New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-29
From tile Richmond Enquirer, 18TH
General 9uitIslan.

There appeared in the Enquirer of the 5th a short
communication in regard to this distingnlshea Sell'
tlemal which, though we'll intended, hardly did him
iustice and we feel sure that brief sketch OF tne
main incidents in the life of General Quitman Will
prove acceptable to our readers.
General Quitman was born at Rhlnebeck, eta!e OF
New York in 1893. He entered into public lie III
lS27-was elected to the Legislature OF h!sssslppl
and became an active member Of the Judiciary com.
mttee In the fall of 1928, while yet member OF
the Legislature he was appointed Cnancellor OF te
State by the Governor-and was unanimously elected
to that high Office by the subsequent Legislature IN
1881 he was elected also member of the Convention
to revise the State Constitution. and was placed at
the head of the Judiciary Committee OF that booy::
The New Constitution having given the election OF
Chancellor to the people, General Qutman was elected
without opposition. He gned this important post
in 1854. In 1885 he was elected Senator IN the
State Legislature, and upon the assembling OF that
hodv was chosen its President The Office Of Cover
nor becoming vacant at that time he acted as Cover
nor and delivered message to the Legislature on
Federal relations in 1885, which stamped him at once
as an able exponent of the States Rights principles OF
About this time General Quitman withdrew from
public life and embarked in private enterprises touch
ing the welfare and progress OF his state Mhlle
President of the Jackson and Natchez Railroad Com
many we believe, he rendered the app0ntmentof
SUPREME Judge OF his State, but declined it. In the
snrine of 1896 when Texas was threatened with the
invasion of Santa Anna, we find Qutman again on
the stage of public action, giving his services and IN
|
I many exciting adventures and toilsome marches.
During all this time he was an active member OF
public and private associations-such as Grand Mas
ter of Masons Director of State Hospital. President
of the Trustees of Jefferson College, Trustee Of State
University, Member of Scientific Lyceum, receiving
the honorary degree of A. NJ from the College Of New
Jersey, and that of L. L. D. from La Grange College,
Kentucky.
menced at an early period of his life From the age
eighteen he always connected with some mill
/ tary organization. He was first lieutenant OF a
rife corps and captain Of light infantry company
| for eleven years, and afterwards MaJorGeneral III
the militia service of Mississippi. The war with Mex
leo opened new field for herosm and administrative
ability and again we find General Quitman prominent
among the brave who participated IN that great
drama. In june 1916, he was appointed Brlgadler:
General to the United States Army, and was brevet
ted for services at Monterey. On the l4th OF April
lS47, he was appointed Major General in the regular
service After the battle of Monterey, Gen. Taylor
entrusted Quitman with the command OF the eXpedl
ton to reduce Victoria, the capital of Tamanlipas
Marched thither with seven regiments, and driving
before him various bodies of the enemy took posses
sion of that capital on the 18th of December, lS41
We next find the old soldier--not so old elther-a
Vera Cruz, where he took part in the siege. HI
commanded successful expedition against Alvarado
On the return from Alvarado, joined the main arm,
at Cerro Gordo, was despatched with Gen Worth Ii
} advance of the army ninety miles from oJalapa' ah'
: with Worth took possession of the city OF PUeba.
His brilliant conduct during tbs movement on tn
city of Mexico is yet fresh on the public mind. TIL
late debate in the Senate Of the United States deye
oped the fact that General Quitman planted the frs
American flag above the city Of Mexico. After To-
capture of theeity, he was appointed Civil and Mill
; tary Governor OF Mexico. He was ordered HON
n in the end Of the year 1917, and while Presiden
Polk was deciding to give him command OF tn
Northern army of operations in Mexico, peace wa
declared.
e At the Baltimore Convention, QS4S,) Gen. Quitma
received a most flattering vote for Vice President
and was one of the Democratic electors in the Stat
of mississippi in lS49, when the military popularity
/ Gen. Taylor defeated our party.
s In 1S49 the people of Mississippi again electe
Gen. Quitman their Governor. His message, at tina
time fully sustained his previous reputation and cor
frmed the confidence Of the States Rights men in hin
and he was renomnated by the Democratic Stat
Convention.
In 1864, his constituents returned him as thel
Representative to Congress, where he has added t
: his fame by q course which has disappointed thos
| who had doubted his ability and prudence, an
where he commands the respect Of his political OF
+, ponents.
= At the late Democratic Convention at Cincinnati
General Quitman received, on the first ballot, u
highest vote for FiCe-Presden.
We have given Il mere detail Of events, only a te7
f Of which would make the reputation OF a man. IN
high bearing, unsulied honor and personal popularit
of General Qutman, are too well known to reqdil
. even mention. As q scholar he has few superior
He is one of the clearest and abest writers Oh III
, country, man of extensive reading and OBSERVATION
@ Besides his classic attainments General pullman,
i think is also an excellent French, Spanish and Ge
man scholar. Mississippi may well be proud of sue
a REPRESENTATIVE.