416. Julien Vernet, Part 1

 416. Part 1 of our talk with Julien Vernet. Strangers on Their Native Soil: Opposition to United States' Governance in Louisiana's Orleans Territory, 1803-1809. "After the United States purchased Louisiana, many inhabitants of the new American territory believed that Louisiana would quickly be incorporated into the Union and that they would soon enjoy rights as citizens. In March of 1804, however, Congress passed the Act for the Organization of Orleans Territory, which divided Louisiana into two sections: Orleans Territory, which lay southwest of the Mississippi Territory; and the Louisiana District. Under this act, President Jefferson possessed the power to appoint the government of Orleans Territory and its thirteen-man legislative council. The act also prohibited importation of most slaves. Anxieties about their livelihoods and an unrepresentative government drove some Louisiana merchants and planters to organize protests."

1. This week in Louisiana history. May 8, 1541. Spanish explorer DeSoto discovered the Mississippi River.
2. This week in New Orleans history. After Federal troops captured the city during the Civil War, the the looting of the Post Office in the Custom House is related in this editorial from the New Orleans "Evening True Delta" published on May 8, 1862: "Vandalism. It was only yesterday evening that we were informed of the disgraceful acts of the mob that, for a time, had their saturnalia in and around the new Custom-house building, on the evening of the day that the Federal forces took possession of that building. The facts laid before us - and we are satisfied they are unquestionable - are these: The Federal forces took possession of the Custom-house, Postoffice, etc. At sundown of that day the Federal force was ordered to return to the fleet at anchor opposite the city. When they left, the rowdies broke open the doors of the Postoffice, and for a time, had a perfect saturnalia in that establishment. They took possession of everything but the vault, which they could not enter; they took all the letters they could lay their hands on, and, we presume, rifled them of their contents; they carried off a valuable gold watch, the private property of the postmaster, and a large amount of specie, and, in fact robbed and plundered the establishment..."
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Centenary State Historic Site
   Tour the grounds of Louisiana’s oldest college, founded in 1826.
   About 30 miles north of Baton Rouge, in the rolling hills of East Feliciana Parish, are the remains of what was once Centenary College. The liberal arts school was founded in 1825 and today, as the main attraction at Centenary State Historic Site, it tells the story of a once thriving men’s college whose rise to prominence was dramatically affected by the Civil War. The students of what was initially known as the College of Louisiana were the sons of planters and professionals. Within 20 years of its founding, the College of Louisiana’s enrollment grew greatly, but financial hardship led it to merge with another school, Mississippi’s Centenary College.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Steve Mangano at the Bourbon St. Drinkery.

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