The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-08-03
John ]. Pettus, the Democratic Candl
date for Governor.

John ]. Pettus, the Democratic Candl-
date for Governor. 8
In selecting John J. Pettus as a candidate
for the office of Chief Magistrate of Missis-
sippi the Democracy have made choice of one
whose long public service and sunyielding de-
yotion to the best interests of the State, emf
nently entitle him to thesenthusiastc support
of the people Entering politNallife at a COM
paratiyely early age, he has made up long
record, to which we can safely point with sat,
isfaction and pride. Trained to agricultural
pursuits and devotedly attached to the repose'
of mind and the retirement which attend that
unostentations but noble calling, he was new
ertheless summoned at an early period of his
life to the councils of the State where he,
with the exception of brief intervals, remained
in the faithful conscientious and efficient dis
charge of public duties
He was elected to the Representative branch
of the Legislature by the people of Kemper
county, in 1874, and served two terms. From
that position he was transferred Gin l848) to
the State Senate, where he remained ten years,
extending over stormy and eventful period
of the States history.
Upon all questions whether directly or re-
motely affecting the institution of African
| slavery, the journals show that his conduct
was squared by the soundest precepts of an
enlightened political philosophy. Believing the
condition Of slavery to be the only proper sta
tus of the African, and the free negro system
| to be in violation of the laws of nature and
reproach upon the humane labor system of
the South, and at war with the true interests of
both white and black races he from the be-
ginning opposed the practise which was but too
| frequent when he entered public life, of per-
hitting masters to libeate their slaves and
suffering them to remain in the State
Actuated by an enlightened appreciation
of the benefits to flow from the liberal endow-
ment of the State University, he invariably
supported all appropriations to that noble in
stitution which is at once the pride and bright
est ornament of the commonwealth.
No truer friend of the Railroad system, so
| wisely inaugurated in our State, can be found
within her borders, than Mr.. Pettus. The
| Southern Railroad has always received his ac-
tive and earnest support. In concert with
some others, he called meeting in the House
of Representatives of the friends of that i'm
portant enterprise Through the Mississp-
pian) when many thought it chimerical
project, and submitted the plan which was
adopted for its construction. He was the au-
thor of nearly all the legislation in reference
to that Road, and was Chairman Of the Com
mttee in the Senate that watched over its
affairs until elected President of that body.
Under the same enlightened sense of public
duty, and enlarged comprehension of the true
interests of the State, he voted for the first
Appropriation to make survey of the Missis-
sippi river bank with view to a levee system
by which to reclaim the immense bodies of
fertile lands lying idle because subject to over
flow. For this vote, he was fiercely assailed,
but he defended his action before the people
of his district and discussed the magnitude of
the interests involved Ii is needless TO add
that he was sustained
The n. O., J. and g. n Railroad; the
Central Railroad; the Mississippi and Tennes-
see Railroad, and the Mobile and Ohio Rail
road, all have found in Col. Pettus Just, but
an earnest and efficient friend Ii is not say
ing too much to affirm that as Chairman of the
Internal Improvement Committee, when
these projects were planned and undertaken,
he contributed his full share of thought and
labor to carry them forward to completion by
a wise system of legislation.
1t is not necessary to add that legislator
so intelligent and public spirited did not ne
glect the claims of the Gulf and Ship Island
Railroad, which looks to the establishment of
the commercial independence of the State
He was an earnest supporter of the law Civ
ing to that work reversionary interest in the
funds invested in stocks in the other Tpads.--.
In easTyink ont this policy Il viii be rerneIr,-
heres that he refused TO support bill intro
duced during the session of 1857 to take stock
in the other roads with the three per cent
fund.- and introduced measure making loan
to said roads for six years, and investing said
fund in the Ship Island Road after that time
on the ground that it might be more available
in that form, and might be necessary to secure
the land granted by Congress from forfeiture
This bill passed, and is now law.
Col. Pettus was the author of several, and
the supporter of all, the exemption laws now
on the Statute book of our State for two great
reasons-first he believed the exemption of
certain portion of property in the hands of
every head Of a family from sale under execu-
ton, to be the wisest and most republican pro-
vision for married women; and second that it
is the most efficient and salutary provision for
the education of the children of the masses.
In compliment to his talents and to his
sterling integrity, be was chosen to preside
over the deliberations of the Senate during
the period embraced between the years o
1854 and SO. When last chosen to serve in
that capacity, he was elected by unanimous
vote. And it is fact worthy of special re-
mark that on no occasion did the Senate
oserrule his decision, as it rarely ever rejected
bill of which he was the author
AS Democrat ardently attached to the
cardinal tenets of his political faith, and as a
Southern man willing to lay down life itself
on the altar of Mississippi, Mr.. Pettus presents
peculiar claims to the enthusiastic support of
the people of his State. With an honest pur-
pose, clear head and firm hand, he will
guide safely amid the breakers the helm of the
proud Commonwealth over whose destinies he
will soon be called to preside.