The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-11-20
THE LATE HON. A. G. BROWN.
HIS LIFE, CHARACTER AND PUB-
LIC SERVICES.
Address Of Hon. J. n. George, la the
Hall Of the House Of Representa-
tlVes, Wednesday Evening.
November ~, 1850.

November II, 1850.
10 The announcement that ALBERT GALL
TIN BROWN was no more, has caused
/, Widerand a deeper sorrow than has fOllO'
ed the death of any citizen of this cOl
mOnwealth. lie is mOurned not only b
cause he was Il great public character
having performed with usefulness and di
tinction grave and Wcighty public serVic
IN critical and important cra-but b
y cause he was Il true patriot, and II rr
friend of the people Of this State. Missi
$ | sippi has had other sons whom She admire
AS much-others for whose fame an
achievements she has been equally prout
f but she has had none whom her poop
loved so well, or whom they SO implicit
trusted. When such Il ma / dies, it is
that the people whose servant he wa
should pay just tribute to his memory b
Il formal declaration to the world Of thci
appreciation of his virtues, and their e.
TEEN for his services. This tribute in thi
instance would probably be best paid by
simple recital Of the many great service
rendered by ALBERT GALLATIN BROWN
the commonwealth. But such Il rerita
would be in great part the history of tn
State for quarter of n century. In hi
b0yhOod he entered the public service AS
| igadicr-Gcncral of the Militia. In til
| SaIlt year Ht arrived III lilll iSt, ne WA
elected to the lower house Of the Lcgisla
tnre, and in the next year was mad
| Speaker. His career in the Legislature wa
greatly distinguished. When scarcely o
full age, he became Il; leader of public Opin
ion, and conspicuous figure among the
| legislators Of the State. In 1910, when he
| was tWenty-siX years of age, he was elected
to Congress, reversing the large popular
ma Orty of the preceding election againS
| IA Ia lt gnl i,fh MI il
the House Of Representatives, participa
| ting with gceat credit in the exciting ano
able discussions Of that period concerning
| the measures and merits of Mr.. Van Buren,
administration. At the next general elec-
ton, in 1871, he was elected Circuit Judge,
over an able and popular incumbent, who
was reelected upon Gcn'l Browns retire
mcnt ut the succeeding general election.
In November, 1913. being then just thirty
years old, the age of eligibility prescribed
in the Constitution. he was elected Gov
crnor of the State, Notwithstanding Il
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 re-
election in 1915.
His gubernatoral term commenced be-
fore the close of Il period which had been
singularly disastrous to the State. The
people, intoxicated with Il reckless spirit
of speculation, had traded largely and cX-
travagantly on the basis of Il vicious credit.
Banks, without capital had been charter
ed in almost every county, and where
there were no charters individuals, aSSO-
ciated as private partners, had assisted to
flood the country with an irredeemablc and
worthless currency. The sure means Of ac-
quiring wealth by steady persistent in-
dustry and economy, were despised, rs too
slow; and lands and slaves were bought at
enormous prices, on Il credit. In the un-
broken forest sites were selected and platS
laid off for towns and cities which were
never built, and lots sold at fabulous prices.
Railroads were projected to connect COM
mcrcial marts, which had no existence out
side Of the fevered brain of the speculator.
At the time of Gov. Browns election, the
bubble had burst, and the State was pros
trate from the eXcesses through which she !
had passed. Public and private credit had |
been destroyed. There was no money in .
the Treasury, except the bills of broken
banks, which nobody would take. Audi
tors warrants were at Il discount of 30 per
cent. During his first term, by his splen-
lid administrative abilities, without an in
,rease in taxation, all this was changed.
Before the close of his second term, in
IS47, the State had started on new career
IF prosperity and progress. He was then
again elected to Congress; and reelected
n 1919 and 1851. In this last year he was
he only man of his party who was not de-
eated-all the State officers and all the mem
)ers of Congress belonged to the OppOsi-
ion. In 1853 he declined Il reelection to
he lower House of Congress, and in Jan
larry, 1854, was elected to the United States
senate. He was elected again in 1858, and
N the organization of the permanent Con
ederate Congress, in 1862, was elected to
rl,s l.,a-t
public office lie ever held, or offered for.
His career is thus seen to have been an
series of triumphs. He was
lever defeated, and was never allowed the
hOic9 of Il private station. At every gem
raj election from the time OF his majority
o the end of his public career, his popu- I
lrity was put to the test, and at every |
rial, it was found inVincible.
After the secession Of Mississippi he i
aised Company Of Infantry for the South |
RI army, and served till his election to the |
Confederate States Senate. During his 5
arVice he was engaged in the battles of c
Ianassas and Of Leesburg, and acquitted |
imself with distinguished gallantry. I
There never lived a citizen of any State b
hose life and services were so blended a
nd interviewer with her history. A great t
AN, the late Chief Snstce smith, said in
,5S, that the history Of Mississippi could d
ot be written so as to be recognized, if the p
anne OF ALBERT GALLATIN BROWN was Il
ntted from it. The remark has even d
ore force now than then This cOnnec- p
OIL was honorable to him and useful to the p
ate. TWAS constant, patriotic and unset il
III service on his part-implicit trust and 8
,tidence on the part of the people. a
At eight years of age he came to MisSis- p
ppi with his father, who settled as a Ii
uatter on the public land in COpiah a
unity. The father was without fortune. il
it'll his own labor, aided by his two sons, Il
built log cabin for Il homestead and he al
cared away the forest, whereby a 'squat- nj
RS patch" was made ready for the plow. Ol
Iergy, pluck and economy achieved indie pl
ndencc and comfort: but fortune was not III
benignant rs TO afford the means Of al
llegiate education to the sons. GOV. e.
sOwN was in the main self-educated. lie st
tended the county schools aud for a few m
)nths only, was at College, But he se
luired that education, which was more OF
luable than mere book learning. On the I'll
'ntier, assisting his father in subduing jo
forest and winning subsistence, assO-
ting in the country schools with boys 10
a. he was, he learned self pc
lance. and self-denial. and acquired the gr
Dacity for self-help-the essential fOun- Ill
lions of any considerable success in pri- Sc
e or public life. In all his career he was
by these characteristics-the tn
ldCllN 10 Htlp ulil~tll. pdlltutt 10 ANdlt ~
ure results, to he purchased by present lis
,tinence and eXerti0n. and just conf co
nee in his powers and faith in his destiny. u
trusted to the conclusion Of his judg- nd
mt. This Judgment was singularly. had crl
lost said, supeTnaturally clear. There tie
been no statesman in America whose lie
gment was more unerring. whose I'M
acity was more sure and penetrating. atl
lis logic was not framed ON scholastic hls
es. but was the irrepressible process OF th'
lmOu sense, discarding long trains OF Tie
soning. The process was short, almost eN
liuVe, but the end was certain. He eN- col
ed from his Judgment an honest fealty TO sci
lself aud to truth. and il rarely misled se,
i. What was impossible he did not at ot
pt. What was wrong he aeknOwl- ths
ed to he 50. lie never exercised his !
ilties in trying TO eyade truth. or in TIA
ling error lie made his judgment and ina
Imagination his servants. and himself mol
servant Of truth. lie thus acquired the cot
il Of dealing honestly with himself ~te
ice his Judgment was always true to as
self aud his conscience. and rarely slip as
or stumbled. lie not only brought 10 be
r on everv problem his Judgment. thus dut
sstIy trained and exercised. but he EN- tho
-ed ID on sure materials. He was a stu sec
Democrat. He believed that the gov int
nent was established BY the people for sag
z own good and happiness, lle saw mol ma