The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1907-01-02

The elimination of the remains or
James Wilson from an obscure grave
in North Carolina, their removal to,
Philadelphia on the United States
warship Dubuque, and, after lying
in state in the Independence Hall,
their refinement in the historic
graveyard of Christ church, calls the
attention of our nation to his dis
tinguished career He was a signer
of the Declaration of independence
from the state of Pennsylvania,
patriot soldier of the Revolution,
member Of the constitutional conyen-
ton Of 1888 which adopted our fed
eral constitution, and, finally, an as
sociate Justice of the supreme court
of the United States of America. He
was a native of Scotland and died
in 1898. Truly most worthy man
true patriot and well deserving of
the country.
The ceremonies in Independence
Hall were highly impressive. The
Pennypacker accepted the custody of
the remains. The First City Troop
acted as an escort Coadjutor Bishop
Mackay-Smith conducted the ser
vices. The justices of the supreme
court were in attendance. Addresses
of eulogy were delivered by Attor-
new General Moody Justice White,
Judge Parker, Andrew Carnegie,
-ro-ca.--ov I D,rric CaTl0Ip1 Dickson.
and DR.. S. Weir Mitchell. The ar
gus-eye1 daily press remarked upon
the failure of those eloquent orators
to explain why his memory has so
long been lost to the natiOn-such
shining light forgotten. He, the
attorney general declared, 'eXer-
cised a predOminating influence III
the formation of our federal govern
ment"
Turn back the scroll of history
and behold James Wilson, the cor
ruptionist and bribe-giver, the leader
of the land sharks" OF l79o.
The Independent state of Georgia,
as recognized by Great Britain in
1888, extended over it's present state
limits, and also over all Alabama ana
Mississippi. Georgia held on to her
vast western reserve while other
states coded theirs to the federal
government Led by Patrick Henry
certain avariciOus Virginians formed
the virginia YazoO Company IN
1889, and secured by various under
hand means a sale of all the landS
we now know as Alabama and MIS-
s5issippi to themselves for about SSO'-
600. President Washington OBJ
served their effort to create vast
landed oligarchy, and crushed thelr
ambitious plans with a message 10
congress, saying: unless inns Is
checked it will endanger the very
republic itself Federal opposition,
together with their inability to raise
enough money which the treasurer
of Georgia would accept, ruined the
Virginians. $1,000 ooo
Rut the vast wealth in 100000
acres of rich land attracted other
speculators In 1894 five new com
NAMES were formed, and the control
was placed in the hands OF James
Wilson, James Gum, United states
senator from Georgia; Wade Hamp-
ton, of South Carolina; and Aacha-
riah Cox. of Tennessee. Boldly en-
teT'ing the state of Georgia, inns
piratical crew threatened, lntlml-
dated, caiOled, and bribed the mem
beers of the legislature into passing
on January 7, 1895, an act selling
to the five companies this vast do
main for the sum Of 100000. Inc
governor, brave, ignorant OLD George
Mathews, the hero Of KanaWha,
was persuaded by its lying caption
to sign what he believed to be an
act to pay old soldiers their arrears
and to strengthen the frontiers. No
stigma ever attached to his name.
In this vile conspiracy James viii
son played the most important part.
He came from the supreme bench,
and arrived in Georgia with $4,000
in tbs saddle bags, with which he
proceeded to bribe the members of
the Georgia legislature. The act was
now a law, the purchase money paid
over, and success seemed assured
Hurrying n0rthward Wilson and Cox
proceeded TO sell to innocent pur-