The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-06-20
ADAM L. BINGAMAN.
BY HON. J.F. H. CLAIBORNE.

This distinguished gentleman, once
| the leader in the highest social circles |
of Louisiana and Mississippi, was born
near Bayou Sara, FEBRUARY II, 1898. His |
family were of German extraction and |
obtained large grants from the Spanish |
authorities. "Fatherland, on st. Cath |
crimes, near Na;chez. became their chief
residence, and there they accumulated |
great wealth.
Adam l.. Bingaman was educated mt
Harvard and contested the first honor
with Edward Everett. On his return he
found himself master Of an extensive
| plantation and many slaves, He gave
himself up to its management and its
attractions. He became a successful
planter, star of fashion, social favor
lite, and a deyotee of the turf, Endowed
with personal magnetism that attract
ed every one, he soon secured a large fol-
lowing, and became the idol of the null
titude. But for the fatal heritage of
wealth and slaves, he would, doubtless,
have become the foremost man in the
Southwest. His person was imposing
and elegant ; his features classic and eX
pressive his manner seductive his
voice musical and sonorous his imagi-
nation vivid in fine, he had all the
highest attributes of the orator, with the
classical resources of the scholar.
Like most Southern men of education
and talents, he was ambitious Of political
distinction. He often served in the
Legislature with marked ability, and
was the leader of any party or any meas
ure he espoused. But, though he made
many efforts, he always failed to secure
higher position. His passion for the
turf, and its jacidentGjs. and his political
opinions, which he was too honest to
compromise were the drawbacks He
based his political creed on the doctrines
of Henry Clay, and was, under all re-
e verses, devoted to that illustrious states
man. This was enough to keep Col.
Bingaman in minority in Mississippi.
There wereI,memorable occasions when,
had he changed or even modified his
e opinion or tempered his tone or held him
e self "open to convictions" he might nave
1t vaulted into the highest positions. lie
Is was often advised solicited and pressed
<, to do so by political opponents; but he
n chung with inhexible honesty to his con
If victions, and saw very inferior and more
e. plant colleagues monopolize the honors
d When South Carolina enacted her
e ordinance of notification and courteo
1t antagonism with Andrew Jackson, Pres
D. ident of the United States, Col. Binga
Is man sided with the Government in de
y fence of the Union, but would 90 NJ
lie farther.
5. In some vital measure of State policy
10 such as the representation of the new
a. Chickasaw counties, which Mr.. Prentis
S, and the Wings generally oppo3ed-he co
ii operated with the Democrats ant
at would have been welcomed as their lead
Of er but he persistently refused to sup
s. mort their Presidential nominees.
to Before the civil war he had become
" financially embarrassed, from promiscu
er Gus Endorsements in an era OF rottel
e- banks and insane speculation, and tn
C. unhappy and ever-to-be-deplored con
he fict. and the changes that ensued, com
X pleted his ruin,
He had some years previously, SUI
he rendered his hereditary estate, and mad
M his residence in an humble dOmiciIe /
ps an obscure quarter of your city.
ro- I met him a few weeks before hi
CIV death, and he told me he had been con
is PEELED to part with his books. lie n
,es ferred to them in tremulous accents an
I'M with fearful eyes, as men refer to tn
we loved and lost. One volume OF the tree
lie tragedies and the Horace he had used ;
m Harvard were found under his pillo
when he died
as He was familiar with the classics
me read them daily, acclaimed the Tine
nd passages. and would often initiate Il
NOT accent. information and manner OF tt
ws. most eminent professors and gradual
Ter Of Harvard. j.,
81 shall never forget the wealth
4 scholarship he displayed at dim
,ds nortv in honor of Edward Everett !
of tbe late Mr.. Sam Davis, Of Natcht
,itv onn Of our richest planters. The COZ
he many consisted Of eminent lawyers, Ph
far sic;ous and diyines, who had been cd
NV catod at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, a
one William and Mary, in Virginia. J "
70 Tho innior guest, because, although We
{ is young, | was known as the TREND n a. a
nile correspondent of Alexander Everett
led scholar not inferior to has most must
OF a Gus brother.
was OF course it was the business Of I
evening to draw out the distinguish
,ecb guest. Mrs. Davis was lady Of imp
re- ial presence, with rare conyerTsatl9,
he and musical gifts. She was the daugh
hut Of the last of the Spanish Governors
mon Natchez. When the superb service
AVE plate appeared with the desert, e jmb::
es % pno5 With the arms and heraldic dew
F we Of her ancestors, Mr.. Everett, drit
have into Spanish literature, and held
'" table ehwrapt by the modulated ssw
the ness Of his tones ana the sPe ~ y R;,
the spiration. Mrs Davis anu ~, ~
end man, by an occasional ues'iI I'm 6
free gestion, contrl'eo " va" A-'