The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-08-22
y From the southron Of 1s49.
Another Leaf from the Past.

Another Leaf from the Past.
In l845, Gov. McNntt, Gen. Henry s. Foote,
and Gen. Quitman were either candidates, or
spoken Of as candidates for the United States
Senate, before the succeeding Legislature of
this State. During the spring, summer and
fall OF that year, great deal had been said and
written in reference to their relative claims to
party confidence. Among the productions of
the press to which the canvass gave rise, none
elected more notice, than one which appeared
in the Vicksburg Sentinel, Of the goth Of June,
under the signature of Hume That produc-
ton was, at the time, by many ascribed to the
ready pen of Gov. MeNutt, but whether it
owed its paternity to that distinguished gen.
tleman, or not, is more than we can say. 1t
was, however, evidently the production Of a
warm political friend and admirer of the great
repudiator, who must have been very intimate-
ly acquainted with the political history OF
Gen. Quitman: for he notices all his various
mutations and changes of opinion with the
circumstantiality of biograpker and annalist
who lays it down as maxim to make nothing
but stubborn and incontrovertable facts the
basis of his deductions. The Sentinel was
then edited by the late 10. Jenkins, Esq, and
in ushering in the communication of Hume
Mr. ]. makes these remarks:
"We admit the article signed Hume, after
blotting out one or two expressions we eonsi-
dered dictated in rather too bitter spirit.
For Gen. Quitman's character and talents we
have the highest admiration. But we prefer
another as Senator; and when we find his
friends opposing Gov. McNutt on the ground
that Gen. Quitman's political course has been
more consistent and entities him to higher
honors from our democratic party, what can we
do less than allow McNutt's friends to scrutin-
ize his public career!"
According to the data furnished by "Hume, !"
| it will be seen that the Wings enjoyed the
| pleasure of the Generals political association
| for the grearter portion of his public life up
to that time. He occasionally turned sharp
corner, and c0-operated with the Locofocos,
but these aggressive movements may be con-
| sidered in the light of exceptions to the gen.
eral tenor Of his political associations, which
were in the main, essential Wing, and empha-
| tically anti-repnd;ating. What pity suspision
should rest OH the character of such a man
that he had become 'weary of well-doing," anc
that, whilst others are progressing, he is retro
| grad:ng-going backwards in reference tt
those sentiments about State honor and hon
esty, to the manly avowal Of which he is 81
| largely indebted for the best and most enyiablC
part Of his reputation! But, without furthe
/ preliminary, we invite especial attention to thu
following interesting relic Of the past
From the Vicksburg Sen. jane 20, l845.
] To THE EDITOR OF THE ORGANIZER.
In late number of your paper, | see tina
j YOU have broken ground in favor of Gen. Joh
i A. Quitman of Natchez, for the Office of Sena
tor in Congress to succeed Mr.. Walker. IN
asmuch as the General is unknown to most o
the voters in the State, and is too modest f
proclaim his own political acts, have deeme'
it incumbent on me TO place them briefly befos
your readers through the columns OF the press
John A. Quitman was born at Rhinebec
rAar Kinderhook. in Now York, during tn
administration of the elder Adams, though {
tell the truth he never voted for him.-He EN-
igrated to Mississippi and commenced the prac
tice of law in Natchez. He then was the warn
supporter of the apostate John @. Adams {
1924 he voted for Adams, and against Jackson
for President.
In 1927 he was elected by the Adams cour
lty federalists to a seat in the Legislature; an
was again reelected in 1828-He signalize
himself in the Legislature, by taking an aetiv
part in repeating the law prohibiting the intro
duetion of branch of theU. S. Bank into thi
State. and was mainly instrumentalia getting
: resolution passed by the Legislature to locate
branch of the monster in Natchez, the city O
his residence.
In 1928 he was chairman of a committee t
raise money to support the reelection Of job
@. Adams.
In 1929 he was elected by the Legislator
Chancellor Of state.
In 1880 he was appointed director of tn
branch Bank of the United States in Natchei
and was continued in that Office for many years
In 1882 he was elected by the ant-reforr
party of Adams county. member of the cor
Yention-signalzed in that body by zealousl
opposing the election of Chancellor, Judges an
Attorneys, state officers, &c. by the people
He claims the merit of being the author of tha
clause in the Constitution relative to pledgin
the faith of the State for money borrowed o
: its credit.
In 1894 he went out Of the United State
Bank as director-stepped across the stree
and took his seat as director of the Planter
Bank. Did he sustain the course of thos
banks in loaning the most of their capital o
bills drawn on common houses, and thus ia
: the people with heavy exchanges and plac
them in the power of Commission merchant:
. ~ III 1907 ne tOleu lOTs JdckSOI1, ana DafUOu
in opposition to the regularly nominated ticl
ct for jackson and Van Buren; at that tim
Clay's friends being unable to carry the stat
fairly, sought to distract the party by dividing
In 1888 he became nullifier, and bitterl
denounced Gen. Jackson and the party whic
sustained hiH--wrote several essays and &C
dresses, which fell still-born from the pres
and are, we believe numbered among th
things that were.
In 1884 he resigned his Office of Chancelc
and was elected, BY the wings Of Adams cour
| ty, State Senator.
: In 1885 he took his seat in the Senate
Jackson. The house by vote almost unar
imously admitted the members from the ST,
teen new---Choctaw counties to the
seats in the house. John A. Quitman an
John Henderson got up committee of tn
IIouse--a report was made and adopted by
meagre majority of the Senate declaring tbs
: the House had no right to admit the member
from the Choctaw counties into their Hall, an
that under existing circumstances the Senat
would not act with that body. This ontlage
Gus decision of the Senate was made in th
face of the clause of the constitution whic
declares that each house should judge Of tn
qualifications and election of its owG member,
and that each county shall always be enttle
to at least one member of the House. Th
House refused to yield, and majority of tb