Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-04-10
The Old Capitol and Some of Its Memories

During the session OF the Normal
school at Millsaps College last sum
mer the faculty and students invited
their friend. Col. ]. l.. Power-my
father-to tell them something OF the
history that centered IN "Aus.; Lang
syne" around the old Capitol. The
following Is copy OF his address, de-
livered on July in the college chapel.
In Difference to the oft-repeated re-
quest for its publication. and because
We think 1t only right that We should
follow his example and share his best
gifts with the people OF the State he
loved so well and served so loyalty,
We give II to these columns, through
which he spoke. with such great pleas
rue to his readers and his friends dur
ing recent years. X. NJ. p.
Prior to the Constitutional Conven-
ton of 1917 the town of Washington,
in Adams county. was the seat OF ter
rttorial government. That convention
provided that the Legislature should
hold its next session-October IL, 1917
in Natchez. and thereafter as might
De determined.
At the fourth session, in Natchez.
an act was passed changing the seat
OF government TO Columbia, Marion
county. Natchez. Liberty and Colum-
bia were voted for. Columbia carried
by vote OF II to 10.
The sessions at Columbia were: No
vember, 1921; February. 1922; June,
1922. At the February session a bill
was introduced changing the seat of
government to Monticello for the next
ensuing June session. IL passed the
lower house by majority of one.
The Senate would doubtless have
passed 1t. but the rule requiring all
bills to be read on three several days
could not be dispensed with: besides,
the Legislature had agreed to adjourn
before the third day could be reached.
In February. 1921, commission was
created consisting of Thomas Kinds,
James Patton and William. baltimore
TO locate two sections of land in the
country lately ceded to the United
States by the Choctaw Indians. as soon
as the same may be surveyed. for the
purpose OF a seat of government OF
this State. the same to be within
twenty miles OF the true center OF the
State, embracing the whole extent OF
the State as well as that part which
is now In the jurisdiction OF the State
as that part now occupied by Indian
tribes" etc.
The commissioners reported In No
vember. 1871. to the Legislature then
in Columbia, recommending that the
Capitol be located at Lerleur's Bluif.
On Pearl river. and the report was
adopted. Lef'ieur's Bluff was thirty
five miles in excess of the twenty mile
limit, but with this exception II met
all other conditions. Subsequently a
strip was added TO the northern bound
airy OF the State, making kosciusko
very nearly the geographical center.
The act creating the commission had
been so amended that when the selec-
ton was made the place should be
named Jackson, in honor OF Ma. Gen.
Andrew Jackson. And 1t may be ap-
propriate here to note that Kinds
county, created February II, 1921, was
named in honor Of the chairman OF the
Capitol Commission. Gen. Thomas
Kinds. He commanded the Jefferson
troop at the battle of New Orleans,
and Gen. Jackson. in speaking of
brilliant dash made by THIS command
upon an intrenched position OF the
enemy. said: The Jefferson troop,
commanded by Col. Thomas Kinds.
was the terror OF one army and the
admiration OF the other"
The General Assembly that met at
Columbia in June. 1922, adjourned to
meet in the town of Jackson on De-
cember 23. 1922. A temporary State
House had been erected on Capitol
street (where the Harding building
now stands). IL was a two-story brick,
40x30. and cost $35,0Oo. Thirteen
counties sent twenty-one representa-
tives and there were seven senatorial
districts.
As an inducement to settlement in
Jackson. the first ten settlers were to
have pre-emption rights to ten lots.
provided a neat log or frame house,
not less than thirty feet in length,
was erected on each lot. The lots were
promptly pre-empted and improved.
Gov. Walter Deake thus eongratu-
lated the members of the Legislature
on their new environments:
Before l close this communication,
permit me to congratulate you on your
first meeting at the place determined
on as the permanent seat OF govern
ment, where for the first time your
deliberations may be conducted in a
house the property Of the State, and
erected exclusively for the purpose of
legislation; and also on the prospect
Of comfortable accommodations at
place where so little could reasonably
have been expected. I am fully per-
suaded that IL your accommodations
will not be equal to the wishes OF those
who provide them. they will at least
exceed the expectations OF those who
partake of them. When we reflect
that this town was. but a short time
since. entirely in the woods, in the
midst OF a wilderness. the former
abode Of untutored savages. who draw
scanty support from the beasts OF
the forest and not by agricultural pur-
suits: that but little more than six
months have passed since the town OF
Jackson was laid on that but few per-
sons have as yet been authorized to
occupy lots therein; the great distance
II lies from whence all necessary sup
plies are to be ansported-through a
country, too, where no persons reside
TO keep the roads in repair: and above
all. when we view the number. dimen-
sions and style of the buildings erected
In the town Of jackson. we cannot but
admire the enterprise. industry and
perseverance Of its citizens; and at
the same time feel disposed to extend
to them every reasonable indulgence
which their situation may seem to
merit"
The Constitution was framed in the
little State House around the cor
ner."
The first church erected in Jackson
the Methodist-was completed in
1888. until which time the first State
House was used by the preachers who
came along-C. X. Marshall, John G.
Jones, Ford. and others.
On February 26, 1888, the first appro-
oriation-$95, ,000-was made for the
erection Of a new State House. When
the final report was made. in January.
1910. about $500 900 had been expend-
ed Gov. McNntt expressed the opinion
that "the expenditures had been I'M
usually extravagant"
The present CapitoI was first orcu