The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1919-09-21

AaKNAAAA WIZ NAAWA AAAo AANAAG 1
BY q great speech for State rights |
and Southern ISOLATION by the elec- |
trical W. L. Yancy, Of Alabama.
The northern delegates were intim-
dated and afraid to speak boldly,
eOntended for the transfer Of the
convention to Baltimore. There
fresh fiction arose and the conven-
ton split, one part going to Rich
mond, Va. The Baltimore wing nom
mated Douglas and Johnson, the
Richmond wing nominated Bueken-
ridge and Lane. A little later the
Wings nominated Bell and Everitt,
and the Radical Republicans nomi-
mated Lincoln and Hamlin. By this
time, with the aid Of "Uncle Toms
Cabin" by Mrs. Stowe, the whole
country had been wrought up to a
state of the widest indignation and
excitement. A great barbecue was
given here in Columbus, out at the
fair grounds, and Mr.. Davis was in
vited to speak. It seemed to be un-
derstOOd that he would on that oe-
casion strike the key note Of future
action, and very many party leaders
and newspaper men came from this
and surrounding states. The speech
has always been classed as one Of
the greatest efforts Of his career.
The night following that occasion
Mr.. Davis was sercnaded at Gov.
Whitfields residence, which was al
ways his abiding place when visiting
here, by the veterans Of his old First
Mississippi Regiment, VIM. Wade,
VIM. Patterson and E. H. Gregory,
besides others, being among the num-
Der. Mr.. Davis spoke from the up
per balcony in that musical, magnet
ic voice, that no one ever forgot who
once heard it.
Thousands stood in the streets
which crossed at the corners near the
house, and when &c had finished it
is said no one left until they had
taken his hand and heard his pleas
ant greeting.
For some years people passing that
point would again gaze upon the
pOrtieo that jefferson Davis had ded-
icated and eonseerated, as it were,
by the speech.
On that occasion Governor Whit
field entertained Mr.. Davis, Col.
George Young Of Waverly, enter
tertained (then) Congressman La
mar. Gov. Pettus was entertained
by Gen. J. V. Harris, and Mr.. Banks
dale by-well, / have forgotten.
The night Mr.. Davis spoke there
was a grand social occasion there,
with a splendid band, and champanga
flowed as free and abundantly as
water-that was the rule in those
days.
Miss Callie Harrison was a grand
daughter Of Gov. Whitfield, and she
and Gen. E. T. Sykes were married
there in that house in 1853, and
about daylight took the train to ae-
company the general-then captain
to his command.
Gen. Walthall also was a visitor in
the Billups home and l we'll remem-
Der meeting him on the occasion of |
the Ginsberger-Trost wedding, which |
he came to attend, being a personal |
friend of Mr. Ginsberger.
It is commonly accepted that Gen.
Fot-.st also, made this his home in
ms iree'ent visits here, but that is
an error vas at Col. T. C. Billups'
nome tDae ne entertained. But
the famous revival Sam Joros
never felt that he ha~ cached g.
lumbus, till he had becOl.. ao4.,s,
N 'niS niS'Oii' O'u "iA'ii'''-''up ups
home.
By way of parenthesis l beg to
note that the Captain of Co. "a" of
Mr.. Davis LIST Mississippi Regiment
was John Sharp, the grandfather of
our present distinguished U. S. SEN
ator, John Sharp Williams. Also
that after Capt. McClung was elect
ed eut.-colonel, w. P Rogers of
Aberdeen was made Captain.
Gov Whitfield died in 1875. The
Brooks family then owned it a few
years, then Major John Billups
bought it and it has been their fam
lily home ever since.
Now it is destroyed, at a time
when high prices amount to a pro-
hibition of rebuilding, 50 it may be
a lost object Of interest to the old
set who remember the old days.
W. D. HUMPHREYS.