Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-18
A SENATOR RESIGNS.
Mr.. Walthall Retires on Account Of
Ill Health.
BE THINKS DUTY REQUIRED IT.
EnfeebIed by the Grip and Obliged
to Leave Washington.
GENERAL REGRET EXPRESSED.

GENERAL REGRET EXPRESSED.
Senator Walthall of Mississippi has re-
signed his seat in the United States Senate.
Last evening he sent the following letter
to Governor Stone Of Mississippi. which ex-
plains the reason of his resignation:
SENATE CHAMBER,
WASHINGTON, January IL, 1894.
Hon. ]. NJ. Stone. governor Of Mississippi:
My Dear Sir-The condition of my health
oompels me to seek a milder climate for the
remainder of the winter season.
The alternative is presented me Of re-
signing my present position or absenting
myself from my post of duty at a time
when 1t is important that our state should
have two Senators In their seats.
1t best accords with my sense of public
obligation to pursue the former course. and
trust that 1t may seem to my constitu-
ents. as 1t does to me. that in adopting 1t
1 am affording them the highest proof Of
my appreciation of their confidence and
good will.
1 am indebted to the people Of Mississippi
for the highest honOrs in their gift. repeat
edly bestowed under circumstances which
greatly enhanced their value in my esti-
nation.
To hold to the high trust which they
nave committed to me when unable, from
any cause. to discharge its duties, accord
ing to my own standard Of faithful public
service. would be an unfit return for their
generosity and fidelity.
Therefore. l inclose you my resignation,
and beg through you to repeat to the peo-
pie of the state the expression of my graft
tude and obligation for their kindness, con-
stancy and support.
l can take no action now in relation to
the senatorial term beginning March l.
1895, for which / was elected in January,
1882. Eminent statesmen and lawyers here
to whose conclusion l can find no answer
advise me that have no such present con-
nectiOn with that term as warrants me in
dealing with 1t before 1t commences.
When 1 may lawfully act in that matter
l shall be governed, as / am now in sur
rendering my commission for the current
term, by what shall appear to be my duty
to the people of Mississippi under the con-
ditions existing at the time.
Your friend and obedient servant.
(Signed) E. c. WALTHALL.
The Vacancy.
Senator Walthall is one of the most popu-
lar men in Mississippi and was recently re-
elected to succeed himself in the Senate,
though he had expressed a desire to retire,
before the election occurred. The new
term to which he has been elected does not
begin until the 4th of March. '95. and his
resignation is to take effect, as shown by
the letter, at once. leaving the vacancy
during this Congress to be filled. The long
tcihI NdSdhCy 10 d HldtttT WHICH VIII come
later. Mr.. Walthall was appointed to the
Senate to succeed Lamar, and has been re-
tanned in that body by election since. He
Is man ENJOYING the unqualified admira-
tion and friendship of his colleagues In the
Senate. and his retirement will occasion re-
gret His retirement Is entirely due to i'll
health, which constrained him to seek a
milder climate than that of Washington.
A Victim Of Grip.
He Is one Of the many victims of the grip
Washington three or four years ago he
was attacked by it. and each year has suf-
fered from its recurrence. Just about the
close of the last Congress he was taken
down and was confined to the house for
six or eight weeks.
A Surprise to Mississippians.
The resignation of Senator Walthall was
a surprise to the Mississippi delegation and
there is very little basis for an opinion as
to who will succeed him. The legislature
is now in session. but as they have not an
ticipated the duty of selecting a successor
to Mr.. Walthall there has been no canvass
of candidates 1t Is probable that the
names considered will be those of Gov.
Stone. Representative Catchings. Repre-
sentative Allen, Judge Calhoun and Repre-
sentative Hooker.
The news of Senator Walthalrs resigna-
ton caused genuine regret among all about
the Senate. 1t had been known by few
that his health was not the best. and that
the air of Washington had already affected
his throat. but nobody outside of his inme-
diate circle of friends suspected that ne
would be unable to stand the weather of
this region. Expressions of deep regret
were to be heard on all sides. The Senator
has made a great many warm friends by
his unfailing courtesy and politeness. He
has not been very active figure on the
floor. mainly because Of his i'll health, but
h.
March as chairman of the committee on
military affairs.
His Popularity.
Said ore of his personal friends this after
noon: 1T is question whether the legisla-
ture Of Mississippi, which is now in session,
will permit Mr.. Walthall to resign. He is a
tremendously popular man in the state, and
since he succeeded Mr.. Lamar has endeared
himself to all in Mississippi 1t has been
with him a struggle between his health and
his conscience. Some months ago it oc-
CURED to him that it was not strictly hon.
orable for him to continue to hold the office
of Senator while he could not endure the
strain OF a conscientious performance of his
duties. This feeling has grown within him,
and 1t has eliminated in the resignation
which he handed to the Senate this morn
ing"
Tried to Dissuade Him.
w
ed the letter this morning to Senator Har-
ris, who is presiding over the Senate in the
absence of the Vice President Mr.. Harris
at first refused to take 1t and tried to urge
Mr. Walthall to reconsider his resignation.
The latter, however. firmly insisted upon
his course, which he said had been taken
only after the most earnest consideration
and after consultation with his physician
and his friends.
In the Senate committee on military at
fairs, of which he is chairman Senator
Walthall of Mississippi this morning noti-
fled the members of that committee that
he intended laying his resignation as a
Senator before the Senate. Mr.. Walthall
gave as his reason his failing health and
his inability to keep UP with the duties
that devolved upon him as the representa-
tive in the Senate Of the state of Missis-
sippi. His colleagues of both parties en-
deavored to get him to reconsider his ac-
tion, but Mr.. Walthall said his mind was
made up and could not be changed.
Many Cadets Dropped.
The Secretary of War has today approved
the recommendation of the academic board