USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II > Part 48
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The committee of a Natchez meeting, David Ferguson and others, communicated with Capt. Guion, May 1, 1798, suggesting the need of a temporary government, saying that "we the inhabi- tants of this town have entered into a resolution to use our exer- tions towards effecting the erection of a Temporary Government until that duly authorized by Congress shall arrive," for "the mending of roads, removing public nuisances, establishing of a town patrol, suppressing riots and punishing riotous persons," preventing sale of intoxicants to Indians and regulating the col- lection of debts. Guion, in response, said he would support any regulations that the freeholders would agree upon and subscribe to, and made a similar diplomatic response to William Vousdan, when the latter wrote, May 9, that a convention was proposed at Belk's tavern.
About this time (May 5) Col. Hutchins, writing to the secre- tary of state, ended his letter: "And on finishing this scrawl an account arrived that this country was really organized without any regard to the Memorial the people greatly lament the slight and many will leave the Country & are preparing to remove among the Spaniards which I am heartily sorry for."
It is asserted in Ellicott's Journal that Colonel Hutchins actu- ally did ask permision to move into the Spanish territory, and that it was refused. He remained, at any rate, to be equally active under other circumstance, and lead the dominant party of the new Territory, notwithstanding his great age.
Perrin du Lac's Visit. Francois Marie Perrin du Lac was a French colonial administrator who traveled through the United States and explored the southern and western States, visiting Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania, during the years 1801-1803. He published a volume on his travels in these regions and below will be found a few extracts which bear more particularly on the region embraced in the present State of Mississippi: "I rejoined my boat, which I had left at the mouth of the river (Arkansas) and proceeded on my voyage down the Mississippi. From thence to Natchez, the navigation offers noth- ing either agreeeble or interesting. Immense forests border the river, and the banks, but little elevated, are inundated at least once every year.
"Natchez is the only important place possessed by the United States on the Mississippi, below the mouth of the Ohio. It con-
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tains twelve or fifteen thousand inhabitants, freemen and slaves. Most of the proprietors are enriched by the culture of cotton, for which the lands are extremely well suited. The town, which is built on high ground at the distance of one mile from the river, contains fine houses and rich shops. It is the staple of all kinds of merchandise for the southern colonies. Almost all the proprietors of this little state, being emigrants from the southern provinces, have brought with them the political principles there professed. They are Federalists, consequently not favorers of the present president. (Jefferson.) Natchez is cultivated in an extent of fifty miles in length, and twenty in breadth. The air is healthy, the climate agreeable, and it may be presumed, that it will shortly be one of the most powerful and populous provinces of the United States."
"The last post of the United States on the Mississippi, is Roche à Davion, where the Americans have built a fort, called by the name of one of their generals, Wilkinson. Here the headquarters of their small army are established. There are also some armed vessels for the defence of the place. All the vessels that descend the river are obliged to stop here, and declare to what nation they belong, and the nature of their cargoes. Those that ascend pay here the duties on their merchandize, if destined for the American part. Some miles below Roche à Davion, are the limits marked out by Spain and the United States, in 1798. It is a road thirty feet wide, and its direction exactly from east to west: it crosses the lands belonging to the Chickasaws, and divides the two Floridas from the States of Georgia and South Carolina."
In a subsequent passage, our author thus characterizes the Mis- sissippi :
"The Mississippi, navigable to an extent of eight hundred leagues, is indisputably one of the finest rivers in North America. The numerous rivers which flow into it, render its proprietor the sole possessor of all the commerce of the North-West part of this continent. By means of the Ohio, the inhabitants receive the products of the western provinces of the United States; by the Illinois they proceed to Canada; and by the Missouri, there is no doubt but that they may penetrate as far as the countries near the Pacific Ocean.
"It is difficult to describe the rapidity with which the Missis- sippi flows, when swelled by rain, or the melting of the snow. It is then so great, that boats have often descended from Upper Louisiana as far as New Orleans in six days, which is a distance of 1,300 leagues. Its banks are covered by the trunks of trees which being concealed by the water, present continual danger to navigators. For this reason, captains are obliged to keep an at- tentive eye, in order to prevent accidents, which notwithstanding their vigilance often occur."
His reference to the obstructions placed on the free navigation of the Mississippi after the treaty of San Lorenzo are interesting : "By the treaty of 1796 (1795) with the United States, the King of
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1
Spain engaged to give them a depot at New Orleans for the mer- chandize destined to ascend the Mississippi, and for the overplus of the products of the Western States. This depot, which was granted to them for three years, was to have been (if his Catho- lic Majesty was unwilling to continue it) replaced by some other, equally advantageous to both governments. Without re- spect to this part of the treaty, the president of the United States was informed some time before my arrival, that not only the port remained shut; but that also a depot was forbidden to the Amer- ican merchants. This breach of faith could not fail to exasperate the Western States which have no other channel for disposing of the overplus of their productions. It has since appeared, that this measure was not authorized by the Spanish government, but was the result of the desire of injuring, and of hatred to the French."
Perry County was established quite early in the history of the State, February 3, 1820, and originally formed the western part of the large county of Greene. (q. v.) The act creating the county defined its boundaries as follows: "Beginning on the line of de- marcation where the line that divides the thirteenth and fourteenth ranges intersects the said line of demarcation; thence with said range line to where the fifth parallel township line crosses the same; thence east with the said township line, to where the line that divides the eighth and ninth ranges crosses the same; thence with the line of demarcation; thence west to the beginning." The county has been since enlarged by adding townships 1, in ranges 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, south of the 31st parallel, and township 5, in range 14, north of the 31st parallel, so that it now embraces a total area of thirty-one townships. Its population has always been small in proportion to its acres. Within recent years its valuable timber resources have been partially exploited and it has taken on a new and permanent growth ; from a total of 6,456 inhabitants in 1890, it increased to 14,682 in 1900, a rate of increase considerably in excess of one hundred per cent. It received its name in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, and was settled by a large number of hardy pioneers along its watercourses during the first years of the last century. Its civil officers during the first year of its existence were Jacob H. Morris, Chief Justice of the Quorum, and John Jenkins, John Green, Jacob Carter, Craven P. Moffitt, Associate Justices ; Alex. Mckenzie, Eli Moffitt, Benj. H. G. Hart- field, William Hudson, John Moffitt, Seth Granberry, Lewis W. Ball, Henry Easterling, Wm. Reynolds, Justices of the Peace; John McDonald, Assessor and Collector; Geo. Harrison, Ranger; Joel Lewis, Surveyor ; John Barlow, Constable; Wm. Tisdale, Cor- oner; J. J. H. Morris, Notary Public; Martin Chadwick, Sheriff. Some of the other county officers, 1821-1827, were Griffin Hollo- mon, J. J. H. Morris, John F. Mapp, Abner Carter, Judges of Pro- bate; Lewis Rhodes, Sheriff; Anthony Pitts, Adam Ulmer, Jona- than Taylor, Geo. B. Dameron, Sterling Brinson, John Deace. Daniel Miley, James Simmons, Sherod Byrd, Isham H. Clayton,
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James Overstreet, Uriah Millsapp, Justices of the Peace; Hugh McDonald, Treasurer ; Farr Proctor, Geo. Harrison, Lewis Rhodes, Assessors and Collectors. It is located in the southeastern part of the State, in the long-leaf pine belt, and is bounded on the north by Jones and Wayne counties, on the east by Greene county, on the south by Harrison county and on the west by Lamar and Pearl River counties, and has an area of twenty-six townships, or 936 square miles. The county seat, until recently, was the old town of Augusta, near the center of the county on the east bank of the Leaf river. Though it is nearly a century in age, it has not kept step with the march of time and remains a small village today with 125 inhabitants, a result which is largely due to the fact that the railways have never quite come to it. Ncw Augusta, two miles south of old Augusta, on the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City R. R., has lately been made the county seat of Perry county. Hatties- burg which was formerly in the northwestern part of the county. and until recently one of the two county seats of the county, is a flourishing city which has grown up within the last few years and is now the capital of the new county of Forrest. It has a popula- tion of about 21,000, has become a railroad center of importance and is surrounded by a region covered with some of the best timber in the South. It is on the Leaf river and the following railroads enter it: New Orleans & North Eastern, Gulf & Ship Island, Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City and the Mississippi Central giving it excellent shipping facilities to New Orleans, Mobile and Gulfport, as well as to northern, eastern and western points. A few of the other towns in the county are McLaurin, Brooklyn, McDonald's Mills, Morriston and Heckla. The principal streams are Leaf river, which flows through the center of the county from the northwest to the southeast with its numerous tributaries, and Black creek and its tributaries in the southern part. The general surface of the county is undulating-level on the creek and river bottoms. The prevailing timber is the long leaf pine, but on the rivers and creeks, oaks, hickory, poplar, magnolia, gums, cypress, etc., are found. The soil on the bottoms is fertile, but generally speaking, is poor. It produces excellent forage grasses for stock, however, and the raising of live stock has proved profitable.
The following statistics are taken from the twelfth United States census for 1900, and show in a striking manner the extent to which the lumber and allied industries outrank the agricultural. Number of farms in the county 1,148, acreage in farms 195,034, acres im- proved 24,872, value of land exclusive of buildings $557,390, value of buildings $298,020, value of live stock $367,169, total value of products $420,195. Total number of manufacturing establish- ments 50, capital invested $986,922, wages paid $228,154, cost of materials $679,351, total value of products $1,185,860. The popu- lation in 1900 was whites 9,808, colored 4,874, total 14,682, increase over 1890, 8,188. The population in 1906 was estimated at 20,000. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in Perry
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county in 1905 was $6,203,091 and in 1906 it was $10,854,794, which shows an increase of $4,651,703 during the year.
Perrytown, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Wilkinson county, on the Homochitto river, about 18 miles from Woodville, the county seat. Rosetta, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., is the nearest railroad station, and Gloster is the nearest banking town. Population in 1900,'42.
Petersburg, siege of, see Army of Northern Virginia.
Perth, a hamlet of Jefferson county, 7 miles east of Fayette, the county seat, and nearest railroad and banking town. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 33.
Perthshire, a post-hamlet of Bolivar county, on the Riverside Division of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., about 10 miles northeast of Rosedale, the county seat and nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 61.
Petal, a postoffice of Perry county, 2 miles north of Hattiesburg, on the N. O. & N. E. R. R. It has three stores, two churches, a good school, two large saw mills, a cotton gin, and a population of 300.
Pettit, a post-hamlet of Washington county, on the Riverside division of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 15 miles south of Greenville, the county seat. Population in 1900, 100.
Pettus, John Jones, was born in Wilson county, Tenn., October 9, 1813. A younger brother, Edmund Winston Pettus, was born in Limestone county, Ala., in 1821, and was elected United States senator in 1896. In his youth John J. Pettus became a resident of Kemper county, where he soon attained prominence. He repre- sented Kemper in the lower house of the legislature in 1846-48. In 1848-58 he was in the State senate from his district. He was elected president of the senate in 1854, and when Gov. Foote re- signed, he was acting governor January 5 to 10, 1854. Elected again by unanimous vote in 1856 he held over as president at the called session of 1857. In the course of his farewell address at adjournment he said: "Fourteen years have elapsed since I en- tered these halls as a member of the Legislature. Through all that time continued expressions of friendship and esteem have made pleasant my path. The accumulation of long years of kind- ness crowd on my memory as I stand before you tonight, and thrill my heart with emotions of deep and abiding gratitude."
He was elected governor in October, 1859, as a representative of the movement for Southern independence. See (McWillie Adm.) His administration is described in a separate article. After the fall of the Confederate States government he removed to Ar- kansas, where he lived the life of a recluse and died January 25, 1867.
Pettus' Administration. Governor Pettus was inaugurated No- vember 21. 1859, with a procession from the mansion to the capitol, including. volunteer military companies, under the com- mand of Gen. Richard Griffith, marshal of the day.
It was inevitable that the governor should give much attention
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in his inaugural address to the "irrepressible conflict" that over- shadowed everything else. "The scene at Harper's Ferry is not the end, but in my opinion only the beginning of the end of this conflict," he said. The anti-slavery party had obtained control of nearly every State in the North and West, and the fugitive slave law was made of no effect. "The Southern citizen, left to this unequal contest for his property with societies, churches and States, must abandon his right for want of an adequate remedy, unless the Southern States make the cause of the citizen the cause of the State, and enforce his constitutional right by retaliating on the citizens of those States that have passed laws to defeat the rendition of fugitive slaves." He declared his belief that the move- ment contemplated the abolition of slavery and the "probable en- forcement here of the same policy in relation to the social equality of the races which has disgraced the statute book of Massachusetts and degraded her people to a level with the Afri- cans." The remedy he proposed was the "moral influence of a United South . preparing to resent further insults and unyielding resist further aggressions." He would raise the ban- ner of a national party with the motto, "Superiority and Suprem- acy of the White Race," and he believed it would rally a million of free white men in the North, and the cry of "save this glorious Union" would be raised even in the "Black Republican camp." He believed the only effective counter-movement was to endanger the unrestricted commercial intercourse of the North with the South. In conclusion he said that if the Republican party elected the president in 1860, "I shall regard the institution of slavery so seriously threatened as to justify Mississippi in asking for a Con- vention of all the States interested in its perpetuation. To this council Mississippi will send her truest and best men, and when a line of policy shall be marked out she will be found willing and ready to maintain her inalienable right of self- government, even if compelled to defend it by a war as long as that by which it was purchased. To nerve and sustain her in such a conflict the South has a better cause, double the population and twenty times the resources of the Thirteen colonies, and if we have only half their courage we may yet remain free."
As his staff, the governor appointed in December, Walter L. Sykes, adjutant-general; Nathaniel F. Barksdale, quartermaster- general; C. G. Armstead, Henry Muldrow, V. T. Terrell, G. M. Fowler, aides; F. Labauve, W. A. Barbour, John C. Russell, Sam- uel H. Terral, assistant quartermaster-general. Col. B. B. Webb, secretary of state, died January 16, 1860, and an election was or- dered for April 2, at which C. A. Brougher was elected. The other officials of 1860-61 were T. J. Wharton, attorney-general; E. R. Burt, auditor ; M. D. Haynes, treasurer.
The proposition to pay the bonded debt of the State on account of the Planters bank was revived seriously in the legislature of 1859, but the majority declared it was impolitic to take it up when it was necessary to have public sentiment united on the sectional
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questions. William C. Smedes wrote into the records that nobody assumed to deny that these bonds were just and legal. "And yet the great State of Mississippi," he said, "proud of her achieve- ments on the battle-field, jealous of her constitutional rights, and boastful of her sovereignty, allows herself to be dishonored and discredited in the face of the world by failing to pay a just and admitted debt; an honest and undisputed obligation, which for years has been due, and in the hands of her injured and long suf- fering creditors, many of whom are citizens of the United States, of distinction and character, others widows and orphans, and still others citizens of foreign governments, all of whom cannot but look upon the State as faithless and discredited." An intelligent patriotic minority had always contended for the payment of all the just obligations of the State.
The legislature appropriated $150,000 to arm the State troops, and in the spring of 1860 Gov. Pettus sent Adj .- Gen. Sykes to visit the Northern armories, arsenals and factories, and obtain several thousand stands of the Mississippi rifles with bayonets at- tached. A convention of militia generals was called May 29, also a convention of the captains of volunteer companies, that were being rapidly organized. Carnot Posey, Richard Griffith and Erasmus Burt were conspicuous in this movement. (See Army of Miss.)
Jan. 23, 1860, Gov. Pettus sent to the legislature, yet in session, resolutions of the South Carolina legislature, declaring that South Carolina had in 1852 affirmed her right to secede, and forebore action "from considerations of expediency only," and urging now "that the slaveholding States should immediately meet together and concert measures for United action," which was approved by Governor Pettus. He suggested that while preparing for such a meeting, revenue laws should be enacted by Mississippi "to make her commerce less profitable to those who make war on her rights." He recommended a tax of ten per cent. on all goods and manufactures imported from without the State, and to discour- age Northern literature the requirement of a license in each county for book agents.
The political campaign of 1860, which resulted in the election of President Lincoln, was one of extraordinary excitement. As soon as the result was known in November, Gov. Pettus called the legislature in session to provide for a Constitutional conven- tion. (See Secession.)
December 31 was a day of fasting and prayer, by proclamation of the governor. On January 3, 1861, he called the legislature to meet again January 15th. The Constitutional convention (q. v.) met on the 7th.
The military activity of the State may be judged by the record at Natchez, one of the centers of opposition to secession. In De- cember, 1860, there had been organized the Adams troop of cav- alry under Capt. William T. Martin, the Adams Light Guard, the Natchez Guards, the Natchez Fencibles (reorganized), and the
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Quitman Artillery, under Capt. W. S. Lovell. By February, the Light Guard had grown to a battalion, including two companies of adults and two of boys; the Home Guards and Silver Grays were organized among the old men, and in all over 600 were en- rolled in these companies, most of whom were armed and drilled.
While the convention was in session it exercised the powers of amending the constitution and making ordinances. A Council of Three was appointed, composed of Warren P. Anderson, Madi- son McAfee and T. C. Tupper, to advise the governor until the State should enter a confederacy. A military system was framed. and military control given to a board composed of the governor and five general officers: Jefferson Davis, major-general, Earl VanDorn, Charles Clark, J. L. Alcorn and C. H. Mott, brigadiers. Thus the governor's prerogative was considerably curtailed. As for the legislature, it adjourned after a week's session.
Under the ordinances of the Convention the State declared her- self an independent republic. The United States marshals were requested to complete their work on the census, and otherwise cease their relations to the Federal government; postmasters and mail clerks were authorized to continue their work and a post- master-general was provided for, but none was appointed ; light- houses, marine hospitals and custom houses, and the military property on Ship Island, were declared the property of the State ; also the arms received from the United States, the lands donated by the United States in trust for education and internal improve- ments, the Two per cent. fund, the Three per cent. fund, the Sem- inary fund, the Internal Improvement fund, etc., were assumed without question.
In his message of January 18 Gov. Pettus related the military operations in which the State was already involved-mainly the sending of seven companies to aid in the siege of Fort Pickens, Pensacola harbor. "From the facts stated," he said, "the legis- lature will perceive that a state of hostilities already exists be- tween the seceding States and the government at Washington, which may be soon followed by open war. It is yet possible that this may be averted. Justice and prudence on the part of the Southern people, in my opinion, may possibly avert it; and if not, will certainly mitigate its evils. But whether peace or war be the destiny of the State, a due observance of law' and obedience to the constituted authorities are the only guarantees of a people for success, safety or civilization. We have embarked upon a stormy sea, and much of the peril which attends our voyage is to be apprehended from the thoughtlessness and passions of our own crew. Law and order must prevail, or there is no safety for the ship. I further recommend that the most prompt and efficient measures be adopted to make known to the people of the Northwestern States that peaceful commerce on the Mississippi river will be neither interrupted or annoyed by the authorities or people of Mississippi."
The music of fife and drum filled the air, yet much of the cir-
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cumstances of peace remained. Adelina Patti sang at Natchez January 31, seats $1.00. Dan Rice's circus and Christie's minstrels made their usual tour. March 29, 1861, the State, by ordinance of the Convention, adopted the constitution of a new federal govern- ment, the Confederate States of America, of which Jefferson Davis had been elected president.
The call for troops to enter the military service of the new gov- ernment began. Two regiments were ordered to Pensacola, eight more in April, and five more in July. In addition the Military board called the Army of the State (q. v.), 8,000 strong, to go into camp in August.
July 12 the governor proclaimed a special session of the legisla- ture to convene July 25. On the 22d came news of the great vic- tory at Manassas. His message began: "It affords me pleasure to announce to you that the revolution which you inaugurated last fall has so far been prosperous and successful. The people of this State have united in approving your action and sustaining the Confederate government with a unanimity which surpasses the expectations of the most sanguine. The call to arms has been re- sponded to in a manner unknown in modern times, and the call for means to support our volunteers is now being answered with such liberal devotion to the cause as to gratify the heart of the patriot."
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