Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II, Part 69

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 69

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Runnels, Hiram G., governor, 1833-35, was a son of Harmon Runnels, a member of the constitutional convention of 1817. Har- mon Runnels was one of the pioneers of the Pearl river country. in the first Choctaw purchase, in territorial times. Colonel Clai- borne wrote of him, "had been a hard fighting captain in Georgia, in the Continental army-had many a fight with the British, Tories and Indians-was a hardshell Baptist-a devoted follower of Gen. Elisha Clark-was decidedly pugilistic in his temperament and would fire up and fight anybody and at any time, for a slur on his religion, his politics or his friend Clark. He had strong friends and bitter enemies, but he whipped the latter into submission, and with four sons to back him, as ready to fight as himself, he ruled the Pearl river country as long as he lived, and died an octogena- rian, at Monticello, 'in the odor of sanctity.' No truer patriot ever lived."

Hiram G. Runnels was elected auditor of state by the legisla- ture in 1822, and served in that office until 1830, with a clean rec- ord. As a member of the legislature from Hinds county in 1830 he was the main force in securing the admission to the State of a

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branch of the United States bank. In 1831 he was a candidate for governor. But there were three other candidates, and he was defeated by Abram M. Scott by about 200 votes. At the special elec- tion under the new constitution in May, 1833, he was again a can- didate, and was elected over Scott by a close vote. Though the constitution seems to have provided this May election expressly for filling the offices before the date of the regular election to come (after 1833) in November, Mr. Runnels did not take the office, even after the death of Gov. Scott in June, until the legislature met in regular session in November. The sources of information for this transition period are very meagre. It appears from a newspaper of that date that the "governor-elect" was invited to a barbecue in August, but on account of severe domestic affliction, could not at- tend.

His attitude toward the vexed questions of his time are stated in his message of 1835. "In contemplating the inestimable utility of our Federal Union, the mind is imperceptibly drawn to the con- templation of the virtue, patriotism and prophetic wisdom of the framers of the constitution of the United States, in which instru- ment the experience of each year inspires us with renewed confi- dence." He regarded the administration of Andrew Jackson as hav- ing respected the proper spheres of Federal and State authority, with "salutary effects upon the rights of the States and the per- petuity of the Union," and denounced the resolution of censure by the senate in 1834 at the instigation of Calhoun and Poindexter, as "arranged and procured by a few master spirits of intrigue." He advised instruction of the senators of Mississippi to vote for the ex- punging of that resolution "as being unprecedented, unjust to the president, and offensive to a large portion of the American peo- ple."

Col. Claiborne wrote of the campaign of 1835, when he was a candidate for reelection, that Franklin E. Plummer, his bitter enemy, retained for that purpose by the bank interest, followed him about, goading him with irritating speeches and publications. They met at Gallatin on the day of election, and Plummer, having no principle, was able to keep provokingly cool and entertaining to the crowd, while Runnels found his indignation and resentment beyond expression in parliamentary language. The effect upon the crowd was against him, and perhaps lost him the vote of the county and a second term as governor. He was defeated by a combina- tion of Jackson and anti-Jackson men, Whigs and Democrats, Nul- lifiers and Unionists, the real issue being a personal one, for or against George Poindexter, in which Poindexter was beaten, but Lynch happened to win by a narrow margin. Runnels' character was assailed in every way, and some of the roorbacks, just before election, may have caused his defeat. But in fact he and Lynch were not far apart in politics, and both were good men, not respon- sible for the outrageous campaign that was made. Upon the or- ganization of the Union bank in 1838 he accepted the office of pres- ident at a salary of $10,000 a year. His experience in that posi-

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tion could not have been gratifying to him. In 1841 he was again in the legislature from Hinds county.

Runnels' Administration. The May, 1833, election, under the constitution of 1832, resulted in the choice of the following execu- tive officers: Hiram G. Runnels, governor ; David Dickson, secre- tary of state; James Phillips, treasurer ; John H. Mallory, auditor. The term of each was two years, and the reelection of the governor was limited so that he could not hold the office longer than four years in any six. Gov. Runnels did not take office until the meet- ing of the legislature in regular session according to the constitu- tion, which was on the third Monday of November, 1833. M. D. Patton succeeded R. M. Gaines as attorney-general, 1834-37.

The November session enacted a militia law, erected 16 new counties in the land about to be vacated by the Choctaws, and made an apportionment of representatives and senators without taking these new counties into account. Another notable act was the appropriation of the proceeds of the sale of lots in Jackson to the building of a new statehouse, the one now known (1906) as the "old capitol."

There was a revival of abolition activity at this time, not so strictly in the North as it was later.

At one of the legislative sessions in 1833 a law was passed pro- hibiting the importation of slaves for sale, one of the expressed motives being to compel the border States to retain their slaves and continue in political alliance with the planting States. A conven- tion was held at Jackson in the same year to approve the nullifi- cation action of South Carolina. But the Democratic State con- vention of June 9, 1834, presided over by Gen. Thomas Hinds, unanimously resolved "that a constitutional right of secession from the Union on the part of a single State, as asserted by the nullifying leaders of South Carolina, is utterly unsanctioned by the constitution, which was framed to establish, not to destroy the Union." The legislature passed a resolution pledging President Jackson the support of Mississippi. (Garner, M. H. S. Publ., IV, 90.)

Throughout 1834 political affairs were warming up to the great battle of 1835, in which the personality of George Poindexter was foremost. He was essentially an enemy of President Jackson, partly because he must fight somebody and Jackson had offended him in regard to appointments. Consequently the senator figured as the chief supporter of Calhoun and nullification of the tariff, though he had desired the election of Henry Clay, father of the tariff, in 1832. He was also the great champion of the United States bank, and hence, in some degree, the enemy of the State banks, which now enjoyed the use of the government deposits. Gov. Runnels, on the other hand, admired President Jackson, approved his vigorous assertion of national powers, and was disposed to cen- sure Poindexter for his course in the senate. Poindexter's term was to expire March 4, 1835. Consequently the governor called an extra session of the legislature in January of that year, to elect

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for the ensuing term, Poindexter being a candidate for reelection. Meanwhile, the governor had taken steps to secure a full represen- tation of the State in the legislature, by authorizing the new counties in the Choctaw country to elect representatives. Subse- quent events warrant the opinion that their votes would have de- feated Poindexter. As has been stated, the acts of the session of December, 1833, appeared on their face, to warrant the opinion that the legislature did not intend that the new counties should have representation until a later time, when they should have acquired a population of some consequence. But Runnels construed the constitutional provision as urgent, that every county should have a representative in the legislature. The representatives were elec- ted, 16 of them, among them Greenwood Leflore, and when the legislature met in January, the governor said: "I submit the sub- ject without comment to your consideration each house- having the power of judging of the qualifications and elections of each of its own members."

The house committee made a majority report that the new mem- bers were entitled to seats at this special session of the old legis- lature. But their chairman, James H. Maury, made a minority report, saying that according to the apportionment of 1833 the senate had twelve members, the house 37 from the old counties, but if the 16 new counties should each have a representative, the number of senators would be less than one-fourth the representa- tives, which would be repugnant to the constitution. Also, the proposed members did not have the constitutional qualification of residence in their counties. He advised the legislature to adjourn, and wait until a new legislature could be elected without violation of the constitution. But the house proceeded to admit the new members. On account of this the senate resolved January 27 that the body assembled as a house was not in verity the house, and the alleged legislature was not the legislature authorized by the con- stitution and laws, and proposed to adjourn sine die. The house unanimously refused to concur. Mr. Williams proposed that the members all resign and go before the people, which was rejected. The senate refused to recognize the existence of the house further. The house ordered the doorkeeper to make the doors and windows fast and deposit the keys with the secretary of state. The gover- nor proclaimed January 31, that the best interests of the State required adjournment of both houses, which was accordingly de- clared. Thus the reelection of Poindexter was defeated until a new legislature could be elected in the fall of 1835. (See Lynch, Bench and Bar, 167-74.) -

State treasury disbursements in 1835 were $53,246, $40,000 of which was for judiciary and state house. The total expenditures for education were $1,000, including the Literary fund and Semi- nary land fund. The balance in the treasury was nearly $89,000. Gov. Runnels deposited in the Planters Bank, notes of lot pur- chases at Jackson for about $20,000 and borrowed nearly $19,000 on his individual note to use in building the state house, but many

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of the notes had to be sued for collection. It was difficult to collect notes given in payment for seminary lands also, though secured by responsible sureties, said Auditor Mallory. Suit was ordered against Hadley, the late auditor, for $3,150. At the same time speculation was at its height and the credit of individuals and of the State was being strained to the breaking point. At this moment, however, there was no thought of danger. The bonds of the State of Mississippi were quoted at a large premium in the market at London, and there was no thought that they were not as good as gold or better.

In the campaign of 1835 the battle was over Jackson and Poin- dexter. Poindexter desired reelection. Jackson did not, but the success of his friends meant the election of his choice as a suc- cessor, Martin VanBuren, in 1836. VanBuren's chief recommen- dation was that he represented New York, a State that had been friendly to Jackson as a candidate, through influences set in motion by Aaron Burr, or by the organization that Aaron Burr created. The election of a New York man would be almost as great a rev- olution as had been the election of Jackson himself-a man neither from Virginia or Massachusetts. If the South had been able to overcome the resolve of "Old Hickory," the candidate would have been John C. Calhoun. The subjects most talked about in the Mis- sissippi campaign were the United States bank and the tariff. The cause of Jackson, in the campaign, was managed by William M. Gwin, United States marshal, and presented on the stump by Rob- ert J. Walker and Henry S. Foote. The Whigs made a vigorous fight, with S. S. Prentiss and Adam L. Bingaman as their great leaders, and Charles Lynch their standard bearer as candidate for governor. Gov. Runnels was the Democratic candidate for re- election. He was a devoted supporter of Jackson and opposed to Calhounism and Poindexter; but he was opposed by Franklin E. Plummer, ostensibly a candidate for senator, but really a represen- tative of the coalition of State banks and "nullifiers," and for this reason very likely also because the issue threw the Jacksonian Democrats so close to the Whig position in politics that Lynch profited thereby, the latter won by a small margin. The vote was, Lynch, 9,867; Runnels, 9,441.

At the session of January-March, 1833, the legislature fixed the time of its future convenings as the first Monday in January. The next session therefore, was in January, 1836. The time of the in- stallation of the governor was not fixed by the constitution or by statute, the constitution providing merely, that he should hold office "two years from the time of his installation." Gov. Runnels had waited for the session of the legislature in November, 1833, to begin his term of office, and he decided that his term ended November 20, 1835, regardless of the change of the legislative session. The succession, according to the new constitution, was first the president of the senate and next the speaker of the house ; but the legislature had expired also, a new legislature having been elected in 1835, and the ultimate step provided in the constitution

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was necessary. Consequently Gen. Dickson, secretary of state, called a special session of the newly-elected senate, which, meet- ing on December 3, elected John A. Quitman president by a major- ity of one, on the 7th ballot, next day.

Ruralhill, a hamlet in the western part of Winston county, 15 miles west of Louisville, the county seat and nearest railroad town. McCool is the nearest banking town. It has a money order post- office. Population in 1900, 93.

Rushings Store, a post-hamlet of Lauderdale county, situated on Okatibbee creek, 10 miles north, northwest of Meridian. Pop- ulation in 1900, 40.

Rusk, a postoffice of Lee county, on the St. Louis & San Francisco R. R., 8 miles southeast of Tupelo, the county seat and nearest banking town.

Russell, a post-hamlet of Lauderdale county, on the Alabama Great Southern R. R., about 7 miles east of Meridian. Population in 1900, 48.

Russell, Irwin, was born at Port Gibson, Miss., June 3, 1853. He possessed the poetic temperament to such an extent that he was not fitted for the rush of a practical world, and his waywardness caused his life to be filled with sorrow and suffering, although he had at his command all that affection could suggest. He died at New Orleans, December 23, 1879. His poems were published by the Century company after his death. "The opinion of an uncritical mind ought not to go for much, but it seems to me that some of Irwin Russell's negro character studies rise to the level of what, in a large way, we term literature." (Joel Chandler Harris.)

Russellville, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Warren county. Population in 1900, 25.

Russum, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Claiborne county, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 6 miles south of Port Gibson, the county seat, and nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 62.

Ruth, a post-hamlet of Lincoln county, and a station on the N. C. & M. R. R., about 10 miles east of Norfield. Population in 1900, 20.

Rust University. Rust University, at Holly Springs, was estab- lished in 1868 by the M. E. Church for the education of colored peo- ple. It has commodious buildings and large grounds, valued at $100,000 ; has a library of 4,000 books and 300 pamphlets. Its work is divided into two main departments, collegiate and preparatory. The preparatory department does not offer the elementary grades. No agricultural, engineering or professional courses are offered, but there is a good normal course and a domestic science department for the girls. The college course leads to the bachelor's degree. In 1901 there were 132 men students and 127 women, of whom 91 were taking the normal course.

Ryals, a postoffice in the southeastern part of Pike county, about 28 miles east of Magnolia, the county seat. Tylertown is its near- est railroad and banking town.

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Rye, a postoffice of Monroe county, located on the Buttahatchie river, 15 miles east of Aberdeen, the county seat.

Sabine Expedition. This was one of the most exciting incidents in the course of events leading up to the Florida Acquisition (q. v.). After the acquisition of Louisiana, the United States claimed eastern and western boundaries of that province on the Perdido and Rio Grande, including Mobile and San Antonio. After some negotiations France declined to aid the United States in these pretensions and sided with Spain, whereupon Spain seemed dis- posed to pass from negotiations to military force. She was also disturbed by the Aaron Burr project to revolutionize Mexico. This was manifest as early as the fall of 1805. (See Williams' Adm.) At a later date the Spanish proposition, if the United States desired the Floridas, was to take back Louisiana west of the Mississippi river, from which it may be inferred that in 1805 the Spaniards did not entertain seriously the American pretensions west of Red river. American ships were being taken in the Atlantic by Spanish pri- vateers and by French and Spanish privateers in the West Indies.

Santiago, Cuba (or St. Jago, as it was written then), was a scene of robbery, plunder, perjury and cruelty, in which American seamen were the continual sufferers. Mr. Jefferson's gunboats and militia were ineffectual to save the American coastwise trade between New Orleans and the Atlantic ports from destruction.

In July, 1805, there were yet many Spanish officers and officials at New Orleans, part of them composing the "commission of the limits of the province of Louisiana," under royal orders of August 20, 1804. Brig .- Gen. Caso Calvo was at the head of this commission, and Captains Stephen Minor and Thomas Power were associated with it in military capacities. Baron Bastrop, owner of a great concession on the Ouachita, which Aaron Burr was presently ne- gotiating for, industriously spread the report that Louisiana would soon return into the hands of Spain. As Bastrop was a close friend of Casa Calvo's, the prediction seemed to have significance. Casa Calvo himself made a trip into Texas, fomenting resistance. In October, 1805, small detachments of Spanish troops on the Texas frontier occupied Nana and Bayou Pierre, near Adayes, an old Spanish post, in the vicinity of Natchitoches. Major Porter, of Fort Claiborne, (Natchitoches) under orders from Washington, sent a detachment to Bayou Pierre to compel the Spanish to retire beyond the Sabine, which, upon menace, they did.

The Mexican government was informed of Burr's intentions to found a state in the debatable country and foment a revolution in Mexico. Colonel Herrera was ordered to the Sabine with the Texas militia. The government of New Orleans, as a first step of defense, compelled Morales and Casa Calvo to depart. The gov- ernor of Pensacola guarded against the plot of Col. Caller by for- bidding the transmission of the United States mails, and putting the Mobile fortifications in order. (See Washington County.) April 26, 1806, Gen. Dearborn, secretary of war, wrote Gov. Williams, "Under existing circumstances, it is considered advisable to take

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some precautionary measures in relation to our Spanish neighbors, it is desirable that you should have the militia of your territory in as good order and as well prepared for actual service as circum- stances will permit, especially those of the county of Washing- ton."

John Pitchlyn reported that the Spaniards at Mobile, on May 16, had about 1,100 Choctaws in council, had given them powder and lead, and asked them to come again in three moons to hear a talk from "the great mingo at Pensacola."

In the summer of 1806 the whole West, including Natchez and New Orleans, was aflame with the spirit of war against Spain, for the extension of republican government. Miranda was preparing an expedition at New York for the promotion of revolution in Ven- ezuela, and great interest was felt in Mississippi in this project, as in various succeeding enterprises of the same nature. In July," Viana, with about 700 men, crossed the Sabine and again took post at Bayou Pierre. Governor Claiborne was a guest at Con- cord, near Natchez, when he heard of this. He had a conference with Acting-Governor Mead, and they made a memorandum for joint action, August 17 (Claiborne's Miss., p. 265) in which they agreed to support the United States troops under Major Porter; Claiborne to go to Natchitoches and call out the militia of his ter- ritory, Mead to put his militia in training and prepare to support the mayor of New Orleans as well as defend Mississippi territory, and send at least a hundred men to Natchitoches. Claiborne went on to the frontier and began negotiations with Herrera, but dis- covered that while Porter had orders to drive out the Spanish, something was not as it should be. "My present suspicion is that all is not right," he wrote to Mead. In fact the major had been ordered by Gen. Wilkinson to remain quiet. Wilkinson, then at St. Louis, had been instructed in May to repair to the territory of Orleans and take command of all the troops that might be furnished, and "by all means in your power, repel any invasion of the terri- tory of the United States east of the River Sabine, or north or west of the bounds of what has been called West Florida." But he waited three months at St. Louis. It may have been natural laziness, but by coincidence, at least, Aaron Burr wanted time to complete his arrangements. Wilkinson arrived at Natchez Septem- ber 7, and next day wrote to Dearborn he would "drain the cup of conciliation to maintain the peace of our country ;" promised to discourage the warlike plans of Claiborne and Mead until he had "penetrated the designs of the Spaniard;" then, if forced to appeal to arms, he would drive the Spaniards beyond the Rio Grande. At this time, according to Monette's history, the general ordered the commandant at Fort Stoddert to hold himself in readiness to invest Mobile with his troops, supported by two hundred militia of Tombigbee, under Col. Caller, "who was then actively engaged in preparations for the capture of Mobile." Wilkinson spent two weeks traveling to Natchitoches, ordering up the militia from New Orleans and Natchez. Writing to Senator Smith, of Ohio, Burr's

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friend, he said that "with sufficient support" he counted on taking possession of the viceroyalty of Mexico.

But the Spanish, perhaps, gained an understanding of what was involved. Herrera suddenly retreated beyond the Sabine, Septem- ber 27, leaving no pretext for war. On the same day Burr was at banquet at Nashville with Andrew Jackson, and their friends were cheering the prospect of a war that was vanished, and Gov. Mead was making ready an expedition that should find no foe.

To furnish his quota of militia, Gov. Mead, on September 25, ordered to rendezvous in the Jefferson district, October 4, Capt. Farrar's troop of dragoons, Capt. Newman's company of Natchez infantry, Capt. Poindexter's company of Mississippi Blues, of Adams county, Capt. Davidson's dragoons of Jefferson county, and a similar order for rendezvous at Fort Adams was sent to Col. Ellis, of the Adams district. These orders were promptly obeyed. The people were particularly anxious to put an end to Spanish gov- ernment on the coast by taking advantage of the encroachments that had been made. Farrar's troop was the first to report ready for duty ; October 6 Gen. Wilkinson's requisition of militia was filled and the men crossed the river and started forward. They took 80 of the rifles at Fort Dearborn, which left only about 150 with which to make the conquest of the Floridas, which somewhat depressed Gov. Mead's ardor. The field and staff officers of the battalion were: Ferdinand L. Claiborne, major; Thomas H. Williams, captain adjutant and quartermaster : Frederick Seip, surgeon ; Her- itage Howerton, quartermaster sergeant; Joshua Knowlton, ser- geant major. The companies were commanded by Capts. Benjamin Farrar, cavalry; George Poindexter, Alexander Bisland, Basil An- drews, William T. Voss and Ralph Regan, infantry. The Natchez Herald of the 7th said that Capt. Thomas Hinds' dragoons from Jefferson would follow to Natchitoches in a few days, also a com- pany of mounted infantry from Wilkinson county. In the organi- zation work Maj. William Scott, brigade inspector, and William B. Shields, aide-de-camp of the governor, were active. Claiborne, on reaching Rapides, was met by orders directing the infantry to return to Natchez, and Farrar's troops to proceed to Natchitoches.

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II, Part 69

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