Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 94

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1030

USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I > Part 94

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

During the previous administration laws were passed appoint- ing commissioners to open and clear the Pearl River and Bayou Pierre, using for this purpose the labor applicable to roads, also a law to raise money by lottery. The first session of the State leg-

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islature appointed commissioners to improve the Pascagoula and Chickasawhay, and authorized the raising of $3,000 by lottery. But little was done. The streams susceptible of improvement with a view to immediate advantage, Gov. Holmes wrote to Wil- liam H. Crawford in 1818, were the Pearl river, Pascagoula, Chick- asawhay, Leaf, Homochitto and Bayou Pierre. The Big Black and Yazoo were principally in the Indian country. He said boats of 12 tons had ascended the Pearl to the Choctaw agency. Large keel boats had ascended the Chickasawhay to the town of Win- chester. The Homochitto could be rendered navigable for 70 or 80 miles. "We have no turnpike roads, and as yet none have been authorized by law," but it was in contemplation, when the popula- tion should have increased, to improve three principal roads- "one leading from this place (Natchez) in the direction to the City of Washington, one to St. Stephens, and one to Madisonville on Lake Pontchartrain."

In his message of Jan. 15, 1819, to the second session of the leg- islature, Gov. Holmes pointed out various amendments needed in the judicial laws; among others, asking that some greater power than that of assessing a fine of $20 be given the courts in order to compel the attendance of jurors; advising that county courts be authorized to impanel juries, as they were authorized to try slaves and the constitution gave slaves the benefit of a jury in cases in- volving life; recommended the building of a penitentiary for the more economical and humane punishment of criminals, and asked an amelioration of the criminal code. The death penalty attached to conviction for robbery and he had recently pardoned a man sentenced to death for being accessory to a forgery. He said on this subject, "It is true that in commercial countries, policy requires that this offence [forgery] should be punished with severity ; still, there should be some distinction made between an attempt upon private property and those crimes which exhibit the highest de- gree of moral turpitude." By authority of the legislature he had borrowed $20,000 of the Bank of the State of Mississippi, $5,000 of which was expended for bank stock, and the remainder placed in the treasury to meet expenses. The government had not yet refunded the Creek war expenses. No settlements had been made with Alabama, but the treasurer had ascertained that no money re- mained in the treasury after paying the expenses of the convention. This subject was long disputed. Gov. Holmes figured that Ala- bama owed Mississippi $3,502.40; Gov. Bibb contended that Mis- sissippi owed Alabama $2,237.33, and Gov. Poindexter said he wouldn't discuss it until Alabama gave bond to pay if she were found the debtor. On Jan. 24, 1818, the cash on hand was $11,- 628; there had since been received, including the bank loan, $45,- 838, making a total of $57,466, out of which had been expended for government expenses $39,753, and for bank stock, $5,000; leav- ing over $12,000 on hand. This was the financial report for the first year of statehood. The $4,500 due from the United States was paid in 1819.

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At the election in August, 1819, for governor, George Poindexter received 2,721 votes ; Thomas Hinds, 1,702. For lieutenant-gover- nor, James Patton received 2,385 votes; Daniel Burnet, 1,877. Gov. Holmes, whose term began in October, 1817, held over, pre- sumably by act of legislature, until the next meeting of that body, the first Monday of January, 1820.

In September, 1819, the seat of government was again trans- ferred from Natchez to Washington on acount of the appearance of yellow fever. But the disease ceased with the coming of cold weather, and the seat of government was again at Natchez when the legislature met at the appointed time, the first Monday of January. In his message, Jan. 4, the retiring governor congratu- lated the young State on its prosperity notwithstanding the inva- sion of deadly disease in the Southwest. As to finances, it ap- peared that the rate of taxation would provide $50,000 a year, and the disbursements were about $40,000, so that the bank loan could soon be repaid. The cash in the treasury was over $18,000 and the uncollected taxes were estimated at $26,000. He thanked his fellow citizens for the honors conferred on him, and congratulatd them on the success of American institutions. "As long as these princi- ples are held sacred," he said, "and maintained in the spirit in which they were adopted, national independence, State sovereignty and civil liberty can never be endangerd."

Holmes' Administration, Territorial. The appointment of Gov. Holmes was one of the final acts of President Jefferson. Until he arrived in the Territory, the functions of governor were exer- cised by the secretary, Thomas H. Williams, who supposed the succession had been so arranged that Holmes would arrive imme- diately, but, because of the delay, Secretary Williams deemed it advisable, Gov. Williams having dissolved the general assembly, to call an election of representatives, preparatory to forming a new assembly. His proclamation was dated April 10, 1809, and the voting days were May 18 and 19.

Upon the election being made, the house was called in session on the first Monday of July 3, to make nominations for a new council, which was done. This was followed in a few months by the appointment of a council by President Madison, who selected the names of those least active in the recent hostilities against Gov. Robert Williams, the names of Daniel Burnet and William B. Shields being ignored.

Holmes was commissioned by President Madison March 7, 1809, and two days later sworn in by his fellow Virginian, John Mar- shall, chief justice of the United States. He arrived at Washing- ton, M. T., in time to address the meeting of the house of repre- sentatives July 3.

The general assembly, meeting in November, passed nearly fifty acts, including the bill for the Bank of Mississippi, and the bill for a turnpike across the Homochitto swamp on the road to New Orleans. The Choctaw purchase, east of the Pearl, was or-

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ganized as Wayne county, and the beginnings of a new center of population justified the county of Warren, north of the Big Black.

The governor had the appointment of officers for the new coun- ties, and new officers of the militia, reorganized under an act of 1809. The militia organization was again a matter of pressing concern, because a formal declaration of war on either England or France seemed close at hand. The governor had also the task in 1810 of persuading Col. James Caller to keep the peace toward the Spaniards of Mobile, mollifying him to prevent his resigna- tion, and at the same time urging Judge Toulmin to prevent any aggression. It was reported in August, 1810, that the Mobile commandant had assembled a party of Choctaws from the Six towns at that place, to defend it against the Tombigbee people, and this was made the subject of a remonstrance to Governor Folch of Pensacola.

In his address to the general assembly, Nov. 9, 1810, Gov. Holmes presented the subject of commercial depression in a hope- ful way, that indicated that while the Territory had not yet recov- ered from the effects of the embargo proclaimed by Jefferson and revoked at the beginning of Madison's administration, the pros- pect was good for a revival of commerce and prosperity. "Such is the nature and abundance of our products," he said, "that we cannot reasonably expect that the population of our own country will for a long time to come be competent to their consumption. That the justice and moderation, therefore, of the general govern- ment towards other powers should ultimately prevail in obtain- ing respect for the maritime rights of the nation, is to us of great importance, and the prospect of success a subject of real congratu- lation." This did not, however, express the sentiments of the younger party that, with such leaders as Henry Clay, John C. Cal- houn, and Andrew Jackson, were weary of the Jeffersonian policy of disarmament, and self-imposed embargoes, and were shaping events toward war for maritime independence.

Of the condition of the Territory the governor said that the an- nual receipts were $24,723, and the disbursements $19,592, leaving a balance of over $5,000; but the public debt was not yet paid. Two subjects of legislation the governor particularly urged-im- provements of roads and the promotion of "seminaries of learn- ing." He suggested that uniformity of decisions in the courts of justice was greatly to be desired, and with apparent caution sug- gested a revival of the supreme court.

This was the era of the Baton Rouge revolution, and in Decem- ber Gov. Claiborne arrived at Natchez, with authority to take possession of the coast region as a part of Louisiana, and sent out instructions to the Tombigbee militia that aroused them to an attempt to capture Mobile.

According to the message of acting governor Daingerfield in November, 1811, the Territorial receipts were $26,826, the expen- ditures $17,901, leaving a balance approaching $10,000. $2,146 had been paid out to redeem warrants issued in 1810 and earlier,

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and with this redemption the Territorial debt was practically dis- charged. It was believed by the secretary that with no reduction in the levy of taxes the Territory would be relieved of the neces- sity of issuing warrants with no cash in the treasury. The popu- lation and taxable property had greatly increased, and the finan- cial prospect was promising. Joseph Nourse was register of the treasury at this time.

The secretary of war requested in April, 1812, that the militia should be put in readiness to answer any call that might be made by Gen. Wilkinson. Gov. Holmes returned from Virginia and was on duty again in the middle of June.

1 . The general assembly of 1812 was addressed by the governor on the same day that the Mississippi regiment set out from Can- tonment Washington for Baton Rouge, and the message was largely devoted to the topics of war and militia, as well as the duty of the legislature to provide for the further organization of the county of Mobile, which was added to the territory by act of congress.

On account of the absence of members of the general assembly at the front, the regular session was prorogued from November to December, 1813, and the governor started Oct. 20 for Fort Stod- dert, ordering out the special battalion to be commanded by Col. George H. Nixon. The governor found an unpleasant situation in the east, on account of misunderstandings between Gen. Flour- noy, Col. Russell and Maj. Hinds. He said when he started back in November, "My journey to the country, taken at the pressing instance of Gen. Flournoy, and with a view on my part to be serv- iceable, has not resulted as I could wish."

Of the general conditions of this period J. F. H. Claiborne wrote (Hist. of Miss., 331) that before the war began, when cotton sold for 15 cents, the legislature passed the "forthcoming bond law," which amounted to a suspension of the judicial collection of debts, while people were plunging recklessly in debt for land and slaves. "The war with Great Britain brought down the price of cotton to 7 or 8 cents, and the crop then and for several preceding years had been greatly reduced by rot. For three years in succession the river lands had been overflowed. Neither real or personal prop- erty would command more than half their previous value. There was a heavy debt owing the United States for lands purchased falling due at the end of the year 1813. Cotton was re- ceived at 14 and 15 cents in payment of debts. The forthcoming bond act was repealed, but an act was passed "to prevent the sacrifice of property," followed by an act "for the relief of debtors." Subsequently another so-called relief act was passed. · These so-called relief laws only superinduced an accumulation of interest and costs that, in the end, swept everything into the pockets of the creditor."

In his message of November, 1814, the governor recounted what had been done for the national defense and the suppression of the Creek hostilities. At that time 500 infantry, enlisted from the

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militia, and four full companies of dragoons, were on duty under the orders of Maj .- Gen. Andrew Jackson. The financial condi- tion of the Territory warranted the expenditure of $1,000 for other than ordinary expenses, and made easy the appropriation, which the legislature proceeded to make, of $5,000 for the support of the troops in the field. The governor urged that the demands of the British to control the Northern lakes and interfere regarding In- dian boundaries could not be submitted to. The people must "de- termine with one mind to support the attributes of that independ- ence which our fathers obtained by their valor and transmitted to us unimpaired."

Secretary Ware was acting governor upon the meeting of the general assembly in 1815, and delivered the annual message. The treasurer's report showed receipts for the year and cash on hand of about $35,000, an amount entirely adequate to expenses, "and which could be increased without being burdensome." He asked authority to organize a county in the Creek purchase, which was responded to by the act creating Monroe county (Ala.). Pur- suant to a resolution of the previous session a house had been rented for the use of the assembly.

In his message of November, 1816, the last under the Territorial government, Gov. Holmes congratulated the people upon the gen- eral prosperity and good health, and the promise of greater im- migration on account of the cession in that year by the Choctaws and Chickasaws of lands south of the Tennessee river and east of the Tombigbee. It was expected that the increase in population when these lands were put on sale would exceed anything the Territory had yet known. On the subject of legislation he asked that compensation be provided for the justices of the quorum, an office which nobody seemed willing to accept. The office of keeper and translator of the Spanish records had been vacant for some time, and the governor suggested that the documents be translated as a whole and the translation used in evidence. There had been transmittd to the general government vouchers for the expendi- ture of $4,584 for the maintenance of the troops called into the service of the United States in the war of 1812-15. The financial condition of the Territory was excellent. The cash on hand was $17,000, and the propriety of reducing the taxes was suggested, unless it were more desirable to accumulate funds for a system of internal improvements.

At the close of the Territorial period, Oct., 1817, there was in the treasury $8,269.92, after disbursements including large extra- ordinary expenditures, such as the expense of the constitutional convention of 1817 ($9,700), the publication of Turner's digest of laws, and $8,000 paid to the Natchez hospital, the yellow fever then being prevalent there.

Judges Poindexter and Leake were elected to congress, and seated in December; Gov. Holmes became governor of the State in October, and the territorial assembly became defunct; but otherwise the Territorial officers continued in the performance of

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their duties until supplanted, sometime in the year 1818, by offi- cers elected by the first legislature under the constitution of 1817.

Holmes' Administration, 1826-27. The third administration of Gov. Holmes began Jan. 7, 1826. Gerard C. Brandon was lieuten- ant-governor, Hiram G. Runnels was reelected auditor, Samuel C. Wooldridge treasurer and John A. Grimball secretary of state. Richard Stockton was attorney-general, 1825-28.

In his inaugural address he touched on the needs of public edu- cation, but mainly urged internal improvement, to make navigable the rivers and improve and open new roads. But the condition of the finances compelled him to suggest that "a revenue of a few thousand dollars above what is requisite for the ordinary expendi- tures of government in common times," would be required in or- der to borrow money to begin improvements. Of the whole country he said, "We enjoy, not only the highest degree of secur- ity and liberty that man is capable of attaining, but as a Nation, we have advanced in character and strength with an acceleration that astonishes the world. Nor is it the United States alone, that have been benefited by their successful efforts to establish a gov- ernment founded upon the will of the people, the only legitimate source from which power can be drawn. South America and al- most every state in Europe have felt the influence of this practical illustration of self-government. So long as our free in- stitutions shall be administered in the spirit in which they were adopted, they will continue to shed their beneficial lights upon mankind, until civil, political and religious liberty shall be fos- tered in every quarter of the globe."

This session of the legislature gained national note by its reso- lutions on the subject of slavery (q. v.). It is also of interest that a legislative committee recommended the charter of new banks. But its main work was on the subject of finances (See Brandon's Adm., 1st).

At this time there were a little over 10,000 taxable inhabitants in the State. Lands were assessed for such tax levies as might be made; those within eight miles of Natchez (according to quality) at $3, $8 or $12, and in other parts of the State, according to prox- imity to the Mississippi river; the most valuable at $4 to $7 and the least valuable at $2 to $3. There was a poll tax of 75 cents on each free white male. Slaveholders were taxed 75 cents on each slave. Every free man of color was required to pay $3 a year. Town lots and buildings and business incomes were taxed 20 cents on the $100 of value ; bank stock 25 cents. It is apparent that the revenue system was framed in the interest of the plantations. To meet the emergency at this time a heavy increase in all taxation was made, and watches were taxed 50 cents and clocks $1 each.

At the same time the State was able to provide for a number of bridges and new roads, by use of the three per cent fund from the general government.

Peter A. Vandorn was appointed in 1826 as a commissioner on behalf of Mississippi to adjust the dispute with Alabama regard-

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ing the settlement of Territorial accounts. The commission met at Jackson in July, but were unable to agree. The claim of Mis- sissippi was that the tax collectors in the Alabama region had failed to pay over the taxes collected for the year 1817, Missis- sippi's share of which would more than counterbalance the claim of Alabama.

In the summer of 1826 Gov. Holmes, on account of "an ex- tremely low state of health under which I had continued for some months," asked the presence of Lieutenant-Governor Brandon at the capital to assume the duties of the executive, which the gov- ernor had determined to resign. A few weeks later, on July 25, he made his formal resignation. It was with great reluctance that he brought himself to the resolution to decline or apparently to abandon the service of a people so sensibly endeared to him by the many tokens of approbation and confidence, but his doctors ad- vised a change of climate and sea voyage, and in any event he must be absent from the State for several months. Under these circumstances he "felt an unwillingness to retain a place or nom- inal appointment in this important department when the state of my health absolutely forbade that attention which was required to a proper discharge of its duties."

Holmesville .- An historic old town of Pike county which flour- ished before the War. (See Pike county). It was the first per- manent seat of justice for the county and was located at its center in the valley of the Bogue Chitto. When the Illinois Central R. R. was built through the county in 1857, some miles west of Holmes- ville, the business of the place soon went to the towns which sprang up along its line. The town was incorporated in 1820 and its first municipal officers were James C. Dickson, Peter Quinn, Jr., I. Aiken, Wiley P. Harris, and Major Lee, trustees ; Buckner Harris, assessor, collector and constable ; William Orr, treasurer.

The first Masonic lodge in the county, the Rising Virtue Lodge, No. 7, was organized in this vicinity. It was succeeded in 1848 by Homesville Lodge, No. 64. Sincerity Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 214, was established in 1856.

The old town raised three companies for the War in 1860-the Quitman Guards, Co. E, 16th Miss., Preston Brent, Captain; the Pike County Rifles, of the 33rd Miss. Regiment with Bragg's army, Captain John T. Lamkin, and the Brent Rifles, Co. K, of the 38th Miss. Holmesville is now a village of 112 inhabitants (census of 1900), and has a church and a money order postoffice. The Liberty- White R. R. is building to the town and will add much to its prosperity.

Holt, Joseph, was born in Breckenridge county, Ky., in 1807, received a classical and legal education, and entered political life under the auspices of the celebrated Amos Kendall, whom he as- sisted in editing a newspaper in Kentucky. He gained fame as a lawyer while district attorney at Louisville, and made a speech in the national Democratic convention of 1836, in support of the nomination of Richard M. Johnson, that made him famous through-

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out the Union. Not long afterward he came to Mississippi, where- his arrival created a profound sensation. Meeting him at Clinton, Henry S. Foote noted his modesty of manner, as well as a frail- ness of physique that foreboded early death. "Mr. Holt lost no time in entering upon the brilliant forensic career which he after- ward ran; and, by an extraordinary exercise of professional dili- gence, as well as by giving constant evidence of ability, he suc- ceeded in the short space of four or five years in accumulating a larger estate than most lawyers are able to acquire by the labors of a lifetime." Foote said he "never listened to a more brilliant or effective advocate." Always serene and mild, his countenance generally touched with a shade of sadness, indulging very slightly in gesture, he carried his hearers with him by the gentleness of his appeal. The contests between him and Sargeant S. Prentiss would have commanded attention in the most renowned courts of the world. Holt supported Pierce for president in 1852, but his desire for a foreign mission was refused, Foote said, because of Holt's fervor as a Unionist.

He was the legal opponent of Prentiss in the famous case in- volving the ownership of the Vicksburg commons, and won the case for the Vick heirs in the United States supreme court. After about ten years practice in Mississippi, making his home first at Jackson and later at Vicksburg, Holt returned to Louisville. He was commissioner of patents, postmaster-general, and finally sec- retary of war under President James Buchanan. He had been a Douglas Democrat, but became one of the prominent supporters of Mr. Lincoln's administration, and was appointed judge advo- cate general of the United States army in 1862, head of the bureau of military justice with the rank of brigadier-general, in 1864, was made brevet major-general in 1865, and retired in 1875. He was conspicuous in the assassination trials following the death of the president. (See Rhodes, Vol. V.)

Homepark, a post-hamlet of Yazoo county, situated on the Yazoo river and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 4 miles north of Yazoo City. Population in 1900, 75; estimated at 150 in 1906.

Homewood, a post-hamlet of Scott county, 7 miles south of Forest, the county seat, and the nearest railroad and banking town. Population in 1900, 73. It has a splendid school, 2 grist and saw mills combined, 2 cotton gins, 2 churches, and 4 good stores.

Homochitto, a post-hamlet in the southwestern part of Copiah county, on the river of the same name. It is about 18 miles south- west of Hazlehurst, the county seat. Population in 1900, 24.

Hooker, a post-hamlet of Lawrence county, about 7 miles north of Monticello, the county seat, and 4 miles west of Silvercreek, the nearest railroad station, on the Gulf & Ship Island R. R. Popula- tion in 1900, 35.

Hooker, Charles E., was born in Union district, S. C., in 1825, son of Zadock Hooker. He attended Randolph-Macon College, Va., and graduated in the law department of Harvard, studying under Professors Story and Greenleaf. He moved to Jackson,

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Miss., married Fannie C. Sharkey, the adopted daughter of Judge William L. Sharkey, and became district attorney. In 1859 he was elected to the legislature, but resigned to enter the Confed- erate army as a private in the First regiment Mississippi light artillery. He was captain of his company during the siege of Vicksburg, where he lost his left arm. After being exchanged, he was promoted to colonel and assigned to duty as a member of the military court for the Army of Mississippi. At the close of the war he was elected attorney-general, and reelected in 1868, but with the other state officers was removed by the military authori- ties. He resumed his practice, and in 1875 was elected to Con- gress, where he served for eighteen years. He is distinguished as an orator, and in addition to political speeches, was the orator at the reunion of the army of Northern Virginia at New Orleans, and at the Confederate Reunion at Atlanta in 1898. He now re- sides at Jackson.

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 94

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association Number of Pages: 1030

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1030