The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-06-04
From the Copiallan.

In casting about for men to occupy State
positions, only four Offices are conspicous,
to-wit: Governor, Secretary of state
| Auditor of Public Accounts, and Treasurer;
those of Lieut.-Goyernor and SuperIntend.
ent Of Education, are almost snecures, and
no very great effort Is made or concern ex.
| pressed, rs to the proper men to be select
ed; and the Office Of Attorney General IL
usually regarded rs part of the judiciary,
| to which none but lawyers are eligible, and
| hence to this class Is lett the privilege OF
selecting that officer-the common people
| the yeomanry-are not at all exercised over
the selection. The masses are interested
| only in the selection of the four officers
| above named. In the Democratic Conven-
| tion of 1877 held in jackson, the position of
Auditor of Public Accounts was conceded
| to South Mississippi, aud Capt. sylvester
Gwin, of Lawrence, was nominated the
Other officers being nominated from North
Mississippi. South Mississippi was content
with this division, and on the day of elcc,ion
came to the front with a rousing majority
for the whole State ticket. The terms of
the several officers are about 10 expire, and
another nominating Convention Is called
Capt. Gwin, now Auditor of Public Ac-
counts. was the Copiahan's choice four
years ago, aud in her Convention Copiah
county endorsed him. We have noted hfs
administration, and see no reason to regret
our action. lie has made good officer !;
has discharged every duty, rs far Ms we
know, to the entire satisfaction of his con-
stituency. Not orly has he made good
officer in the general acceptatiou of the
term. by discharging the duties he found
imposed upon him. by the laws existing
when he assumed the position, but he has
inaugurated certain reforms, the benefits
Of which to the public cannot be over esti-
mated notably in the land department. In
this particular department he has brought
order out of chaos. In this county, as we
have been informed, the lands were in a
perfect jungle of confusion; 1t was almost
impossible to determine lands belong
ing to the State and what TO individuals
but now, both, the Chancery Clerk and
the Sheriff, have AN authentic record Of
lands held by the state, arranged In such q
manner as TO show at a glance, the lands
held for sale, and those that have been
prSchased. And we have reason to be-
lieye that every county la the state has
been thus benefited, as evidenced by
the following extract from an editorial in
the Nicksburg Herald. Speaking Of re-
cent settlement made by Mr.. Beck, sheriff
Of Warren county, with the Auditor, that
paper says; Mr.. Beck says the system
of tax title records inauguratod by the
present admintration Of the Auditors Of
flee, is rs nearly perfect one as can be de-
sired;" and the Herald further adds
/" Nothing lies nearer to the hearts Of the
people than the land question, and our
Legislature would do well TO encourage
and push on the work of reform 80 effect
lively begun by the incumbent adminislra-
ton"
The fact that Gwin has made n good Of |
flcer and has inaugurated beneficial sys- |
tens outside OF the beaten track, marks |
him as the proper man for his present po- |
sition. Besides 1t has been a custom to |
endorse an officer for a second term when |
he has come fully up to the Jenersonian |
standard Of capacity, honesty and fidelity. |
Capt Gwin Is a native of Lawrence |
county; he was born and raised there. ana |
has never had occasion TO leave his native |
county, prior TO his election, save upon |
the call Of his country. When the tocsin |
OF war was sounded, he was among the
first to enlist in behalf of the lost cause,
and Tor Jour years stood manflllly at bis /
post; at Franklin, a battle-place famous IN
history, where many OF the South's best
and brayest men bit the dust, Capt. Gwin
fell, and for more than two years occupied
an invalid's bed, and to-day bears y dis
hguring, though honorable scar-a testi-
mony TO his fealty TO duty. He Is also
from the body Of the people, and knows
exactly what they need, and how to con-
duct the affairs OF his office 10 inure 30 the
benefit Of the people at large and we are
satisfied that another term Of this gentle
man will result benifcially aud satisfac-
torily TO all concerned.