The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1858-12-18
We he His ford Society Of Mississippi


organized in this city on the 9th inst, and
the undersigned were appointed a com
mittee to address the people of the State
IN explanation of its plans and objects,
and to solicit their cooperation in the inn
portant work which has thus been under
taken.
Indifference in regard to their past his
tory is reproach to any people. 1t ar
CUES either that they are ashamed of their
antecedents, or unmindful of their ances-
tors That they have nomemories Of tho
past worth chcrishing, or else no hearts TO
ieel and no manliness TO avow and pepetu-
ate their debt of gratitude to the meh of
toll, and yalor. and self denial, who now
rest rom the labors whereby their poster
lty has been 80 greatly benefited.
As Mississppians, we have, apart from
our common heritage in the great Repub-
Nc history Of our own, rcpltte with in
leiest and instruction. and among the IA
'AefS OF our state were men whose names
ana characters may each be dwelt upon
with patriotic pride. Nor can we accept
'he alternative, that those who are now
reaPing where they once sowed. those who
are the favored occupants of tho fair land
winch they explored and settled when it
was yet wilderness, are a thanllless race,
or torgettul Of those to whom thew owe
Their goodly heritage.
IL Is not in Mississippi that State feeling
ana State pride are wanting. 1t not here
that men who have served US well are for
gotten because they are dead. No, the
hearts OF our people are true, and their
memories faithful and we are well assured
they only need to be reminded that what
Is engraven in the memories and the
hearts OF the present generation, should
nave also permanent record for genera
lonns yet unborn. There may have been
guilty OF neglect, but not indifference: and
now that the opportunity is afforded them
OF discharging this sacred duty. the car
nest appeal that the materials which elm
cluate our early history may not be suffer-
ed to perish but be gathered and garnered
with maj care, Will not be in vain. Let
us, iellow-citizens, preserve from oblivion
now while may, the names and deeds of
the hardy pioneers who laid the founda-
ton OF our noble State, and all those who
by their wisdom and their valor have since
contributed to its welfare and renown.-
Alfeady much has been lost Tho first
settlers are all gone and their immediate
| descendants are rapidly passing away. I'm
| ~ they are now secured, the authentic
history OF the State viii soon be beyond
our reach. The mementoes of the Indian
! occupants OF our soil are scattered over
lhe whole State with none to gather tben,
| Inc extinct Natchez tribe has come To ba
! regarded as almost myth. The notices
| OF European expeditions, commencino
| with laSalle in 1851, are very obscure =
| The influence ofthe French and Spapisb
| regimes upon our early history is almost
unknown, and the very annals Of our ter
! ntoral government are in danger of he
| ing lost. And is it not then time. hipb
! time, that this work should be entered
| upon and prosecuted with the utmost VIC
| or? Should not all who can, lend us their
| aid in the collecting Of interesting facts
! derived from original and aothentic sour
! ccs-thus contributing to our history what
! else viii remain unwritten. And while
we offer safe depository for whatever re-
! lates to the olden men and the olden times.
! as well as to contemporancous history,
may we not hope that a spirit of research
! will be awakened throughout our borders,
which will leave as little as possible of our
| origin and progress to future conjecture.
! States much younger than our own. and
| far inferior to ours in historic interest.
have already made great advancement in
| this work. Wisconsin in particular, though
a. ''NeNtt VIZ -yIlt years younger ildIl
| Mississippi, has set US an example of en-
| ightened and patriotic interest well wor-
| thy of our imitation Her Legislature
has had the wisdom and liberality tomake
| an annual appropriation to her Historical
| Society, through which great and lasting
benefits have already been secured. In
three years the Society has collected a val
| liable historical library of 5000 volumes,
| exclusive of a greater number Of pam
| pletss with many unbound documents and
| files Of newspapers and peri0dicals-to
| say nothing Of its cabinent and the gal
| lerv Of portraits of its pioneers and early
| public men. 1t also publishes annually
! a large volume of valuable reports and
| collections. We inyokeour fellow-citizens
| % and US in doing likewise. We cordially
invite them to become members Of the
| Society, by the annual payment of one
! dollar or Iie-members, by the single pay
mant Of twenty dollars. We ask for con
| tributions and endowments: indeed. for
whatever may facilitate the purposes Of
| our organization, and perpetuate the hon
CRADLE memories Of the past.
The particular objects of collection de-
sired by the Society are as follows,
l. Manuscript statements and narratives
| Of pioneer settlers-old letters and Jour
| mails relative to the early history and set
| tlement Of Missisisppi; biographical no
| tlccs Of eminent citizens. deceased and
facts illustrative Of our Indian tribes, their
history, r,--,-trr--+i-.- ,erctlV- IT t4Ir!r.
prominent chiefs, orators and warriors.
| together with contributions of Indian i'm
| plemontS, dress, ornaments and curiosities
,. Files ofnewspapers, books, pamphlets
| college catalogues, minutes of ecclesiastical
| conventions, conferences and synods. and
! other publications relating to this State,
! and to the territory Of which it once formed
a part
). Drawings and descriptions Of our an
| cicnt mounds and Notifications, their size.
| representation and locality, together with
| information respecting any ancient coins.
or other curiositics found in Mississippi.
4, Indian geographical names ofstreams
! and localities in this State, with their sig
MITIGATION.
.. Books Of all kinds, and especially
| such rs relate to American History, travels
and Biography in general, and the south
| west III particular. family genealogies. old
| magazines. pamphlets. maps, Historical
manuscripts, autographs Of distinguished
names, coins, medals, paintings, statuary
| and engrayinCs.
Q. We solicit from Historical societies
| and other learned bodies, that inter
change Of books and other materials, by
which the usefulness of institutions of
this nature is essentially enhanced
{. The Society particularly begs the
| favor and compliment of authors and pub
fishes, to present, with their autographs
copies Of their respective works for its
| library.
s. Editors and publishers of newspa-
pers, magazines, and reviews will confer
q lasting favor on the society, by contri-
huting their publications regularly for its
! lbraTy-or, at least, such numbers as may
contain articles bearing upon Mississippi
history, biography. geography, or anti
quities; all which win be carefully preser-
we'd for binding.
| NNrNF rDT-S1, On AN-I,