Orestes Brownson's Visit to New Orleans in 1855

Abstract

LTHOUGH Henry Brownson, in his biography of his father, mentions the invitation which Orestes Brownson received in I855 to lecture in New Orleans,' later biographers have not considered the matter of sufficient importance to record Brownson's appearance in that city, in April, I855. Yet, Brownson's visit, if we are to judge by the newspapers of the day, was a memorable one, and his lectures provoked lively and varied comments. Moreover, Brownson, before coming to New Orleans, had inspired in at least one Louisiana writer, Adrien Rouquette, a fervent admiration which resulted in a long and faithful friendship between the two men and a definite trace of Brownson influence upon Rouquette's thought and works. Strange as it may seem, Rouquette does not appear to have made any particular effort to meet Brownson during the latter's two weeks' stay in New Orleans. Whatever the reason for his not doing so, Rouquette's interest in Brownson was no less keen after his coming to New Orleans than it had been before. It is well knowvn that in the quiet precincts of Brook Farm, there was always a stir when Orestes Brownson spoke. So it was in New Orleans when he came. It is true that he came at a time when there was much disturbance, when political passions were at high pitch and when Know Nothingism and Anti-Know Nothingism and Americanism and Anti-Americanism were burning issues, both with thinking people and with politicians who had for years drawn Catholicity and clericalism as red herrings over every conceivable political path. Good people in the midst of this were confused, and honest attempts were made to lift the minds of the people out of the morass of conflicting and contradictory argument. Two interesting pictures of New Orleans were presented to Brownson before he took his steamboat at Pittsburgh to travel down the Ohio and the Mississippi at the invitation of the Catholic Insti-