The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-08-20

WANNA atMMN0'S'
SENATOR j.. 2. GEORGE.
At 2:45 o'clock Saturday evening
last, James z. George died at the Gulf
View hotel, Mississippi City, in the
list year Of his age.
The members of his family present
we're his son-ln-laW and daughter, DR..
and Mrs. II. II. Henderson; his sons,
J. w. George and wife and w. G..
George, j. G. Hemingway, grandson
and Miss Lula Aldridge, granddaugli-
ter, Mr.. and Mrs. II. G. George, son
and daughter-in-law arrived at 1870
that evening.
The remains were carried On the
| following day to his old home ut Cotes-
worth, near arrollton, Miss, for inter
ment BY the side Of his beloved wife,
who preceded him two weeks ago.
The Senator passed away quietly
and without pain.
Senator George was a devout men,
her OF the Baptist church and con-
tributed much of his means toward
| building churches of that denomina-
tiOn.
JamcsZ. George was born in Monroe
county, Ga, Oct. 20, 1920. His father
having died in his infancy, he removed
when s years of age. with his mother
to NOXubec county, Miss. He resided
there for two years. and then moved
| to Carroll county, Miss, where lie has
since lived, except during the time
that he practiced law and was chief
justice of the State of Mississippi,
when he resided at Jackson. He
volunteered as a private in the First
Regiment Of Mississippi Volunteers in
the Mexican war, commanded by
Colonel Jefferson Davis, and was at
the battle of Monterey. Returning to
Mississippi, he studied law and was
admitted to the bar in Carroll county.
He was law reporter Of the high court
of errors and appeals in 1854, and re-
elected in 1860. lie prepared and
published ten volumes of reports III
the decisions of that court, afterwards
prepared and published a digest Of all
the decisions OF the supreme court and
of the high court Of errors and appeals
in Mississippi from the admission Of
the State into the union to aud in.
Guiding the year 1870. He was a men,
Der OF the secession convention OF
1861, and signed that instrument. He
was il captain in the Twentieth Rcgi-
ment of Mississippi Volunteers OF the
Confederate States army, and later
brigadicr general of State troops, and
afterwards colonel of the Fifth Regi-
ment of the Mississippi Cavalry in The
Mississippi Confederate States army.
He was chairman Of the Democratic
State Executive Committee of 1875
and 1915. The result of these cam
paigns was the end of carpet-b bag
government in Mississippi. In 1879 he
was appointed by Governor Stone
Judge Of the supreme court in Missis-
sippi, and was elected chief justice of
the court by his associates, Campbell
and Chalmers. In February, 1881. he
resigned his seat on the supreme bench
to take his seat in the Senate on the
4th Of March Of that year. He was
reelected Senator 10 1886. and was
chosen Senator again in January, 1892,
after a fierce contest, his opponent
being the late Ethel Barksdale, who
advocated the s%ubtreasury scheme.
Senator George was a member of the
constitutional convention of the State
of Mississippi held in 1890, which
framed the present constitution of
the State. He declined to draw his
salary of $400 as a member of that con-
ventiOn, because he was already draw
ing a salary as United States Senator.
When this constitution was assailed
in the United States Senate he de-
livcrcd a really great speech in its de-
Tense, beginning Dec. 81, 1890, and
closing the same on Jan. q, 1891. He
defended the constitution of Missis-
sippi from the attacks Of all corners,
and a more complete victory has rare
ly been gained. His speech covered
liz pages of the Congressional Record,
and every page is crowded with state
ments which are Indispensable in sup.
port of the action of Mississippi in
regulating the suffrage according to
her own pleasure. Senator George
showed conclusiyely that Mississippi
followed the presidents furnished by
several OF the New England States.
| whose constitutions were shown In
some respects deserving Of the criti-
cism applied to the Mississippi con-
stitutiOn, which the Senator showed
to be free from any just objections
wherein it had been assailed by men
eager to find flaws in 1t. Senator
George was born and reared on a farm
and among farmers. He was familiar
by personal contact with all the
routine of agricultural life; was large
ly interested in farming aud intimate
ly connected with the farmers, to
whom he was bound by every tic that
could insure fidelity to their cause,
three or four Of his IONS being practi.
cal and successful farmers. He was a
farmer, lawyer, statesman, and was
honOred and trusted by the mass Of
the people. lie was known as "Old
Trace Chains" and before the advant.
ages OF railroads some Of the oldest In.
habitants who yet live on that wagon
road through central Mississippi to
the YazOO river delight In telling OF
slim George" as he appeared over
fifty years ago, as lie passed their
house driving an OK team on bis way
to the Yazoo river to market his cot
ton. 1t Is said that as a "whIp pop
per" he was acknowledged champion
OF the long wagon train Of sturdy
farmers sons who were sent annually
to make that trip with the fleecy
Senator George was the father
OF nine children--hve girls and four
boys. He married Miss Elizabeth,
Young, who died at their beautiful
home, C%0tesworth. two miles from
on July %, 1897.