The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1901-05-01
GOVERNORS LETTER TO B. V. WHITE.
Following is the letter written by
Gov. Longino to Capt. B. V. White, of
Meridian:
Executive DEPARTMENT

Executive Department,
Jackson, Miss, April 10th. 1901.
Hon. B. V. White, Meridian, Miss:
Ny Dear Sir:-l am in receipt of
your esteemed favor of the 18th instant
and am gratified at the just and sensi-
BILE treatment you were pleased to give
of the newspaper attacks upon me
over what has been reputed to me as
derogatory statements about the Con
federate Veterans, and since you were
kind enough tc write as you have,
desire to assure you in reply that |
am not conscious of ever having so
much as entertained a sentiment of re
proach or derogation of the COnfeder-
ate Veterans or their organization,
much less to have used the inelegant
language and unwarranted statements
ascribed to me. On the contrary,
have for years, on every rostrum
where suitable opportunity presented
itself, paid tribute to the Confederate
soldier for his gallantry. patriotism
and devotion to the principles for
which he fought; and was, perhaps,
more instrumental than any other
one man in the State procuring from
the legislature an increase of pensions
Though too young to engage in that
memorable conflict myself, | had five
brothers who were in the war, two of
whom gave up their lives in the strug-
gle. and three of that number still
survive whose wounds and scars bear
proof of the service they rendered the
cause. 1t seems, however, that life
time of loyalty. proven by deeds,
stands for naught in the estimation of
some people as against the mere idle
charges at the hands of irresponsi
BILE, sensational newspaper reporters.
From what ! understand the whole
matter grew out of reputed converse
ton between Major John ID. McInnis
and myself on the subject of the lay
ing of the corner stone of the new
State house.
1t was, | think, first suggested by
Bishop Galloway that the corner stone
be laid on the sixteenth of January,
the anniversary of my induction
into office. Some of the papers, in
Guiding the syndicate for which Col.
Power writes, | understand, en-
dorsed and approved that suggestion,
and in this way the 10th of January
was proposed and gained its notoriety
as the date for the laying of the cor
ner stone, without so much as even a
suggestion from me on the subject for
the reason that it is no part of my ma
ture to seek notoriety, and in the
next place, | have throughout the
whole scheme tried to subserve the
business features of the enterprise
rather the sentimental.
When the 3rd of June began to be
discussed it was utterly impossible
for me to see how the building could
be sufficiently constructe to the
point of readiness for the laying Of the
corner stone on that date and | so
stated. There were parties, however,
who in their zeal for that date were
willing to conclude that there were no
business reasons to the contrary. |
then heard it stated that Bishop Gal
loway was working up the anti June
3rd sentiment because he and Elk
President Davis hal once newspa-
per controversy on the subject of pro
hibitien, and that the Bishop was ac-
tuated by selfish motives and dislike
for Mr.. Davis on that account. |
heard it charged by others and with
out warrant therefor, that the Bishop
was trying to dominate and control
the State house commission in the
matter, etc. read also that | was OPP
posed to the Bird of June because that
date would coatravene selfish plans
formed by me for the laying of the
corner stone on the anniversary of my
coming into office Certain other pa
pers, unfavorable to me, began to ridi-
Guile and make filings at me, charging
that was discourteous to the ladies
of the State and disrespectful to Mr..
Davis and that in my over ambition
desired to distinguish myself in the
matter of laying the corner stone on
January 10Th, all of which came to be
positively disgusting to me, inasmuch
as there was not syllable of truth to
sustain it.
| said, whenever the subject was dis
cussed by me, that honored the mem
DRY of Mr.. Davis as much as any man
in the State, and that yielded to no
one in respect for the Daughters of
the Confederacy, but that the business
interest, as / saw it, would control my
vote. / do not recall my use of the