The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-02-03
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
By ]. L. POWER.
ARREST AND RESIGNATION
OF GOV. JOHN A. oUITMAN
An Interesting Episode In Mississippi
History.

An Interesting Episode In Mississippi
History.
For a space of thirty years Gen. John
Anthony Quitman was conspicuous and
influential in the public affairs of Mis-
sissippi. He was a native OF R~hinebeck,
N. ", where he was born September l.,
1899. He was educated for the minis
try, his father being an immigrant
from Prussia and a minister OF the
Evangelical Lutheran Church. The
family removed to Ohio, and from there
young Quitman removed to Natchez in
1922. Though educated for the minis
try he concluded to study law, and en-
tered upon it's practice in his goth year.
He represented Adams County in the
Legislature in 1927, was State Chancel-
lor in 1928, President of the Senate in
1885, and acted as Governor for a short
time Judge of High Court of Errors
and Appeals in 1889 member of Con-
gress, 1S55-1S5S. He was Grand Master
of Masons fifteen years; a Major-Gen-
eral in the war with Mexico, the hero
of Chapultepec,'' and Military Governor
of the City of Mexico. He was elected
Governor of Mississippi in November,
1S49, and rendered his resignation as
such on February 8, 1851. He hao be-
come an active sympathizer with the
Lopez Expedition for the liberation OF
Cuba. In the Spring of 1850, General
Lopez and General Quitman had a pro-
tracted private conference in jackson.
President Fillmore issued two procla-
nations ~denouncing the proposed in
vasion. The Grand Jury of h United
States Circuit Court in New Orleans
found a bill against John A. Quitman,
John Henderson and others for setting
on foot the invasion, and Governor
Quitman having received an intimation
that this proceeding might be followed
by his arrest, entered into correspond
ence with distinguished friends in other
Southern States, soliciting their advice,
but advising them that he would act
upon his own responsibility. Many of
these friends advised him not to resign,
some openly r%ejoiced in the probability
of his arrest, and thus precipitate a col
lisiou between the Federal and State
authorities, which would in its sequel
involve the other Southern States. The
following address will explain the
course that he ooh in this emergency.
We nave 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, 1S49, l was elected, by
your free suffrages, 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, 1882.
In the middle of my term of office, and in
the active discharge of its duties, l 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 1918, by beginning
setting on foot, and furnishing the means
for a military expedition against the Islanc
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 b
tried for these alleged offenses.
"Unconscious of having, in any respect
violated the laws of the country, ready a
all times to meet any charge that might b
exhibited against me, l have only beef
anxious, in this extraordinary emergency
to follow the path Of duty. As a citizen
it was plain and clear l must yield to tn
law, however oppressive or unjust in m,
case, but as Chief Magistrate of a sovereig
State, l had also in charge her dignity, he
honor and her sovereignty, which l coul
not permit to be violated in my person
Resistance by the organized force of tn
State while the Federal administration
in the hands of men who appear to see
some occasion to test the strength of the
government, would result in violent col
tests, much to be dreaded in the preser
critical condition of the country.
The whole South, patient as she is unde
encroachment, might look with some jea
ousy upon the employment of militar
force to remove a Southern Governor frol
the jurisdiction of his State, when it ha
been withheld from her citizens seeking
reclaim a fugitive slave in Massachusett
On the other hand, the arrest and forcib
removal from the State of her Chief Exc
utive Magistrate, for an indefinite peric
of time, would not only be a degredatic
of her sovereignty, but must occasion inca
culable injury and disaster to the interes
of the State, by the entire suspension
the executive functions of her governmen
Tho Constitution has not contemplate
such an event as the forcible abduction
the Governor. 1t has not provided for Il
performance of his duties by another OF
Ger, except in the case Of a vacancy. SUI
vacancy can not happen while there is
Governor, though he be a prisoner to
foreign power. Although he may be q
sent, and incapable of performing his d
ties, he is still Governor, and no othor pc
son can execute his office.
1t follows, therefore, that in such ca
the State would practically suffer some
the evils of anarchy, The pardoning pow
would be lost. Officers could not be co
missioned or qualified the great seal