The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-06-21
Two Dollars a Year.

and everybody run for office that wante
TO. Conventions and caucuses were IN
known.
Ia 1885 Gov Runnels was cand
date for reelection. His only comnet
itor was Charles Lynch of Lawrenc
county. After furious contest Lvnc
was elected. In this year Van Burel
and Hugh Lawson White, of Tennessee
were rival candidates for the Presidency
Ihey were both jackson men or ha,
been. This gave rise to the presen
Convention system, which took tn,
place OF the Old Congressional caucu
plan of making nominations. The poliii
clans were for White, but the people
under the lead Of jackson, were for Van
| Buren,. Van Buren, was nominated
and Gov. Runnels declared for him.
White ran Independent, not having gone
before the Convention and Lynch, 10.
! gether with all the anti-Jackson men il
I the State, went for him 1t was this cir
cumstance which impaired 50 much
bitterness to the election of the wear
/ 1886
Franklin L. Plummer was Mt that dav
personally the most popular man in the
State. lie and Gov. Runnels quarreled,
involved their friends, and effectually
destroyed each other.
In 1888 Gov. Runnels was elected by
the Legislature director Of the Union
Bank; and when the board organized
he was elected President. Voiney +.
Howard was at that time editor of the
Mississippian, the State organ. He was
native Of Maine, Il man of learning.
ability and courage, though withal very
peaceable. Through his paper he crit
clzed severely RunnelPs management of
the Bank. They quarreled, and finally
fought duel at Columbus in 1910.
Howard was shot through the breast, but
the ball did not enter the cavity and he
recovered. The Governors wife learn.
ing the object Of the parties, after they
had left Jackson, took the stage for Co
lumbus. The coach was overturned at
night, breaking her arm and causing
other injuries from which she never
fully recovered. Howard afterwards re-
moved to California and was one OF the
early members Of Congress from that
State.
| have mentioned some of the Gov
errors most noted personal conflicts.
He had many others in which he, as in
these, came off first. In two things he
was fortunate-he never killed Il man,
and was not killed himself, nor seriously
wounded.
, In personal appearance he was stri-
klngly commanding; once seen he would
rareI y if ever be forgotten. He was
over six feet in stature, little inclined
to corpulercy, without being at all obese,
and would have weighed perhaps two
hundred pounds. His eyes, like the
eyes Of most men, were indicative Of his
true character. Undisturbed they ex-
pressed kindness, when excited by anger
they combined the ferocity of the tiger
and the venom Of the rattlesnake. They
never quailed before mortal man and his |
cheek never blanched in the presence Of |
danger. Though belligerent and at
times domneering, he was capable Of mo- |
bic, generous emotions and actions. A |
thunderbolt to his enemies, he was sun |
shine to his friends. Like jackson he |
was raging lion in the face of Opposi- |
ton but as true as steel to those that adj |
hered to his course and sanctioned his |
views. Like most brave men he always |
showed great respect and Difference to
women, and he was ever ready 10 aid |
those who were aft icted and in trouble. |
In 1912 Governor Runnels removed to
Texas and settled down on a farm, and |
in 1888, died, leaving no family, his
wife and only son having preceded him
to the grave. While he was remarka-
bic man and 3 fair representative of a
large class in the early, ruder days Of the
State, his career, as whole, cannot be /
as an example deserving i'm
tation.
The writer is indebted for many of the
'oregoing incidents to Gov. A. G. |
Brown. G. S. NJ. !