The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-10
The First Capital of Mississippi.
THE Towy OF WASHINGTON as IT Wa
ANDIs

THE Towy or WASHINGTON as IT WAS
AND IS.
Extract from Chapter XXX, Claiborne's
History Of Mississippi, now in press.)
Robert Williams, of North Carolina, and
Cowles Meade of Georgia, were appointed,
respectively, Governor and Secretary of the
Mississippi Territory. Mr.. Williams had
been a prominent representative in Con-
gress, and had been latterly acting as one of
the commissioners to adjudicate our
conflicting land claims. 1t was not posi-
ton to add to ones popularity, and Mr.
Williams was not man of conciliatory ad-
dress. He was rather repulsive and peremp-
tory, 10 please the courtly and refined peo-
pie among whom he resided. The Republi-
cans in the Territory had strongly recon-
mended Col Cato West, Secretary of the
Territory, and its most efficient party
leader. But Mr.. Williams belonged to a
very influential family of Jefersonian re-
publicans in North Carolina, State that
required some nursing at that juncture, and
it was deemed expedient to confer on him
the appointment. He arrived at the town
of Washington, January 10Th, 1905, and
was welcomed by public dinner presided
over by the venerable Judge Rodney and
Thomas II. Williams.
The town of Washington, six miles east
Of Natchez, in rich, elevated and pictur-
esque country, was then the seat Of Govern
ment. The land Office, the Surveyor-Gen-
erals office, the Office of the Commissioners
of claims, the Courts of the United States,
were all there. In the immediate vicinity
was Fort Dearborn and permanent canton
ment Of the United States troops The
high officials of the Territory made it their
residence, and many gentlemen of fortune,
attracted by its advantages went there to
reside. There were three large hotels, and
the academical department Of Jeffe rson
College, inaugurated by Governor Clai.
borne, was in successful operation. The
society was highly cultured and refined
The conflicting land titles had drawn 9
crowd of lawyers generally young men Of
fine attainments and brilliant talents. The
medical profession was equally well repre-
sented, at the head of which was DR.. Dan
iel Rawlings, a native of Calvert comfy
, Maryland, a man of high moral character
and exalted patriotism eminent in his pro
iession, and who, as a vigorous writer anC
acute reasoner, had no superior and few
equals. The immigration from Maryland
) chiefly from Calvert, Prince George anC
} Montgomery counties-consjsted for tn,
most part of educated and wealth,
planiers-the Covingtons, Graysons, Chews
Calvits, Wilkinsons, Freelands, WALES
Bowies and Magruders; and the Winstons
Dangerfelds, and others from Virginia, VIII,
fora long time gave tone to the society o
Territorial capital. 1t was gay and fash
io1abe place, compactly built for a mile o
more from east to west, every hill in tn,
neighborhood occupied by some gentleman
, chateau. The presence of the military hat
its influence on society; punctlio and cere
f mony, parades and public entertainment
= were the features of the place. 1t was, o
= course, the haunt Of politicians and offic
0 hunters the center of political intrigue
: the point to which all persons in pursuit o
D land or occupation first came. Was ia.
, nous for its wine parties and dinners
: usually enlivened by one or more duels di.
. rectly afterward. Such was this now de
/. serted and forlorn looking village, during
e Territorial organization. In its forums
+ there was more oratory, in its salons NOR
S wit and beauty than we have ever witness
! ed since-all now Wondering, neglecte,
+ and forgotten, in the desolate graveyard @
r the ancient capital,