Macon beacon., 1900-02-03
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RREsT AND RESIGNATION
OF GOV. 'OHN 4, 0UifMAS

nm Hist Try,
For space of thirty years Cen John
"a ,nthony Quitman was conspicuous and
1hiuential in the public affairs OF Mis-
d D,ssippi. He was native of Rhinebeck,
Ff. Y, where he was born September l,
%4f99. He was educated for the minis
~, his father being an immigrant
sa'om Prussia and minister OF the
Evangelical Lutheran Church. The
family removed to Ohio and from there
isAoung Quitmau removed to Natchez in
dIs22. Though educated for the minis
Lsry he concluded to study law, and en-
V@1sred upon its practice in his Goth year
lie represented Adams County in the
legislature in 1927, was State Chancel-
Or in 1928 President of the Senate IN
s35, and acted as Governor for short
lime; Judge of High Court of Errors
Won nd Appeals in 1889; member OF Con-
sSs'ress 1s55-1s5S lie was Grand Master
IT Masons fifteen years; Major-Gen-
raj in the war with Mexico, the "hero
{,f Chapultepec, and Military Governor
= II the City of Mexico, He was elected
;overnor of Mississippi in November,
$40, and rendered his resignation as
-,uch on February 3, 1851. He had be-
-,ome an active sympathizer with the
~ " iopez Expedition for the liberation OF
,uba. In the Spring of 1850, General
lopez and General Quitman had pro-
= racted private conference in Jackson
President Fillmore issued two procla-
nations denouncng the proposed in
vasion. The Grand Jury of the United
states Circuit Court in New Orleans
found bill against John A. Quitman
John Henderson and others for setting
on foot the invasion, and Governor
INluitman having received an intimation
that this proceeding might be followed
by his arrest, entered into correspond
rnce with distinguished friends in other
Southern States, soliciting their advice,
but advising them that he would act
upon his own responsibility. Many Of
1thesc friends advised him not to resign,
some openly rejoieed in the probability
pf his arrest, and thus precipitate 4 col
lision between the Federal and State
authorities which would in its sequel
involve the other Southern States. The
1Ifollowing address will explain the
course that he took in this emergency.
We have had made requests for this
important State document which we
find in the second volume OF Claiborne's
Life of Quitman'
TO the People of Mississippi
"In November, 1910, | was elected, by
your free suifrages Governor of this State.
My term of Office commenced with my in
auguration on the 10th of January, 1850.
BY the provisions Of the Constitution, it
will expire on the 10Th of January, 1852
In the middle of my term of office, and in
the active discharge of its duties am to-
day arrested by the United States Marshal
OF the Southern District of Mississippi, by
virtue of process originating out Of charges
exhibited against me in the District Court
Of the United States for the Eastern Dis
trict of louisiana for an alleged violation
OF the neutrality law of 1878, by beginning
setting on foot and furnishing the means
for military expedition against the Island
of Cuba.
Under these charges, the Marshal is di-
rected to arrest me and remove my person
to the City of New Orleans, there to be
tried for these alleged ofense3
"Unconscious of having, in any respect,
violated the laws of the country, ready at
all times to meet any charge that might be
exhibited against me, have only been
anxious, in this extraordinary emergency,
to follow the path of duty. As citizen,
it was plain and clear must yield to the
law, however oppressive or unjust III my
case, but as Chief Magistrate of a sovereign
State, had also in charge her dignity, her
honor and her sovereignty, which | could
not permit to he violated in my person.
Resistance by the organized force of the
State while the Federal administration is
In the hands of men who appear to seek
some occasion to test the strength Of that
government, would result in violent con
tests, much to bo dreaded in the present
critical condition of the country,
sThe whole South patient as she is under
encroachment' might look with some Jeai'
ousy upon the employment of military
force to removed southern Hovernor from
lhe jurisdiction oil MS state "hen 1t had
been Withheld from hef clu1ens seeking 'o
reclaim tugitive save IN Massachuse"S
On the other hand, the arrest and lorclpie
removal from the state oil her ohiei Exec,
utive magistrate ror an lndeinlte perioo
OF time would not only be depreciation
OF her sovereignty Dat must occasion ihcai
culanle INJURY ana disaster TO the interests
or the state, by tue ehtlre suspension o'
the executive functions OF her government
The CONSTITUTION mas not contemplated
sucf an event as the iorcihie abductloh OF
the dovernor' IL mas not PROVIDED ior tn'
perrormnhce OF MS duties pS "hother ON
Ger, except IN the case OF vacancy 0ucl
vacancy can not happen whlle there is
Governor' though he he prisoner TO
foreign power Although he may be ap
sent, and incapable OF performing MS du
ties, he is still doyernor' and no other per
son can execute his Office
1T follows, therefore, that in such cast
the State would practically suffer some o