USA > Mississippi > Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II > Part 99
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reserved tracts to be $3.00 an acre, until the nation may determine to reduce the price. Colbert Moore and family were given permis- sion to continue to reside within the nation, and a tract of land was reserved for him; also two mail routes through the nation were established-one from Tuscumbia, Ala., via the Agency to Rankin, Miss., the other from Memphis, Tenn., by the offices to Cotton Gin, Miss., and the Indians requested that John Donley, the old mail carrier be given the contract for carrying the mails of the nation.
The total area embraced in the Chickasaw cession of 1832 was 6,283,804 acres. Since, under the terms of the treaty, the United States agreed to turn over all the net proceeds of the sale to the Indians, and no provision was made for the reservation of the 16th section in each township for use of the common schools, this whole region of country was deprived of the customary revenues derived from this source under the law of 1803. To remedy this defect, Congress, by act of July 4, 1836, granted the State in lieu of such reservation, one-thirty-sixth part of the ceded lands, to be selected and held by the same tenure as the other common school lands of the State. The lands thus selected and set aside for school pur- poses amounted to 174,500 acres, which became the basis of what was afterwards called the Chickasaw School Fund (q. v.).
Treaty of San Lorenzo el Real. This treaty between Spain and the United States was executed October 27, 1795, by Manuel de Godoy, secretary of state, and Thomas Pinckney, envoy extraor- dinary, and was ratified March 3, 1796. It declared "The southern boundary of the United States, which divides their territory from the Spanish colonies of East and West Florida, shall be designated by a line beginning on the river Mississippi, at the northernmost part of the 31st degree of latitude north of the equator, which from thence shall be drawn due east to the middle of the river Apalachi- cola or Catahouchee," etc. It was agreed "that if there should be any troops, garrisons or settlements of either party in the terri- tory of the other according to the above mentioned boundary" they should be withdrawn within six months after the ratification of the treaty. Commissioners and surveyors were to meet at the Natchez, "before the expiration of six months from the ratification of this convention." If a guard were found necessary for the sur- vey, the troops were to be .furnished equally by both parties. "It is likewise agreed that the western boundary of the United States, which separates them from the Spanish colony of Louisiana, is in the middle of the channel or bed of the river Mississippi, from the northern boundary of the said states to the completion of the 31st degree of latitude north of the equator. And his Catholic Majesty has likewise agreed that the navigation of the said river, in its whole breadth, from its source to the ocean, shall be free only to his subjects and the citizens of the United States, unless he should extend this privilege to the subjects of other powers by special con- vention." In consequence of this stipulation, "His Catholic Majesty will permit the citizens of the United States for the space of three
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years from this time, to deposit their merchandise and effects in the port of New Orleans, and to export them from thence without paying any other duty than a fair price for the hire of the stores, and his Majesty promises either to continue this permission, if he finds, during that time, that it is not prejudicial to the interests of Spain, or, if he should not agree to continue it there, he will assign to them on another part of the Mississippi, an equivalent establishment." The treaty also provided for rights of commerce on the high seas, and for a commission to adjudicate claims for damages to commerce, during the late war between Spain and France.
In regard to the Indian question the two nations agreed to main- tain peace and harmony among the Indians along the boundary. Each agreed "to restrain by force all hostilities on the part of the Indian nations living within their boundary," so that "Spain will not suffer her Indians to attack the citizens of the United States nor the Indians inhabiting their territory," and vice versa. "It is agreed that, in future, no treaty of alliance, or other whatever (except treaties of peace) shall be made by either party with the Indians living within the boundary of the other;" but both parties would endeavor to make the Indian trade mutually beneficial, "observing in all things the most complete reciprocity," for the greatest profit at least expense.
Pinckney contrived the article requiring a survey under protec- tion of troops of both nations, to prevent future disputes and for the effect on the Indians. Article 4, on navigation of the river, was the result of a prolonged dispute, and the apparently excessive recognition of the rights of Spain was the only way to met her apprehensions. There was a trade on this, also, to obtain a provi- sion for adjusting spoliation claims. Article 5, on Indian relations, "occupied much time, and great prejudices were to be removed." Pinckney saw nothing objectional except "the kind of defensive alliance" against the Indians. In regard to the 22d article, regard- ing the depot, Pinckney was compelled to make heated remarks, and on this subject and spoliations he went to the extreme of ask- ing his passports.
Treaty of 1793. According to Gayarre Governor Carondelet, on the 28th of October, 1293, had the satisfaction, through his agent and representative, Colonel Gayoso, governor of Natchez, to make a reciprocally defensive and offensive treaty, between Spain on the one side, and the Chickasaws, the Creeks, the Cherokees and the Alibamons on the other. The treaty of 1784 was ratified, and the Indian nations agreed in return for the protection of Spain to con- tribute to maintain his Catholic Majesty in possession of the prov- inces of Louisiana and the two Floridas.
Treaty of Washington, 1825. The proposal of Secretary Calhoun to abrogate the terms of Jackson's treaty at Doak's Stand (q. v.). made that arrangement with the Choctaws of no effect. The Choc- taws were deeply disgusted with the character of the new agent sent by the government, William Ward, and were forced to lose
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faith in the promises of treaty commissioners, even Jackson him- self. They insisted that no further negotiations would be made except with the great father at Washington. Accordingly a dele- gation went to Washington, at the expense of the government, in the fall of 1824. Those who started were Pukshennubbee, Poo- shamataha. Mooshalatubbee, Robert Cole, Daniel McCurtain, Talking Warrior, Red Fort, Nittuckachee, David Folsom and J. L. McDonald. Pukshennubbee died on the way, and Pooshamataha succumbed, after a few weeks at the national capital, to the un- natural entertainment. The delegates found that the government insisted on withdrawing some part of the land ceded to them, but were willing to pay for it, and also wished to annul the solemn pledge of the treaty of 1820 regarding the remaining lands east of the Mississippi. Monroe county, part of the land ceded in 1816, was isolated and inconvenient, they were told, and they should give more land, on the Tombigbee, to make up a good-sized judi- cial district. This the Choctaws would not do. After much discus- sion a new boundary line in the west was agreed upon, involving the loss of about five million acres, for which Mr. Calhoun offered $5,000 cash and $60,000 in annuities. The Choctaws asked $30,000 in goods, $9,000 a year for twenty years for the support of mechan- ical institutions, the same annuity for twenty years for the educa- tion of Choctaw children in colleges outside the nation, and an an- nuity of $3,000 for education in the western country.
Calhoun replied that the government could not give more than the land was worth, but in January offered $90,000 in ten annual payments, the cancellation of the debt at the government trading house, and payment (again?) for services in the Pensacola cam- paign. The Choctaws then made the proposition that the govern- ment accepted, and which is embodied in the treaty signed at Washington, D. C., January 20, 1825. The line was defined as be- ginning 100 paces east of Fort Smith, on the Arkansas, and run- ning due south to Red river. The compensation was an annuity of $6,000 forever, for twenty years, to be applied to education. There was also promised $96,000 in annuities to make up for the misap- propriation of the former educational annuity, instead of a land re- serve, as agreed in the treaty at Doak's Stand. Those who elected to remain at their homes in the ceded tract east of the Mississippi (Hinds county) were authorized to hold and sell the fee simple of one square mile ; right to locate a square mile at pleasure within the cession of 1820 (called "floats") was extended, making the whole list, Molly McDonald, Wesley Trahern, Noble Osborn, Alex- ander Hamilton, Greenwood Leflore, George Turnbull and Alexan- der McKee. The warriors with Jackson on the Pensacola cam- paign of 1818 were to be paid $14,972.50. The delegation was given $2,000 to pay "various claims." Robert Cole was recognized as the successor of Pukshennubbee, with medal and annuity.
In accordance with this treaty, notwithstanding the protests of Arkansas, the west line of that State was fixed as it now remains.
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Trebloc, a postoffice of Chickasaw county, 10 miles east of Houston.
Tremont, a post-hamlet of Itawamba county, about 12 miles east, southeast of Fulton, the county seat. Population in 1900, 50.
Trent, a postoffice of Amite county, 15 miles northeast of Lib- erty, the county seat.
Trenton, a post-hamlet of Smith county, about 40 miles south by east of Jackson, and 11 miles west by north of Raleigh, the county seat. Forest is the nearest railroad and banking town. It has a church. Population in 1900, 102.
.Tribbett, a postoffice of Washington county, and a station on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., about 16 miles east of Green- ville. Leland is the nearest banking town.
Tribble, a postoffice of Tallahatchie county.
Trim, a postoffice of Pike county, situated on Topisaw creek, 12 miles northeast of Summit, the nearest banking town.
Trimcane, a hamlet in the north-central part of Oktibbeha county, 6 miles northwest of Starkville, the county seat. The postoffice at this place was discontinued in 1905, and it now has rural free delivery from the station of Cedarbluff in Clay county. Population in 1900, 27.
Trotter, James F., was born in Brunswick county, Va., Novem- ber 5, 1802, but was reared and educated in East Tennessee. He came to the town of Hamilton, Monroe county, for the practice of law, about 1823, and became the competitor and rival of Daniel W. Wright. He represented the county in the State legilsature as a representative in 1827-29 and as a senator in 1829-33 ; was elec- ted judge of the circuit court in 1833; was appointed to the United States senate in 1838 upon the resignation of Judge Black, but re- signed this honor before taking his seat, and accepted appointment in December of the same year to the high court of errors and ap- peals, to succeed Judge Wright, resigned. He was elected to the same office in 1839, but resigned in 1842. He delivered many im- portant opinions, which "are noted for great strength and dignity of style, as well as for a penetrating discrimination, a sound judg- ment, and a profound knowledge of the law." (Lynch) After retiring from the bench he resumed the practice of law at Holly Springs. In 1855 he was elected vice-chancellor, an office he held until the chancery system was abolished by the code of 1857. In 1860-62 he was professor of law in the State university. At the reorganization of the courts after the Civil war he was appointed to the circuit bench, but he died at Holly Springs, March 9, 1866. Reuben Davis wrote of him enthusiastically in his Recollections, as "one of the noblest and best of men . a good scholar and a fine speaker ; kind and generous above measure : incapable of fear, treachery or meanness, the ideal Southerner of that day."
Troy, an old village which is now extinct, and which was situated a few miles below Grenada in what is now Grenada county, but was formerly Yalobusha county. Its life was brief, as it was early absorbed by the rising town of Grenada. It attained a growth of
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from 100 to 150 people, and among its residents were the mercantile firm of Chislom and Minter, and Robert Mullen, afterward a leading merchant of Grenada. A wealthy class of planters lived in the neighborhood, among whom were the Leighs, Powells, Talberts, Bakers, Minters and Towns.
Troy, an incorporated post-town in the southeastern part of Pon- totoc county, on Tallabinnela creek, 12 miles southeast of Pontotoc, the nearest railroad and banking town. It was named for the ancient city of Asia Minor. It has a money order postoffice. Pop- ulation in 1900, 144.
Truitt, a postoffice of Madison county, about 17 miles northeast of Canton, the county seat.
Trussell, a hamlet in the southeastern part of Neshoba county, 16 miles from Philadelphia, the county seat. It has rural free de- livery from Battlefield station, Newton county.
Trusty, a post-hamlet of Calhoun county, 10 miles northwest of Pittsboro, the county seat. Water Valley is the nearest railroad and banking town. Population in 1900, 23.
Tryus, a post-hamlet of Lawrence county, 14 miles north of Monticello, the county seat. Population in 1900, 41.
Tubal, a postoffice of Clarke county, 18 miles southwest of Quit- man, the county seat.
Tucker, Tilghman Mayfield, was born in North Carolina, Febru- ary 5, 1802, son of John Tucker and Margaret Mayfield. He began his life in Mississippi as a law student under Daniel W. Wright, at Hamilton, Monroe county. He was afterward a citizen of Col- umbus, and became noted for "his law learning and political saga- city. Few men controlled a better practice, and he came to have a sort of life estate in a seat in the legislature." (Davis' Recollec- tions.)
His law partners were Adam T. Smith, General Gholson and Sam F. Butterworth. He is described in Claborne's Mississippi as "an earnest, sincere and honest man." Popularly, he was known as Old Tilletoba, meaning in the Indian tongue, the blacksmith, that having been his former occupation. He was nominated for governor in 1841, when there seemed to be little hope for the Dem- ocratic organization, which was maintained largely through the ambition of William M. Gwin, who persuaded Mr. Tucker to accept the nomination after he once declined. The issue upon which he ran was the repudiation of the Union bank bonds. He had been broken down by typhoid fever and did not take much part in the campaign. His opponent was David O. Shattuck, a Methodist preacher, circuit judge, lawyer and strong public speaker. He was the Whig candidate and favored payment of the bonds. Under these circumstances Tucker was elected. His messages were not brilliant, but they were marked by some valuable suggestions, par- ticularly in regard to education (q. v.)
He was a man, says Henry S. Foote in his Reminiscenses, "of sound and vigorous intellect, of a chastened and moderate ambi- tion, and of a lofty independence worthy of all praise." In his
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campaign he had taken the ground that Governor McNutt, in signing and causing to be sold the Union bank bonds, had exceeded his constitutional authority, which was an argument for repudia- tion quite distasteful to McNutt, and made the latter an enemy. Bitter attacks on the public and personal character of the governor, by various newspapers, particularly Dr. James Hagan's Sentinel, at Vicksburg, resulted, after Judge Adams had been included in the attack, in the violent death of the editor. In 1843 Tucker was nominated for congressman from the State at large by the Demo- crats. He was elected and served one term. He was married in 1829 to Sarah F. McBee and in 1854_to Martha A. Conger. He was a man of wealth, with many slaves and large estates. After retir- ing from public life he lived at his plantation home, "Cottonwood," in Louisiana. April 30, 1859, he died in Alabama, while visiting his father.
Tucker's Administration. Governor Tucker was inaugurated January 10, 1842, with the following State officers serving from November, 1841 to November, 1843: Lewis G. Galloway, secre- tary of state; Richard S. Graves, treasurer; James E. Matthews, auditor. John D. Freeman was attorney-general, -1841-53. His inaugural speech was mainly devoted to a statement of his attitude on the Union bank bond question. He held that the people had decided that "the transactions connected with said bank, both in its inception and final consummation, were not governmental, but were on the contrary individual transactions, performed, not only without the authority of the constitution of the State, but contrary to the express provisions thereof; though, should the leg- islature feel under any obligation, either legal or moral (which I do not), or should deem it a matter of policy to discharge this obli- gation, and should determine to assume and pay the debt or liabil- ity," the constitution provided the method-an act pledging the faith of the State, to be referred to the next legislature.
"In my opinion a marked distinction exists between the liability of the State on account of the Planters' bank, and of the Mississippi Union bank. In the case of the Planters' bank, the bonds were executed and sold (fairly, so far as I am informed) in accordance with the constitution and will of the people." He knew of no reason either moral or legal forbidding the State to pay the Plan- ters' bank bonds, unless they could be construed as bills of credit prohibited by the constitution of the United States. If found in- dispensably necessary to save the State from a violation or breach of its contract, I will unite with you in providing the means, even by taxation, to pay them." (See Repudiation.)
The most startling of the defalcations connected with the funds which were contributed by the United States to Mississippi, was that of R. S. Graves, State treasurer, in 1842. He received in Oc- tober, $144,000 from the treasury of the United States to apply on the percentage of public land sales given the State for road im- provements. He had been specially authorized to receive $10,000 from the Two per cent. fund to pay the State engineer, and the sec-
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retary of the treasury, also paid him all that was due on the Three per cent. fund, making up the total. There had been some corres- pondence between the secretary and the governor regarding Graves' authority to receipt for money due the State, with no referenc to any spcial fund, and Governor Tucker, unsuspiciously, asserted the authority of the treasurer in broad terms. Graves, had asso- ciates in the scheme founded upon this windfall to which the sec- retary assisted him; the scheme was to keep possession of the money secret until he could invest it in State warrants, bought at a great discount, which he could turn over to the State at par in place of the funds received at Washington. As the State was bound to make its warrants good, or ought to do so, it was possible to look at such a transaction as not heinous. It was a common thing among tax collectors, and had been practiced by some of the great bankers and other public officials before Graves. When evi- dence enough had been discovered, the governor directed George S. Yerger and George Adams to draft a bill in chancery charging Graves with embezzlement, and asking an injunction and the ap- pointment of a receiver. While this was pending before the Chan- cellor, Graves escaped from the custody of the Sheriff of Hinds county. Afterward, the Chancellor refused to grant the writ or appoint a receiver. Governor Tucker determined to appoint a State treasurer, but before he could do so, the wife of Graves delivered to him $69,232 in treasury warrants. $92,600 in United States treasury notes, and $2,750 in gold. When Gen. William Clark was appointed treasurer the office was broken open, also the iron chest and safe, in which was found $6.50 specie, $6,500 in war- rants, and about $65,000 in depreciated bank notes.
On account of this scandal, which threatened to tarnish other names than that of Graves, a special session of the legislature was convened July 10, 1843, and investigation made. The committee of which Charles Clark was chairman reported that the net defal- cation of Graves was about $45,000. There was no evidence to im- plicate other officials except the admission of some of them that they had received some par funds in payment of salaries. There was no other indication that anyone knew that Graves had any real money. Silence sems to have prevailed among those he had bought warrants of. Graves was seldom at the capital, and the first notice the governor had was the letter from Jacob Thompson, congressman, three months after, informing the governor that Graves had drawn the whole amount of the three per cent. fund. Governor Tucker contended that the robbery was not of the State of Mississippi, but of the United States treasury ; the payment to him of $134,000 was unauthorized, and consequently, was lost be- fore it was delivered to the State. But the committee believed the secretary was authorized to pay the fund to Graves, and that the loss must fall upon the State. They were disposed to censure the governor for not demanding an earlier examination of the office, but added, "that they are convinced that the action of the governor was paralyzed, not by improper motives, but by an honorable con-
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viction that to have done more than he did would have been to transcend his constitutional power and authority."
At the election in 1843 the Anti-Bonders nominated Albert Gal- latin Brown for governor; the Bond Payers named George R. Clayton, and Thomas H. Williams was also voted for. The vote was, Brown 21,035, Clayton 17,322, Williams 1,343.
The general elections of 1841 and 1843 sustained the advocates of repudiation of the Union bank bonds on the ground of their unconstitutionality. At the same time Governor Tucker contin- ued to protest that the Planters' bank notes would be paid. He said "We must frequently pay the heavy penalties of the past folly and prodigality of reckless public agents, as will be the case with us when we pay the Planters' bank bonds. I would urge the payment of State debts upon the principles of protecting and preserving untarnished the faith, credit and constitution of the State, and upon the principles of common honesty, right and eter- nal justice. I consider that the refusal to pay said bonds would tarnish the principles of the fair fame and credit of the State, and violate and repudiate the constitution." But, by the close of his administration, the opinion was asserted that the Planters' bonds also were unconstitutional, because the bank was not administered, and the funds handled by previous legislatures, in conformity to the bill of rights, according to which all govern- ment is for the benefit of the people. It is a doctrine that, today, would be welcomed, but there would be great embarrassment in its application. At that time, it was overlooked that, however valuable the general principle, the constitution of 1832 was framed, in part, especially to insure the constitutionality of the Planters' bank and the validity of the bonds.
Tucker, William F., raised a company early in 1861, the Chick- asaw Guards, which was assigned to the Eleventh regiment, mus- tered-in at Lynchburg, Va., in May, 1861. After taking part in the first battle of Manassas he and his company were transferred to the Forty-first regiment, in the western army, and he was com- missioned colonel in May, 1862. March 1, 1864, he was promoted to brigadier-general, but he had already been in command of his brigade in the great battles of 1863. At Resaca, May 14, 1864, he was severely wounded, so that he was incapacitated for active service. His son, William Feimster Tucker, of Woodville, is one of the present representatives in the legislature from Wilkinson county. Gen. Tucker was assassinated at Okolona, September 15, 1881.
Tula, an incorporated town in the southeastern part of Lafayette county, on Pollocona creek, about 14 miles from Oxford, the county seat, and nearest railroad and banking town. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 119. The population in 1906 was estimated at 200. The town has an excellent chartered school and is growing.
Tunica, the capital of Tunica county, is an incorporated post- town on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., about 40 miles
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