Louisiana was originally settled by the French; in 1762, it was ceded by
France to Spain; near the end of the 18th century it was restored to
France; in 1803, it was purchased by the United States; in 1804, the
country now forming the state of Louisiana was formed into a territorial
government under the name of the Territory of Orleans; and in 1812, it
was admitted into the Union as a state.
Mr. Thomas, in his "History of Printing," remarks "that several
printing-houses were opened at New-Orleans, and several newspapers were
immediately published there, after the country came under the government
of the United States."
The first paper published in New-Orleans was the "Moniteur de la
Louisiana," a French paper, and edited by M. Fontaine. This was a
government paper, issued at irregular intervals and at the discretion of
the Spanish government. It was rather a vehicle of ordinances and public
documents than a newspaper.
In the year 1803 an enterprising New-Englander named Lyons--a son of the
celebrated Mathew Lyons--who had been sent to New-Orleans with
despatches from government, on arriving there, and ascertaining that
there was no regular press in the city, applied to General Wilkinson for
patronage to establish a weekly paper. Herein he was successful; but,
except himself, there was not another printer in New-Orleans, journeyman
or "devil."
By some means, however, he learned that there were three young men[11]
from the only printing office in Natchez, then belonging to the army,
quartered in the city. He obtained their furlough from General
Wilkinson--and obtaining the office of the "Moniteur," in a few weeks
issued the first number of a paper entitled the "Union." To this in a
few weeks succeeded the "Louisiana Courier," which, established in
1806, now holds a high rank in the army of periodicals, and is the
oldest paper in the state.
The number of newspapers in the Territory of Orleans in 1810, was 10,
(two of them daily;) all in the city of New-Orleans.
The number in Louisiana in 1828, was only nine. New-Orleans is the great
centre of business and of publishing in this state. There are now
published in New-Orleans seven daily papers, and 31 altogether in
Louisiana.