The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1886-01-26

GENTLEMrN--YouT note, containing
request, for copy of my remarks, on
the occasion of the nomination of Col.
j. l.. Power for Public Printer, was
handed me some days ago, and | here
with place them at your disposal, with
the statement that | have, as nearly as
possible, reduced the same to writing
since they were delivered. Thanking
you for the complimentary terms in
which the request is couched.
am obediently, yours,
w. A. BOYD.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: | desire to place in
nomination before this Joint Conven-
ton, for Public Printer, man who
holds a proud position in public esteem.
One whose life has written its own
eulogy more eloquently than any words
of mine could pronounce. One who
deserves as much at the hands of Missis-
sippi as any man within her borders.
Some thirty years ago, there might have
been seen, quietly vending his way into
the .ity of jackson, h boy, poor, friend
less and homeless. A stranger il a
strange land, with nothing to recommend
him to the favor of his new associates
save his unconquerable will and gener-
GUS heart, overlooking with love for his
fellow-man. A printer boy, who, like
Franklin, paid of cheek and weary Of
limb, walked the streets in search of en-
ployment, unconscious that he possessed
those sterling qualities, which would one
day write his name in beautiful charac
tiers on the brightest page of Missis
sippi's future history-a benefactor OF
his race and the recognized philanthro'
pist of his State.
Mr.. President, with this introduction,
it is scarcely necessary to say that in
this description / have pictured J. l..
Power, of Jackson, Mississippi, who is
as well and favorably known in every
part of the State as in the county of his
own home.
By industry and hard economy Col.
Power, before the late war, had sue
ceeded in establishing printing office.
But when the tocsin of war reverberated
through these streets, summoning to
arms, Col. Power enlisted as an artillery
man, and in this service he followed his
guns as long as the stars and bars floated
above him. No truer, no drawer soldier
ever marched under the folds of the
'bonnie blue flag"
During the war gaunt want compelled
Col. Power to sell his printing material,
for the support of his little family, In
1865, he was elected Secretary of the
Constitutional Convention called by
Gov. Sharkey, and in this position, by
doing the work usually allotted to half
dozen men, he saved from his salary
enough to buy type and make another
start, as a publisher. And now, for
twenty years, he has been identified with
The CLARION. And to this Convention
need not speak of the valuable services
of this paper during these years-how
thousands of dollars worth of documents
we're printed at its own expense and
gratuitously distributed to every county
in the State, calling upon her people to
wrest the government from the grasp Of
the spoiler and place once more at the
helm Mississippis truest sons.
In 1876, home-rule having been estab-
lished, Col. Power, in recognition of his
services, was elected Public Printer, and
although be had well equipped office
for general work, he had to make expen-
sive purchases of material. For be ii
remembered, that this is the only Office
in the gift of the Legislature, where the
party chosen is compelled to make large
OUTLAWS in order properly to discharge
its duties. / have taken some pains to
inform myself, and ] assert that all the
earnings of the Office, and of his general
business as printer, have been expend.
ed in getting the Office in its pres
ent efficient conditions, and am
assured that outside of his Office and his
home, Col. Power has no property OF
means whatever, and even his Office il
encountered by debt contracted in the
purchase of its outfit. As an officer
Col. Power has expended his income il
building up publishing house which i:
credit to him and an honor to the
State. To take from him, at this time
the public printing will serve TO paralyz'
his efforts and cripple the only pub
fishing house in the State. | gladly
and in behalf OF Col. Power, thankfully
admit that the State has shown its ap
probation of his capacity and services
on several occasions But, sir, ther,
are few men of his intrinsic worth, anc
it is not likely that the State will eve
adequately compensate him for service,
rendered her citizens, in seasons of tn,
greatest need. In saying this, would
not have it understood that allude t
his services as a journalist, for true a
he has been, other pens have beer
equally jealous for the right | speaI
not now of his patriotic devotion as
soldier, for Others were as devoted anC
other hearts as true.
But, Mr.. President, when the guns b,
served so we'll, had hushed their thunde
and the drums in silence lay-wheI
the din Of arms, the yell of savage rage
the shrek of agony. and the groan o
death we're no longer heard-when tn,