Jefferson County Louisiana Archives News.....A Trip to Barataria October 20, 1870
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New Orleans Republican October 20, 1870
Fruitless Search for "Christians"

The Republicans Well Organized

Harvey's Canal
Saturday Night, October 15, 1970

Editor Republican:

According to promise, I have jotted down a few items connected with our recent 
trip to Barataria, Cheniere Caminada and Grande Isle. Dame rumor having said 
that Barataria had drawn up articles of secession from the left bank, and had 
been cajoled into the belief that the Christian Association had overturned the 
balance of the State, a few unbelieving Thomases determined to go down and see 
if the good old lady might not be mistaken. So a party, composed of Messrs. 
Stamps (not revenue, but T. B.), Morrison, Worrall, Gaudet, Martin, Kemp, 
Perkins, Gibbs, Brown, and a field hand, started from the head of Harvey's canal 
on Tuesday, the eleventh, in skiffs, after first ascertaining that our chief 
engineer had plenty of steam aboard, with valves in good working order, and that 
our pilot fully understood all the shoals and stumps that lay in our path. 

After a pleasant ride of thirteen miles we arrived at the plantation of Paul 
Osborn, pleasantly situated on the bank of the bayou Barataria, when we expected 
to meet with a "Christian" reception (having heard that Mr. Osborn had, through 
the efficacious prayers of Revs. Fisk and Chapman, become a convert to their 
faith), but we soon ascertained that, if he did not know how to come the 
Christian blarney over us, he knew how to receive and treat us as Republicans, 
which he did. At eight o'clock P.M. we proceeded to a small church a few rods 
below the residence of Justin Bernard, Esq., beautifully situated in the midst 
of a grove of live oaks, where meets the "Oak-Rest Radical Republican club," and 
there we had a meeting which gave the lie at once to the old lady.

If the meetings of the club at Barrataria are usually so well attended as that 
night, I advise them to either secure a larger house, or meet under the oaks, in 
old Druidical fashion. The building was simply crowded, the spaces outside were 
crowded, and, after the speeches of Judge Martin, Dr. T. D. Worrall, Hon. T. B. 
Stamps, J. B. Gaudet, A. J. Kemp, Samuel Perkins and Harry Gibbs, if there were 
any of Fisk's Christians hanging around, they were pretty well crowded, too--so 
much so that there is no room for them down there anymore. The "Christian 
Association" flatter themselves that they have a broad botton to stand (or sit) 
upon, but when such "grape and canister" flies among them as were there poured 
out by the speakers they always cry, "Don't crowd the mourners."

Only crowd the "Christian Association" with good Republican doctrine, and, like 
the washerwoman's tub, their "bottom" will soon fall out.

Next morning at eight A.M. we started for Grand Isle, chartering the small 
sternwheel steamer Agnes, at the plantation of Judge Berthoud, who chartered us 
the boat.

The Judge is a Democrat, but a high-toned gentleman, and knows how to receive 
and treat his guests, although they may differ with him politically. It would be 
a good idea to forward occasionally a copy of the Republican to George Rolfs, 
Captain of the Agnes, who is undoubtedly not aware of the fact that the late war 
is over; that slavery is abolished; that the colored man has rights, and is 
entitled to enjoy them under the law, as he attempted to come the "deck passage" 
game on some of us. Our friend Morrison (who, by the way, is the efficient 
Register of Voters on the right bank) quietly informed him that this was not a 
Democratic crowd but a company of Republicans. Captain Rolfs soon comprehended 
the situation, and everything then went on smoothly, we arriving at Grand Isle 
at twelve M. at night. Grand Isle is being registered, and thoroughly, too, as 
Morrison and Kempt know their business. Here we found the people strongly in 
favor of the success of the Republican cause.

From Grand Isle, together with the Board of Registrars and our band, we 
proceeded to Cheniere Caminada, where we received the kind hospitalities of John 
B. Ducua, Esq. Cheniere Caminada has about six hundred and fifty inhabitants and 
one can form his own opinion of the healthfulness of the place, when I tell you 
that on the whole island there is not a single physician. Our friend, the 
doctor, had to quit for the moment politics, and renew his profession as good 
Samaritan.

After satisfying ourselves of the political soundness of the good people of 
Caminada, we returned to attend another meeting to be held at Mr. Bernard's 
plantation, arriving at 10 1/2 A.M. Saturday. Here again we had overwhelming 
proof of the errors of the old lady, Dame Rumor. Hatch, Fisk, and Co. may slide 
and shuttle around the other side of the river as much as they choose, it will 
do them no good. Our kind host, Osburn, upon whom they much depended (and were 
trying to use as a cat's paw to pull chestnuts out of the fire with), will have 
nothing to do with them, and he is a power on the bayou. From what I could learn 
the nominating delegates will place his name on the list for the Justice of the 
Peace for his ward. No better selection could be had.

In consequence of some of us having to take separate skiffs en route home, the 
writer was obliged to leave before the meeting was over, but left the Doctor 
pouring his hot shot into the enemies of Republicanism with his usual 
earnestness and ability.

And here I am, quietly gliding along the bosom of the "ever raging canal," 
heartily glad that our little company paid Barataria a visit, for now we are 
sure and confident that our friends there will poll such a vote as will quiet 
the friends of Democracy forever in Jefferson parish.

J.B.G.

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