Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II, Part 46

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1032

USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II > Part 46

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"Sec. 225. The Legislature may place the convicts on a State farm or farms and have them worked thereon under State supervi- sion exclusively, in tilling the soil or manufacturing, or both, and may buy farms for that purpose." See Board of Control.

The convention adopted an ordinance requiring the governor to appoint a commission to report on the subject of a convict farm. This commission, Ira G. Holloway, of Lafayette county, M. L. Jenkins, general manager of the penitentiary, R. B. Clark of Lee, W. F. Love of Amite and D. A. Love of Washington, in 1891 rec- ommended the establishment of a farm as the best solution of the

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penitentiary problem, and reported as to the desirability of sites. Gov. Stone advised the purchase of a tract in Rankin county.

The legislature did not act until 1894, when a commission was created to purchase not less than 4,000 nor more than 8,000 acres for a penitentiary farm or farms, and $125,000 was appropriated. The commission selected 3,200 acres in Rankin county at $5.50 per acre, and 4,800 in Yazoo county, at $15, which latter price the governor disapproved; whereupon 2,700 acres (Oakley place) were purchased in Hinds county for $20,000, and 2,000 acres on Honey island in Holmes county, (Belmont place), for $27,000. Gov. Stone regarded the farms as poorly adapted to the purpose, though worth the money, and advised the sale of two of them and the purchase of one large area in the delta, for negro prisoners, and the enlargement of the Rankin farms for whites. The farms were first worked in the year 1895, and there was net profit of $60,- 000, though the year was unfortunate agriculturally. A prison was built on the Rankin farm for the convicts not put to work, and after the old penitentiary was torn down (1900-01), buildings were used at the Oakley farm for the imprisonment of such con- victs. Such convicts as could not be provided for on the farms were worked on private plantations, with sharing contracts.

An act of 1900 required the establishment of a penitentiary farm or farms in addition to those already owned by the State, and the board of control was directed to make a purchase, $80,000 being appropriated. The board bought 13,789 acres in Sunflower county, at $5.78 per acre, very nearly the amount of the appropria- tion, and in 1901, four stockades were built and 2,000 acres cleared.

According to the report of 1902 the convict labor had been used in cultivating the four plantations of the State, known as the Rankin, Oakley, Belmont and Sunflower farms, and the board had also rented the Sandy Bayou plantation in Sharkey county and the Weathersby plantation in Coahoma, also cultivating nine planta- tions on the share system.

On the Sunflower farm in 1904, several stockades, or convict quarters, had been built, a well-equipped hospital, residences for sergeants and officers, barns, etc., four artesian wells bored, pro- ducing a better water supply than on any other of the farms. The farm, which had been bought for $80,000 was then appraised at $400,000. Gov. Longino said the policy of the board was not .to hastily abandon all leases, but to gradually work away from them as the delta farm was prepared for cultivation. Up to January 1904, 3,500 acres of leased land had been abandoned. Again in the winter and spring of 1902-03 the convicts were put upon the levees to protect them from a great river flood.

Gov. Vardaman in his inaugural address, 1904, urged that the board of control should be abolished, and management of peniten- tiary affairs intrusted to one man, on the ground that the members of the board had other and ample official duties, and responsibility was so divided that efficient management was difficult. In his mes- sage of 1906 he renewed this recommendation, and severely criti-

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cised the action of the board in "contracting with a member of the legislature to work his plantation on shares," when there were 8,000 acres of land to be cleared on the Sunflower farm of timber which had been deadened and was ready to be put on the market. There were cleared lands, available for farming-5,000 acres on the Sunflower farm, 1,200 on the Belmont place, 600 or 800 on the Rankin farm and 1,500 on the Oakley place; most of the latter was rented out to small farmers. "If the State can make money work- ing a private individual's land and giving that private individual half the products of the convict's toil, I cannot understand why it cannot make more money working its own land and keeping the entire products of the convict's toil." In December, 1904, the board of control discarded the use of all plantations belonging to private persons except Sandy Bayou, belonging to State Senator H. J. McLaurin. At the December meeting, 1905, the board pro- posed to enter into another contract to work the Sandy Bayou farm, and Gov. Vardaman obtained a temporary injunction against such action, but this was afterward dissolved by the supreme court, and the board was sustained. A law was passed by the legis- lature of 1906, while this question was still being argued, forbid- ding the working of convicts on lands other than that owned by the State of Mississippi in fee simple, with the exception of work on levees, public works and public roads. A committee of the house investigated the management of the Oakley farm, at which is maintained the general hospital of the farm system, and made serious charges. The hospital was declared to be a "huge shack, absolutely unfitted" for its purpose; it had many windows open to the winter weather, and enormous quantities of whiskey were re- ceived. The committee urged the sale of the Oakley farm, concen- tration of all able-bodied negro convicts at the Sunflower farm, transfer of the sick from the delta to the hill farm in Rankin, and that penitentiary affairs be divorced from politics, and civil ser- vice rules adopted.

The governor further said in his 1906 message: "Partisan poli- tics should be absolutely eliminated from the penitentiary manage- ment. I say it with profound regret, but without fear of successful contradiction, that for many years the penitentiary has been the one festering sore upon the body politic-poisoned by the virus of private personal cupidity-the most corrupt and corrupt- ing influence in State politics." The governor estimated the pen- itentiary property as representing a capital invested of nearly $2,- 000,000. "The penitentiary farms should be the model farms of the State. They should be used to demonstrate upon a large scale the advantages to the farmers of experiments made at the Agricultural and Mechanical college on a small scale. Scientific agriculture, tile draining, fertilization of soil, growth of plants, should be the lessons taught upon the State's plantations. Intelligent direction, with the absolute control of the labor, would make that easy of accomplishment, and at the same time pecuniarily profitable to

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the State, also instructive to the convict, which lessons would be of use to him in after life."

W. W. Simonton, for the revenue agent, reported in 1906, after a thorough investigation of the penitentiary management, that the State had expended on the Sunflower farm, $335,073; that $256,- 308 had been received from the farm in cash, and the property was inventoried at $420,335, real estate, and $112,074 personalty. Another report of 1906 showed the total value of prison property to be $871,669.

The realty used by the Board of Control as State farms is sum- marized as follows:

Oakley place, 2,700 acres, valued at $36,900.

Rankin place, 3,200 acres, valued at $48,900.

Belmont place, 2,000 acres, valued at $67,125.

Sunflower place, 13,739 acres, valued at $477,224.

The total acreage of the four convict farms is 21,689 acres, val- ued at $630,549.

The total personalty valuation is $241,120 and the personalty is divided as follows: Oakley, $17,740; Rankin, $43,227; Belmont, $20,743 ; Sunflower, $158,038 ; Sandy Bayou, $1,830 ; office of Board of Control, $487 ; total, $241,120.

Penn, a post-hamlet in the southwestern part of Lowndes county, on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, about 15 miles from Columbus, the county seat and nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 100.

Pensacola campaign, 1861. The famous "Castor and Pollux" regiments, the 9th, Col. J. R. Chalmers and 10th, Col. S. M. Phil- lips, were organized at Pensacola in April, 1861. They partici- pated in the night attack on Pensacola and Santa Rosa island, Oc- tober 8, 1861, and served in Fort McRae during the bombardment in November. At Pensacola also served the Quitman light artil- lery, Capt. W. S. Lovell. Other Mississippi regiments were sent to this place in 1861-the 5th, Col. A. E. Fant, 8th, Col. C. G. Flynt ; 27th, Col. T. M. Jones. Col. Jones was in command when the evacuation was ordered. The regiments were then transferred to Corinth, and most of them were brigaded as Chalmers' brigade.

Pensions. An act of the legislature of 1888 made the first pro- vision for the disabled soldiers of the Confederate armies in the war of 1861-65. There had been pensioners in the State from an early date, comprising soldiers of the United States in the war of the Revolution, the war of 1812, and the war with Mexico; after 1865, for the war of 1861-65; and since 1898 there have been pen- sioners of the Spanish war. The act of 1888 provided an annual pension of $30 to soldiers or sailors of the Confederacy who had lost an arm or leg, or were incapacitated by wounds, and had no adequate support, their servants who had lost an arm or leg, and widows of those who died in the service. The appropriation was limited to $21,000. If there were over 700 applicants the allowance was to be a less amount individually. In 1890 the limit was in- creased to $30,000.

The constitution of 1890 (section 272) required legislature to

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provide pensions for "indigent soldiers and sailors who enlisted and honorably served in the Confederate army and navy in the late civil war, who are now resident in this State and are not able to earn a support by their own labor," also to indigent widows of sol- diers and sailors. Under this provision the legislature authorized an expenditure of not more than $64,200 per annum, on the esti- mate that such an appropriation would give $50 annually to each one entitled to a pension under the laws. In consequence of a large increase in the number, only $32.25 was paid to each pensioner in 1892, and afterward less. Governor Stone said in 1894 that many were receiving pensions who, under a proper administration of the law, would not be entitled to them. Under the law the au- ditor of state was pension commissioner, with almost arbitrary powers, but he reported in 1895 that unworthy influences had "led to raiding this fund by the unworthy, to the injury of the strictly deserving." The number of beneficiaries were then about 3,000, and the annual allowance a little over $20. He urged the abolition of the pension system and the maintenance of a soldiers' home. The list increased and additional appropriations were made, In 1896 the appropriation was $75,000. Pensioners were classified, 33 receiving $100 a year, 176, $50; and 1,909, $25. The balance, about 2,000 white and 114 negroes, shared equally what remained. The law of 1904 provides for two grades of disability, pensions of $75 and $125 a year, and requires equal division of what remains of the fund among the others who are qualified. The pensions paid in 1905 amounted to $250,000.

Pentecost, a post-hamlet of Sunflower county, on the Sunflower river, and a station on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., about 10 miles northeast of Indianola, the county seat. Population in 1900, 23.

Penton, a hamlet in the western part of DeSoto county, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., near the Mississippi river, 16 miles distant from Hernando, the county seat. It has a money or- der postoffice. Population in 1900, 65.

Peoria, a postoffice of Amite county, on the Liberty-White R. R. A large brick plant and ginnery are located here.

Perch, a postoffice in the eastern part of Lincoln county, 12 miles southeast of Brookhaven, the county seat.

Percy, a hamlet in the southern part of Washington county, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley, and the Southern Railroads. Roll- ing Fork is the nearest banking town. It has a money order post- office. Population in 1900, 100.

Percy, W. A., was a native of Huntsville, Ala., but lived in Washington county, Miss., from boyhood until the time of his death. He was a grandson of Capt. Percy, of the British navy, who settled in the Natchez province in colonial days. He was graduated at Princeton, and took a law course in the University of Virginia, but before he began practice the war came on. He was an uncompromising union man, but when the State seceded, led to battle the first company of soldiers that left his county. He rose

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to the rank of colonel and served through the war. When the war was over he moved from his plantation home to Greenville, where he began the practice of law, was successful and attained high rank. He was the acknowledged leader against negro rule in the delta counties during reconstruction; served in the legisla- ture and was speaker of the house; was a great champion of levee interests. He was one of the famous committee of seven which in 1875 issued a call for the reorganization of the Democratic party. His untimely death in 1888, cut short a brilliant career.

Perier, Governor. Boisbriant had administered the affairs of the colony less than a year when M. de Perier arrived in the colony in the autumn of 1726 to succeed Bienville as governor-general. The new governor was a naval officer of distinction and a knight of St. Louis. Bienville's downfall had been the result of bitter opposition on the part of the other officers of the colony. The Council of the India company believed that much of the wrangling in the colony was due to the Le Moynes, and it was deemed only fair to the new appointee to oust Bienville's relatives and friends from office. His brother Chateaugué was deposed as royal lieu- tenant, and his two nephews, Captain and Ensign Noyan, were ex- cluded from the service. Perier found things in a more or less chaotic condition on his arrival, and at once set to work to estab- lish the colony on a more prosperous basis. He gave every en- couragement to agriculture, and the officers vied with the other colonists in opening up new plantations. More slaves were sent by the company, who were distributed by Perier among the various plantations with the greatest impartiality. Settlers who had never been able to work their plantations before, on account of the ab- sence of the necessary labor, now received some of the negroes and began to prosper. A decree was issued that those who had not properly improved their concessions should surrender them to the company. A tax was levied for the building of churches and hospitals. The expenses of the colony for the year 1728 were $89,919. "The settlements," says Dumont, "formed at Natchez, though a hundred leagues from the residence of the new com- mandant, prospered more and more every day, by the care he took to supply the post with all that could render it solid and flourish- ing."

Such was the state of affairs when the greatest disaster that had yet overtaken the colony occurred. Perier, on his arrival, had found the attitude of the Indian tribes anything but satisfactory. They were discontented and threatening, and he was forced to ex- act stern reprisals for several acts of hostility, and to recommend stronger garrisons at the posts. Bienville had always kept clear of any serious trouble with the Indians, who feared and respected him. They had not yet been taught to fear Perier, who had no great tact in his dealings with them. In December, 1729, the Natchez suddenly arose and massacred nearly all the French in their midst, and utterly destroyed the prosperous settlements. The Yazoos followed their example at that post. The most alarming

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rumors were now current and the French feared for the existence of the colony. Fortunately none of the other tribes arose. Perier acted with commendable promptness, enlisted the powerful tribe of Choctaws in his behalf, and that of the Tonicas, and sent a strong expedition to attack the Natchez in their strongholds. The French women and children held captives by the Natchez were rescued or surrendered, and the Natchez were driven across the Mississippi, pursued by the Choctaw allies of the French. Inces- sant war was waged against the Natchez by Perier, until the once powerful tribe was practically exterminated, in the vicinity of the present town of Trinity, Catahoula Parish, La., in 1732.

The long wars with the Indians had proved very expensive, and the Royal India Company was now bankrupt. It petitioned the Crown for the right to surrender its charter, given it in 1717 for 25 years, which was granted. The opportunity was now taken to reorganize the affairs of the colony. The superior council was placed on a new basis by patent dated May 7, 1732. The author- ities of Canada, or New France, had always claimed jurisdiction over the lower Mississippi. The province of Louisiana was now definitely detached, and to it was annexed the Illinois country. M. de Perier was reappointed governor, Salmon, intendant, d'Ar- taguette and Loubois, lieutenant-governor, and Fleuriau, attorney- general. A vicar-general, resident in New Orleans, the Capital, was also decreed. In the effort to revive commerce, all duty was removed from merchandise exported from France into the colony, and on exports from the colony to France. This at last was a step in the right direction, and met an immediate response from the colonists and from the merchants of France. The colonists began to prosper and trade at once expanded. Perier, however, served but one year under the new order, and was recalled to France upon the request of the colonists, who demanded that Bienville be returned to the colony.

Perkinston, a village in the north-central part of Harrison county, one mile south of Red river, and a station on the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., 30 miles by rail north of Gulfport. It has a money order postoffice, an express office and a turpentine distil- lery. Population in 1900, 165; estimated at 200 in 1906.

Perkinsville, a post-hamlet of Winston county, about 13 miles east of Louisville, the county seat, and 19 miles west of Macon. It has a church and a good school. Population in 1900, 44.

Permanent Committee. As noted in the article "Revolution of 1797," a committee, headed by Anthony Hutchins, made terms with Governor Gayoso, June 22, 1797. Col. Daniel Clark, in a let- ter describing the events of this period, written, just before his death, to W. C. C. Claiborne, said that "the malcontents, notwith- standing the convention agreed upon, still continued in an ill humour, and consisted of two parties; the first respectable and wealthy, the other poor and without fixed principles. The first were those who complained that Governor Gayoso had, at various times, insulted, wronged, and refused to grant land to them: These

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consisted of Colonel Hutchins, Colonel Green, their families and numerous connexions, who had no other object in contemplation than to avenge themselves of the tyrant Gayoso, as they generally styled him, for the supposed injuries he had done them. The second party was in general composed of low characters, inured to the practice of murdering and plundering, during the revolu- tionary war, in the Southern States of the Union, and after, or about the time of peace, sought for, and obtained the Spanish gov- ernment in this country." The latter, said Clark, had arranged a scheme of plunder and murder of the wealthier planters, as soon a condition of anarchy could be established. "Partitions of the slaves and property of the most affluent were actually agreed upon. Two miscreants fell into dispute, fought, and wounded each other, respecting the possession of a slave of one of the pro- scribed." (Sargent Papers, p. 29.) "A list of those devoted vic- tims had been formed and agreed on, but fortunately was discovered. This excited vigor in the threatened planters, and checked the horrid design from being carried into execution. It was believed by Governor Gayoso, as well as by Messrs. Ellicott and Pope, and indeed by every orderly and well meaning inhabi- tant of the country, that the above evils must necessarily ensue, if some measures were not adopted to prevent them. A second committee was more regularly chosen, by precepts issued by Gov- ernor Gayoso, directed to each of the nine townships into which the government was formed, and ordered to attend at Natchez to cooperate with the governor in preserving good order and the general peace of the country, and to watch that no infraction of the convention should be adopted. This was styled the Perma- nent Committee." Several prominent inhabitants visited Gayoso during his confinement to discuss the situation, Clark among them. As the governor returned from the fort to his home on the 23d he had an interview with Ellicott, who urged him to authorize the election of a permanent body "to aid in preserving good order and the peace of the country." This was in the line of Ellicott's policy to promote some sort of peaceful organization independent of the Spanish, that would be a center for action in case of necessity to oppose the Spanish intrigues. At the same time, it established, to some extent, American government in the district. Gayoso, by proclamation next day, called an election, which took place about the first of July. The committee of nine that was chosen was as follows :

Joseph Bernard, Peter B. Bruin, Daniel Clark, Gabriel Benoist, Philander Smith, Isaac Gaillard, Roger Dixon, William Ratliff and Frederick Kimball. These men were all strongly attached to the United States, unless Kimball was in some doubt on account of his residence below the line. Bernard was chosen chairman of the committee, and held that office until his death, September 20. His successor was Gabriel Benoist, who died in the following sum- mer. Daniel Clark was a member later. The regular meeting

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place of the committee was in the house at Natchez rented by Ellicott as his headquarters.

It will be noted that Bernard, Ratliff, Benoist and Gaillard, of the first committee, were reelected, and Hutchins, West and Lin- tot not. In regard to Hutchins, Claiborne says that, being over eighty years of age, he declined serving on account of infirmities. Ellicott gives the same reason, and says this was contrary to the expectations of a number of gentlemen who were anxious to have him elected.

A political division began here. Like all the politics of that period, it involved the prejudices of the "late war," in which Hutchins had been loyal to the king, had suffered from Continental soldiers, had led an attack on them, had been a leader in the revolt against Spain and had fled to England for safety.

The committee adopted the policy of, "first, the securing of the country to the United States, and, secondly, the preservation of peace and good order in the settlement." On which Ellicott com- ments, "the first was contrary to the wishes of the officers of his Catholic majesty, and the second to those attached to the British interest, to which may be added another class, who had nothing to lose, but hoped to gain by the tumult and disorder." Col. Hutchins attended the first meeting of the committee as a specta- tor, but soon became hostile.

July 26 Gayoso received his appointment as governor-general of Louisiana and West Florida, to succeed Carondelet, and de- parted for New Orleans on the 30th, leaving Capt. Stephen Minor as acting commandant.

The efforts of the party led by Hutchins, and supported, Mr. Ellicott admits, by "several who held commissions under our gov- ernment," resulted in a meeting of a number of inhabitants at Natchez August 8, at which, evidently, it was resolved to depose the permanent committee and elect a new one that should, through an agent at the seat of government, be in communication with the United States congress. It seems likely that a manuscript peti- tion found in the Claiborne MSS., originated in this meeting. The petition is otherwise unexplained. It reads :

"We are only a few of the neutral inhabitants of the country of the Natchez, who are disposed to attend here with respect & es- teem towards you, and with no less Regard to our own rights & privileges. And as you were elected to be useful in promoting peace & good order so you have the sole & entire credit of your merits. Your circular letter we greatly approve of, as the apology therein fully attones for the supererogatory part of your well- intended conduct; and as we are willing to coincide with you in your numerous Salvas of impeaching the feeble head instead of the heart ; hence we, with a View of Salutary purposes, assure you it is our will to make known the intention of the generality of the people that we with you do name & fix upon a day whereon a man may be elected and chosen to represent us as Agent or Com- missioner to address and lay before Congress (should occasion re-

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II, Part 46

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1032