USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II > Part 17
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In his description of the regions explored on the left bank of the Mississippi from the Yazoo to Manchac, Mr. Putnam states that he saw but a few small streams of water, and none suitable for mills; that the only mill-seat he saw or heard of was on the Big Black. As a result of this exploration, says Mr. Putnam, "So favorable was the report of the committee, as to the quality of the land, climate, etc., and moderate terms on which the governor and council had engaged to grant them, that at a meeting of the mil- itary land company in the fall of 1773, at Hartford, they resolved to prosecute the settlement ; and during that autumn, winter, and spring following, several hundred families embarked from Massa- chusetts, Connecticut, and other places, for the purpose of settling on the lands we had explored. But they were sadly disappointed. On the 6th of October of that year, Gov. Chester received an order from the king in council, prohibiting him from granting any more lands, either on family rights, or on purchase, until the king's pleasure be further signified to him. Thus the land office was shut before the emigrants arrived, and indeed I believe before any of them sailed, and never opened afterwards." While the Provincials were much disappointed, they were permitted to occupy any vacant lands they could find. Says Hildreth, "the emigrants of 1774 ar- rived generally so late in the season, that many of them sickened and died in this new climate, and the war which soon followed, put a stop to any further attempts to prosecute the settlement."
In the instructions to Mr. Putnam as deputy surveyor, the sur- veyor-general of West Florida, Elias Dunford, required notices of important places on the river for landings, wharves, towns, etc. The townships were in no case to exceed in width one-third of their length, in order not to occupy too much space on the river bank. The whole grant from Gov. Chester embraced nineteen of these townships, intended to contain about 20,000 acres each, mak- ing the whole grant amount to 380,000 acres. The cost to the company was simply the fees of the officers of the government, amounting to five pounds sterling, or $18.20 for every thousand acres.
One member of the company, Capt. Michael Martyn, settled 45 miles up the river Amite, in August, 1774. He wrote that his fam- ily had been sick, but he was pleased with the country.
General Lyman, accompanied by his eldest son and a number of the other members of the company, and their families moved on to the Big Black river in the surveyed territory in 1774. It was his intention to get his plantation in shape for the reception of his family, who were to follow him later. However, when Mrs. Lyman and five more of his children arrived in 1776, she found both hus- band and son dead. She did not long survive him and died in 1777.
Captain Matthew Phelps in his "Memoirs" states that the fol- lowing were fellow voyagers on his two trips to the Mississippi country : In 1773-"Thaddeus and Phineas Lyman with eight
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slaves, these were from Suffield, as were likewise Moses and Isaac Sheldon, Roger Harmon, and one Hancks; Seth Miller, and Elisha and Joseph Flowers of Springfield ; Moses Drake, Ruggles Winchel, and Benjamin Barber of Westfield; Mr. Wolcott, from Winsor; Daniel and Roswell Magguet of Hartford; Thomas Comstock and Mr. Weed of New Hartford; Capt. Silas Crane, Robert Patrick, Ashbel Bowen, John Newcomb, and James Dean of Lebanon ; Abraham Knap of Norfolk; Giles, Nathaniel Hull, James Stoddert, and Thaddeus Bradley of Salisbury ; Ephraim Case and Hezekiah Reu from Sheffield; John Fisk and Elisha Hale of Wallingford ; Timothy Hotchkiss and David Hotchkiss of Waterbury; John Hyde, William Silkrag, Jonathan Lyon, and William Davis of Strafford or Derby. We sailed in the Gulf of Mexico, in company with a vessel from Connecticut, commanded by Captain West Goodrich of Durham, on board of which were Capt. Ladley of Hartford, since dead; General Lyman of Suffield, dead; Hugh White from Middletown; Thomas and James Lyman; Capt. Els- worth, Ira Whitmore, and - Sage, from Middletown and Major Early of Weathersfield. In a vessel that followed us the October following my sailing on my first voyage, there went to the same place James Harmon and family, and Elnathan Smith, of Suffield, William Hurlburt and Elijah Leonard, of Springfield, with a num- ber of slaves. On my second voyage I sailed in a vessel com- manded by Capt. Eggleston, with whom went passengers Major Timothy Dwight with a wife and one child; Sereno and Jonathan Dwight of Northampton; Benjamin Day, and family; Harry Dwight and three slaves; Joseph Leonard and Josiah Flowers, with their families, from Springfield ; Rev. Mr. Smith and family, from Granville, Mass .; the wife of Elnathan Smith, and family, who on her arrival found her husband was dead; Madam Lyman with three sons and two daughters, children of General Lyman, whom with one son she found dead on her arrival, the knowledge of whose death she survived but a few days; and John Felt and family, from Suffield. There are several others who accompanied me in my two voyages, whose memories I shall ever respect, al- though their names have escaped my recollection."
In the "History of the Mississippi Valley" by Spears and Clark (1903) it is stated "In 1773 General Lyman, of Connecticut, and some military friends, laid out several additions to the old French settlement at Natchez, and to that point no less than 400 families emigrated during the year named, passing down the Ohio in flat boats, while an unrecorded host travelled by way of Boatyard, Sullivan county, Tenn." Among the old land grants of this period, which can still be found among the files of the land office for the Natchez District, is one of 20,000 acres, on Bayou Pierre to Thad- deus Lyman, dated October 27, 1772.
The colonists erected a mill at the falls on the Big Black and planned to ship lumber to New Orleans. This prospect was blasted, however, by the Spanish prohibition of that trade soon after.
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In the year 1802, the survivors of the colony, about one hundred in number, reorganized themselves, and petitioned congress for a confirmation of their old grants, but it does not appear that any- thing was done for them. Thus ended this famous land venture, which caused a good deal of excitement in New England at the time.
Lynch, Charles, came to Mississippi from South Carolina, and was a resident of Monticello. "His retired country life, domestic habits, agricultural pursuits and associations among the laboring portion of the community, were admirably well calculated to enable him to prepare his highly cultivated mind for future usefulness." In 1822, the legislature conferred upon him the appointment of judge of probate of Lawrence county. He accepted it reluctantly, for he was not a lawyer. In 1824 he was elected to the State senate, where he served in 1825-27. In August, 1827 he was re- elected for the district of Simpson and Lawrence. He was selected as the leader of the Jacksonian Democracy in the senate, and was the author of the resolution of 1828, remonstrating against the United States bank, and the introduction of a branch in Missis- sippi. In January, 1829, he was a candidate for the United States senate, supported by Plummer and others. But, as it is stated in a campaign biography of Lynch, "the Aristocratic, Federal and Bank party triumphed in the election of Hon. Thomas B. Reed." Being again elected to the senate in 1830 Lynch opposed the intro- duction of a branch of the bank, but in this he was overruled by the majority. After the adoption of the new constitution he was again elected to the senate, and chosen president of that body in January, 1833. Upon the death of Gov. Scott, June 12, 1833, he became acting governor of the State, and so continued until Gov. Runnells was inaugurated in November. In his annual message to the legislature, that met in the latter month, he took a bold stand against the course of the Calhoun party in South Carolina. "Be- wildered," said he, "in the mazes of theory, they glided with as- tonishing facility over facts that are destructive of the conclusions to which they arrive, and become the ready victims of passion and continued prejudice. The prompt action of the chief magis- trate, and the expression of an overwhelming majority of the American people, have met and denounced the doctrine of nulli- fication in a voice so decided as to blast the hopes of the enemy of free governments ; and affords to us and to the world the highest evidence of the intelligence, virtue and fidelity of the people, with the cheering assurance that our union and liberty shall live for- ever." He urgently recommended the establishment of primary schools in every neighborhood. He was also a firm friend of internal improvements. In 1829 he was a member of the State board and made a report recommending the opening of various rivers to navigation. It was claimed by his friends that he deserved the title of father of the system of internal improvement. But his plan, for the building of three railroads, through the State, con- necting the most important points, was neglected in favor of
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various schemes for the benefit of speculators in which vast sums of money, drawn from the people, were squandered.
In the famous campaign of 1835 he came out for governor in op- position to the caucus nominee of the Democratic party, Hiram G. Runnells, and was supported by those who favored the reëlec- tion of Senator Poindexter ; while the supporters of Runnels fav- ored the election of Robert J. Walker. It appears that the friend- ship of Lynch for Jackson, and his opposition to nullification,
were expected to counteract the record of Poindexter. In this combination David Dickson and James C. Wilkins were the can- didates for congress, and Silas Brown was named for secretary of state, John P. Gilbert for auditor, and C. C. Mayson for treas- urer. The Walker-Runnels ticket was J. F. H. Claiborne and B. W. Edwards for congress, B. W. Benson for secretary of state, J. H. Mallory for auditor, Upton Miller for treasurer.
The opposition called Lynch "the White, alias VanBuren, alias Jackson, alias anti-Jackson, alias anything candidate." He had the support of the United States bank, the State banks, and the enemies of both, and was elected governor by a majority of 426. Edwards and Claiborne were chosen for congress; Benson, Mal- lory and Mason for the other offices, and an anti-Poindexter leg- islature. Gov. Lynch was inaugurated in January, 1836. In his inaugural address, read by the great Whig leader of Mississippi, Adam L. Bingaman, there was this appropriate passage :
"But, gentlemen, there are occasional intervals in this bustle and vicissitude of human affairs, that fall upon the spirits like an evening's calm, and prompt us to still and control the turbulence of thought, which the day may have brought forth ; soberly to review our past conduct, and to ponder well on the future. Under such profound impressions, the mind is brought to pause ; by reflection it is chastened, and we rise from our meditations with our hearts softened if not subdued; feeling in the approaching desolation of nature alike the littleness of our angry passions and the disposition to merge them in the more charitable and lofty feelings engendered by that kindred evening which must soon close upon us all."
The vexed question of State sovereignty had been elaborately discussed in the message of his immediate predecessor, Acting- Governor Quitman, who held the theory of a sort of divine, "sa- cred and intangible" State, in which was perpetuated the "sover- eignty" of ancient government. Governor Lynch said: "Our government was the first and as yet is the only one, fairly and fully bottomed on the sovereignty of the people. . As a nation we have experienced a degree of prosperity and happiness far beyond the enjoyment of any other government, nor is there a people on earth upon whom the preservation of liberty and the universal welfare, impose such dread obligations. The eyes of the friends of liberty from every quarter of the globe are turned upon us with intense interest."
After the close of his service as governor Mr. Lynch was en- trusted, as sole commissioner, with the completion of the State
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house, and governor's mansion, which still stand, and the peniten- tiary, which has given way to the present Capitol. He was also burdened with the presidency of the Alabama & Mississippi rail- road and banking company, which had been expected to build a railroad from Jackson east, but was then in a state of collapse.
A legislative committee on public buildings reported in 1840 : "The State was fortunate in procuring the services of a gentle- man so well qualified, and who devoted his unremitting attention to the duties of his office. Your committee cannot with- hold from him that praise that is due to a public officer who has discharged his duty with marked industry, integrity and skill."
In the later years of his life Gov. Lynch resided at a plantation home near Jackson. He died February 9, 1853, aged 70 years.
Lynch's Administration. The legislature provided an elaborate ceremonial for the inauguration of Governor Lynch, in the pres- ence of both houses, the judges, and other distinguished individu- als invited. The oath was to be administered by Chief Justice Sharkey, the governor escorted by Joseph A. McCraven, sergeant- at-arms for the occasion. "The sergeant-at-arms will then pro- claim at the door of the capitol that Charles Lynch is installed governor and commander-in-chief of the army, navy and militia of the State of Mississippi." So it was performed Jan. 7, 1836. The officers serving with him were B. W. Benson, secretary of state; James Phillips, treasurer ; James H. Mallory, auditor. M. D. Patton was attorney-general until 1837, succeeded by T. F. Collins.
John A. Quitman, acting governor, said in his message to the legislature, that the public treasury was in a flourishing condition. "The revenue of the State is rapidly increasing beyond the amount required for the necessary expenses of the government." But the revenue and the financial resources of the State government, as well as the current money of the people, was mainly in notes of the Planters and other banks, and the resources of the banks, to make the notes good, were either money borrowed on State bonds or the notes and mortgages of planters payable in the notes of the banks. There was great activity in the sale of lands opened up by the Choctaw and Chickasaw treaties-in large degree a reckless scram- ble by corrupt and unscrupulous speculators. There was a prev- alent disregard of those principles of faith and honor that make society possible. The year 1836 is described in the State histories as "the most prosperous year in the State's history." Yet Auditor Mallory reported that it was impossible to collect many of the notes given by purchasers of seminary lands. "The payment of the whole of the notes is secured by the most responsible sureties, yet many of the notes have not been paid. Believing that the defalcation of the purchasers has been caused by the late fall of the price of cotton, I would respectfully recommend that the leg- islature extend to them an indulgence of another year." The "prosperity" was mainly fictitious or speculative. Public leaders had blindly fed the fever with the extravagant issue of State bonds,
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and the spirit of speculation was so pervasive of two continents that these bonds could be sold at a premium in New York and London. The bursting of the bubble was now close at hand. At the same time the State was agitated by the Texas revolution. (q. v.)
The legislature of 1836 provided for the erection of ten new counties in the Chickasaw lands, and three more were set apart from the original counties of the Choctaw region. The building of a penitentiary was provided for and further appropriation made for the state house. George Poindexter was defeated in his am- bition for reelection as senator, by Robert J. Walker.
The presidential election of 1836 was closely contested by the Democrats, whose candidate was VanBuren, and the Whigs, who voted for Hugh L. White, of Tennessee. VanBuren carried the State by 300 majority. The electors were Hiram G. Runnels, Thomas Hinds, P. R. R. Pray and Reuben R. Grant.
When the legislature of January, 1837, met, the trouble about the representation of new counties, which came up in Runnels' administration, was renewed. Gov. Lynch refused to issue writs of election to these counties in 1836, for the election of representa- tives. But the "boards of police," as the county boards were called, called elections, and representatives from the new counties presented themselves at the extra session of January, 1837, to which date the legislature had adjourned in 1836, although the constitution contemplated biennial sessions. In his message the governor advised the legislature to transact only such business as was urgent, and provide for a new apportionment in time for the election in November following.
The legislature did not do this. The house admitted the claim- ants to seats. No new apportionment was made. Instead, an act of the most disastrous character was passed, incorporating the Union bank, also an act incorporating a company to build the proposed Nashville and New Orleans railroad, west of Pearl river, called the "Boa Constrictor," and bitterly opposed by Natchez. In the house Adam L. Bingaman favored the admission of the new members and Prentiss opposed it in a great speech, to which Bingaman replied. In the senate George Winchester led in the opposition. Winchester and five other senators, and nine- teen representatives led by Prentiss issued an address to the peo- ple, declaring that the seating of the representatives was an act of revolution and anarchy, and contempt of the constitution. A protest was also spread on the journal of the house, asserting that the proceeding had disorganized the house and made its acts of no legal authority. The legislature adjourned January 21.
The people were already experiencing what was called a cur- tailment of currency. In other words, the fantastic operations of speculators were becoming visible in a true light, and men who had money were refusing to lend it for such purposes. The United States government had instructed the land offices to demand coin in payment for lands. Gov. Lynch was disposed to blame all the
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approaching troubles upon this executive act. But the whole policy of Andrew Jackson, in his bank fight, leading up to the present situation, had been toward a return to specie payments,- "hard money." The governor argued that the great issue of paper money by the banks, added to the specie, had caused a decrease of value of both paper and specie, as compared with commodities, and tended to the rapid increase of prosperity and wealth. The confusion of money and credit in his mind was the same as has appeared in later years. Consequently he could give no advice of value in the presence of danger, and, with some little hesitation, he advised the incorporation of the Union bank, involving an enor- mous increase in the debt of the State, and suggested the sale of the bonds in Europe, because New York capitalists were becoming cautious.
The crisis arrived in March, 1837, and on the 31st, Gov. Lynch summoned a special session of the legislature to meet April 7, 1837. His reasons were, "Whereas, I have received information within the last few days, from various parts of the State, indicating in a serious point of view the pecuniary embarrassment of the community, growing out of the unparalleled pressure of the times, which precludes the usual moneyed facilities. And, whereas, a combination of circumstances calls for and renders necessary the convocation of the legislature, with a view of averting as far as may be by the suitable and speedy action of that body, the im- pending ruin that seems to threaten a large portion of our citi- zens."
Gen. M. Hunt, "minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordi- nary from the republic of Texas" to the United States, and the presidents of the banks of the State were invited to seats within the bar of the house. John L. Irwin, speaker, having resigned, Mr. Vannerson was elected on the 19th ballot, after 16 ballots had failed to elect Mr. Brown, or Mr. King. Bills were introduced asking the "United States bank" of Pennsylvania to establish a branch in Mississippi, also various propositions to relieve debtors or hardship. The governor had called the bankers of the State to the capital to consult with the legislature. In his message he suggested the issue of post notes, running 13 months, to relieve the banks, the notes to be accepted by the State treasury as money. The governor did not credit the objection that such notes would immediately sink below par and do more harm than good. He laid the blame of the situation upon the interstate slave trade, the drain of wealth to New Orleans, and too much paper money.
The State had been "under the grinding, withering and bitter effects" of high rates of interest, and the almost entire dependence, in order to raise money on any terms, upon bills drawn on the commission houses of New Orleans. The late extensive failures cut off the supply of this sort of credit, and the State was thrown upon its own resources, when it was discovered that the Missis- sippi banks were creditors of the same houses. The banks were compelled to suddenly restrict their credit to planters and call in
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loans. "We are fully competent to manage all our commercial operations within our own borders; and so long as we consent to be tributary to a large, monopolizing and in some respects a for- eign emporium, we may expect to experience the disasters with which we are at present visited."
One committee reported that if there were no change "the proud, chivalrous freemen" of Mississippi must become "the vassals of New Orleans."
But there was suspicion that the governor's anxiety was over active in behalf of the banks. A committee waited upon him to ask for the "memorials and petitions" he had alluded to in his message as a cause for calling a special session. He refused to submit to such an invasion of his prerogative, and hoped if he had misconceived the true state of affairs the legislature would prevent any harm coming from the extra session. Subsequently the house resolved that while there was some difference of opinion on the subject, all united in the opinion that his excellency was actuated by none other than motives of the most exalted character, and the kind, sympathetic and generous feelings that prompted him were duly commended.
Among the other evils of the time, the law permitted the court officers to tax the full amount of costs in collection cases against each surety severally, and the officials continued to reap a rich harvest, until the law was reformed. Felix H. Walker proposed that the State issue twenty million in treasury notes, to be loaned on real estate. When an act of legislature was proposed author- izing the State treasurer to receive a deposit of the surplus money of the United States treasury, Mr. Walker protested, on the ground that the surplus had been acquired by constitutional means-the protective tariff. The deposit was received, however. (See Mc- Nutt's Administration.)
James Phillips reported a resolution asking for a branch of the "United States bank" of Pennsylvania, as the speediest way to obtain a circulating medium "equal to gold and silver." Phillips said "The main and most certain relief of our country rests upon the resources of the agricultural interests; and nothing but a sufficient time for their proper development is necessary to reduce and even extinguish the heavy burthen of debts which at present exist, restore public confidence and mutual forbearance between citizen and citizen."
This session of the house admitted 12 members from new coun- ties, and in the opinion of many rendered the acts of the house of no effect. In protest, George Winchester and others resigned.
The State census of 1837 showed a total white population of 144,351; slaves, 164,393. Acres of land in cultivation, 1,048,530; number of bales of cotton produced, 317,783. The white popula- tion of the larger towns were, Natchez 3,731, Vicksburg 2,796, Columbus 1,448, Jackson 529, Clinton 613, Grand Gulf 490. Port Gibson, Woodville and Grenada were the only other towns hav- ing over 400 whites.
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The congressional elections in 1837 were very exciting (see Prentiss, S. S.) and the campaign for governor equally so. There were four candidates for governor, Alexander G. McNutt, anti- bank Democrat; Maj. Benjamin W. Edwards, a Democrat simply ; and two Whigs, Col. John A. Grimball and Dr. Jacob B. Morgan. Edwards died in the midst of the campaign and the result of the balloting was: McNutt 12,936; Morgan, 9,896; Grimball, 4,974.
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