The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1902-04-12

usually e~xtravagant."
The present Capitol was first occu-
pied by the Legislature in January,
1889.
Although | cannot speak from per
sonal observation Of any of the excit-
ing scenes that took place in the Old
Capitol from 1899 to 1855, when | first
saw it, we may well imagine the great
discussions incident to the Union and
Planters Bank bonds, the chartering
of gigantic banking and railroad
schemes, the Mexican war, the sensa-
tional ~absconding OF Richard S.
Graves, State Treasurer; the resigna-
ton and arrest of Gov. Quitman in
1851, for completely in an expedition
to Cuba-his ideas of expansion were
just forty-seven years too previous
the great speeches made in this cham
Der by Jefferson Davis, Albert G.
Brown, Sargent s. Prentiss, Henry S.
J Foote, ]. f.. II. Claiborne, William l..
Sharkey, Wiley p. Harris. Henry T.
Elicit, ]. A. p. Campbell. Edward Tur-
ner. James L. Alcorn, Walker Brooke,
C. e. Hooker, Ethelbert Barksdale,
David c. Glenn, L. j. Gholson, o. r.
Singleton, Thomas ]. Wharton, ]. NJ.
Acker, Locke E. Houston, and other
great leaders of those days. Prentiss
represented Warren county in 1896
and 1897.
Gen. Andrew Jackson was the guest
Of the State in 1910 and received an
ovation in this chamber. Henry Clay
addressed the people from an open
carriage in front of this building in
1874. On Monday night, OctCDer II,
1882, Col. A. X. McClung delivered
before the Legislature his grand eu-
logy on the life and character of
Henry Clay. Louis Kossuth, the Hun
garian patriot, visited Jackson the
same year, as the guest of Gov. Foote,
and was doubtless rendered a public
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 j. McRae was the first Gov
ernor Of Mississippi / had the pleasure
of seeing. His friends in East Missis.
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 a poorer man. He served his State
faithfully and we'll in the House OF
Representatives at Washington and
filled a vacancy in the United States
Senate.
Gov. McRae vas succeeded by vii
liam Melville of Madison-an accom-
plished, courtly gentleman of the OLD
school. He was sharply criticised al
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 o
ample fortune, and having thirteel
, beautiful daughters, life at the man
5 sion was not regulated by the salar.
l attached to the office. Thirteen, it /
, held by some, is an unlucky number
| But the balance of the family wer,
boys; and u distinguished towns
man, Hon. Thomas A. Neville, is
F. fine specimen of the latter.
+, The first great speeches that | re
> member having heard in this chambe.
were by Jefferson Davis and Henry S
t Foote, in November. 1858. Mr.. Davis
being in the city, was invited to ad
dress the Legislature on the question
Of the day. This hall was packed t.
| its utmost. The speech had man!
: hints about dangers ahead, and the ne
:, cessity OF preparing in times of peac
for times Of war. The Importance o
completing the fort at Ship Island wa
! urged.
Gov. Foote was also in the city, ant
so on the following night his admirer
insisted that he be heard. If he eve
had any admiration for Mr.. Davis, n,
one was able to discover 1t. After
sharp g~ubernatorial campaign, Foot
e came out ahead by a majority of @
votes. Mr.. Foote had just returnet
from California, and felt that he ha,
a right to give the people of Missis
sippi the benefit of his views on pub
!, lie questions. He made no referenc
to Mr.. Davis or to the speech of tn
i night before. but he said: "Anothe
thing, my fellow-citizens, I desire t
r warn you against: Don't listen wit
a too much admiration to militar,
speeches in times of profound peace!
+ The issues Of the presidential can
t paign Immediately preceding the Civi
War were all discussed before grea
audiences in this chamber. The Know
Nothing orators were especially elC
s quent and aggressive. Put none bu
e Americans on guard" was the pla'
t form.
o The secession convention met in thi
It chamber on January 7. 1861. Williar
e S. Barry Of Lowndes was chosen pres
e dent. You will find in the roll of deli
r gates such m as J.. 2. Georg'
Wiley p. Harris, l.. @. C. LANAI
Henry T. Elicit. Thomas II. Woods, s
H. Terral, ]. Shall Yerger. Daniel
K Wright, ]. w. Clapp, Samuel Benton
Harvey w. Walter. L. A. Marshal
Walker Brooke and other great an
o good men of the day. Rev. C. X. Ma
shall offered prayer.
No body of men eve assembled fc
a more serious business, and none eve
e gave more faithful expression to tn
feelings and sentiments that prevaile
among the constituency they repr
d sented. To Mr.. L.. Q. C. Lamar wa
1t conceded, by general consent, the p
d sition of leader. He was Their in til