The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-11-18
THE LATE HON. A. G. BROWN.
Memorial Address on His Life and
Character by Hon. J. z. George.
Delivered in the Capitol Of Mississippi
November 18th, 1850.
PROCEEDINGS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, ETC
ADDRESS.


wider and deeper sorrow than has follow
ed the death of any citizen of this com
monweaIth He is mourned not only be
cause he was great public character
| having performed with usefulness am
distinction grave and weighty publ
services in critical and important era
| but because he was a true patriot. and
real friend of the people of this State
Mississippi has had other sons whom sh
admired as much-others for whose fam,
and achievements she has been equally
proud but she has had none whom he
people loved so well, or whom they SO i'm
plicitly trusted When such a man dies
it is fit that the people whose servant he
was, should pay a just tribute 10 his memo
ry by formal declaration to the world oil
their appreciation of his virtues, and theil
esteem for his services This tribute il
this instance would probably be best paid
by a simple recital of the many great servi
ces rendered by ALBERT GALLATIE Brown
TO the commonwealth. But such a recital
would be in a great part the history Of
the State for a quarter of a century. In
his boyhoOd he entered the public service
as BrigadierGeneralo of the Militia. In
the same year that he arrived at full age,
he was elected to the lower house of the
Legislature, and in the next year was made
Speaker His career in the Legislature was
greatly distinguished. When scarcely OF
full age, he became leader of public opin-
ion, and a conspicuous figure among the
legislators of the State. In 1889, when he
was twenty-six years of age he was electe
to Congress, reversing the large popular
majority of the preceding election against
his party. He at once took high rank in
the House of Representatives, participating
with great credit in the exciting and able
discussions of that period concerning the
measures and merits of Mr.. Van Buren's
administration. At the next general cleo
ton, in 1841, he was elected Circuit Judge,
over an able and popular incumbent, who
was reelected upon Gen'l Browns retire
ment at the succeeding general election.
In November, 1913, being then just
thirty years old, the age of eligibility
prescribed in the Constitution, he was
elected Governor of the State, notwith-
standing a division in his party on the
Bond question, headed by able and popular
leaders. Many objected that he was too
young, but his career was such that at the
end of his first term, no one was found to
oppose his reelection in 1916.
His gubernatorial term commenced before
the close of period which had been sim
gularly disastrous to the State. The people,
with a reckless spirit of specu-
lation, had traded largely and extravagant-
ly on the basis of a vicious credit. Banks,
without capital, had been chartered in
almost every county, and where there were
no charters individuals, associated as private
with an irredeemabe and worthless currency.
The sure means of acquiring wealth by
steady and persistent industry and economy,
were despised, as too slow; and lands and
slaves were bought at enormous prices, on a
credit. In the unbrol1en forest sites were
selected and plats laid off for towns and
cities which were never built, and lots sold
at fabulous prices Railroads were project
ed to connect commercial marts, which
had no existence outside of the fevered
brain of the Spectator. At the time Of
Governor Browns election, the bubble had
burst, and the State was PROSTATE from the
excuses through which she had passed.
Public and private credit had been des-
troyed. There was no money in the
Treasury, except the bills of broken banks,
which nobody would take. Auditors war
rants were at discount of so per cent.
During his first term, by his splendid ad-
ministrative abilities, without an increase
in taxation, all this was changed.
Before the close of his second term, in
1847, the State had started on a new career
Of prosperity and progress. He was then
again elected to Congress; and reelected
in 1919 and 1851. In this last year he was
the only man of his party who was not de-
the State officers and all the mem
bers of Congress belonged to the opposition.
In 1858 he declined reelection to the
lower house of Congress, and in Janua-
ry, 1854, was elected to the United States
Senate. He was elected again in 1858, and
on the organization of the permanent Con-
federate Congress in 1862, was elected to
the Senate of that body, which was the last
public Office he ever held, or offered for.
His career is thus seen to have been an
unbroken series of triumphs. He was never
defeated, and was never allowed the choice of
= IaIa
from the time of his majority to the end OF
his public career, his popularity was put
to the test, and at every trial, it was
found invincible.
After the secession of Mississippi he rails
ed a Company of Infantry for the Southern
s. Senate During his service he was en-.
gagged in the battles of Manassas and of Lees
burg, and acquitted himself with distin
guished gallantry.
There never lived a citizen of any State
whose life and services were so blended anc
interviewer with her history. A great man
the late Chief Justice Smith, said in 1858,
that the history of Mississippi could not be
written so as to be recognized, if the name Of
ALBERT GALLATIN Brown was omitted
from it. The remark has even more force
now than then, This connection was hon
orable to him and useful to the State.
was constant, patriotic and unselfsh ser
vice on his part-implieit trust and conf
dence on the part of the people.
Ateight years of age he came to Missis
sippi with his father, who settled as
squatter on the public land in Copiah coun
ty. The father was without fortune
With his own labor, aided by his two sons
he built log cabin for homestead an,
cleared away the forest, whereby squat
ter's patch" was made ready for the pillow
Energy, pluck and economy achieved indie
pendence and comfort; but fortune was no
90 benignant as to afford the means of