The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-01-17
The Late Hon y. VI. Mc1nni..

+
from the counties of Harrison and Jackson
Hon T. Il. Griffin arose and said:
Mr. SPEAKER Before the adoption o
these resolutions. desire To submit few
brief remarks on tile life and character o
tile subject OF them-the Hon. John NJ. Nc
| lnnis- The short time which has interven
ed since the introduction of them has rem
| deTed it i'm possible for me 10 prepare some
thing more elaborate and better digeste1
which other wise, l would have taken grea
pleasure ia doing.
Sir, | be- your indulgence and that o
| this House. while | read what | have 10 say
As am not in the habit of making speech
| e., and in this case, have chosen to risk the
i charge OF an attempt al display, rather thar
not say what | could not without manu-
script.
| Itis.with great diffilencc that | arise to
| speak on this occasion; but there are two
reasons which impel ne, and | would be re-
creaut To duty were | to fail to do so. Thu
! first is; That / am his immediate successor,
and am to-day occupying the seat made VA
cant by the relentless hand of death to fill
out his uuexpired term of office. The next
and greater reason is That he was the friend
For nearly i've years, we sat beside each
other In the school-room, and wandered
through the groves aud over the pine-elad
hills Of our Southern forests.
In ripper years, we have travelled llfe's
checkeied journey along nearly parallel and
and ueighbors, and followed the same avo-
cations in life. There may be those, in this
House, who are wondering what can be said
commendatory of the life ana character of
the modest, quiet, retlcent member who oc
cupied this scar, during the long session OF
last year Would that had the time aad
the ability, to analyze his character, and
spread out his virtues before you; then all
could look on them, admire them, and love
them for L assure you that | come not as a
To- 1.
afforded an opportunity; and there are tho-e
in this House and in the other end OF the
Capitol, who are ready to bear witness to
the truth of all | may say.
Mr.. McInnis was born in Green county,
in this State, in the year 1884, an althuu I'll
his ancestors for two generations, were born
in tlAis country, he was of as pure Scotch
blood as ever coursed the veins of Bruce
or a Wallace. He was brought up under
the plain, stern and rigid morality o
Scotch-Presbyteri He took his Acad-
emic course at the once famous Salem High
School, III his native county, and his Cole
giate course at Oakland College. He had
just fairly commenced life as Il business
man, at the beginning of the late war,
when in obedience to his countrv's call, he
shouldered his musket, and went to the
front.
Throughout that contest, lac was faith
full, brave soldier, and the close of the war
found him prisoner on Johnson's Island.
y.
siduously and successfully employed in the
manufacture of lum Der; in 1915, contrary
to his own wishes, but in Difference to the
wishes of his friends, he consented to be-
come candidate FOR the Legislature, and
was elected member OF this House
John NJ. Mc1nnis was no ordinary man.
Educated without being learned, he pos
sessed mind capable OF mastering almost
any subject, with which it came i'll contact
a mind that was vigorous, penetrating,
broad, aud comprehensive in all of its ope
rations- As a business man, lie was sue
cess having secured a competency within
the last ten wears. This was accomplish
ed by no chance or luck, but by his irhe-
rent business capacity, close application
and industry | would not attemp3 to es-
innate or measure him merely by his sue
cess as a business man this in my opinion
is false standard, erected by men gener
ally, by which to judge their fellows.
There are other. and III ore NOBLE character
Istics. by which would have him estima
ted. Modest aud reserved, he was never Il
leader, but always willing follower and
hearty supporter, in every enterprise or
matter OF public i'm 2ortance; AMI this was
done so substantially. and with so much
good sense, and judgment, that he was felt
to be, the head and shoulders of the under
taking. As for positions of honor, and pre-
ferment, he had no taSte-no desire for
them. Not at all Indifferent t. the estima-
ton good will of his fellow men. lie al
was the private station" He never held a
position of his own seeking; but in defer
ence to the wishes OF his friends aud fellow
citiz ms.
just, fair and mprehensive. in his
views he was the embJ diment of a true
of the people; and [ venture
the assertion, that had ne lived to continue
a member Ofthis House, he would have
been considered a most valuable member OF
any committee belonging to it.
AS citizen, he was enterprising, faithful,
charitable, benevolent and prom pit in all the
relations of life. Without a disposition to
hunt up charities, it was generally under
stood that he was a willing and liberal con-
tributor to all charitable purposes The
distressed and the needy were not forgotten
nor "turned away empty" Not mem Der
of any church, he gave sys rematicaliy and
to the cause of religion.
As friend, he was generous, sympathetic
and genial though undemOnstrative. Al
ways thoughtful, meditative aud often tact
turn, he was not usually easily approached
by strangers; but with friend, he was tree,
easy, com panionable, pleasant. lie was
slow to form friendships, but once formed,
they were never brOken-they grew and
strengthened with time. lie was au excellent
judge of men, and close and wise observer
of every thing that came within the range
of his observation. question il there was
Il member of this House, after the adjourn
ment of last session, who could have given
a more e1aO0fabe anu ueIllIcQ account
OfitS operations in every department. than he.
As a son, he was ohedient aud outiful.
As a husband and father. he was deYo ted
attentive an fond Bu the climax OF his
character was reached and brought out i
the closing days OF his life. An incurable,
fatal, sudden, disease had developed itself
last year while here. He had awaited him
self OF the best medical advice that America
could ford. No human skill could arrest
the hand of the destroyer or provide way
OF escape.
With full knowledge of his approa ching
ehd, and that end but short distance in /
the future, and that it was likely to come
anywhere. at any moment, and without !
in a beautiful home supplied with /
the mforts of life, surrounded by an aged /
father and mother-the stay and sol4ce i
Of whom he had been for years-an affec- /
tioI a e " ife and fond child amid all this /
with everything to att lch him to life he was
the same lmperturbable, philosonhic, Mac +
McInnis as he was familiarity called.
Meeting you, he greeted you just as he |
had always done; would talk to YOU about /,
business or the news, just he had always !,
lone. and about dying as about the common +
affairs of life.
He continued to the last, to devote his /
time and attention to his business, just As if I
ieath had no claims on him. Finally, /
when ready to leave his office, his wife sit /
ting in the buggy, he reached over to place /
A package under the seat; having turned t
around he remarked: II feel sick, | will sit /
On the steps n little.'' He sat down, and +
that was the last of j. III. McInnis The /
fountain of life had bursted, and life itself |
was ended.
Thus closed the life of one, loved by his /
friends, admired and respected by all who /
knew him. He died like q philosopher: |
but am happy to add that his was the /
OF the christian.