The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1850-11-20
Will Of John McDonoph.

IhIs curious testament will be published
at length In our paper OF Tomorrow. It.
will excite profound attention and interest.
Ii is due to the memory of the deceased To-
ADM: that this document greatly modifies
The public prejudice, which has long exist
ed against MIR. McDonogh on account of
his misery habits, his hard and exactinq
nature, and his apparent insensiblitv to
the ordinary feelings and ties of humanity.
Ills will shows that, throughout his long
career OF devoted, severe, mnd and soul.
wearing pursuit of wealth, he has been &C.
tuaied and prompted by philanthropic
motive, desire TO benefit his speeches 10
advance the caase of religion, virtue aud
good morals. We believe that this feeling
was sincere one, No ambitious love vi
| posthumous fame or notoriety appears to
have mingled with this patriotic motive.
His dispositions are not made i'll a manner
calculated to please or satisfy the people OF
the present age, as they cannot take effect
for many years to come. The passion
which divided with this philanthropic pur-
pose tn dominion Mr.. McDonoglls mind
and heart, was that for aequisition-the ac-
QUESTION of real estate. manifests it sell in
all his dispositions.
His property is to be held by trustees II
all time to come, not an incn of it is ever
70 be sold, bui the income OF It is to be ap.
! piled to the purchase Of other lands, un
said iucome shall reach very large a..
cunt. The effect Of the execution of tn
proqislons would be to absorb all the prog
i fty Of of the State into the succession o
John McDonogh, and thereby create al
emporium III an1PerlO, state within
state. The scheme indicates a grand am
bltion, to which, no doubt, rather than t
the ordinary averice Of the miser. we are L
ascribe the remarkable perseverance, yea
aud se,l-denial, which characterized MI
McDonogh through his long life. Wheth
, er this design be practicable or not, it mus
be admitted that it is Of a character to in
splre the people with a respect for the nc
tlves Of the deceased, which could neve
be inbibed from a contemplation of Ii.
walk and conversation during life. 7
will dignefes and illumines a long caree
which otherwise would be dreary, desoat
: and forbiddihg.
In saying this, as we'll as in the remalk
: which we hastily wrote for our paper {
Sunday, we desire to be understood as onl
expressing GU: strong dstaste for the mod
of life pursued by Mr. McDonogh, whic
{ we deem as inconsistent with the prope
L duties OF good citizen or a faithful membe
: of society,-a. life of exclusion from tn
sympathies, tastes, responsibilities, cares
+ and joys of social life. But we did no: i.
Is tend to imply the slightest doubt of the il
( rity or honesty ofthe deceased We'd
: sire now to accord to him all honor for ph
d lanthropic motives, though we still beliey
, that the vast properly accumulated ~ hi
2 could have been more adVantageoGsly di
T. tribu.ed had he sold it during MS life, al
Id invested the proceeds in educational :,
81 charitable institutions. Under the presses
Is djsposi;ions, we fear that serious legal Gi
lie culties will long defer, ifnot positively d
a feat the purpose o. the testator, The pro
he erty is so large, however, that it will
4 quite practicable, we suppose, in case
at any disagreement between the parties
rd interesr, to effect compromise whit
y would secure the great public benefits 90
VI templated by the testator. 'aa
ne Those who are most familiar with N
McDonogh's affairs, estimate his proper
Sc as worth ten millions OF dollars.