USA > Mississippi > Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II > Part 48
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Col. Hutchins made a political issue of opposition to a govern- ment like that of the Northwest territory, which he represented to his friends as a condition of slavery. Both recommended that slavery be not prohibited, as in the Northwest territory; both urged that the lands be disposed of in small tracts to actual set- tlers, but Ellicott recommended that it be "freely given" and Hutchins that it be sold at a "moderate price;" both agreed re- garding the land titles.
Commandant Minor, on September 16, recognized the Perma- nent committee as "the true and sole representatives of the inhabi- tants of this government," but both committees seem to have met from time to time, until the Spanish evacuation, the perma- nent committee in town and the Committee of Safety at Bealk's.
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Hutchins continued to ask his fellow citizens, "For Heaven's sake will you tell me who made that gentleman a ruler or a judge amongst you; how came he to be your oracle?" and to urge the great danger in which the community was found. The exchange of diplomacy between the Spanish minister and secretary of state went on without interruption, and the Ellicott survey party waited, the astronomer being confined to his home with fever from September until January, 1798.
The policy of the United States government, menaced by a sit- uation which culminated next year in the proclamation of a day of national fasting and prayer and the calling of George Wash- ington to take command of the armies of the United States in a threatened war with Napoleon and the nations he controlled, including Spain, was revealed in the expressions of the message of President Adams, November, 1797: "Indulging the hope that the answers which have been given will remove the objections offered by the Spanish officers to the immediate execution of the treaty, I have judged it proper we should continue in readiness to receive the posts and to run the line of limits."
In November formal notice was received that his Catholic Ma- jesty had appointed Col. Charles de Grand Pré, well remembered as the commandant after the revolt of 1781, as governor of the Natchez district. This was utterly beyond the patience of the inhabitants, and the permanent committee justified its being by adopting resolutions declaring that Grand Pré would not be re- ceived in such a capacity. Captain Pope prepared to maintain this declaration of independence. Gayoso was admonished that to carry the order into effect would be a breach of neutrality. Ac- cordingly Grand Pré remained at New Orleans, and Capt. Minor continued to discharge the duties of commandant. "One of the letters from Col. Grandprie (Grand Pré) to Mr. Hutchins passed through my hands," says Ellicott. A letter of Colonel Hutchins to Governor Gayoso (July 21, 1798) describes the protest against Grand Pré as the work of "vagabonds, swaggering about with guns, threatening death and destruction to Governor Grand Pré should he presume to land here to take charge of the post, bel- lowing at large that the voice of the inhabitants were against him, when to the contrary all except Minor & Ellicott's horrid party rejoiced to hear that he was on his way to supersede the grand impostor [Minor] you left here on your departure."
It was about this time (Ellicott says in the beginning of De- cember) that Capt. Isaac Guion arrived from Fort Massac and Chickasaw Bluffs, with a detachment of troops, after the same sort of delays that had met Ellicott and Pope. It is proper to note that the comments by Mr. Claiborne upon his instructions are erroneous so far as they are construed as reflecting upon the commissioner of limits. The documents quoted by Mr. Claiborne were based upon Ellicott's despatches of the early part of April, which reached the seat of government in June, and the informa- tion contained in those despatches were confirmed from all parts
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of the west. The department did not need what Mr. Claiborne calls "Ellicott's false and mischievous statements," to "apprehend a rupture with Spain." But the instructions of the secretary of war to Gen. Wilkinson were of course (July 25, 1797, Claiborne, p. 188) to go ahead as if no reason were known for checking the survey, and throw the onus of hostility on the Spanish." In the meantime it is our duty to guard against surprise and intrigues, and do nothing that would justify any nation in bringing war on this country." The secretary of war knew nothing about the rev- olution in Natchez when he wrote this. Nobody knew better how to guard against intrigues than Wilkinson, and he understood perfectly what intrigues were meant, those of the Spanish, Brit- ish and French.
Captain Guion's instructions from Wilkinson, dated May 20, when the events following Ellicott's arrival were unknown to the general, were that Guion would find at Natchez "an extensive, opulent and polished community, agitated by a variety of politi- cal interests and opinions. It will be your duty to conciliate all parties to the government of our country by every means in your power, avoiding at the same time any just cause of offense to the Spaniards. The occasion will call for the exertion of all your fac- ulties, for this unfortunate people, who have no option in choos- ing or changing masters. The moment the Spanish dominion terminates they will find themselves without laws or magistrates, and the bonds of society being dissolved, more or less irregular- ities may ensue. The doubtful tenure by which they hold their lands may become a dangersous element of agitation in the hands of the enemies of our country, and may be possibly employed to persuade them to a usurpation of the right of self-government. . You may safely promise fair and profess much, to gain time and avert excess. It will be your duty to abstract yourself from all personal feuds and animosities, but you are to give unequivocal protection to the friends of our government and as unequivocally to discountenance those who oppose its interest." The general's reference to self-government, it may be imagined, means such self-government, in independence of the United States, that he had, a few years before, been intriguing for in Kentucky, under the direction of the Spanish governor.
As Guion found the district, though there were personal fueds and animosities, its loyalty to the United States was assured and anarchy was prevented by the wise organization of the perma- · nent committee, supported by Capt. Pope. The important work covered by his instructions had been well done, and even the hos- tile elements had worked to the common end of self-government under the American flag and congress.
Benoist congratulated Guion on his arrival, and asked of him the same cooperation as Pope had given, saying "that the Perma- nent Committee may be considered the guardians whose duty it is to watch over and preserve the advantages gained by the convention." But Guion took an attitude of hostility to what
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had been accomplished. Writing from Chickasaw Bluffs, August 24, before his arrival at Natchez, he censured Captain Pope for giving "displeasure to the Spanish authorities," and advised Gay- oso that he had done so. After his arrival he ignored Ellicott and treated the permanent committee with contempt. Visiting their place of meeting, he demanded of Gaillard by what authority they met, declared that their meetings were improper and seditious, that they should consider themselves dissolved, that he was not to be made a cipher of, and he would rule the district with a rod of iron. He and Gaillard seem to have had a warm moment to- gether (Ellicott's Journal, 162-63). Ellicott says that Narsworthy Hunter, and Col. George Matthews, of Georgia, were prominent supporters of a movement to introduce a military government, under Captain Guion. Matthews had in 1795 been governor of Georgia and signed the legislative bills of sale of all this region, known as the "Yazoo Fraud." He came down to the Natchez by the Tennessee river in September, and introduced a new element of uncertainty by claiming the country for one of the organizations based on the fraudulent transaction that his State had repudiated. But he kindly proposed to leave those inhabitants undisturbed who could show good title from the Spanish government.
Mr. Claiborne's comment regarding the close of this period, is: "As soon as Gayoso ascertained that the United States had sent an officer of rank and character to Natchez, with a sufficient force to repress any invasion of Louisiana, or any outbreak of or inter- ference with the Indians, he gave notice that immediate measures would be taken for the evacuation, and that he would do all in his power to facilitate the operations on the line of demarkation." Gayarre, on the other hand, says: "Guion's liberality and the amiableness of his deportment towards the Spaniards did not seem to accelerate their movements and to procure their desired removal from the forts Panmure and Nogales, so that Guion him- self, becoming impatient, declared that he would not wait further than the 1st of April, 1799 [ undoubtedly 1798 is meant] and would then attack the forts." (History of La., III, 391.)
It is possible that Gayoso may have made the same explanation of the evacuation as appears in Mr. Claiborne's history. The real reason, of course, is to be found in the European situation. While Yrujo and Pickering were still exchanging notes in January, 1798, the Spaniard complaining bitterly against the bad faith of the United States in regard to British navigation of the Mississippi, and the "scandalous" and "insulting" conduct of Ellicott and Pope, and the secretary of state defending the honor of his country and its representatives, Governor Gayoso, at New Orleans, received orders from court, January 10, to evacuate the forts at Natchez and Nogales, and permit the survey of the line. This information reached Natchez January 18, when, for the first time, the inhabi- tants were absolutely assured that without a war their homes fell within the territory of the United States. But the forts were not
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evacuated until the latter part of March, and the Spanish were not ready for the survey until April.
In the latter part of January, 1798, Thomas M. Green, chair- man of the Committee of Safety, on the ground of general cor- roboration of "his own serious apprehensions respecting the pros- pect of sedition, insurrections and robberies after the fort shall be evacuated," called a meeting of his committee February 5, at Belk's.
February 1, the Permanent Committee addressed Guion, saying that "as the purposes for which this Committee was chosen will, we trust, be soon accomplished, by the removal of the Spanish jurisdiction, we have nothing now to hope, but that our executive will make an early provision for our future government, yet, as it is possible, some interval may happen, between the recess of the former and the establishment of the latter, we wish to know from you, sir, if in that case you are authorized to exercise civil authority among us. Such a power must reside somewhere, and should you not be invested with it by your instructions, we shall feel it a duty attached to our situation, to recommend some meas- ures to our constituents (by our final dissolution) which we think calculated to preserve the peace and happiness of the inhabitants." They requested and hoped that he would support whatever form of temporary government should be adopted.
The Committee of Safety (Thomas M. Green, Abner Green, Hugh Davis, James Stuart and Anthony Hoggat) met on the date above assigned. Their resolutions, drawn by Col. Hutchins, were that the state of neutrality continued until Natchez was evacuated; that the inhabitants had maintained neutrality notwithstanding the provocations by "the coalition and conspiracy between the titular governor [Minor], the committee formed to cooperate with the Spanish officer [ Permanent committee], Mr. Ellicott the com- missioner, and a few other designing persons." They protested against the establishment of a government under the ordinance of 1187 as against the will of the inhabitants, accused Capt. Minor of unwarrantable conduct, repudiated any agreement that Elli- cott might have made with the Georgia agents, and recommended the inhabitants, to prevent feuds and felonies and anarchy, to meet at Belk's February 26. to elect another committee. The people were particularly exhorted regarding "the absurdity of the claims of Georgia to the lands of this government," and the dan- ger of their assertion as opening the way to British claims.
But, during these interesting periods of transition, the powers of civil government were exercised neither by the Permanent com- mittee, the Committee of Safety, nor by Capt. Isaac Guion; but "El Capitan Don Estevan Minor, exerciendo funcciones de Gober- nador y subdelegado de real Hacienda en la Plaza de Natchez," continued, up to the evacuation, to hear lawsuits, render judg- ments, and administer the civil jurisdiction, under the direction of Don Juan Ventura Morales, intendant of Louisiana and West Florida. The Spanish records of the Natchez District show the
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apparently uncontested exercise of Minor's authority in many cases as late as March, 1798, also a vigorous protest made in February, by Ebenezer Dayton, the tanner, against the lawful jurisdiction of the Spanish commandant, on the ground that Spanish authority had ceased upon ratification of the treaty of 1795. For this rea- son, said Dayton, he had for a long time been unable to sue his debtors and he conceived it would be a hardship to be oppressed by his creditors by authority of this "usurped jurisdiction." But it does not appear that this protest interfered with the operations of the trustees appointed to adjust Mr. Dayton's affairs.
The committee of a Natchez meeting. David Ferguson and others, communicated with Capt. Guion, May 1, 1798, suggesting the need of a temporary government, saying that "we the inhabi- tants of this town have entered into a resolution to use our exer- tions towards effecting the erection of a Temporary Government until that duly authorized by Congress shall arrive." for "the mending of roads, removing public nuisances, establishing of a town patrol, suppressing riots and punishing riotous persons," preventing sale of intoxicants to Indians and regulating the col- lection of debts. Guion, in response, said he would support any regulations that the freeholders would agree upon and subscribe to, and made a similar diplomatic response to William Vousdan, when the latter wrote, May 9, that a convention was proposed at Belk's tavern.
About this time (May 5) Col. Hutchins, writing to the secre- tary of state, ended his letter: "And on finishing this scrawl an account arrived that this country was really organized without any regard to the Memorial the people greatly lament the slight and many will leave the Country & are preparing to remove among the Spaniards which I am heartily sorry for."
It is asserted in Ellicott's Journal that Colonel Hutchins actu- ally did ask permision to move into the Spanish territory, and that it was refused. He remained, at any rate, to be equally active under other circumstance, and lead the dominant party of the new Territory, notwithstanding his great age.
Perrin du Lac's Visit. Francois Marie Perrin du Lac was a French colonial administrator who traveled through the United States and explored the southern and western States, visiting Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania, during the years 1801-1803. He published a volume on his travels in these regions and below will be found a few extracts which bear more particularly on the region embraced in the present State of Mississippi: "I rejoined my boat, which I had left at the mouth of the river (Arkansas) and proceeded on my voyage down the Mississippi. From thence to Natchez. the navigation offers noth- ing either agreeeble or interesting. Immense forests border the river, and the banks, but little elevated, are inundated at least once every year.
"Natchez is the only important place possessed by the United States on the Mississippi, below the mouth of the Ohio. It con-
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tains twelve or fifteen thousand inhabitants, freemen and slaves. Most of the proprietors are enriched by the culture of cotton, for which the lands are extremely well suited. The town, which is built on high ground at the distance of one mile from the river, contains fine houses and rich shops. It is the staple of all kinds of merchandise for the southern colonies. Almost all the proprietors of this little state, being emigrants from the southern provinces, have brought with them the political principles there professed. They are Federalists, consequently not favorers of the present president. (Jefferson.) Natchez is cultivated in an extent of fifty miles in length, and twenty in breadth. The air is healthy, the climate agreeable, and it may be presumed, that it will shortly be one of the most powerful and populous provinces of the United States."
"The last post of the United States on the Mississippi, is Roche à Davion, where the Americans have built a fort, called by the name of one of their generals, Wilkinson. Here the headquarters of their small army are established. There are also some armed vessels for the defence of the place. All the vessels that descend the river are obliged to stop here, and declare to what nation they belong, and the nature of their cargoes. Those that ascend pay here the duties on their merchandize, if destined for the American part. Some miles below Roche à Davion, are the limits marked out by Spain and the United States, in 1798. It is a road thirty feet wide, and its direction exactly from east to west: it crosses the lands belonging to the Chickasaws, and divides the two Floridas from the States of Georgia and South Carolina."
In a subsequent passage, our author thus characterizes the Mis- sissippi :
"The Mississippi, navigable to an extent of eight hundred leagues, is indisputably one of the finest rivers in North America. The numerous rivers which flow into it, render its proprietor the sole possessor of all the commerce of the North-West part of this continent. By means of the Ohio, the inhabitants receive the products of the western provinces of the United States; by the Illinois they proceed to Canada ; and by the Missouri, there is no doubt but that they may penetrate as far as the countries near the Pacific Ocean.
"It is difficult to describe the rapidity with which the Missis- sippi flows, when swelled by rain, or the melting of the snow. It is then so great, that boats have often descended from Upper Louisiana as far as New Orleans in six days, which is a distance of 1,300 leagues. Its banks are covered by the trunks of trees which being concealed by the water, present continual danger to navigators. For this reason, captains are obliged to keep an at- tentive eye, in order to prevent accidents, which notwithstanding their vigilance often occur."
His reference to the obstructions placed on the free navigation of the Mississippi after the treaty of San Lorenzo are interesting: "By the treaty of 1796 (1795) with the United States, the King of
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Spain engaged to give them a depot at New Orleans for the mer- chandize destined to ascend the Mississippi, and for the overplus of the products of the Western States. This depot, which was granted to them for three years, was to have been (if his Catho- lic Majesty was unwilling to continue it) replaced by some other, equally advantageous to both governments. Without re- spect to this part of the treaty, the president of the United States was informed some time before my arrival, that not only the port remained shut ; but that also a depot was forbidden to the Amer- ican merchants. This breach of faith could not fail to exasperate the Western States which have no other channel for disposing of the overplus of their productions. It has since appeared, that this measure was not authorized by the Spanish government, but was the result of the desire of injuring, and of hatred to the French."
Perry County was established quite early in the history of the State, February 3, 1820, and originally formed the western part of the large county of Greene. (q. v.) The act creating the county defined its boundaries as follows: "Beginning on the line of de- marcation where the line that divides the thirteenth and fourteenth ranges intersects the said line of demarcation; thence with said range line to where the fifth parallel township line crosses the same; thence east with the said township line, to where the line that divides the eighth and ninth ranges crosses the same; thence with the line of demarcation ; thence west to the beginning." The county has been since enlarged by adding townships 1, in ranges 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, south of the 31st parallel, and township 5, in range 14, north of the 31st parallel, so that it now embraces a total area of thirty-one townships. Its population has always been small in proportion to its acres. Within recent years its valuable timber resources have been partially exploited and it has taken on a new and permanent growth ; from a total of 6,456 inhabitants in 1890, it increased to 14,682 in 1900, a rate of increase considerably in excess of one hundred per cent. It received its name in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, and was settled by a large number of hardy pioneers along its watercourses during the first years of the last century. Its civil officers during the first year of its existence were Jacob H. Morris, Chief Justice of the Quorum, and John Jenkins, John Green, Jacob Carter, Craven P. Moffitt, Associate Justices ; Alex. Mckenzie, Eli Moffitt, Benj. H. G. Hart- field, William Hudson, John Moffitt, Seth Granberry, Lewis W. Ball, Henry Easterling, Wm. Reynolds, Justices of the Peace; John McDonald, Assessor and Collector; Geo. Harrison, Ranger ; Joel Lewis, Surveyor ; John Barlow, Constable ; WVm. Tisdale, Cor- oner; J. J. H. Morris, Notary Public: Martin Chadwick, Sheriff. Some of the other county officers, 1821-1827, were Griffin Hollo- mon, J. J. H. Morris, John F. Mapp, Abner Carter, Judges of Pro- bate; Lewis Rhodes, Sheriff ; Anthony Pitts, Adam Ulmer, Jona- than Taylor, Geo. B. Dameron. Sterling Brinson, John Deace. Daniel Miley, James Simmons, Sherod Byrd, Isham H. Clayton,
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James Overstreet, Uriah Millsapp, Justices of the Peace; Hugh McDonald, Treasurer ; Farr Proctor, Geo. Harrison, Lewis Rhodes, Assessors and Collectors. It is located in the southeastern part of the State, in the long-leaf pine belt, and is bounded on the north by Jones and Wayne counties, on the east by Greene county, on the south by Harrison county and on the west by Lamar and Pearl River counties, and has an area of twenty-six townships, or 936 square miles. The county seat, until recently, was the old town of Augusta, near the center of the county on the east bank of the Leaf river. Though it is nearly a century in age, it has not kept step with the march of time and remains a small village today with 125 inhabitants, a result which is largely due to the fact that the railways have never quite come to it. New Augusta, two miles south of old Augusta, on the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City R. R., has lately been made the county seat of Perry county. Hatties- burg which was formerly in the northwestern part of the county, and until recently one of the two county seats of the county, is a flourishing city which has grown up within the last few years and is now the capital of the new county of Forrest. It has a popula- tion of about 21,000, has become a railroad center of importance and is surrounded by a region covered with some of the best timber in the South. It is on the Leaf river and the following railroads enter it: New Orleans & North Eastern, Gulf & Ship Island, Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City and the Mississippi Central giving it excellent shipping facilities to New Orleans, Mobile and Gulfport, as well as to northern, eastern and western points. A few of the other towns in the county are McLaurin, Brooklyn, McDonald's Mills, Morriston and Heckla. The principal streams are Leaf river, which flows through the center of the county from the northwest to the southeast with its numerous tributaries, and Black creek and its tributaries in the southern part. The general surface of the county is undulating-level on the creek and river bottoms. The prevailing timber is the long leaf pine, but on the rivers and creeks, oaks, hickory, poplar, magnolia, gums, cypress, etc., are found. The soil on the bottoms is fertile, but generally speaking, is poor. It produces excellent forage grasses for stock, however, and the raising of live stock has proved profitable.
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