USA > Mississippi > Official and statistical register of the state of Mississippi, 1908 v. 3 > Part 25
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Second District .- J. E. Davis Belen
Third District .- Jack Garner Hinchcliff
Fourth District .- J. C. Dicky R. F. D. No. 1, Lyon
Fifth District .- J. W. McDonald Lambert
RANKIN COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- P. B. Berry Florence
Second District .- R. D. McRae Brandon
Third District .- G. W. Dinson Pisgah
Fourth District .- R. E. Night Lodabon
Fifth District .- N. H. Nash Dobson
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- Jno. F. Williams Florence
J. L. McDonald Whites
Second District .- C. O. Rouse Longford
Wm. Corley Brandon
Third District .- W. B. Smith Famine
J. S. Davis Sand Hill
Pelahatchie
Fourth District .- Geo. Robinson A. P. White
Light
Fifth District .- J. L. Bass
Dobson
W. D. Thomas Thomasville
W. H. Watters Rufus
CONSTABLES.
First District .- T. E. Therrell Florence ·
Second District .- T. T. Cottrell Brandon
A. T. Miller
Third District .- J. I. Holmes Pisgah
Fourth District .- J. D. Robbins Light
R. L. Hunter
Fifth District .- J. A. Lewis
Thomasville
1133 .
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
SCOTT COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- W. D. Harkey Harperville
Second District .- L. C. Noblin. Homewood
Third District .- Jas. G. Risher R. F. D. No. 1, Morton
Fourth District .- R. O. Rigley R. F. D. No. 1, Beach
Fifth District .- T. J. Walters. R. F. D. No. 1, Forest
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- L. T. Sessums Hillsboro
W. J. Hamilton
Second District .- R. V. Evans
Lake
Fourth District .- J. B. Shearman R. F. D. No. 1, Lena
W. T. Duncan Beach
O. F. Champion Forkville
Fifth District .- W. P. Loper Damascus
A. J. Myers
Lake
CONSTABLE.
Fourth District .- N. A. Register.
SHARKEY COUNTY.
.SUPERVISORS.
First District .- Jno. Ross Lucre
Second District .- S. J. Clark. _Cary
Third District .- Geo. C. Cortright Rolling Fork
Fourth District .- E. W. Cook Anguilla
Fifth District .- S. S. Miller
Anguilla
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
Third District .- Jno. W. Baggett Rolling Fork
Frederick Graft Rolling Fork
Fourth District .- J. H. Simmons Anguilla
F. O. Stevens
Anguilla
Fifth District .- T. H. Price
-. J. A. McDaniel Catchings
CONSTABLE.
Fourth District .- Shelly Anderson
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1134
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
SIMPSON COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- A. J. Brown Rials
Second District .- A. D. Kennedy Coat
Third District .- F. P. Berry D'Lo
Fourth District .- Geo. W. Williams Bush
Fifth District .- L. W. Murray Pearl
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- I. W. Upton Mendenhall
L. P. Bishop Magee
Second District .- A. J. Runnels Cyclone
Sol. H. Brown .Magee
Third District .- W. T. Lee Shivers
Geo. W. Jones D'Lo .
H. L. Hampton
Pinola
Fourth District .- J. L. Dickerson
Pokal
J. C. Taylor Ina
Fifth District .- E. W. Mahaffy Pearl
W. D. Mahaffy Harrisville
CONSTABLES.
First District .- John Magee Mendenhall
D. W. Duckworth Magee
Second District .- J. W. Runnels
Coat
A. J. Herrington Coat
Third District .- T. E. Coke.
Westville
Willis Womack D'Lo
D. W. Benson Shivers
Fourth District .- Melvin Little Pokal
T. G. Richardson Ina
Fifth District .- J. B. Moore Harrisville
N. R. Parker
Ruby
SMITH COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- J. C. Ward Raleigh
Second District .- J. B. Butler Taylorsville
Third District .- L. M. McAlpin .Mize
Fourth District .- C. S. Neal Polkville
Fifth District .- J. S. Brown Klein
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- J. E. Thornton Sandpoint
J. M. R. Adams Sylvarena
H. A. Thompson Gunn
1135
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
Second District .- G. W. Anderson Taylorsville
I. J. Jackson Taylorsville
Third District .- M. A. Sullivan
Mize
T. M. Gibson Mize
R. L. Martin.
Fourth District .- H. M. Troxler Polkville
N. Swigert Trenton
Fifth District .- N. W. Westbrooks
Lemon
C. E. Richey
CONSTABLES.
First District .- J. M. Tullos Raleigh
B. F. Huff Sylvarena
Second District .- M. P. Windham
J. F. Stringer
Third District .- Mark Sullivan Mize
J. C. Hester Mize
C. F. Hopkins
Polkville
Fourth District .- W. R. Echels
C. A. Langford
Fifth District .- J. H. Hedgwood
SUNFLOWER COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- W. M. McInnis
Second District .- W. E. Stevenson
Third District .- J. W. Corder.
Fourth District .- D. O. Ringold
Fifth District .- W. A. Ricketts
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- Jasper Ford
W. T. Cook
Second District .- J. L. Centers J. W. Renshaw
Third District .- W. J. Holt.
P. F. P. Herring.
T. S. Causey
Fourth District .- D. W. Boyer
J. W. Powell G. J. Missinger
Fifth District .- Jas. Stigler
Leonard Hiter
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CONSTABLE.
Fourth District .- S. C. Johnson
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1136
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
TALLAHATCHIE COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District. - G. P. Newman Enid
Second District .- J. T. Cole Charleston
Third District .- M. Hey
Cascilla
Fourth District .- A. M. Graham Glendora
Fifth District .- W. N. Tate Sumner
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- C. A. Hall Teasdale
W. C. Kiihue
Second District .- C. W. Manley Charleston
S. W. Noble Pattison
Third District .- C. F. McKnight Rosebloom
R. W. Stevens
Fourth District .- B. F. Saunders
Fifth District .- W. C. Sullivan
Webb
H. B. Flautt
Sumner
CONSTABLES.
First District .- J. M. Bridgers Teasdale
Second District .- J. W. Tapley
S. Charleston
Third District .- G. W. Rounseville Cascilla
TATE COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- S. B. Gann Strayhorn
Second District .- T. P. McGaha Arkabutla
Third District .- A. Y. Gillispie Coldwater
Fourth District .- J. L. Boyd Senatobia
Fifth District .- W. B. Poag.
Barr
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- M. F. Moore Locust
E. L. Pace Strayhorn
Second District .- A. R. Osteen _Murry
J. N. Gregory Arkabutla
Third District .- S. D. Wooten Coldwater
M. A. Mckinnon Coldwater
J. W. Clark. Coldwater
Fourth District .- C. P. Varner Senatobia
W. T. Clark Looxahoma
Fifth District .- K. A. Eoff _Tyro
W. S. Wilburn Thyatira
H. W. Mckinnon Independence
1137
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
CONSTABLES.
First District .- C. U. Pickle. Locust
Second District .- Charlie Hatcher Arkabutla
Third District .- L. E. Henderson R. F. D. No. 1, Coldwater J. E. Stevens
Fourth District .- John Whalen Senatobia
Fifth District .- W. R. Johnson Independence
H. L. Emerson
J. H. Blackwell
TIPPAH COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- J. S. Wilson Chalybeate
Second District .- J. D. Lindsay Faulkner 1
Third District .- J. A. Griffin Clarysville
Fourth District .- W. E. Wallace Dumas
Fifth District .- W. C. Waldron Falkner
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- H. H. Rainey Walnut
T. J. Walker Chalybeate
Second District .- S. W. Pegram
Ripley
B. F. Walker Falkner
Third District .- A. S. Johnston Blue Mountain
R. S. Gondy
Blue Mountain
Fourth District .- J. A. Anderson
Mitchell
Nat. Clark.
Dumas
Fifth District .- J. B. Smith
Ripley
W. M. Childs Ripley
CONSTABLES.
First District .- J. H. Skinner Chalybeate
Second District .- C. W. Jones Falkner
Third District .- J. E. Ratliff Cotton Plant
. Fourth District .- J. J. Shackleford Dumas
Fifth District .- Geo. Smith Ripley
TISHOMINGO COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- L. P. Bonds Iuka
Second District .- Joe Marlas Burnsville
Third District .- J. F. Oaks Iuka
Fourth District .- J. R. Bickerstaff Burnt Mills
Fifth District .- J. D. Mann Mann
1138
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- T. J. Davis Iuka
D. L. Anderson Iuka
Second District .- D. L. Wood Burnsville
J. S. Woodley Burnsville
Third District .- Charles Edmondson Iuka
G. C. Stevens Iuka
Fourth District .- S. A. Trimm Burnt Mills
Richard Floyd Burnt Mills
Fifth District .- J. C. Miller
Dennis
A. G. W. Byram
Dennis
CONSTABLES.
First District .- C. R. Akers Iuka
Second District .- Mose Johnson Burnsville
Third District .- T. M. Sanders
Fourth District .- Mack Fleming Burnt Mills
Fifth District .- Carter Shook Dennis
TUNICA COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- W. E. Cox Clacks
Second District .- P. M. Houston Tunica
Fourth District .- W. P. Eads Crews
Fifth District .- F. W. Cannon, Sr Dubbs
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- J. P. Hogan Commerce
J. H. Smith Commerce
Second District .- W. W. Hickey Tunica
S. J. Herrin Hollywood
Fourth District .- Norman Burnett State Levee
Jno. D. Tucker Dundee
Fifth District .- Geo. W. Worley
Maud
B. L. Lake Maud
CONSTABLES.
First District .- Marion Head Robinsonville Second District .- A. M. Smart
Fourth District .- Alex. France Dundee
Fifth District .- J M. Watson Dubbs
1139
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
UNION COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- C. A. Baker R. F. D., Myrtle
Second District .- Jno. M. Beasly_ R. F. D., New Albany
Third District .- Luther M. McAllister R. F. D., New Albany
Fourth District .- S. M. Roberts R. F. D., Blue Springs
Fifth District .- D. F. Smith R. F. D., Blue Springs
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- W. I. Handcock R. F. D., Myrtle
E. H. Lamar R. F. D., Etta
Second District .- S. J. Holmes Ingomar C. S. Robertson Myrtle
Third District .- A. H. Raggett
New Albany
C. L. Martin New Albany
Fourth District .- N. Bridges Blue Springs
J. R. Haynie Blue Springs
Fifth District .- W. J. Robbins R. F. D. No. 3, Blue Springs
CONSTABLES.
First District .- Floy Johnson Myrtle
Second District .- Lenox Williams Ingomar
Third District .- Marvin Hall New Albany
Fourth District .- John Roberts Blue Springs
Fifth District .- R. H. White R. F. D .. Bethany
WARREN COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- Frank Guscio Vicksburg
Second District .- Jno. H. Adams Vicksburg
Third District .- D. G. Goodrum .Vicksburg
Fourth District .- J. A. Brown Bovina
Fifth District .- B. E. Griffin --
Oak Ridge
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- F. C. Henderson Vicksburg
W. A. Murch Vicksburg
W. S. Hanisee Vicksburg -
Second District .- Jno. McGillicuddy Vicksburg
E. Lee Vicksburg
D. Muirhead Brunswick
Third District .- J. M. Hullum Yokena
G. H. Simrall Yokena
A. B. Couvillon Brierfield
1140
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
Fourth District .- F. W. Beaumann Bovina W. E. Lanier Bovina
Fifth District .- T. J. McKay Oak Ridge
Jno. R. Pettway Oak Ridge
CONSTABLES.
First District .- L. A Straley Vicksburg
C. H. Stites Vicksburg
J. V. Hamilton Vicksburg
Second District .- Dan Jones Vicksburg
W. W. Nesmith Vicksburg
Fourth District .- F. B. Lanier
Fifth District .- J. H. Shiller
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
Firs. District .- T. S. Redd
Second District .- L. J. Parnell
Third District .- Herman Wilczinski
Fourth District .- J. E. Branton
Fifth District .- L. C. Hays
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- Sam Worthington.
R. J. E. Barwick
Second District .- A. M. Hyman
Third District .- H. H. O'Bannon
J. K. Hamblen Dan McLean
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Fourth District .- S. B. Weems
- F. H. Ivy 1 1
Fifth District .- Wm. Wood
W. O. Twonage
J. C. Hutson
CONSTABLE.
Third District .- W. H. Drummond
WAYNE COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- A. E. Douglass State Line Second District .- Dr. J. F. Pou Waynesboro
Third District .- J. M. Ketler Hiwannee
Fourth District .- T. H. Leggett Eucutta
Fifth District .- R. P Bradley R. F. D. No. 1, Whistler
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COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
1141
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- J. A. Williams Chicora
J. B. Johnston Chicora
Second District .- T. F. George Waynesboro
W. W. Jordan
Denham
Third District .- J. W. Allen Matherville
Thomas Collins Chaparral
Fourth District .- Lee West. R. F. D. No. 1, Waynesboro Whistler
J. W. Sellers
Clara
Fifth District .- J. W. Singleterry
W. M. Cochran Clara
CONSTABLES.
Second District .- E. D. Pittman
Third District .- J. M. Doherty
Fourth District .- Isaiah West. R. F. D. No. 1, Waynesboro
Fifth District .- J. M. Harrison Waynesboro
WEBSTER COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- J. W. Nolen Eupora
Second District .- J. F. Watson Embry
Third District .- E. A. C. Mobley Stewart
Fourth District .- W. M. Stallings Maben
Fifth District .- J. T. Jennings Hohenlinden
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- S. B. Hood Montevista
H. M. Skelton R. F. D., Eupora
Second District .- H. O. Oswalt Embry
J. S. Bradford Redding
Third District .- N. G. McGar Tom Nolen
J. M. Patridge Dabney
Fourth District .- J. W. Graham .Sopa 1
E. M. Polk .Sopa
Fifth District .- J. G. Vaughn Hohenlinden
N. H. Williams
Cumberland
CONSTABLES.
First District .- J. W. McDowell Walthall
Second District .- W. T. Putnam Cadaretta
Third District .- G. A. Tackett Eupora
Fourth District .- C. C. Crowley R. F. D., Maben
Fifth District .- J. Connor Hohenlinden
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1142
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
WILKINSON COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- Wm. V. Morris Woodville
Second District .- Evans S. Wall Pond
Third District .- W. L. Jenkins Centreville
Fourth District .- I. A. Carter Wilkinson
Fifth District .- W. F. Johnson .Perrytown
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- E. H. Lewis Wood ville
Second District .- Frank T. Stewart Fort Adams
Third District .- W. D. Anderson Centreville
Thos. White Centreville
Fifth District .- H. W. Day Rosetta
Jno. A. Ray Rosetta
CONSTABLES.
First District .- Matthew Van Allen Whitehead Woodville Third District .- Walter C. Killroy Centreville
Fifth District .- Lawrence Haynes
WINSTON COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- J. H. Overstreet. Louisville
Second District .- J. T. Barnes Fearns Springs
Third District .- J. T. White. Beth Eden
Fourth District .- W. E. Dempsey Louisville
Fifth District .- L. H. Hopkins Plattsburg
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District-J. H. Watson Louisville . L. Filer Noxapater
S. O. Green Sturgis
Second District .- T. S. Foster
Fearns Springs
J. D. Hill Fearns Springs
J. E. Barnhill Coopwood
Third District .- P. B. Whites Beth Eden W. D. Wright Joplin
Louisville
Fourth District .- C. H. Hudson
J. R. Regan Louisville J. T. Ray Louisville
Fifth District .- Andrew Thrasher Plattsburg
W. K. Taylor Plattsburg
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1143
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
CONSTABLES.
First District .- S. C. Chambliss Louisville
Second District .- Virgil Luke
Fearns Springs
Third District .- H. D. Cannon
Beth Eden
Fourth District .- W. J. Taylor
Louisville ,
Fifth District .- J. J. Brazeale
Plattsburg
YALOBUSHA COUNTY.
SUPERVISORS.
First District .- D. E. Pate.
Second District .- E. F. Gordon
Third District .- R. D. Allen
Fourth District .- W. C. Kuykendall
Fifth Distirct .- W. R. Howell
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JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- Stewart B. Pipkin.
J. H. Teas
Second District .- C. L. Chadwick.
H. A. Goforth
Third District .- R. J. Davis
W. T. Berry
Fourth District .- G. F. Kuykendall J. B. Massey
John Tribble
Fifth District .- W. G. Vickery
J. S. Vanhoozer P. A. Horton.
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CONSTABLES.
First District .- G. V. Boswell ..
Second District .- W. M. Raley
H. R. Sanders
Third District .- M. K. Richards.
Fourth District .- W. W. Baker
Fifth District .- A. C. Denley
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1144
COUNTY GOVERNMENT. YAZOO COUNTY. SUPERVISORS. 1
First District .- H. C. Bonney
Second District .- S. J. Dixon
Third District .- B. E. Keror
Fourth District .- N. L. Smith.
Fifth District .- R. W. Lumbley
JUSTICE OF PEACE.
First District .- D. F. Roberts
E. S. Bell
Second District .- G. V. Warren
J. D. Henderson
Third District .-- C. M. Moore
W. J. Yoyster
Fourth District .- S. W. Leach J. A. Waters J. M. Jenkins
Fifth District .-- R. A. Parker.
H. R. Foss C. C. Coleman
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CONSTABLES.
.First District .- John Sibley Second District .- T. P. Prestedge.
Third District .- J. D. Russell
Fourth District .- J. C. Shepherd
E. O. Clark.
Fifth District .- Smith McConnell
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THE COTTON PLANT.
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PART VIII. 1
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Organic Acts and Laws of Mississippi Territory.
Outline of the Constitutions and Lists of Members of
the Constitutional Conventions of 1817, 1832, 1859. Fourth Constitution of Mississippi, adopted November 1, 1890.
Members of Constitution of 1890.
I
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ORGANIC ACT OF MISSISSIPPI.
An Act to Establish the Territorial Government of Mississippi. (Passed April 7, 1798.)
9. SECT. III. All that tract of country bounded on the west by the Mississippi; on the north by a line to be drawn due east from the mouth cf the Yasous to the Chatahouchee River; on the east by the river Chatahou- chee; and on the south by the thirty-first degree of north latitude, shall be, and hereby is constituted one district, to be called the Mississippi Territory; And the President of the United States is hereby authorized to establish therein a government in all respects similar to that now exercised in the territory northwest of the river Ohio, excepting and excluding the last article of the ordinance made for the government thereof by the late Con- gress, on the thirteenth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint all the necessary officers therein, who shall respectively receive the same compensations for their services; to be paid in the same manner as by law established for similar officers in the territory northwest of the river Ohio; and the powers, duties and emoluments of a superintendent of Indian affairs for the southern department, shall be united with those of governor: Provided, always, That if the President of the United States should find it most expedient to establish this government in the recess of Congress, he shall nevertheless have full power to appoint and commis- sion all officers herein authorized; and their commissions shall continue in force until the end of the session of Congress next ensuing the establish- ment of the government.
IO. SECT. IV. The territory hereby constituted one district for the purposes of government may, at the discretion of Congress, be hereafter divided into two districts, with separate territorial governments in each, similar to that established by this act.
II. SECT. V. The establishment of this government shall in no respect impair the right of the State of Georgia, or of any person or persons, either to the jurisdiction or the soil of the said territory, but the rights and claims of the said State and all persons interested are hereby declared to be as firm and available as if this act had never been made.
12. SECT. VI. From and after the establishment of the said govern- ment, the people of the aforesaid territory shall be entitled to and enjoy all and singular the rights, privileges and advantages granted to the people of the territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio, in and by the aforesaid ordinance of the thirteenth day of July, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, in as full and ample
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1148
ORGANIC ACT OF MISSISSIPPI.
a manner as the same are possessed and enjoyed by the people of the said last mentioned territory.
13. SECT. VII. From and after the establishment of the aforesaid government it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to import or bring into the said Mississippi Territory, from any port or place without the limits of the United States, or to cause or procure to be so imported or brought, or knowingly to aid or assist in so importing or bringing any slave or slaves, and every person so offending, and being thereof convicted before any court within the said territory, having competent jurisdiction, shall forfeit and pay, for each and every slave so imported or brought, the sum of three hundred dollars; one moiety for the use of the United States, and the other moiety for the use of any person or persons who shall sue for the same; and every slave so imported or brought shall, thereupon, become entitled to and receive his or her freedom.
14. SECT. VIII. The sum of ten thousand dollars shall be, and - hereby is appropriated, for the purpose of enabling the President of the . United States to carry into effect the provisions of this act; and the said sum shall be paid out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appro- priated.
. I Saw in ald of und in addition to the regulations of the governor for the permanent establishment of the Addition of The Mississippi Territory Ill fee mate inhabitants between the time of sexteen und filles the chce of civil government appointed by the prevedethe use o mate of the united states, or commissioned by the Governor; ministers of relations societies that are or not be established and regularly educated practicing physicians only exception ton be liable to and perform military Buty and be divided agrecently to the order of the commander in chief , into corps of house and look , and formed in the following
nexty four rante and file shall ferma con Infantry, es title men or a Troop of house. To each company of infantry or rifle mon there shall be appointed as Ca plaire lieutenant, and ensign pour desgeants four corporate d'orummer and fiferd To a troop of house one captain ons lieutenant , and one connect four send = gennaio, four corporate and one trumpeter .. The whole militia of the Territory shall , until the commander in effet? may otherwise Direct be formed into two legions, and bear the names of the counter to which they shall respectively aspertuis, so soon as such shall be elected and food to F à lieutenant colonel shall command each ication and there may location?
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- Vanger
Vitor Bryan Bruno
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FAC SIMILE OF FIRST PAGE OF FIRST LAW OF MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY, WITH SIGNATURES OF GOVERNOR AND TERRITORIAL JUDGES.
FIRST LAW OF THE MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY.
The Act of April 7, 1798, creating the Mississippi Territory, provided for the appointment of a Governor, Secretary, a Court with common law jurisdiction, to consist of three Judges and other civil officers; it provided that the Governor and three Judges, or a majority of them, should "adopt and publish in the district such laws of the original States, civil and crim- inal, as may be necessary and best suited to the circumstances;" to report them to Congress from time to time, the same to be in full force until dis- approved by Congress or altered by a Territorial Assembly. By virtue of that law President Adams appointed Winthrop Sargent Governor of the Territory, John Steel Secretary, and Peter Bryan Bruin, Daniel Tilton and William McGuire Judges.
No laws were promulgated during 1798 because Judge McGuire and Judge Tilton had not reached the Territory. The first law promulgated in the Mississippi Territory bears date of February 28, 1799, and is signed by Winthrop Sargent, Peter Bryan Bruin and Daniel Tilton. There is an impression arising from statements in Claiborne's History of Mississippi that Judge Bruin did not sign the Sargent laws about which there was so much protest.
The administration of Governor Sargent seems to have been marked by continual controversy arising out of the laws passed by the Governor and Territorial Judges. The protest against the first Territorial laws so passed finally culminated in a Congressional investigation, which resulted in many of the laws being revoked.
The objections to the Sargent laws mainly urged were that the laws were made in violation of the ordinance of 1787; that the punishment for the crime of treason was in violation of the Constitution of the United States, that a fee of eight dollars was charged for a marriage license, and that certain fees were fixed as perquisites of the Governor without author- ity of law. It was charged that the laws were chiefly copied, not from the laws existing in the old States, but from a code of laws prepared by Governor Sargent when he was Secretary of the Northwest Territory, and it was charged also that General St. Clair had condemned the laws when submitted to him as Governor of that Territory. Only one of the Judges appointed by President Adams was a lawyer, hence it was not strange that the first code of laws should have been somewhat faulty and defective. Judge McGuire was a lawyer, but he did not arrive in the Territory until about April, 1799, and many of the most objectionable laws had been promulgated at that time: Judge Bruin and Judge Tilton were good men, but they seemed to know little about the science of law.
Since the creation of the Department of Archives and History of the State of Mississippi these original manuscript laws have been discovered
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1151
FIRST LAW OF THE MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY.
and are now on file in the Department. The manuscripts are in a good state of preservation and the great seal of the Territory is perfectly pre- served thereon.
. In a letter from Governor William C. C. Claiborne to Secretary Madi- son, dated December 20, 1801, the following interesting estimate in which the court was held is given. The Governor writes:
"The Legislature is engaged in a new judiciary system. The manner in which the superior and inferior courts have heretofore been arranged is generally condemned. There is certainly room for improvement. One half, perhaps more, have no confidence in the Judges. The Legislature participates in this feeling, and will, I fear, be inclined to legislate more against men than principles.
"It is an unpleasant state of things, and will be for me the source of much trouble. A late decision made by the Superior Court of this Terri- tory has occasioned much complaint, and aroused the sympathies of the Legislature. Subsequent to the ratification of the treaty between the United States and Spain, and shortly before this district was evacuated, the Spanish Governor granted to certain of his favorites much valuable land, and to evade objections these grants purported to have been made previous to the treaty.
"In some few cases these fraudulent grants were made of lands which had been previously granted in good faith. And in case of this kind where suit had been instituted, the holder of the fraudulent grant (which falsely bore date older than the bona fide grant) obtained recovery. In the In- ferior courts where the suit commenced parole testimony was admitted to invalidate and antedated grant, and the defendant had a verdict. But upon appeal to the higher court parole testimony was declared inadmis- sible, and the judgment below was reversed. This case is generally con- sidered a very hard one, and the Legislature, to afford a remedy, contem- plated a law authorizing the admission of parole testimony, but upon my intimating that, for the present, I could not assent to such a measure, it was dropped. A statute for admission of parole testimony to disprove and invalidate a record would be a grave innovation upon the law of evidence. Yet I can see no other way by which these frauds can be set aside, unless indeed, as I think, a Court of Chancery would reach the case. And most of the lawyers here think it would not. I shall be happy to have your opinion in the matter."*
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