The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-01-31
v.,,.rI.- OF Hon. W. -, Feather
sion

A.. epr.KrR:-l should do violence to
"A -.r',c, feelings. aud injustice to the mem
wy ,ftle 1smputpd dead were | to remain
" nv .ilept on this sad and i'm pfessiyc oc-
william Il. Barksdale was no ordinary
man and we, his co-lab8rerS In the Legs
II Inv, U.elrtIueut of the State gOVernme IT,
d .rs NOW called amidst the busy scenes OF
q .,-;o., session. TO mourn his loss and pay
4 nroGrr tribute of respect to his memory.
j isaI oppressed. sir, by sense OF my
otH iabllity 10 present true portraiture
N lis life. character and public services.
1 rranaflea however, by sense otduty which
>ir strict accord with the pHlsatlOns OF my
own heart | shrink not from the TASK.
william Russell Barksdaie was born I'm
4 IauiartlaIe county, in the State OF Ala
hama oH the 26th day of April, 1884, and
uirh his parents removed TO the county OF
Yaobu-ha i'm this State, IN OCTOBER OF the
anne wear. His parents were lntellI@eht,
p.afI and influential citizens, OF great
mor3l and social worth; both of whom
V+re natives of the State of Tennessee
Trained in the best schools of his county
until prepared for collegiate course, tue
sabi eet OF these remarks entered the I nj
Yarstv OF Mississippi in 1851 and graduated
10 1850.
lis close application to his studies, strict
obeIiegcc to the laws of the University
great integrity of character ana hlSh sense
81 honor, together with remarkable ViSor
and activity of mind soon won tor MN lhe
admiration and esteem of b1th the IFoltS-
.ors and students OF the University. lie
graduated with distinction, and gave prom
iSe during his collegiate course, OF grtt'
rmiueLce and usefulness in after lie. Hls
excellence was then observed by ali met
whose moral vision was not too ootuse u
discern character of many virtues.
For SOME time after graduating he con
tnu-d in the University rs an Ad)uuc
Professor, but finally selected the law a
his profession. and entered the law depart
men of the University in 1897, ana grad
mated Ia 1859.
Locating I'm Yalobusha county. he en-
tered upon the practice OF ms profession
aud without a change OF location, so con
unuel during his short but brilliant career
save when called into the service OF III
country.
In his profession he rose rapidly to hi@l
rapk. Thorough in research, able anS
realty in debate. correct iH Judgment, quic'
in experimenting the strong points OF NJ
ease compact and solid in his argument
apt, eloquent and appropriate IN his ran
guage, his adversary at the bar, whoever II
NAV have been, met in him his equal
Ii the fail OF 1860, he was chosen by IN
States Rights Party of his county mem be
OF that memorable Convention, Whlch, o
the 9th OF january. 1861, passed IN tAts ma
the Ordinance OF Secession; tor whlch II
voted Although quite yOung-theh ohi
in his 96rh yeaF-his counsels were solictte
and his opinions were respected by the ulos
learned aud able statesmen, VINO were mem
bers OF that body.
IN the spring OF 1861, when by the ineAo
rabe logic Of events. Mississippi was iofce
TO call upon her sons 10 drive back the ~
from her soil, W. X. Bark sdale was one
the ir>t to respond.
He waited not to be called into the seFVlc
of his country By the echo of sumter al
tillrry. but Is the dutiful son OF a mothe
whose life IS imperiiled, leaps TO her reScu'
on the first intimltion of danger he sprah
into the service of his country 20 tue HE
blast OF the Confederate buGle.
From that hour 10 the closing scenes
April and May, 1863. at AppomattoN,Nreen
borough, and Meridian, he followed I'll
Confederate flag. and shared It's fortune
with all the devotion OF pure patriot II
was model Soldier-wiSc in counsel, Heal
less ia action, Self-sacriticinG and noble
example, like the heroes of the Roman h'
public, his country was his idol, upon Who'
alta, 80 sacrifice was too dear 70 be mau
lie follow ell the path of duty without recf
oajug where it lcd-whctber to victory
the grave. In the storm OF oatt
be was calm, self possessed anu eve
pressing 0pou the fee with unuauhtt
courage. La camp. on the mare
soldiers life, he was always 10 be iouhu
the full discharge of his whole GUtles-a
eXemplar 10 his comrades in arms An
although he rose not higher than the rat
oI Major in the military service, ne was
intellect and courage, strategy ahC All u
elements OF true generalshlp, capaoie
nigh command. He did not seek MS oN
promotion-forgot himself-roSe above Sc
and with all the zeal and ferVor that cou
glow in the heart of pure patriot, look
alone to the independence OF ms hatt
South. and to the attainment of that gre
END he directed ali his powers OF minu a.
eody- As an Assistant AdJutant Oehet'
Ia which capacity he served from the Spril
OF 1862, until the close of the war,
mad no superior in the Confederate arm
ms bTief reference to his military reco
Is made by one. who for two years saw hi
under all the circumstances that marx [
soldiers checkered career.
How sleep the brave who sink to rest
by all their cOuntry's wishes biest
At the close of the war he returned
the county of his residence, accepted
good faith the situation, and resumed WI
renewed energy and industry, the pract
oil hls profession. To re-eStablish the la
o. the land, restore order, reconstruct I
government and bring society back TO
normal condition, were objects OF pal
mount Importance at that epoch.
The bGneful and demoPalizing effects
GiVll war upon society were everywhere
oe seen. In the accomplishment OF this
Jeet. it was soon discovered by an intel
gent public, that no officer would DE M
useful or potential than an able, faithful a
ehclent District Attorney. W h Bar
Gale was called by the intelligent, sai
elous and appreciative voters OF his distr
" this important position. The choice
heeted credit alike upon the officer ana
constituents. OF him it could be truthful
SAID that the right man had been called