The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1919-09-21
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zone idea awakened in the breast,
By memOry's magic lets in all the
rest"
Often have passed by this grand
and historic home, with merely
passing thought Of the various pO-
litical and influential men, who have
been entertained there. and Of the
many refined, accomplished and
beautiful women, who had in times
past. and down to the hour Of de-
struction, continued to adorn it.
But as l again more carefully
viewed it today, with its charred and
ruined frame work, only partly
standings | saw the costly and
old time, handsome furniture, hope
lessly shattered-the sight caused
me to feel more than a casual inter-
est, and my whole heart went out
to the former inmates, filled with
the most sincere sympathy, for | had
suffered in like manner in few years
back. It is no light matter to have
to stand helplessly, and see the
household comforts, the necessities
Of every day life, the accumulations
Of years, the very many treasured
memories, the "Lares ct penates" of
several generations, all swept away
in few hours by fire.
l thought too of the historic men,
cries attached to the house, and Of
one incident, personal to myself
pardon me-which developed into
the pivotal point of my life, for it
was in the parlors Of that house,
where, for the first time / met the
magnificent girl who later became
my wife.
Until 1858 Gov. Whitfield lived in
the house now occupied by Miss Sal
lie Billups. Then ne and Col. Isham
Harrison built, the new home, later
the Binups' home, just burned.
Col Harrison was an able lawyer,
an astute politician and a valiant
soldier and was killed leading his
troops in terrific battle. But while in
life he enjoyed an unusual privilege,
to sit at the feet Of his Gamaliel ia
their in law, and listen to his varied
fund of information Gov. Whitfield
was a brainy man, was the organizer
of the Columbus Insurance and
Banking Company in 1852-was a
remarkable politician, with unusual
faculty of attaching all men to him.
and making no enemies. He owned
the splendid plantation in the prai-
rie-still known as the Whitfield
place-and was in the mercantile
business with Henry Buchanan.
HIS home was famed throughOu;
the state for it's hospitality, and was
often visited by prominent public
men. jefferson Davis always made |
this his abiding place. A wonder
full scene was enacted there in 1860. |
As a prelude to it, let me state.
when Mexico declared var against
the United States in 1s46, b-a Gov
ernOr Of Mississippi called for vi
unteers. Col. A. K. McClung, the !
famous duellist, in a few days organ
lied the "Tombigbee Volunteers"
He marched them through the cOun-
try to Vicksburg-we had no rail-
roads then-where it was consOlidat-
ed with other companies forming the
regiment later famous in Mexico as
the First Mississippi Regiment"
Mr. Davis was at Washington serving
as eOngressman-he was elected by
the regiment as its colonel, with Nc
Chung as lieut.-eolonel.
Mr.. Davis at once resigned as con-
gresham, and went to Mexico, where
Mr.. Davis and the regiment both be-
came famous.
Indulge me to review events which
led up to Mr.. Davis presence here,
which is really a historic occasion.
1860 was a political convention
year, to nominate presidential eandi-
dates. The Democrats convention
was held at Charleston, where
Beast" Ben Butler, was a delegate
and cast So consecutive ballots for
jefferson Davis. In the light of
later events, that looks strange. But
no nomination could be made, and
| the already inflamed people of South