The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-27

B. 4. P. Selman, Rep. {. NJ. Williamson, Rep
W D. GIBBS Rep /. W Magruder, Rep.
$ e. Cook, Rep. James T. Harrison, Rep
H. McIunis Rep. J. c. Longstreet, Keep
}. ". Cutrer, Rep. ]. Truly, Rep
viii I. Mcdonald, Rep. W. A. Mcdonald, Rep.
Geo. W MCKEE Rep. I. c. Ferguson, Kep.
J. A. Nicholson Rep. J. c. BurdIR- Rep.
J. 7 CarrawAy, Rep. Geo. Harvey, Senator.
SENATE CHAMBER,
JACKSON, Miss, Jan. 25, 1886.
Hon. Geo. G.. billiard, W A. Haden, H. c. Niles
and others:
GENTLEM note, containing /
request, for copy of my remarks, on
the occasion of he nomination of Col |
J. L. Power for Public Printer, was
handed me some days ago, and l 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 couehed.
I am obediently, yours,
w. A. BoYp.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: l desire to place in
nomination before this Joint Conven
ton. for Public Printer, a 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 wears ago, there might have
been seen, quietly vending his way into
the .itv of Jackson, d boy, poor, friend
| less aud homeless. A stranger II
strange land. with nothing to recommend
| him to the favor of his new associates
save his unconquerable will aud 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-
| plovment, unconscious that he possessed
those sterling qualities, which would one
| day write his name in beautiful charae
tiers on the brightest page of MIssis
sippi's future history-a benefactor of
his race and the recognized philanthro
pist of his State.
MIR. 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 reverberateC
through these streets, summoning t
arms, Col. Power enlisted as an artillery
man, and in this service he followed hi,
guns as long as the stars and bars fipa:eC
above him. No truer, no drawer soldier
ever marched under the folds of th'
"bonnie blue flag"
During the war gaunt want compelled
. Col. Power to sell his printing material
for the support of his little family. II
: $50, he was elected Secretary of tn,
Constitutional Convention called b,
Gov. Sharkey, and in this position, by
: doing the work usually allotted to hal
; a dozen men, he saved from his salarl
enough To buy type and make anOthe
start as publisher. And now, 70
> twenty wears, he has been identified witt
FHE CLARION. And to this Convention
! need not speak of the valuable service
. of this paper during these years-hov
thousands of dollars worth of document
= were printed at its own expense ant
= gratuitously distributed TO every count
in the State, calling upon her people T.
!, wrest the government from the grasp O
\ :lIe spoiler and pltce once more at tn
helm Mississippis truest sons.
n In 1876, home rule having been estat
4 lished, Col. Power, in recognition of hi
Is services, was elected Public Printer, an,
. although he had well equipped otfic
}, for general work, he had to make expen
q sive purchases of material. For be
G remembered, that this is the only ofiic
= in the gift of the Legislature, where tn
iS p,D..llal IN b 10
V OUTLAWS in order properly to discharg
IS its duties. | have taken some pains [
# inform myself and | assert that all til
d earnings of the office, and of his genera
n business as printer, have been expenc
Il ed in getting the office in its pre-:
n ent efficient condition, and | al
% assured that outside of his Office and hi
If horne, Col. Power has no property q
d means whatever, and even his office
p encountered by debt contracted in th
purchase of its outfit. AS an office
,e Col. Power has expended his income i
N building up publishing house which
he credit to him and an honor to til
At State. To take from him, at this tim,
the public printing will serve to paralys
his efforts and cripple the only pul
49, fishing house in the State. | gladl'
20 anu III Dtltdll ia NOl- OWGI.
admit that the State has shown its al
probation of his capacity and service
on several occasions But, sir, thel
le are few men of his intrinsic worth, an
N it is not likely that the State will eve
&c adequately compensate him for servic,
W rendered her citizens, in seasons of I'll
o greatest need. In saying this, | woul
u not have it understood that | allude
u u his services as a journalist, for true
a. he has been, other pens have bee
= equally Jealous for the right. | spea
P not now of his patriotic devotion as
!" soldier, for Others were as devoted an
other hearts as true.
:, But, Mr.. President, when the guns
= served so we'll, had hushed their thundt
! and the drums in silence lay-whe
: the din of arms, the yell of savage rag
:. the shrek of agony. and the groan {
death were no longer heard-when til
= gentle bird of peace had spread he
white wings over this blood washe
land-'twas then, in the quiet walks {
~ everyday life, that Col. Power exhibite
~ those sterling qualities of disiBtereste
:, benevolence, which have won for hin
:, the proud title of Nississippi's philal
= thropist.
Mr.. President: Need | refer to thu
# terrible scOurge, the epidemic of IS7.
the desolated homes, the burning az,
II mics, the blasted hopes of that irwin
n period? As retrospect those scenes an
/ see stout hearts shrinking back frol
. contact with the dread DESTROYER, ther
= is one form, towering high above his fe
lows, forgetful of seif-remaininy at hi
; post and risking life and fortune in tb
interest Of humanity not on.
A his Own time and means, but distribui
!. ing In half the counties of the Sta,e
: prlncely sums of money. to kindle again
f if possible, the light of hope in desolate
e homes? IT'S ]. L. Power, living ''for tn
!. good that he could do" Again Sir. o
with me to Monticello, after the ma,
I rush of the wind had done its work O
devastation and death!-And a yea
f thereafter, to Beauregard and otbe
towns. And tell me who ii is that ljk
+ an angel of mercy follows in the tracl
! of the cyclone, with heart-throbs of be
/ nevolence, and full hands, alIeviatin,
f the pangs of the unfortunate? It's ]. /
/ Power, who in this the subimest mo
) ment of his life, felt that ''the drying III
!. OF single tear has in it more of homes
tame than shedding seas of blood"
e Mr.. President: Shall it still be sal,
e that Republics are ungrateful? Or viii
tins Legislature, for Mississippi, refut,
the charge? Sir, "bIan that hath natur
In him must be grateful"
Then let this Legislature make to Col
: POWER the poor return of rejoicing hin
. Public Printer, and no act of the session
Will be more cordially endorsed by tn,
people of the State. If there are fhos,
: who are read, to invoke the doctrine ~