New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-07-19
spEeRS6K OF MAJOR & e NERAL JOHN
ANTHONY QBTTBKAN.


event Was hot entirely unexpected, as private and
other teieersp intelligence had somewhat prepared
Tie public mind to look or the worst yet there were
hundreds ID This city ourselves among tie number,
Who ching 70 the hope that 80 great, 30 good, 50
pure and patriotic citizen and 50 spotless gentle
man. would be spared to society and bis country for
many useful and brilliant years to come. But it has
been disposed otherwise The herostatesman, not
very alIof years. but crowned with civic aud military
honOfs and enshrned in the hearts Of millions the
most precious public jewel the country possessed has
been translated to the better land and nothing is
left us but his name and fae which will be irnperish-
able, and the noble example Of truth, purity and
fidelity which bis whole public and private career SO
beautifully illustrated and exemplifed, and which
the rising generatou should adopt as model ii they
would emulate his virtues, strive toTeacb tile topmost
pinnacle Of moral worth, and acquire his renoRn.
General QuITmAN had not enjoyed good health for
long time previous to his DEATH He is, we firmly
believes another victim to the National Hotel poison
at Washington, which has cost thiftyone lives be-
sides his own, and ruined the health of nearly one
hundred persons more. Although enfeebetl, ralying
at times only to decline again be attended to his
laborious duties as Chairman Of tie Military Commit
tee of the House With oonsnmate ability and indus
try, and was always in his seat when any question
affecting the honor and interests Of Mississippi or the
South came up Tor consideration. His attendance to
his Congressional duties no btaggravated the dis
ease under which he laboted and cut short the term
Of hs'earthy existence, Immediately after the adj
jdurnment Of Congress he fastened home, trusting
that abstinence from fatigue and everything which
was calculated to stimulate mental or other excite
nleat, and repose Id the bosom Of bis family which
he So much nesned would restore him to his wonted
health But, alas it was not 50 ordered. He arrived
home very i'll vas taken to his bed, from which he
never arose again, and On Saturday evening he
bgeathed his last, gently and calmly, ns became q
good and brave man, who knew that his treasures
were not Of earth, and who had an untaling trust
that ae well spent ensured its own meet reward in
the hereafter.
JOHN ANTHONY QUIrMAN was born in Rhiuebeck,
Dutchess comfy, New York on she LIST of September,
1880 His father, Rev. Or. Frederick Henry Quitnap,
pastor of two Evangelical Lutheran churches in that
county, was Pfussan BY birth. His mother was a
daughter Of the Governor of the Dutch island Of
Curacao, Young Quitman was intended for the pull
pit and received thorough education in the classics
biblical lore, the modern Languages and bellies lettres.
While in his twentieth year he was appointed pro
lessor in Mount Airy College, near Philadelphia and
there he remained for about fifteen months.
He had then for some years, devoted his leisure
hours to the stadyof law and, having OF length OBJ
tained bis fathers consent, be determined to move
westward ID search 81 location for Che practice of
his chosen profession. he removed to Chillicothe,
Ohio where lie vas admitted to the bar and remained
about one year But the attraetionso the far South
west were strong upon bis mind and be soon became
resident Of Natehez, Mississippi where bis talents
were at recognized and he soon formed bust
ness connection with the late w. B, Grifith, Esq,
then o lawyer of great eminenee. From that mo-
ment Mfr Qaitman rapidly advanced in reputation
consequence and wealth. In 1924 he married. In
1927 he was elected to the Legislature from the
county Of Adams, and SO distinguished himself as
member of the Judiciary Committee, that be was
tile following year appointed BY the Governor Cham
cellor Of the State. AT the next meeting Of the
Legislature he was unanimously elected to tie same
office and when The new Constitution made the office
of Chancellor subject to the popular vote, be was a
third time chosen. almost without opposition.
In 1881, while serving in the Convention called to
revise the Constitution of the State, he presented
proposition to prohibit the Legislature from borrowing
money pedgng the faith of the State for the ppr-
pose Of banking Truly there was in this proposition
wonderful forethought and preseience of evil Had
it been adopted il would have saved the people Of
Mississippi much in pocket and considerable in repu-
tation.
In 1885 he was chosen State Senator. The Office
of Governor became vacant The Secretary Of State
convened the Senate by proclamation for the purpose
of electing President, who BY virtue Of that office
became acting Governor Mr.. Quitman was elected !;
and his message to the Legislature, in 1885, is now
admitted to be one Of the sonndest State Rights
documents in existence. Had his suggestions been
adopted and carried out BY his Southern ieowciti-
zens, the sonth would not now be in the perilous
position that She is.
ia 1886, while the country was full Of indignation
at the orueties perpetrated BY tie Mexicaus and In
dams in Texas, Mr.. Quitman was chosen, by public
meeting Of the citizens Of Natchez, to command
band OF noble spirits who burned to rush to the res
cue OF the Lone Star. Through the latter days Of
that terrible war in the prairie march and the mid
night oray he developed his powers as soldier and
leader. When the independence of Texas was seeur
ed, having provided for those Of his followers who
wished to remain he returned home and was received
by his fellow.citizens with uhequaled warmth aud
enthusiasm.
Ia 1889 be visited Europe on business Of the Mssis
sippi Railroad Company, On his return he was ap.
pointed by the Governor Judge Of the High Court
Of Errors and Appeals but this post he declined In
consequence Of some pecnnary embarrassments grow
ing out of liabilities for Others he returned to the
practice of ais profession and his success was such
as might have been expected from his long expert.
enee ana ripe attachments.
N 1874, and before and after that period, he was
very active in promoting the annexation Of Texas.
He was probably as instrumental in acquiring that
magnificent Territory az any man in the United
States.
On the breaking out Of the Mexican war Mr.. Quit.
man appointed one Of the six Rrigadier Generals
TO command the volunteer force and in a few days
he had Joined the army of Gen. Taylor at Camargo
On the 2lst Of September, 1916. while the Ameri.
can army lay before Monterey, Gen. Quitman at the
head Of the Tennessee Regiment and the Mississippi
Rifles, stormed Fort T8nneria, strong work at the
lower part Of the town.
After the battle Of Monterey, in which be won dis.
tingushed credit Tor the American arms and himself
Gen. Qntman was ordered to the other line Of opera.
tions under Gen. Scott, He was at Vera Cruz aud
at 0jo del Aqua he received commission from Pres
dent Polk appointing him Major General At San
Augustine he was placed in charge of the depot OF
the army, Of which Gen. Scott says; Considering
the epemy's very great excess Of numbers, and the
many approaches to the depot it might well have
become emphatically TIE post of hoporu He com,
anded the perilous assault on the south side Of Cha
paitepec and led the very front ranks Of TINT inered
BILE charge 10 which, protected only BY the arches
an aduedact our troops occupied the Tacubaya csnsa