet's administration ended on Aug. 1, 1797, when he was succeeded by Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos. His administration is noted in history chiefly for the final evacuation of the Spanish posts east of the Mississippi and the survey of the boundary be- tween the United States and the Spanish possessions. At the be- ginning of the Spanish domination the civil and military governors of Louisiana were given the power to make concessions of the lands belonging to the crown. On Oct. 21, 1798, the king issued a decree depriving the governor of this power and vesting it ex- clusively in the intendant of the province. Pursuant to this royal schedule, Morales, the intendant, on July 17. 1799, promulgated a series of regulations regarding concessions that were considered as being intended to prevent Americans from settling in Louisiana. Another ruling of Morales, inimical to American interests, was based upon the provision of the treaty of Madrid giving the citizens of the United States the right of deposit at New Orleans for three years, at the end of which time the king had obligated himself to
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grant an extension or designate some other suitable point where the western people might deposit their produce. At the expiration of the three years Morales issued an order prohibiting further de- posits at New Orleans, but failed to establish any "other suitable point." This action on the part of the intendant aroused the ire of the western people to such a degree that an expedition against New Orleans was openly advocated, and President Adams mob- ilized three regiments on the Ohio river to be ready for any emer- gency. Congress also ordered twelve additional regiments to be organized, and for a time the invasion of Louisiana by United States troops appeared to be imminent. While the excitement was at its height Gayoso died and the Marquis de Casa Calvo was ap- pointed to serve as governor ad interim. On Jan. 1, 1800, Don Ramon de Lopez y Angullo succeeded Morales as intendant, and soon after received orders from Madrid to revoke the order of his predecessor interdicting the deposits. Good feeling was now re- stored, trade revived, immigration increased, and evidences of pros- perity were to be seen on every hand.
But a change was soon to come. The successful manufacture of sugar by Etienne de Bore had attracted wide attention, and men interested in this line of industry flocked to Louisiana. This alarmed the Spanish officials, who foresaw that within a few years the American sentiment in the colony would become too strong to be resisted, and Louisiana would be forever lost to Spain unless something could be done to check the rising tide of American immigration. The treaty of San Ildefonso, receding Louisiana to France, was concluded on Oct. 1, 1800, and ratified at Madrid March 21. 1801, but it had been kept secret and Spain continued in possession. In June, 1801, Casa Calvo was succeeded by Juan Manuel de Salcedo as governor, and upon his representations the king ordered that no more grants of land should be given to eiti- zens of the United States. Morales, who had been reinstated as intendant, took delight in the enforcement of this order. and also, on Oct. 16, 1802, issued a writ again interdicting the deposits at New Orleans. This virtually killed the commerce of the Missis- sippi river, and again the indignation of the western people was thoroughly awakened. On Nov. 26 the Marquis de Casa Irnjo, Spanish minister at Washington, wrote to Morales, pointing out the fatal consequences of the interdiction, which would give "to the citizens of the United States good cause for claiming indemni- ties in return for the serious damages which their commerce will inevitably suffer." To this Morales replied that he assumed "the whole responsibility of the measure, the object of which has been to strike at the root of the infinite irregularities and abuses, which are the result of the right of deposit granted to the Americans at New Orleans." On March 1. 1803, the king disapproved of the order of Morales and reopened the port of New Orleans to the de- posit of American produce. "without prejudice of his right to sub- stitute some other spot on the banks of the Mississippi."
Meantime the rumor had gained currency that Spain was about
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to recede her American possessions to France, and that the terri- tory was to be divided between France and the United States. (The treaty of retrocession had already been made and ratified.) Thompson says: "To a large majority of Louisiana's population these were thrillingly welcome rumors. The very thought of once more becoming subjects of France was enough to intoxicate them with delight." At the time the treaty of San Ildefonso was made it had been the hope of Napoleon Bonaparte, first consul of the French republic, to occupy Louisiana with an army of at least 25,000 men and a fleet to guard the coast. But England, the vigilant and re- lentless enemy of Napoleon, was watching his every movement and stood ready to offer checkmate to his designs. The treaty of Amiens (March 25, 1802) was unsatisfactory to both France and England, and the first consul was in a dilemma. On the one hand, the treaty of San Ildefonso required him to take possession of the province ; on the other, if he attempted to do so he would encoun- ter the opposition of Great Britain, which nation was in a position to wrest it from him. In this dire exigency he opened negotiations with the United States, preferring to see Louisiana pass into the hands of that nation rather than to be forced to return it to Spain or yield it to Great Britain. Then began a correspondence that lasted for several months, the negotiations being conducted with the greatest seerecy, in order to avoid inciting the antagonism of Spain or England. During this period of concealment and mys- tery the people of Louisiana were in a state of suspense, anxious to know their destiny. They had learned of the treaty of San Ildefonso and were looking eagerly forward to the day when the banner of France would replace that of Spain. Days grew into weeks and weeks into months, and still no definite tidings came. The Spanish authorities knew no more than the humblest citizen and were awaiting with some impatience the arrival of France's agents to take possession. Late in March, 1803, Clement de Laus- sat, colonial prefect, arrived in New Orleans with the information that Gen. Victor, who had been appointed to aet for the French government, had sailed from Holland in January, but this infor- mation proved to be erroneous, as the .vigilance of England pre- vented Vietor's fleet from putting to sea. On April 30, 1803, the treaty ceding the province to the United States was concluded at Paris. Spring and summer passed and still Spain retained control of the colony. She claimed that Napoleon had promised never to sell or give Louisiana to any other power, and kindly suggested that the United States return it to France. Finding all her pro- tests unavailing, she finally yielded to the inevitable, and on Nov. 30, 1803, Laussat received the formal transfer of the colony to France. Spanish domination was at an end.
In 1769, when O'Reilly took possession of the province, the popu- lation did not exceed 14,000, that of New Orleans being about 3,200. In 1803 the population was estimated at something like 50.000, ex- clusive of Indians, of whom there were 25.000 or 30,000 in the colony. New Orleans was then a city of about 10,000. At the be-
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ginning of the Spanish domination the revenues of the city were a little over $19,000 annually, and the expenses less than $10,000. In 1803 the revennes amounted to about $120,000, and the ex- penses of the government in 1802 exceeded $800,000. Gayarre says: "As far as I have been able to judge, I think I may safely come to the conclusion that the ordinary and extraordinary ex- penses incurred by Spain in relation to Louisiana, over and above the small revenue she derived from that colony, may, without ex- aggeration, be put down at $15,000,000, from the 5th of March, 1766, when Ulloa landed at New Orleans, to the 30th of November, 1803, when the retrocession to France took place. * Thus Spain had assumed an incumbrance, which cost her in the end $15,000,000, in the vain hope of establishing a barrier between her Mexican colonies and the danger which she foresaw was to come from the northern colonies of England in America."
Spanish Governors .- Following is a list of the governors of Louisiana under the Spanish domination, together with the years in which their administration began and ended : Antonio de Ulloa, 1765-68; Alexander O'Reilly, 1769-70: Don Luis de Unzaga, 1770- 77; Bernardo de Galvez, 1777-85; Don Estevan Miro, 1785-92; Fran- cisco Louis Hector, Baron de Carondelet (generally known as Carondelet), 1792-97 ; Mon Manuel Gayoso de Lemos (usually called Gayoso), 1797-99; Marquis de Casa Calvo, 1799-1801 : Juan Manuel de Salcedo, 1801-03.
Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides), sometimes called "long moss," is defined as "an American epiphytic plant which grows in large pendulous tufts from the branches of trees." It is found in the lowlands of all the Southern states below the parallel of 33º north latitude, and in some places north of that line. Penicaut, the carpenter of Iberville's colony, says the French called it "barbe à l'Espagnole" (Spanish beard), and the Spaniards, in a spirit of retaliation, gave it the name of "perruque à la Française" (French wig). The moss is usually gray in color and frequently grows to the length of several feet. It is plentiful along the streams and bayous of Louisiana, adding a picturesque somberness to the scenery. The fiber is used by upholsterers as a substitute for hair, tow, cotton or excelsior in the manufacture of cushions, mattresses, etc. A handbook issued by William H. Harris, the Louisiana com- missioner of agriculture and immigration, in 1881, says: "The woods yield an annual crop of Spanish moss. the gathering of which affords profitable employment to men, women and children, and thousands of bales are annually shipped north and west to furni- ture and mattress factories. The moss industry affords a promis- ing field for the investment of capital in the state."
Sparta, a village in the central part of Bienville parish, was se- lected as the seat of justice for the new parish in 1849. The cen- tral location alone recommended this site. The oldest record of the town that has been preserved is dated May 10, 1852. The par- ish courthouse was completed in 1854 and accepted by the police jury. In 1892 the seat of parochial government was removed to
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Arcadia, a railroad town in the northeastern part of the parish : as a result little or no improvement has taken place in Sparta since that time.
Spearsville, one of the oldest towns in Union parish, was settled early in the 18th century and incorporated by an act of the state legislature March 18, 1858. It was named in honor of a man named Spear, the first merchant, is situated in the northwestern part of the parish on a branch of Corney bayou, 5 miles southwest of Lockhart, the nearest railroad station, and about 18 miles north- west of Farmerville, the parish seat. It has a money order post- office and in 1900 had a population of 84.
Spencer, William B., soldier and statesman, was born in Cata- houla parish, La., Feb. 5, 1835. He graduated at the Centenary college of Louisiana and the law department of the University of Louisiana, after which he practiced law at Harrisonburg. La .. from 1857 to 1861. During the Civil war served in the Confederate army ; was elected a representative to the 44th Congress as a Demo- crat in 1874, defeating Frank P. Morey, who was given the certifi- cate of election, but his seat was successfully contested by Mr. Spencer, who took his seat on May 31, 1876, and served until Jan. 8, 1877, when he resigned.
Spider, a post-station in the southwestern part of De Soto parish, 3 miles west of Trenton, the nearest railroad station, and about 7 miles southwest of Mansfield, the parish seat.
Springcreek, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Tangipahoa parish, is situated on the Kentwood & Eastern R. R., about 12 miles northeast of Amite, the parish seat. in the great berry district that supplies the northern markets with strawberries and early vegetables, hundreds of carloads of which are shipped from Spring- creek and the nearby towns each year.
Springfield, an old town in the southeastern part of Livingston parish, is situated on the Natalbany river, which forms the south- eastern boundary of the parish. It was incorporated as early as 1838, and for a number of years was the seat of parochial govern- ment, but the people became dissatisfied with the location and in 1887 the parish seat was changed to. Springville, a more central location. During the early days Springfield was an important trad- ing town, but with the removal of the courthouse it lost much of its commercial importance. Since the Brakenridge Railway & Navigation company has built a railroad to Springfield it has again become a center of trade and a shipping point for a considerable district. It has a money order postoffice and telegraph station, and in 1900 had a population of 225.
Springhill, a village and station in the northwestern part of Web- ster parish, is situated on the Louisiana & Arkansas R. R., about 27 miles northwest of Minden, the parish seat. It is the shipping and supply town for the northwestern part of the parish, has a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and in 1900 had a population of 100.
Springridge, a post-station in the southwestern part of Caddo
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parish, is about 8 miles southwest of Keithville, the nearest rail- road station, and about 17 miles southwest of Shreveport, the par- ish seat. It is situated in the himber district cast of the Sabine river and in 1900 had a population of 52.
Springville, the parish seat of Livingston parish, is the smallest town in the state to be thus distinguished, as in 1900 it reported a population of only 50. It was made the seat of justice in 1887, being at that time supposed to be the exact center of the parish, and was at first called Centerville. Hammond and Ponchatoula are the nearest railroad stations. Springville has a postoffice and a general store, but no factories of any kind.
Stables, a post-hamlet of Vernon parish, is situated on Bayou Castor, and the Kansas City Southern R. R., 3 miles southwest of Leesville, the parish seat.
Stafford, a postoffice of Catahoula parish, is situated on the Ouachita river, about 10 miles west of Florence, the nearest rail- road station.
Stafford, Leroy A., soldier, enlisted in the Confederate army at the outbreak of the war. He went to Virginia in 1861 as lieutenant- colonel of the 9th Louisiana volunteers, upon the recommendation of Col. Richard Taylor became colonel, and took part in the Valley campaign of Stonewall Jackson. In the Seven Days' battles, while Gen. Taylor was disabled and after the death of Col. Seymour, he took command of the Ist Louisiana brigade at Cold Harbor and continued to lead it during the campaign. When the 2nd Louisiana brigade was organized in 1862, being the senior colonel, he was placed first in command, and served in this capacity at Cedar Run or Slaughter's mountain, and in the 2nd Manassas campaign he again commanded the brigade. After the capture of Harper's Ferry he was in the battle of Sharpsburg, where he received a wound in the foot. After this battle his regiment was trans- ferred to Hays' brigade and participated in the battles of Fred- ericksburg, Chancellorsville, Winchester and Gettysburg. Early in Oct., 1863, he was promoted to brigadier-general and assigned to the command of the 2nd Louisiana brigade, in the Stonewall di- vision. Gen. Stafford commanded this brigade during the Mine Run campaign in the fall of 1863, and led it into the battle of the Wilderness in May, 1864. In this terrible conflict he was mortally wounded.
Stamboul, a post-station in the southern part of East Carroll parish, is situated on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., about 12 miles south of Lake Providence, the parish seat.
Standard, a station on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., in the northwest corner of Catahoula parish, has a money order postoffice, telegraph station and express office, and is a trad- ing center for the neighborhood.
Star, a post-hamlet of Plaquemines parish, is situated on the west bank of the Mississippi river and the New Orleans, Fort Jackson & Grand Isle R. R., about 20 miles south of New Orleans. It is a landing on the river and the shipping point for a fruit district.
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Starhill is a money order post-hamlet in the southern part of West Feliciana parish. 2 miles northeast of Riddle, the nearest railroad station, and 5 miles east of St. Francisville, the parish seat. Its population in 1900 was 45.
Starks, a post-village in the southwestern part of Calcasieu par- ish, is a station on the Kansas City Southern R. R., about 25 miles northwest of Lake Charles, the parish seat. It is located in the great pine forest between the Sabine and Calcasieu rivers, has saw- mills, a large turpentine plant, telegraph and telephone facilities, and in 1900 had a population of 100.
Starns, a post-village in the northeastern part of Livingston par- ish, is a station on the line of the Brakenridge Railway & Naviga- tion company, about 12 miles north of Springville, the parish scat.
State Debt .- (See Finances, State.)
State Flag .- (See Flag.)
State Library .- (See Libraries.)
State Museum .- Louisiana's first museum was established by legislative enactment on July 15, 1900, for the purpose of accumu- lating, preserving and displaying deposits of documents, relics of various descriptions and other exhibits which set forth the natural and industrial resources of the state. The act created a board of curators which was to have general charge of the institution, and which was composed of the governor of the state, mayor of New Orleans, president of Tulane university, one member to be selected from the territory north of the Red river, one from west of the Atchafalaya river, another from the territory east of the same river, and three members from each of the following organizations, the Historical society, Historical association, the Art association and the Academy of Science of New Orleans. It was further stipulated that this board be authorized to receive gifts and donations which might be conferred upon the state for museum purposes. The idea of a state museum, to be located in New Orleans, originated with James S. Zacharie, who was the first president of the board of curators, Prof. Alcee Fortier being the second.
The museum as it exists today was founded by virtue of Act No. 169, of July 11. 1906, which authorized that Louisiana's ex- hibit at the World's Fair at St. Louis in 1904, and then in Wash- ington Artillery hall in New Orleans, be utilized as the nucleus of a permanent state museum to be located in the last mentioned city. This legislative enactment further provided that the affairs of this institution should be under the care and management of a board of curators, to be composed of members to be selected by the governor, for terms of four years each, from the following organi- zations: two from the Louisiana Historical society ; one each from the Louisiana Historical, New Orleans Art, and Naturalist asso- ciations ; one from the Audubon society of New Orleans; and one each from the sugar, cotton and rice industries. The governor of the state, the mayor of New Orleans, the commissioner of agricul- ture and immigration, and the director of the state experiment station were to serve as ex-officio members of this board. The
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present board is constituted as follows: T. P. Thompson, presi- dent ; Alcée Fortier, vice-president ; and W. O. Hart, W. D. Gardi- ner, J. B. Levert, H. L. Gueydan, F. M. Miller, R. S. Cocks and J. W. Frankenbush, together with the ex-officio members above mentioned. Soon after its organization W. C. Stubbs was selected to act as manager and treasurer, and Robert Glenk was chosen to act as secretary and eustodian of the museum. This institution is now situated at number 730 Carondelet street, where convenient and ready access to it is had from the Carondelet, Henry Clay, An- nuneiation and Coliseum street ear lines, and the doors are daily open to the public between the hours of 9 a. m. and 5 p. m., while by virtue of the act which created the museum admission thereto is free. Among the displays which vividly portray the historical development and the natural and industrial resources of the state are the following: models of a sugar house, rice mill. cotton-gin, cotton seed oil machinery, cane field, fine and attractive exhibits of the mineral and forest resources and natural history, specimens of school work and pictures showing the progress of education in the state, an illustration of the levee system employed along the Mississippi river, a famous portrait of the battle of New Orleans, the original folio edition of J. J. Audubon's "American Birds," mementoes from the famous musician, Gottschalk, portraits of Louisiana, French, and American governors, and other celebrities, and the Antommarchi death-mask of Napoleon, presented by Dr. Antommarchi himself to the city of New Orleans in 1834.
State Normal School, located at Natchitoches, is by far the most important ageney maintained by the state for the training of white teachers. The general assembly provided for its establishment in 1884, when the sum of $6,000 annually was appropriated for its sup- port. This sum has since been materially increased and is further supplemented by a donation of $3,000 annually from the Peabody educational fund. The location of the school was thrown open to general competition and the most liberal inducements were of- fered by Natchitoches. The parish and eity of Natchitoches pur- chased and donated to the state 100 acres of land, including a good building which had formerly belonged to the nuns of the Sacred Heart. The present buildings of the school. 6 in number, are situ- ated near the middle of the grounds, about a half a mile distant from the central portion of the town of Natchitoches. They stand upon a hill overlooking the valley of Cane river, one of the chan- nels of Red river, which is distant 3 miles. This is one of the most beautiful and fertile valleys in the state. The school is lo- cated on the platean, where the pine hills verge upon the alluvial lands and the front lawn borders on Chaplin lake, a sheet of water about a mile and a half long. The original board of administrators consisted of David Pierson, E. E. Buckner. L. Caspari, T. P. Chaplin, and H. B. Walmsley-all residents of Natchitoches. Among the distinguished heads of the institution have been Ed- ward E. Sheib, Ph. D., of Baltimore, the first president; Prof. Thomas D. Boyd, a brilliant alumnus of the state university. for-
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