Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-08-03
Governors Albert G. Brown and VIM. L.
Sharkey.

Governors Albert G. Brown and VIM. J."
sharkey.
JACKSON, Miss. July II.
Editor VicESburg Herald:
read with much interest your
timely criticism of Mr.. Gamers book,
Reconstruction in Mississippi l
have not yet seen a copy of the book,
but am surprised that he should have
been so careless in some of his state
ments. | know that he was very in
dustr!ous in collecting material 20
his book, and it was my pleasure to as
sist him to some extent.
l will only refer now to his state
ment that "in August, 1868, ex-Gov.
Brown, Judge Sharkey and others took
the oath of allegiance" l do not know
who the Others" were, but l am GER
tain that the statement is an outrage
Gus injustice to the memory Of thu
eminent and beloved Mississippiars
named.
Albert G.. Brown was twice elected
governor of Mississippi; was for many
years a representative in congress, anu
United States senator from March 4,
1858, until January u, 1861, when he
resigned, his State having seeded
from the Union only few days before.
He organized a military company az
Terry, which was mustered in as The
Brown Rebels" eighteenth regiment,
on the goth day Of April, 1861. In
February, 1862, he was elected to the
Confederate senate; was reelected and
was serving as such when the collapse
came. When the war ended, he
acouiesed in the inevitable. and If he
took any oath of allegiance, it was
when that was made a condition OF
citizenship under the reconstruction
regime. He died at his home near
Terry, June u, 1880, and his memory
will be cherished as one who was true
to his people in all emergencies.
William L. Sharkey was one of the
best and purest men that aver lived IN
Mississippi. He was incapable of II
mean or dishonorable act. He was
an ardent Whig of the old school; was
/ opposed to secession and The war, but
when the clash came he was loyal 10
his own people, and enjoyed their un'
! limited confidence to the end Of his
life. He was rendered by PresideH.
johnson the position of provisional
governor of Mississippi, and his oath
accepting and qualifying for same, Is.
| believe, the only oath of allegiance
that he took to the United States gov
ernment from 1860 to June IA, 1855
| That oath is before me-taken before
Andrew Wylie, justice of SurreLc
Court of District of Columbia, Gov.
Sharkey died on the Goth of April,
1873. He was my personal friend for
many years. | was secretary Of the
convention that he called, as provision
al governor, in August, 1865; and thti
is the first time that have heard It
stated that he took the oath of alleg,-
ance in August 1868. 1t is untrue.
]. i. POWER
Warden Parchman Of the State
pententiary, deeply deplores the great
falling off there has been in the State S
corn crop Six weeks ago there was
as fine prospect for this staple grain
as any one need have wished. Today
both prospects and corn have dried up
and blown away and the State has to
fall back on cotton for its crop of 1901.
Information Wanted.
Mr.. ]. f. Young of Coffeeville. Miss,
desires to communicate with some sur
vivor of the Fourth Mississippi infan-
try regiment, who may remember b.
f. Hodges, who enlisted at Bankston,
Miss. The widow does not remember
the company. She is in need of the
pension given by the State, and is un-
able to make the required proof.
The Crystal Springs Chautauqua has
been great attraction during the past
fortnight, quite large number of
guests having visited the grounds and
enjoyed the program.
The percentage Of the population OF
Mississippi residing in cities is 5.S; Of
Louisiana, 251; Of Tennessee, 14.1; of
Alabama, 100; of Rhode Island, 91.6;
of New York, 71.2. Which figures lead
the New Orleans Picayune to OBJ
serve that cities mean manufactur.
ing, and manufacturing means wealth
and political power
rhe Baptist State convention, re
Gently in session in McComb City,
subscribed six thousand dollars to the
Baptist Orphanage at JacAson. A
good investment-laying W treasure
in heaven.