Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-07-23
The Late Gen. Quitrnan.

The. telegraph announces t.,e death of
Gen. John A. Quitman at his residence near
Natchez, Mississippi. lie expired on the
10Th, the latest as he is the most illustrious
Of the victims of the "National Hotel mala-
dy." ,-e
John a. Quitman was born about sixty
years ago, in Duchess county, N: T., where
his father was pastor of Dutch Reformed
Church. Slavery existed in this State
throughout his childhood and youth, and
waSon of the ''peculiar institutions'' of
his paternal home; so that we have heard
Gen. @, remark that he had never lived in
any other than Slave State. He migrated
in early manhood to tie South, and became
Mississippi planter. Hejoined in the gen.
eral support If Gen. ckson for President,
but abandoned him with Mr.. Calhoun, and
was for years known as a Estate Rights
Wing" AS such, he supported Gen. liar.
rison for President in 1910, and we think
was once Wing candidate for Congress, or
Governor, or both. When Mr.. Calhoun re.
turned to the Democracy, he was accompa.
MED or soon followed hy Gen. Qui,man.-
The latter shrunk, however, from following
his party into the gulf of Reputation, and
was once run for high post on the bond
rayiDg Democratic ticket, which hid few
supporters. But, though thus repeatedlv
defeated as candidate for office, Mr.. Quit
man Was steadily growing in the esteem and
confidence of his fellow citizens.
| In 1867, he volunteered tor the Mexi-
can war. and was appointed by President
Polk Major General. La this capacity, he
was prominently engaged in most or all the
sangui nary actinns which immediately pre-
| ceded the capture of tie Mexican capital, Ut
which, on It's surrender, he Was made Cow
ernor. Though widely differing in their po-
| litical views, he loved and honored bis supe-
ri"r, Gen. Sc"tt,by whom his confidence was
fully rrciprocated. in the ranks Of the DO
liical Generals who intrigued to deprive
Ges Scott OF his command, and to tarnish
his proud laurels, Gen. Quitman was not
found.
Returcing to Mississippi, Gen. Quitman
devoted his time to fis family, his planta-
ton, and the construction Of Railroad,
until nominated for Congress in 1855, when,
after spirited canvass, he was elected BY
two thousand maj"rity-a full; party vote,
and something more. Repairing duly to
Washington, he, though new Member and
one of the most ultra Nebraska men, was
designated by Speaker Banks, whose cleo
ton he had opposed to the last, to the i'm
portan: post of Chairman Of the Committee
on Military Affairs, a post Of which he dis
charged the duties with eminent ability
lie was reelected last fall without oppose
ton, and Of course continued by Speaker
Orr in the post assigned him by a political
antagonist. His death of course vaca.es
seat in the House, and the Chairmanihip of
the Committee. Gen. Quitman was but
moderately fluent as a debater, but always
spoke tersely and to the point He was the
foremost man in Congress of the Sire eat
ers,' or "Chivalry"-one who did not need
to tight dues to establish his reputation for
courage quiet and unassuning in mar nsr,
universally esteemed by those who knew
him, and the fittest man of his school for
the Presidency. Unlike a majority Of the
declaimers for Slavery in Congress, he re-
ally believed in it, and hence did not find 1T
necessary to make half so much noise about
it as some others. His death leaves void
that will not soon be. filled N. Y. Tribuns.