Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-31
ANTE.BELLUM MISSISSIPPI.
How Henry S. Foote Beat Jefferson Davis
for Governor.
ZION "a Ohieaoo Iiater 0oean

CENTRALIA, ILL, July 20.-An officer
in the Confederate army, formerly of Mis-
sissippI, has related to your correspondent
the following incident of ante-bellum
days, and as "Reminiscences of those
troublous times is worthy of place in the
public print. The story substantially is
as fOllows:
''Plowing her way down the Mississippi
river in the fall of 80, the steamer Edna,
Capt. Pearce, carried on her decks many
distinguished personages. Congress had
adjourned, and the Southern senators and
representatives were returning to their
homes. Among the number was Senator
Henry S. FOote, of Mississippi, and Sena-
tor Gwlnn, of California.
"Shortly after the boat left Cairo a
stranger was seen, separated from the
other passengers ntently reading q
Paducab paper. Suddenly he called me
to him and directed me to read an article
which he pointed out. The paper was
read by myself, when | asked permission
to show the article to Senator FoOte,
which was granted.
"If one OF O'DOnovan Rossa's nitro
glycerine bombs had exploded on deck it
could not have created greater furore
than the reading of that article. The
senators and representatives gathered
around while the article was read aloud.
sit was nothing less than the prOcla-
nation OF Gov. Quitman, of Mississippi,
cOnvening in extra session the State Leg
islature for the purpose of impeaching
Senator FOOte, who it will be remembered
was central figure in the advocation of
the compromise measures called the
omnibus bills. Quitman represented an
element in Mississippi politics whose
IdnQg a
ciples laid down inthose bills. The scene
was most exciting one. Mrs. Gwinn.
wife of the Senator, happened to be along,
and her conduct was amusing in the eX-
treme. She laughed at the discontinue
of the Senator, and continually jibed him
with the remark, "SenatOr, how dare you
go home and face your Governor" II was
not without some manifestation of anxiety
that the Senator went ashore at Wick sburg
for he had no way of knowing the current
of thought among his constituents. But
he reached terra tlrma safely and repaired
TO his home at Jackson without mOlesta-
ton. The after events are more familiar
to the public. The Legislature refused to
crafty Quitman's whims. and FOOte stood
indicated. Thereupor Quitmanresigned
the GOvernorship, and Judge Guyon, then
president Of the Senate, took the vacant
chair. Quitman carried his pique still
tutIs lOI WuSH buc GOuftHIlDu
ated him on the disunion ticket he dis
covered that a large number of the dele
gates were immicable to his theories, and
he subsequently refused to make the race.
In the meantime had met eX-GOv. Jones,
of Tennessee, who said to me; Il will
name the man VINO win beat Quitman.'
Who is hep said /. Senator FOote,' he
answered. On my return to Natchez
where l was engaged in business, i called
together several of the political lights Of
the city, and mentioned the suggestion of
GOV. Jones. The upshot of the matter was
that party consisting Of John T. McMur-
ran, Foote'S law partner, S. S. Boyd, DR..
Medcalf, Col. A. X. Farrar, and other
prominent Mississippians went out to
jackson and besOught him to become the
candidate on the Union ticket. The above
named gentlemen were all Wings and
Union Democrats. Foote after much
persuasion consented. Quitman had now
backed completely down and In the ext
gency Jefferson Dayishad been picked up
and made the raceg and was beaten by
Foote by 999 votes. 7.s