The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-01-12
VOLUME XLVI.
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
BY ]. L. POWER.


.uau;aunAnAnSAs'as'ASAe

A.zAAHsAATA0-1s.O 90
valuable Historical Papers.
n,.hon Charles B. Galloway is just in
..oein, of two most interesting and
1.Iuable papers which are to become
,ha nroperty of the Mississippi Histor-
;..l Society. They were sent by the
uor Thos. M. Wade, of Tensas parish,
louisiana, and member of the legis-
,.,ure of that State, but native OF
Mssissippi and descendant OF one of
har historic families. One is an auto
rraph letter of Henry Clay, dated Oct.
/ ts9s. and addressed to Hon. Thos' B.
Reed of Mississippi, at that time attor-
pey-general of the State, and from 1875
20 1879 one of our United States sena-
TORS Mr., Reed was native OF Ken
tuckv and a man of unusual culture
and extraordinary ability, though lack
ing in personal popularity. He landed
at Natchez in search of his professional
tortune. but without sufficient money
to nav drayage on his small trunk. In
a few years, however, he was the ac-
L,owledged head of the bar in that
eity. and became a conspicuous and po-
tep,ial figure in Mississippi politics and
jurisprudence.
The letter of Mr.. Clay is intensely in
teresting. After disposinR OF busi-
ness matter in which he was not reluc-
,ant TO look after his fee, he discusses
in a free and confidential way his
chances for the presidency. While no
doubt his oft.quoted expression was
| true. that he would rather be right
/ than be president" he very much de-
sired to be president, and died disap-
| nonted man. His reference to the
| proposed action of a legislature recalls
a political custom of that early day
| for legislatures to express their prefer
ence for the next presidency. They
tere in the nature of nominations, and
were doubtless very potential in deter
mining the final result.
The reference to his criticism of the
. conduct of the Seminole war-a censure
| Of General Jackson-revives interest
in great congressional debate. George
Poindexter was the champion of General
jackson, and the consensus of opinion
was that the great KentuclSian won nc
laurels in that contest. In after years,
however, when Jackson was president
rondexter was the most determined
eaemy of his administration. The en-
tire letter of Mr.. Clay can but be re.
garded as a valuable historic document.
The other paper contains list o.
notes and accounts due Harmon Blen
nerhassett in the hands of A. Whiting
for collection. 1t is dated "Natchez
March 10, 1910" On the back is receip
No. /, with the signature of Har. Blen
nerhassett.
In forwarding these interesting treas
ures to Bishop Galloway, the Hon. Mr.
Wade writes as follows: This lette
was given me by my father, Isaac Bar
rev Wade, of jefferson county, Miss.
just before his death on Jan. 10, 1891
My father was a nephew of Mrs. Thos
j. Reed-Mrs. Reed was Margurat
Ross, daughter of Capt. Isaac Ross
who came to Mississippi in 1917, an
settled on the Prospect Hill plantatio
In Jefferson county. He came fror
Soth Carolina, where he distinguishe
himself under the gallant Sumpter a
the battle of the Cowpens. Mrs. Reed
hrlt husband was DR.. Archer, {
Port Gibson. My father administere
on his estate, and some OF Mr.. Reed
papers fell into his possession"
IN behalf of the Mississippi Histories
Society, Bishop Galloway makes graft
fpi acknowledgment to Mr.. Wade fo
this generous and thoughtful presents
ton.
The following is correct copy
Mr.. Clay's letter:
ASHLAND, Oct. s, 1922.
Dear Sir-I received your obliging lett
ot the 9Th ultimo, with the bill of exec
tons in the case of Mr.. Walton inclos
hit. think and hope that the judgme
against him will be reversed upon one
10th of the second and third grounds stat
LII the bill Of exceptions. He may re
upon my best exertions to produce that !
suit. Is time at all desirable to him2
Snot unlikely, il he wishes it, that the tri
ot the writ of error may be postpon
until the term after the next. To me
VIII be Indifferent at which term it
brought on, as l shall attend both. I
customary fee in the supreme court is n
hundred dollars, which may be remitted
mt in whole or in part, as soon as &C
tenient.
lam very highly gratifisd to learn Il
'he use which my friends have thoue
Proper to make of my name in relation
1hgh office meets your appreciation; a
thank you for tho ecandid manner in VIII
you have communicated the principal
!'cuon which you think exists against
myour State. Nothing upon earth can
more unfounded than the imputation to
ei personal motives In the disapprobat
which felt it my duty to express in
.ouse OF representatives Of the conduct
'ne Seminole war. My relations, on
contrary, up to that hour with the dist
tuisned general implicated, were of
,aost amicable kind, and such as wish Il
.ocnerlsh. felt great reluctance in 7
;Vuhcing censure dpon ais conduct. Nc