Beautiful Crescent: A History of New Orleans by John B. Garvey, Mary Lou Widmer Page A
Authors: John B. Garvey, Mary Lou Widmer
Tags: History
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which had been annexed to the territory in 1810, but were added to the state by an amendment on April 14, 1812.
The Territory of Orleans became the state of Louisiana on April 30, 1812, which became the eighteenth star on the flag. A gubernatorial election was held, and Claiborne, who had by this time endeared himself to the people of Louisiana, won easily over Creole Noel Destrehan. His efforts to overcome his personal losses and to win the respect of the haughty Creoles had been rewarded.
His opinion of the people had also changed. By 1812, he was quick to say that the natives of Louisiana had a natural ability; they might not have had much schooling, but they were very right, intense people who knew how to do things and what they were about.
Several major events in the history of the city occurred during this period. Shortly after Louisiana had been retroceded to France, the Ursuline nuns became terrified that since France was now under the Emperor Napoleon, the French government might not honor the Catholic Church. So great was their fear that some of the nuns left New Orleans and went to Cuba. Those who stayed, knowing New Orleans was now to become American, wrote to Thomas Jefferson, asking if they were going to be allowed to practice the Catholic religion. Jefferson wrote them a beautiful letter, allaying their fears, enumerating the many services the Ursulines had rendered in the past, and stating his wish that they would continue to serve the territory in the future. Reassured, the nuns remained.
The Legislative Council attempted to divide the Territory into areas called counties. Municipal districts were called counties in the rest of the United States, and it seemed logical to call them that in Louisiana. From the beginning, however, boundaries of church parishes had been used to mark off municipal divisions in Louisiana. (Boundaries of the original parishes in New Orleans are not known.)
In 1805, the year the city of New Orleans was incorporated, counties were established in the territory. For a few years, counties and parishes existed side by side, and the courts labored under the confusion that resulted. In 1807, parishes were legalized by the Territorial Government, but not incorporated into the State Constitution until 1845, after which counties were forever abolished in Louisiana.
The Aaron Burr Conspiracy
Aaron Burr , born in 1765 and elected Vice President in 1801, ended his political career when he killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804. While vice president, Burr had become a candidate in the gubernatorial election in New York in 1804 and was defeated due to Hamilton’s efforts. He challenged Hamilton to a duel and killed him. The coroner declared that Hamilton had been willfully murdered by Burr. Burr fled and began recruiting an army, allegedly conspiring with Gen. James Wilkinson to wrest Louisiana and other western states from the United States or a part of Mexico from Spain in order to set up his own country. Burr was tried for treason in 1807 and acquitted. He went to Europe, still attempting to get support for his Mexican scheme. He returned to the United States under an assumed name in 1812 and practiced law in New York until his death.
In the summer of 1805, Burr met in New Orleans with Edward Livingston, Daniel Clark, and a group of adventurers who wanted to invade Mexico. In 1806, rumors flew about Burr’s developing army. Many believed the Spanish in West Florida were working with Burr.
Claiborne accused Daniel Clark , then United States congressman, of complicity with Burr. Clark challenged Claiborne to a duel and succeeded in wounding Claiborne, adding to the confusion of American conversion.
The Code Duello
Rules governing Affairs of Honor were compiled in the Code Duello. Many duels were fought beneath the Dueling Oaks in today’s City Park. (Courtesy Leonard V. Huber Collection)
The two duels just mentioned in the Burr story make it clear how widespread the practice of
The Territory of Orleans became the state of Louisiana on April 30, 1812, which became the eighteenth star on the flag. A gubernatorial election was held, and Claiborne, who had by this time endeared himself to the people of Louisiana, won easily over Creole Noel Destrehan. His efforts to overcome his personal losses and to win the respect of the haughty Creoles had been rewarded.
His opinion of the people had also changed. By 1812, he was quick to say that the natives of Louisiana had a natural ability; they might not have had much schooling, but they were very right, intense people who knew how to do things and what they were about.
Several major events in the history of the city occurred during this period. Shortly after Louisiana had been retroceded to France, the Ursuline nuns became terrified that since France was now under the Emperor Napoleon, the French government might not honor the Catholic Church. So great was their fear that some of the nuns left New Orleans and went to Cuba. Those who stayed, knowing New Orleans was now to become American, wrote to Thomas Jefferson, asking if they were going to be allowed to practice the Catholic religion. Jefferson wrote them a beautiful letter, allaying their fears, enumerating the many services the Ursulines had rendered in the past, and stating his wish that they would continue to serve the territory in the future. Reassured, the nuns remained.
The Legislative Council attempted to divide the Territory into areas called counties. Municipal districts were called counties in the rest of the United States, and it seemed logical to call them that in Louisiana. From the beginning, however, boundaries of church parishes had been used to mark off municipal divisions in Louisiana. (Boundaries of the original parishes in New Orleans are not known.)
In 1805, the year the city of New Orleans was incorporated, counties were established in the territory. For a few years, counties and parishes existed side by side, and the courts labored under the confusion that resulted. In 1807, parishes were legalized by the Territorial Government, but not incorporated into the State Constitution until 1845, after which counties were forever abolished in Louisiana.
The Aaron Burr Conspiracy
Aaron Burr , born in 1765 and elected Vice President in 1801, ended his political career when he killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804. While vice president, Burr had become a candidate in the gubernatorial election in New York in 1804 and was defeated due to Hamilton’s efforts. He challenged Hamilton to a duel and killed him. The coroner declared that Hamilton had been willfully murdered by Burr. Burr fled and began recruiting an army, allegedly conspiring with Gen. James Wilkinson to wrest Louisiana and other western states from the United States or a part of Mexico from Spain in order to set up his own country. Burr was tried for treason in 1807 and acquitted. He went to Europe, still attempting to get support for his Mexican scheme. He returned to the United States under an assumed name in 1812 and practiced law in New York until his death.
In the summer of 1805, Burr met in New Orleans with Edward Livingston, Daniel Clark, and a group of adventurers who wanted to invade Mexico. In 1806, rumors flew about Burr’s developing army. Many believed the Spanish in West Florida were working with Burr.
Claiborne accused Daniel Clark , then United States congressman, of complicity with Burr. Clark challenged Claiborne to a duel and succeeded in wounding Claiborne, adding to the confusion of American conversion.
The Code Duello
Rules governing Affairs of Honor were compiled in the Code Duello. Many duels were fought beneath the Dueling Oaks in today’s City Park. (Courtesy Leonard V. Huber Collection)
The two duels just mentioned in the Burr story make it clear how widespread the practice of
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