The French, or Creole population greatly preponderated, and this
population was all below Canal Street. They elected the mayor, and
two-thirds of the council, and these came into office with all the
prejudices of that people against the Americans, whom a majority of
them did not hesitate to denominate intruders. The consequence was the
expenditure of all the revenue of the city upon improvements below
Canal Street. Every effort was made to force trade to the lower
portion of the city. This was unavailing. The Faubourg St. Mary
continued to improve, and most rapidly. Business and cotton-presses
sprang up like magic. Americans were purchasing sugar plantations and
moving into the French parishes, drawing closer the relations of
fellow-citizens, and becoming more and more acquainted with the
feelings and opinions of each other, and establishing good
neighborhoods and good feelings, and by degrees wearing out these
national prejudices, by encouraging social intercourse and fraternity.
They were introducing new methods of cultivation, and new modes of
making sugar; pushing improvements, stimulating enterprise, and
encouraging a community of feeling, as they held a common interest in
the country.
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