American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-11-28
AMERICAN ELEGRAPH
WASHINGTON,
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, NOVEMBER %.
A Senator from Mississippi.

designs beyond our deylslng lie says
g In the Telegraph of the 18th, observe
brief allusion to the vacancies in the United
States Senate, occasioned by the resignation
of Messrs. Foote and Davis, and the sugges-
tion that neither of them can be filed by an
unsuccessful candidate for the gubernatorial
chair Now, the eyes Of many citizens of our
State have been fixed upon just such man,
and the premature thrust you have in this wise
made at him is, in my opinion, as unkind as it
is impolitic. In your city is as true and noble
a citizen of our State as can be found within
its borders and honorable as has been his
whole life, to no period of it can he look with
more just pride than to the campaign in which
he was defeated in the pursuit of the office of
governor. If your remark was intended for
him, | would, as friend, advise and request
you to recall it as ill considered and illibe-
RAIL-" &c.
Upon recurring to our files we find that our
correspondent makes reference to the follow
ing little bagatelle:
"WANTED.-Two Senators from the State
of Mississippi. None need apply but sober,
steady, eloquent, young men, who have done
or are prepared to do good deal of fighting,
with pistols, bowie-knives, OF fsteses. N. B.
Rejected candidates for the Governorship need
not apply"
We take pleasure in assuring him that we
had no such design as he attributes to us. The
two Senators of Mississippi had both vacated
their places to become candidates for the Office
of Governor; both were not to be successful,
and we thought no harm could proceed from
making the defeated one the subject of ban
tering joke-for surely the equanimity Of neither
could be disturbed by so slight matter. AS
it relates to the gentleman whom our CORES
pondent has named to US, however, the matter
assumes different aspect, and we here take
occasion to say, that although that gentleman
has always been present to our mind in con-
nexion with the senatorial representation of
Mississippi, the fact Of his ever having been can
didate for Governor did not, at the precise mo-
ment of writing the above, occur to us.
Having thus unconsciously erred in relation
to him, however, we will now record his name,
not only for the purpose of making all proper
amends, but in order to pay the voluntary tribute
of our heart to as just, as honorable, as patri-
otic, and as estimable a citizen as the State of
Mississippi can boast. We alude to LUKE LEE,
the present Commissioner of Indian Affairs of
whose life it is fortunately in our power to fur
nish brief sketch
Col. LEA is now, as we believe, about forty
two years old He is the son of the Rev. Major
Lea, IA proper name this, and not a military
title y Baptist clergyman, originally of North
Carolina, who settled in Tennessee, and there
married a Miss Jarnagin, whose father, we be-
lieve, was from Virginia. This lady was born
and raised in Tennessee, or upon it's borders,
and, like most of the pioneers of that country,
passed much of the early years of her life in
the "blockhouses" erected as refugees from the
attacks Of the savages, who, in those early
days, were source of constant terror to the
hardy and adventurous intruders upon their
hunting grounds.
The character and well-approved qualities Of
| Col. LEA attest his descent from parents so en-
terprising and so honorable; for man more
firm in his integrity, or more honorable in his
every impulse, does not live.
He was born in Tennessee, and was there
educated to the legal profession, which he prac-
tised for some years, and, before removing to
Mississippi, if we remember Alright, had filled
lllc OIuCCo VI SlSIh W tuC DSuhLC anu VI DSCTS-
tary of State. His public services in his ma
tive State were ever approved by his fellow
citizens, as the many evidences Of their estima-
ton have abundantly shown.
Soon after his removal to Mississippi, he was
elected to the legislature from the large, intel
ligent and influential county of Kinds In this
position he stood in the foremost rank as an
able debater, and proved useful and practical
legislator.
Subsequently, be for a time devoted himself
with great assiduity to the practice of his pro-
fession, and Stunned rather than courted the
arena of politics and all it's honors. 1t was
while thus occupied-at q late period in the gu
bernatorial canvass of 1849, to which our cor
respondent has alluded-that q demand was
made upon him by the Wing party of Missis-
sippi. Gen. Patrick Henry, Gen. Thomas G..
Polk, and other prominent Wings had success
sively declined the nomination of their party.
Col LEA was appealed to, and though the gal
liant Quitman was the antagonist he was re-
quired to oppose, he did not shrink from the
issue. 1t is true that he did not hope for sue
cess, but it is equally true that, though sum-
moned to the field at late hour, the dim pros
pect did not prevent his stepping forth in the
consciousness of the powers within him, and
not only preventing the election from going by
default, but vindicating the principles of the
great party to which he was attached. He bore
the banner of that party high in the air, and
made good race, and at the same time revealed
tn he fo1lN1y o;t;zano HE avcn1lant pnwara N
effective popular orator. He made friends
wherever he appeared. We are indeed informed,
and we believe correctly, that although he was
not so successful as has more recently been the
able and distinguished FooTE, in running his
adversary "off the track" that gentleman de-
i. Il nl.nIn hn..n