Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1902-04-12

per by JEFFERSON DdVlS, AlbSAt ~
Brown. Sargent S. Prentiss, Henry 5.
Foote, j. F. H. Claiborne, William L.
Sharkey, Wiley P. Harris, Henry T.
Elicit, ]. A. p. Campbell Edward Tuf-
ner. James l.. Alcorn, Walker Brooke,
C. e. Hooker, Ethelbert Barksdale,
David c. Glenn, L. J. Gholson, o. Il.
Singleton, Thomas j. Wharton, j. M.
Acker, Locke g. Houston, and other
great leaders of those days. Prentss
represented Warren county in 1886
and 1887.
Gen. Andrew Jackson was the guest
of the State in 1S40 and received an
ovation in this chamber. Henry Clay
addressed the people from an open
carriage in front of this building in
1914. On Monday night, October IL,
1852, Col. A. X. McClung delivered
before the Legislature his grand Ell.
/ logy on the life and character On
Henry Clay. Louis Kossuth, the Hun
garian patriot visited Jackson the |
same year, as the guest of Gov. Foote'
and was doubtless rendered pubic |
reception at the mansion or in this |
chamber.
This Capitol, when l first saw it in |
April, 1855, had been occupied only |
sixteen years. 1t was then considered |
| one of the most elegant public build !
| ings In the country, and nearly all the
architects who competed for the new
Capitol have complimented its general
plan and style.
John ]. McRae was the first Gov
ernor of Mississippi | had the pleasure
| . Fv;n In, INoct MicciC.
sippi loved to call him Johnny McRae
of Chickashay. He kept open house
at the mansion. He had many public
receptions and Pearl river water was
not the only beverage, He left the
mansion perhaps a wiser, but certain
ly poorer man. He served his State
faithfully and we'll In the House OF
Representative at Washington and
filled vacancy in the United States
Senate.
Gov. McRae was succeeded by Will
liam Melville of Madison-an accom-
plished, courtly gentleman Of the old
school. He was sharply criticised at
one time for his alleged too free use
of the pardoning power. In answer
ing this charge, in his message to the
Legislature, he asked: Would you
have me inscribe upon the prison door,
Mercy Never Enters Here"
Gov. Melville was a gentleman OF
ample fortune, and having thirteen
beautiful daughters, life at the man
, sion was not regulated by the salary
attached to the Office. Thirteen, it Is
held by some, is an unlucly number
But the balance Of the family were
boys; and our distinguished towns
. man, Hon. Thomas A. Melville, Is a
| fine specimen of the latter.
The first great speeches that | re.
, member having heard in this chamber
were by Jefferson Davis and Henry s.
| Foote, in November 1858. Mr., Davis,
= being in the city, was invited to ad-
: dress the Legislature on the questions
Of the day. This hall was packed to
b. it's utmost. The speech had many
S hints about dangers ahead, and the ne
s cessity of preparing in times of peace
e for times of war. The importance of
So -,sr,l o4 ng tho fort at Shin Island was
A urged.
Gov. Foote was also in the city, and
a so on the following night his admirers
4 insisted that he be heard If he ever
@ had any admiration for Mr.. Davis, nc
j, one was able to discover it. After a
!, sharp gubernatorial campaign, Foote
e came out ahead by a majority Of
votes. Mr.. Foote had just returned
i from California, and felt that he had
q right to give the people of Missis
a sippi the benefit of his views on pub
q lie questions. He made no reference
II to Mr.. Davis or to the speech of tht
q night before, but he said Another
: thing. my fellow-citizens, ! desire II
n warn you against: Don't listen Will
a. too much admiration to mflitar.
Al speeches in times of profound pedce|
The issues of the presidential cam
n paign Immediately preceding the Civi
Ia War were all discussed before grea
8 audiences in this chamber. The Know
p Nothing orators were especially elc
h uuent and aggressive, Put none bu
re- Americans on guard" was the plat
form.
Il. The secession convention met in thi
re chamber on January 7, 1861. Williar
s. Barry of Lowndes was chosen pres
n dent. You will find in the roll of deli
1r gates such names as j. q. Georg'
,d Wiley p. Harris, l.. @. G. Lama
~, ~, Henry T. Elicit. Thomas H. Woods,
ny II. Terral ]. Shall Yerger, Daniel
a Wright, ]. w. Clapp, Samuel Bentol
al Harvey w. Walter, T. A. Marshal
of Walker Brooke and other great an
,ct good men of the day. Rev. G. *. Ma
a shall offered prayer.
lv No body of men ever assembled II
az. more serious business, and none evt
ns gave more faithful expression to II
,sn feelings and sentiments that prevailt
,et among the constituency they repr
bo sented. To Mr.. l.. @. C. Lamar W;
,rt conceded, by general consent, the
mo sition of leader. He was then In Il
ho very prime of his physical and ment
,er powers-in his 37th year.
aw | have a vivid recollection of him
of he arose in his place Immediately aft
mr.. the organization of the convention al
six read resolution providing for CO.
of mittee of fifteen with instructions
er. prepare and report as speedily as p'
m sible an ordinance providing for t
,ce withdrawal Of the State of Mississip
I'M. from the Federal Union, with viz
, n to the establishment Of new Comic
ide eracy, to be composed Of the secedl
1Vp states, lne CUMlulltct NuS NIPNi'
on. ed on the second day-Mr Lamar
tod chairman. On the third day the co
but mittee reported ian ordinance to d
md solve the union between the state
~ Mississippi and other States unit
end with her under the compact entltl
nee The Constitution of the United sta
IN of America" In less than an nc
the ordinance was adopted by W
the of 81 to Is. Mr. Lamar never
cor. GREETED that action, but he did mi
perhaps than any other member
son that body to restore the ties thus te
in porarily severed. His memorable
tate preston at Summers bier, IF we kn
who each other better, we would love et
G. other more" was the oil that al
ward helped to smooth the troup
nro- waters between the sections.
the The roll of delegates was then cal
hen in alphabetical order, the first Ma
arv being James l.. Alcorn (afterward
end. publican Governor and United sta
zion Senator), at the time an ardent
un- operationist. His vote was avail
with intense interest, and when
ecu. arose lie said: "Mr. President, the
ary. Is cast the Rubicon is crossed
low the army that goes to Rome
per. vote for the ordinance!"
4 lA1 NxYn