Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 7

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 7

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* " History of Mississippi," Lowry & McCardle,

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

of the bonds, and that further legislation might be required, I determined not to execute the remaining bonds." After showing the bank to have a debt due within a year of over $4,000,000, he says: "To pay the residue the bank has $5,000,000 of state bonds, and exchange, bills receivable, etc., to make the amount of $9,000,000. The state bonds can not be sold, and a sufficient sum can not be realized in time out of the other assets of the bank to pay the post notes due next April and May. It will take more than $250,000 of the available funds of the bank to pay in London the interest on the state bonds previous to the 1st of September next. It is our duty to place the institution either in liquidation, or to repeal all that portion of the charter giving to private individuals stock in the bank and privileged loans. The state debt already amounts to about $7,500,000. The interest on $7,000,000 is payable abroad, and amounts to $375,000 annually. The rights of the stockholders are yet inchoate, and until the residue of the bonds are sold they can have no peculiar claims. Influenced by no motive save that of the public good, anxious to protect the rights of all, and to advance the interests of the state, I am bound to recommend that the $5,000,000 of the state bonds last issued shall be called in and canceled, and that no more shall be here- after issued for the Mississippi Union bank." Said he: "The existing banks can not be bolstered. Destitute as they are of credit and available means, it would be folly in us to attempt to infuse vigor and stability into their lifeless forms. They are powerless to do good, but capable of inflicting injuries irreparable." The facts afterward proved him right.

The agitation begun by the governor spread during the year, and in 1841 he struck another blow-this time at the validity of the bonds: "The situation and affairs of the Mis- sissippi railroad company, the Planters' bank of the state and of the Mississippi Union bank will demand your calm consideration. All those institutions are insolvent, and neither of them can resume specie payment for several years or make further loans. I submit, here- with, copies of my letters to those banks, calling for specific information in relation to their condition, and the answers and statements furnished. The Union bank has $4,349 in specie on hand. Her suspended debt in suit is $2,698,869; suspended debt not sued on $1,777,337; resources, chiefly unavailable, $8,033,154; immediate liabilities $3,034,154; capital stock $5,000,000. The bank has been irretrievably ruined by making advances on cotton, issuing post notes, and loaning the principal portion of her capital to insolvent individuals and companies. The situation of the Mississippi railroad company and the Planters' bank is equally bad." Therefore he plead that, because the Union bank bonds had been practically sold below par by sale on credit, and by the bank of which Mr. Biddle was president, whose charter made the action unlawful, except for those authorized by the Keystone state or the nation, therefore they ought to be repudiated. Both senate and house disagreed with him, however, and placed themselves plainly on record iu favor of paying the bonds of both banks for which the faith of the state was pledged. The campaign of 1841 was on this issue-the whigs taking a stand against repudiation, but after a hard fight they were defeated and the repudiation of the Union bonds ensued at once-and the Planters' bonds, although practically repudiated, were not formally so until eleven years later. The total debt of the two, due in 1854, aggregating over $12,000,000, was thus repudiated-technicalities which were to prove more costly than the payment would have been, although the total revenue of the state at that time would not exceed $225,000. "That the suicidal act of Mississippi has killed the credit of the slave states in Europe," says a writer in De Bow's Review in 1853, "does not admit of a doubt; and what has been the effect ?" After showing that the East was getting all the credit necessary to bridge over the crash of 1837 and succeeding years, the writer continues, "The South has been forced into inaction and liquidation by the suspicion of capi-

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

talists, here and abroad, though wielding the greatest power on earth-cotton." All Southern securities were held in suspicion. On account of the trials of these years "some of the finest portions of Mississippi became partially depopulated," says a writer in 1849. "Thus in the breaking up of our miserable banking system many unhappy consequences followed, the bale- ful effects of which have pursued the state, kept down its natural growth and prosperity, and are yet seen and daily felt in our courts of justice and halls of legislation." The last two banks of this system to suspend were the Northern bank of Mississippi and the Commercial bauk of Manchester, both of which did so in 1857. This action in regard to these bonds, ever since the governor was ordered to proclaim it on February 20, 1842, has had to be reiterated in successive constitutions; the present one says: "The credit of the state shall not be pledged or loaned in aid of any person, association or corporation; and the state shall not become a stockholder in any corporation or association, nor assume, redeem, secure or pay any indebtedness or pretended indebtedness alleged to be due by the state of Mississippi, to any person, association or corporation whatsoever, claiming the same as owners, holders or assignees of any bond or bonds, now generally known as Union bank bonds and Planters' bank bonds."

The close of the fifties saw the state in good financial condition. The total tax of 1860 was $740,276, and the disbursements of 1861 were $762,470. The two great sources of the state's wealth were cotton and slaves, and it was on these that the state expected to find a source of credit to carry on the war. The finance of the state was to be based on cotton reserves, and when it is considered that in 1859 alone Mississippi produced $45,000,000 worth of cotton, the course seemed eminently plausible. It is said that emancipation of slaves was a loss to the owners of about $600,000,000. It is natural that the war measures of the enemy should be directed to the destruction of these sources of power .* Confederate money came in use, too, and although at first at a slight premium, its depreciation was disastrous. In June, 1861, a dollar was worth ninety cents; December 1, it was eighty cents, and on the 15th, seventy-five cents; February 1, 1862, it was sixty cents; February, 1863, it fell to twenty ceuts; June, 1863, to eight cents; January, 1864, to two cents; November, 1864, it rose to four and one-half cents; January, 1865, it fell to two and one-half cents; April, 1865, to one and one-half cents, and after that it took $800 to $1,000 of Confederate money to equal a greenback dollar, and now it is sold as a curiosity. These circumstances will be seen by even the most uninformed observer to have been in themselves a fearful blow to this state. Then, too, the repairs of a public character during reconstruction days, together with the unskillful legislation of that time, as well as abuses, make an immense debt in 1872 a matter of no surprise. Add to this condition the $10,000,000 or thereabouts that was collected as a gov- ernment cotton tax within the space of three years, and the reader is prepared for this condi- tion in 1872. The state debt was then $2,377,342.38; the receipts in 1871 were $1,338,150.49, which, with funds, mostly of a worthless nature, in the treasury, of $828,114.16, gave a total of $2,166,264.65, from which was disbursed $1,326,161.57, leaving a nominal balance of $840,103.08; but, as the uncurrent proportion of this was $795,936.48, the current balance was but $44,166.60. The public school system was one great source of expense, too, and the increase in the state levy on the assessed valuation of land was startling. It was ten cents on a dollar in 1869, and in the successive years of 1871, 1872 and 1874 it became respect- ively, four times, eight and one-half times and fourteen times as great as in the first- mentioned year. The uprising of 1875-6 was a taxpayers' movement as well as a racial one.

*It is said that if the total cost of the Civil war was divided by the number of slaves set free it would make emanci- pation cost about $700 per slave,

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

In 1876 the state debt proper was $1,100,685.22, while the total debt, permanent and other- wise, was $3,226,847.42, distributed as follows: Due to the Chickasaw school fund, $814,- 743.23; interest on the same, $20,671.86; due the common-school fund, $878,572.67; interest on the same, $65,327.63; outstanding warrants, $590,368.52; certificates of indebtedness, $26,882; bonds due on January 1, of 1877, 1878, 1879 and 1896, $690,300.00; interest on the same, $32,189.50; railroad tax, $8,579.35; interest on insurance deposits, $14,476.67, and interest on bonds, $84,736. In 1882 the total debt was reduced to $2,974,832.06, and after deducting the permanent debt and cash, the debt proper was only $341,275.06. This is an excellent showing when it is recalled that from 1871 to 1875 property valuation had decreased $42,000,000, and about twenty-seven per cent. of the total area of the state had been for- feited for taxes. Taxation was reduced from nine and one-half mills in 1875 to two and one- half mills in 1883, and lands had been redeemed or purchased with the exception of seven hundred thousand acres.

In his message in 1890, Governor Lowry said: "There was cash in the treasury on the 1st day of January, 1890, $555,450.02. There can be no doubt that in the course of four years, with the present rate of taxation and the natural increase of values, the payable debt of the state can be anticipated and the bonds retired." The bonded debt, of the state in 1890 was $902,437 and the floating debt $2,600,571, making a total of $3,503,008 in 1890, as against $3,324,084 in 1880, any sinking fund being deducted in both cases. As the popula- tion has increased (13.96) thirteen-and-ninety-six-hundredths per cent. during this decade, however, the per capita rate of indebtedness (less any sinking fund) has been reduced from $2.94 in 1880 to $2.72 in 1890. If the total county debt of the state be added to the totals of these two years, making a grand total (less any sinking fund in both cases) in 1880 of $4,- 456,847 and $4,709,807 in 1890, the per capita rate has been reduced from $3.94 in 1880, to $3.65 in 1890.

Comparing this with other states in the Union may make her standing more clearly evi- dent. Including county indebtedness, the state having the largest total indebtedness, less any in 1890, was Virginia, with nearly thirty-three millions ($32,874,672), and that having the smallest was Vermont, with only ($153,524) a little over one hundred and fifty thousand; the per capita in these two cases however, are respectively $19.85 and forty-six cents, neither the highest nor the lowest in the Union, and, if the territories are included, Utah falls to the lowest place with a total debt of only $49,859, and the lowest per capita of only twenty-four cents. In total debt Mississippi ranks nearest to New Jersey, almost a million below Min- nesota, Nebraska or Colorado, but above such states as Maine, New Hampshire, and nineteen other states and territories. In per capita rate she is likewise midway, the lowest in 1890 being Utah with twenty-four cents and the highest being the District of Columbia with $85.86, or omitting that, Arizona with $46.35, or again omitting all but states-Nevada with $28.89, Oregon with one cent, as the lowest; and Iowa with thirteen cents, coming next near- est to it, and Virginia with $18.76, as the highest among the states, is the status, excluding county indebtedness. In per capita rate the state ranks along near Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, Illinois and Michigan, if county indebtedness is included, or, if not included, with Idaho, South Dakota, Michigan and Florida.

Compared with other Southern states, however, her state per capita rate is almost the lowest, Texas being the extreme, with $1.93, and Florida only ten cents lower than Missis- sippi ($2.72), while Virginia, with $18.76, and Louisiana, with $14.31, are the highest two. But, including the county debt, the per capita of Mississippi is not even surpassed in lowness by Texas, and only Florida falls below her, and that only sixteen cents less.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

This excellent financial condition has not prevented the state from embarking in geolog- ical stock-taking at times, or in making efforts to develop the resources by investigating them and making them known to the outside world. But these can only be, with many other subjects of interest, touched upon or altogether omitted in a sketch of these limits.

Among the many unofficial associations covering the state, a few, not elsewhere mentioned, may be noticed in this sketch.

The Confederate veterans of Mississippi was organized as a grand camp on October 15, 1889, at Aberdeen, this state, with thesc officers: Gen. E. C. Walthall, grand commander, Grenada; Gen. W. S. Featherston, first lieutenant grand commander, Holly Springs; Gen. S. D. Lee, second lieutenant grand commander, A. & M. college; Gen. Will T. Martin, third lieutenant grand commander, Natchez; and appointed officers of staff, Maj. E. T. Sykes, adjutant-general, Columbus; Maj. L. W. Magruder, Vicksburg, Capt. T. C. Carter, Meridian, aides-de-camp. Beginning with but three local associations, it has increased to fourteen, with a grand total membership of between fifteen hundred and two thousand veterans, these camps being located at Meridian, Aberdeen, Columbus, West Point, Vicksburg, Natchez, Lake, Hickory, Hattiesburg, Fayette, Holly Springs, Jackson, Crystal Springs and Tupelo, all organized and numbered in this order. General Walthall was succeeded in command on October 15, 1890, by Gen. W. S. Featherston, who served until his death on May 28, 1891. The present officers are Gov. Jolin M. Stone, first lieutenant grand commander, Jackson; Gen. J. A. Smith, second lieutenant grand commander, Jackson; Capt. E. O. Sykes, third lieuten- ant grand commander, Aberdeen; Maj. E. T. Sykes, adjutant general, Columbus; Capts. W. H. Hardy, Meridian, and Fred J. V. Le Cand, Natchez, aides-de-camp; Gen. Joseph R. Davis, inspector-general; K. P. Lemans, quartermaster general; Dr. C. A. Rice, surgeon- general, and Rev. Louis Ball, chaplain general. The general scope of the association is indi- cated by the following: "Shall be strictly social, literary, historical and benevolent, and its labors shall be directed to cultivating the ties of friendship between all survivors of the armies and navies of the late Confederate states; to keep fresh the memories of our comrades who gave up their lives for the lost cause, in battle or in other fields of service, or who have died since the war; to the perpetuation of the records of their deeds of heroism, by the collec- tion and disposition in the manner they judge best, of all materials of value for future histo- rians; to aiding and relieving to the extent of its ability all members, their widows and orphans, in extreme cases of sickness and want, and to providing homes for them when neces- sary." Their headquarters are at Columbus. The Sons of Veterans also have an organiza- tion, of which R. K. Jayne is chief.

The Mississippi Historical society, whose object is "to discover, collect, preserve and perpetuate facts and events relating to the natural, aboriginal, civil, political, literary and ecclesiastical history of the territory and state of Mississippi and the territory adjoining thereto," was but recently chartered, although it has shown such vigor that its archives in the library building at the state university, its headquarters, are already of great value. Its first meeting was held at the chancellor's office, university, on May 1, 1890, the charter members being Robert Lowry, R. H. Thompson, John Hunter, A. B. Learned, W. H. Sims, T. A. Mc Willie, J. T. Fant, R. B. Fulton, Edward Mayes, and William R. Sims. Professor Mayes was chosen president, Professor Fulton keeper of archives, and Prof. W. R. Sims secretary and treasurer. Measures were at once taken toward gathering files of old news- papers, war relics, Indian relics, pamphlets, books, etc., in which they have been most successful. They have the earliest files in the state, except a collection owned by Mr. Stuart, of Natchez, a descendant of the first editor in the state. Its membership now embraces in

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

the honorary list: Hon. C. C. Jones, Jr., Atlanta, Ga ; Hon. E. C. Walthall, Gen. A. P. Stewart, St. Louis, Mo .; Prof. W. H. N. Magruder, Baton Rouge, La .; Dr. John N. Waddell, Clarksville, Tenn. ; Mrs. V. Jefferson Davis, Beauvoir; Hon. Charles Gayarre, New Orleans; Gen. Charles W. Darling, Utica, N. Y .; and in the active list: Hon. T. J. Wharton, E. Mayes, W. P. Harris, R. W. Jones, J. L. Alcorn, R. H. Thompson, William R. Sims, E. H. Dial, J. B. Stratton, Fred Beall, H. S. Halbert, A. G. Mayers, L. T. Fitzhugh, G. T. Mc- Gehee, C. B. Galloway, J. S. McNeilly, A. H. Stone, G. D. Shands, C. Firman Smith, S. D. Lee, R. B. Fulton, F. K. Henderson, G. R. Hill, J. G. Deupree, Jackson Reeves, Schuyler Poitevent, R. M. Leavell, J. A. Orr, W. T. Martin, T. D. Isom, H. F. Simrall, Miss Mollie Duvall, W. T. Lewis, C. B. Howry, J. W. Johnson, A. H. Whitfield and P. H. Eager. Its funds are partly derived from slight membership fees and annual dues. The society ought to be earnestly supported in aggressive efforts.

Among the extensive farmers' organizations are: The State grange, of which S. L. Wilson is master; T. L. Darden, overseer; and J. F. Dearing lecturer. The State alliance, with R. C. Patty, of Macon, president ;; and C. T. Smithson, of Newport, secretary; and the Patrons' union, with headquarters at Lake, and of which J. B. Bailey is president; J. T. Hamilton vice president; J. S. Scott, secretary; and J. I. Robinson, treasurer. These are all extensive and well-organized associations, characterized by purposes of improvement in the science and art of agriculture. agitation and combination to secure legal and commercial advantages, and for social and experimental purposes. The growth of these societies has been coordinate with the general movement throughout the United States since the war. Detailed information seems unobtainable.

The State Horticultural society is the product of an agitation for the scientific prosecu- tion of all branches of horticulture in Mississippi, and its success has been marked. Dr. H. E. McKay, of Madison station, is its president, and W. H. Cassell, of Canton, its secretary. It met at Jackson on January 25, 1883, and organized with a constitution. Its work will be noticed elsewhere.

The labor organizations are represented by the Knights of Labor, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and various trade societies too numerons to mention.

Among religio-fraternal societies may be noticed that of the Jewish people, and the twelve branches of Catholic Knights of America, at Macomb City, Jackson, Vicksburg, Natchez, Canton, Meridian, Holly Springs, Columbus, Bay St. Louis, Greenville and Scran- ton, with a total membership of three hundred and seventy-two in the state.

The first lodge of the time-honored order of Free Masons* established in Mississippi was at Natchez, in October, 1801, the Grand lodge of Kentucky having chartered Harmony No. 7, on the 16th of that month. The Grand lodge of Tennessee chartered Andrew Jackson lodge No. 15, also at Natchez, August 13, 1826, and Washington lodge No. 17, at Port Gibson, April 19, 1817. The officers of these lodges, with several past masters, and other members of the craft, assembled in convention at Natchez July 27, 1818, and resolved that it was expedient and highly necessary to form a Grand lodge for the state of Mississippi. Henry Tooley was chosen grand master; Christopher Rankin, deputy grand master; Israel Loring, senior grand warden; Edward Turner, junior grand warden; Henry Postlethwaite, grand treasurer; Chilion F. Stiles, grand secretary; Christopher Miller, senior grand deacon; John Corn, junior grand deacon; Joseph Newman, grand tyler.

A committee was appointed to prepare a constitution, which was reported and adopted August 28.

*Contributed by J. L, Power,

BIOGRAPHIICAL AND HISTORICAL

Those who have filled the station of grand master are: Henry Tooley, 1818; Christopher Rankin, 1819; Edward Turner, 1820-21; Israel Loring, 1822-5; John A. Quitman, 1826-37- 40-5-6; Robert Stewart 1838-9-41; George A. Wilson, 1842-3; S. W. Vanatta, 1844, died during term and succeeded by Deputy Grand Master Harvey W. Walter; Benjamin S. Tap- pan, 1847; Charles Scott, 1848-50; Charles A. Lacoste, 1849; William H. Stevens, 1851; James M. Howry, 1852; Joseph W. Speight, 1853; Carnot Posey, 1854; Giles M. Hillyer, 1853-4; William R. Cannon 1857; William Cothran, 1858; William P. Mellen, 1859; David Mitchell, 1860; Richard Cooper, 1861-3; William S. Patton, 1864-5; George M. Perkins, 1866; John T. Lamkin, 1867; Thomas S. Gathright, 1868-9; George R. Fearn, 1870-71; W. H. Hardy, 1872; Richard P. Bowen, 1873; A. H. Barkley, 1874-5; John Y. Murry, 1876-7; Charles T. Murphy, 1878; Frank Burkitt, 1879; William French, 1880; John F. McCormick, 1881; Frederic Speed, 1882; P. M. Savery, 1883; Robert C. Patty, 1884; J. B. Morgan, 1885; B. T. Kimbrough, 1886; E. George DeLap, 1887; M. M. Evans, 1888; William G. Paxton, 1889; John Riley, 1890; John M. Ware, 1891. Of these David Mitchell, George R. Fearn, W. H. Hardy, A. H. Barkley, John Y. Murry, Frank Burkitt, John F. McCormick, Frederic Speed, P. M. Savery, J. B. Morgan, B. T. Kimbrough, E. George DeLap, M. M. Evans, William G. Paxton, John Riley and John M. Ware are still living (in 1891).

Some of the other stations have been filled by citizens eminent in the various walks of life, and whose memory will ever be cherished by the craft. William P. Mellen served as grand sec- retary for eighteen years. The present grand secretary, J. L. Power, was elected in 1869, and is now (1891) serving his twenty-second year. On the completion of his twentieth year he sub- mitted a retrospective sketch of the twenty years, giving the following interesting figures: Initiated, eight thousand seven hundred and ninety-two; passed, eight thousand four hundred and ten; raised, eight thousand one hundred and twelve; total degrees conferred in all the lodges for that period, twenty-five thousand three hundred and fourteen; affiliated, five thou- sand six hundred and seventy-three; reinstated, four thousand and twenty-two; dimitted, eight thousand seven hundred and two; suspended for non-payment of dues, eight thousand one hundred and thirty-nine; suspended for unmasonic conduct, three hundred and eighteen; expelled for nnmasonic conduct, two hundred and thirty; died, three thousand five hundred and one. Received and accounted for in the way of dues, $186,927.87; special relief funds, $78,298; total, $265,225.87.

The Grand lodge has issued four hundred and thirteen charters. The total in force (1891) is two hundred and seventy-three. Quite a number of lodges were organized during the war period, and were known as "Army lodges." These, of course, ceased to work on the restora- tion of peace. Others have become consolidated, and others became extinct by the removal of members from the country to railroad towns. The numerous beneficial orders, with life insurance features, have also attracted many who might otherwise have united with the Masonic fraternity. During and immediately after the war, there was a great rush to the lodges, so that at the close of the year 1868 the total membership was twelve thousand three hundred and eight. The total membership at the close of 1890 was eight thousand three hundred and ninety, a net gain of three hundred and eighty-eight on the preceding year.

The Grand lodge meets annually, during the second week in February, and for several years it has been "on wheels." There are usually about two hundred and twenty-five lodges represented, whose delegates, with grand and past grand officers, make a total of nearly three hundred. The business is usually transacted in two days. The representatives are paid mileage and per diem from the funds of Grand lodge, which are derived from an assess-

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

ment on each lodge of seventy-five cents per member, and $1 on each degree conferred- aggregating about $8,000 per annum. In addition there is a charity tax of ten cents per capita, which realizes about $800, and $500 of this is annually appropriated toward the support of the Protestant orphan asylum, at Natchez.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 7

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314