The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-03-31
LETTER FROM WILLIAM.
East TEXAS. March l6, 1880.

7 READ Ia MtSzlssl pfl, " ere thS - 49,
and CLARION. read both until the demise OF
the former. and am yet reading the latter.
The ebiset of this letter Is 10 give a sketch
Of john Num-, Esq, late Of Noxubee county. II
was prepared by a school-naster and LETT By
him with Mr.. Jones. Isent you some extracts
from the reco LOTIONS Of this school-master
last year ana some OF your readers, knowing
shat 1 had sketch Of The gentleman named
above have asked me TO give it 10 YOU, aud l
have promised to 10 so; but IN moving AMI
packing up, l have boxed up all the manu-
script in my possession and cannot now put
my hands upon the "RecoIlections of
+ School Master l shall therefore write from
. memory.
l first met Squire Num- in 1855 lie was
then getting to be an elderly gentleman, bur
was in tul possession OF all his faculties.
met him in the village of Summerville, in No1-
ubee county, where he lived and died, and l
/ spent the night succeeding our first meeting,
at bis house. He was hospitable man. and
rarely failed TO entertain any respectable
stranger that approached his gate H was a
man very peculiar appearance, would at
tract attention in any crowd, not by any osten-
tation in dress, ana not BY any special uegli-
genee in ;hat particular He was about six
T.
/ II had Oh cheek bones, a swartLy complex
ion and long black hair, which he parted in
the middle and combed back behind his ears.
( His forehead was rather low, and deeply sunk
4 in ii were two small black eyes that almost
1 pierced You, when they were fixed upon YOU
When any one was introduced 10 Squire
4 Num- he almost uniformly fixed his eyes
steadily upon the new acquaintance and
-. IL .. -
up OF his face. | remember distinctly the
searching look he gave me, and the very sig
nifcant expression of his face lie had at
/ that time tied around his head red banIaua
handkerchief. The day was cold and l sup
posed that he was affected with neuralgia. or
something of that kind. He was dressed
comfortably and neatly enough, but his per
sonal appearance was no indication OF his
/ pecuniary condition. He was aman of means.
/ l conyersed with him that night until bed
time and am sure he formed a more correct
/ opinion OF me than l did Of him. / saw TINT he
was man OF strong mind, strong convictions,
/ and thought, of strong prejudice. decided
( at once that he was a strong man, and long
I acquaintance with him subsequently confirm
ed me In my opinion. | was very friendly
with INN, most of our acquaintance, but at
times were estranged, and thepsfor have
( the Impressions made upon me in both con-
ditions Of mind. John Num- has gone TO his
/ grave, after long and useful life. If he had
faults, let those who felt less kindly to him
/ than l did record them l choose TO bear in
memory those traits Of character that made
him the man he was. He settled in Noxubee
county in 1929, and during the space Of forty
/ five years, was felt in all the interest Of the
man or men-he led or went alone. Although
a man of school training, he thought accu-
rately, reasoned logically, and believed moth
! ing except what was based on rational testi-
mony.
ain early life he had been q soldier under
Gen. Jackson, and really possessed many of
the distinguishing traits Of that great man.
Jackson was Drawer man than John Num-.
There lives not man today who ever knew
Squire Num- to quail in the presence Of an
adversary. lie passed through the scenes of a
frontiersmans experience, and the Choctaws
were well acquainted with his qualities, and
respected him accordingly.
In politics. he was emphaticalIy States
Rights man, and the resolutions of 1883
were his political sheet-anchor No man I'M
terstood the theory of our government, as
]
he. He was aggressive too and in days before
the war, his house was the stopping place Of
all the Democratic candidates-State and
county, and no man thought of being Demo-
cratic candidate in Noxubee, without the sane
ton of Squire Nuln. l have at his house
A. g. Brown William Barksdale, and indeed,
all the pdblic men Of that time, and no one
ever failed to listen respectfully to his opin-
] He IL,
fions from Premises, and never surreEdered
them to any one, doubted their correctness,
merely because they were disputed, no matter
by whom. HI looked to reason, and not to
the party reasoning.
His attachments were not Of a purely emo
tional character, but were strong. No man
was more devoted to his family, and few men
cherished more respect for his friends-possi-
bly, more affection. In business he was pune
tual himself, and exacting from others. He
had little respect for man who failed to meet
his engagements. Having made his own es-
tate by industry and frugality, he believed
that every man that lived in his time and had
good health, could make good support.
Ia many OF his views l differed with him. /
but nevertheless, always fet the force of his /.
covictions He was positive, almost impe-
rious but too brave to be oyerbearing. lie ex-
acted unwayering allegiance from his friends, +
and always deiied his foes. He had enemies. (
Every man of his positive character has enc
mics. He never attempted to conciliat a man
opposed to him. When enmity established (
and recognized, Squire Num- was for war If +
there was flag Of truce during the campaign, +
it came from the other party and was respect .
cd He never sent one. He never attempted +
conciliation after hostiIities began, but in .
their paific adjudication was master of di- +
plomacy. Had he received a University edu-
cation lie would have been a leader Of men, /
and would have succeeded a. . lawyer, but
picuously a soldier. He knew and felt I
the defects Of his early training and never
sought official position. Notwithstanding his .
great influence in his party and in his county, /
he had not attended public meeting in the .
thirty years previous to his death The vigor .
Of his intellect was surpassed by the force Of
his Will. He never doubted Of success in what
he undertook, and rarely failed. No man has .
lived IN Noxubee county, who viii be remem-
bered longer than John Num-, and no man has .
left better testimony of the potency OF decided .
character.
1t is difficult to estimate the exact value of
his life to those who survived him. He was h
positive in everything. He opposed all com
promises, believing that a conviction Of right I
could be modified only by proper and sufficient
testimony, and not by yielding to what he .
thought error. He had little of sentimen-
talisn or superstition, and demanded a reason
for any presentation. Had he examined the
works OF Comte, have often thought he would +.
have believed with that philosopher. He had /
little respect for the forms Of a ritualistic
worship, but man had more reverence for
God or trusted more in His justice. He paid
more attention, | think to the mercy of God
than to his justice, since he never asked mercy
of his fellow men.
He raised a family, each OF whom he i'm
pressed with his character. He is dead They
are living and are known to your readers
one of them Maj. L. F. Num-, late representa-