a ST. MARTIN PARISH article

Cultures of Acadiana
a look at the French, Cajun, Creole, and Native American cultures of south Louisiana
(a project of Carencro High School (721 West Butcher Switch Road, Lafayette, LA  70507)

Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser, July 29, 1997

Spain wanted to grow tobacco in Acadiana

by Jim Bradshaw

Commandants in the Attakapas district got pretty specific instructions from the colonial officials in New Orleans during the Spanish era. These were the instructions given in April 1777 by Spanish Gov. Bernardo de Galvez to Alexandre Declouet, commandant of Attakapas and Opelousas:

"1. As soon as he arrives at his place of command, he will gather an exact and detailed census of all ages and sexes, white as well as negroes, mulattoes, etc., whether free or slave. To get as accurate a census as possible, he will be empowered to commission people he will trust, assigning to each a particular territory.

"2. He will do all in his power to keep peace and harmony among the inhabitants, two goals desirable for society. We enjoin him to use all his efforts to fulfill these goals and to make the inhabitants aware by his courteous treatment of them, of the gentleness of our government. He will tell them that when I come through I will reward those who live as I wish.

"3. He will collect two escalins for each arpent of land granted in his jurisdiction for surveying. This is a legitimate fee to cover his operating expenses and one which we have agreed to since my predecessor had granted four escalins for the surveying of Acadian lands, two of which went to the surveyor and two to the commandant.

"4. We reiterate that he should promote the cultivation of tobacco, which His Majesty wants grown to supply His Kingdom of Mexico. He should point out to the inhabitants the profits they can expect from it and the gratitude they should feel toward the king who tries to provide for their welfare."

This article is copyrighted © by the Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser and is used with permission.  This web site was originated through a grant awarded to Carencro High School (Joel Hilbun/Bobbi Marino, Grant Administrators) by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from the Louisiana Quality Education Support Fund - 8(g).