greatness of the surplus products of the immense
Valley, this was quadrupling annually. The cotton crop of the United
States, forty years ago, scarcely reached half a million of bales, and
of this New Orleans did not receive one-third; but in five years
after, her receipts were very nearly one-half of the entire crop. At
the same period, the sugar crop did not amount to more than twenty
thousand hogsheads; five years thereafter, it had quadrupled, and the
commerce from the upper rivers had increased a hundred-fold, and was
going on in all the products of the soil to increase in like ratio. At
this time the antipathy was at its acme between the two races or
populations.

Then the Legislature held its sessions in New Orleans, and the
American residents, merchants, and property-holders determined to
apply to the Legislature for an amendment of the city charter. A bill
was introduced accordingly, proposing to divide the city into three
municipalities, making Canal and Esplanade streets the lines of
division; giving the city proper and each faubourg a separate
government: in truth, making three cities where there had been but
one. The excitement in the city became intense, and sectional
animosities increased in bitterness. To the American population it was
a matter of prime necessity; to the property-holders and merchants of
the city proper it was a matter of life and death. To these it was
apparent that the moment this bill became a law, and the Faubourg St.
Mary controlled her own finances, her streets would be paved and
warehouses spring up to meet every demand--wharves would be
constructed, the quay or levee would be sheltered, capital would flow
to the Faubourg, and, in a moment as it were, she would usurp the
entire domestic trade of the country: in other words, the Faubourg St.
Mary would become the City of New Orleans.

After carefully canvassing the Legislature, it was found very doubtful
whether the bill would pass or not; the attempt had heretofore proved
eminently unsuccessful, but now it was apparent that it had gained
many friends, and it was not certain it could be defeated. Under these
circumstances, overtures were made by the city government, to expend
all the revenue in improvements above Canal Street, which should be
collected from the inhabitants of that quarter. This proposition was
declined, and the bill after a most exciting struggle became a law.
Under its provisions a new council and recorder were