The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1880-01-17
nlsslsslppl's First state Capital.

Extract from Chapter XIX,
Claibornc's History Of Mississippi,
now in press.
Robert Williams, of North Car
olins. and Cowlcs Mead Of Georgia
we're appointed, respectively, Gov.
and Secretary Of the Mississippi |
Territory. Mr.. Williams had
bee q prominent representative in
Congress, and had been lattcrly
acting ss one ofthe commissioners
to adiudicate our conflicting land
claims. II was not . position to
add to ones popularity, and Mr..
Williams was not n an Of concili.
atory address. He was rather re-
pulsivc and peremptory, to please
tho courtly and refined people
among whom he resided. The Re.
pub!icams in the territory had
strongly recommended Col. Cato
West, Secretary Of tho Territory.
and its most efficient leader. But
Mr.. WilIiams belonged to . very
influential family Of JeiFersonian
republican, In North Carolins :
State that required some narsing
1t that juusture. and It was deem
cd expedient to confer on him the
appointment. lie arrived a The
town Of Washington, January asth
1905. and Wa welcomed BY apub-
lie dinner presided over BY the
venerable Judge Rodney aud
Thomas II. Williams.
The town OF Warrington, sIx
miles cast Of Natchex. IN . rich,
elevated and picturesque country,
was then the seat Of Government.
The land oales, tho Surveycr.Gen'
erals ONCE, tho office Of tho Com
missioner Of claims, tho Courts
or The United States, were oil
| there. In tho immediate vicinity
was Fort Dearborn snd = per'na'
ucnt caMtonment Of tho United
| States troops. The high odic'al'
Of the Territory made It their resi-
dsucc, and many gentlemen ol
fortune, attracted by its advan
tages went there 10 reside. There
were three largo hotels, and sh'
| acad dcnlical departments Of Jehcr
son College, inauguratc,l by Cove
nor Claiborne, wns in succeisfd
ope, alton. Tho society was high
| " cultured and refined. The con
dieting lantl titles hal drawn
| crowd ot lawyers. generally yonn;
mon Of tinc aitainmcnts aud bril-
liant talents. The medical proics
sion was equally well represented
nj the head Of which was DR.. Dan
| icl llawlins, a native Of Calver
county, Maryland. man Of his
moral character and exalted pal
riotism, eminent in his professio
and who, as a vigorous writer an
acute rcasoner, had no supcrio
and few equals. The iInmigratio
! from Maryland--chicfly from "a
vert, Prince George and Mon
! gomcry counties-consisted fc
) the most part Of educated an
wealthy plantcrs--thc Covington
! Grays0ns, Chews, Calvlts, WIKI
: sons, FrcelaMds, Walls; Dowi'
and Magrudcrs, and the Winston
) Dangerfelds, and others from vi
3 3 ginia, who forsomc time gave toi
. to society Of the Territorial ca
4 ital. 1t was gay and fashionab
y place, compactly built for o mi
or more from cast to west, eve
hill In the nc'ghborhood 0ccupi'
. by some gentleman's chateau. II
= presence Of military had itsinil
u encc OH society; punctilio and CO
emcny, parades, and public enie
> tainments were the features Of |
- place. It was of course, the
< haunt Of politicians and off
x hunters; the ceuter ofpolftical
y = trigue; tho point to which all pc
d d sons in pursuit. Of land or occup
70 tion tlrst came. Was famous
y 10 wine parties and dinners, uso
= = II enlivened by ono or more du'
% directly sfterward. Such was Il
% now deserted and forlorn looki
village, during Territorial orga'
xatioa. In its forums there v
more Wit and beauty than weha