Chapter I: Preface

In the same week, and within three days of the same date, I received from three Judges of the Supreme Court, of three States, the request that I would record my remembrances of the men and things I had known for fifty years. The gentlemen making this request were Joseph Henry Lumpkin, of Georgia; William L. Sharkey, of Mississippi, and James G. Taliaferro, of Louisiana.

From Judge Sharkey the request was verbal; from the other two it came in long and, to me, cherished letters. All three have been my intimate friends--Lumpkin from boyhood; the others for nearly fifty years. Judge Lumpkin has finished his work in time, and gone to his reward. Judges Sharkey and Taliaferro yet live, both now over seventy years of age. The former has retired from the busy cares of office, honored, trusted, and beloved; the latter still occupies a seat upon the Bench of the Supreme Court of Louisiana.

These men have all sustained unreproached reputations, and retained through their long lives the full confidence of the people of their respective States. I did not feel at liberty to resist their appeal: I had resided in all three of the States; had known long and intimately their people; had been extensively acquainted with very many of the most prominent men of the nation--and in the following pages is my compliance.

I have trusted only to my memory, and to a journal kept for many years, when a younger man than I am to-day--hastening to the completion of my seventieth year. Doubtless, I have made many mistakes of minor importance; but few, I trust, as to matters of fact. Of one thing I am sure: nothing has been wilfully written which can wound the feelings of any.

Many things herein contained may not be of general interest; but none which will not find interested readers; for while some of the individuals mentioned may not be known to common fame, the incidents in connection with them deserve to be remembered by thousands who knew them.

These Memories are put down without system, or order, as they have presented themselves, and have been related in a manner which I have attempted to make entertaining and instructive, without being prolix or tedious. They will be chiefly interesting to the people of the South; though much may, and, I hope, will be read by those of the North. Some of my happiest days have been passed in the North: at Cambridge some of my sons have been educated, and some of my dearest friends have been Northern men. Despite the strife which has gone far toward making us in heart a divided people, I have a grateful memory of many whose homes and graves were and are in New England.

Would that this strife had never been! But it has come, and I cannot forego a parent's natural feelings when mourning the loss of sons slain in the conflict, or the bitterness arising therefrom toward those who slew them. Yet, as I forgive, I hope to be forgiven.

There are but few now left who began the journey of life with me. Those of this number who still sojourn in our native land will find much in these pages familiar to their remembrance, and some things, the reading of which may revive incidents and persons long forgotten. In the West, in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas, there are many--the descendants of those who participated in events transpiring fifty years ago--who have listened at the parental hearth to their recital. To these I send this volume greeting; and if they find something herein to amuse and call up remembrances of the past, I shall feel gratified.

To the many friends I have in the Southwest, and especially in Louisiana and Mississippi, where I have sojourned well-nigh fifty years, and many of whom have so often urged upon me the writing of these Memories, I commit the book, and ask of them, and of all into whose hands it may fall, a lenient criticism, a kindly recollection, and a generous thought of our past intercourse. It is an inexorable fate that separates us, and I feel it is forever. This sad thought is alleviated, however, by the consciousness that the few remaining sands of life are falling at the home of my birth; and that when the end comes, as very soon it must, I shall be placed to sleep amid my kindred in the land of my nativity.

THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. REVOLUTIONARY TRADITIONS.

Middle Georgia--Colonel David Love--His Widow--Governor Dunmore-- Colonel Tarleton--Bill Cunningham--Colonel Fannin--My Grandmother's Bible--Solomon's Maxim Applied--Robertus Love--The Indian Warrior-- Dragon Canoe--A Buxom Lass--General Gates--Marion--Mason L. Weems --Washington--"Billy Crafford"

CHAPTER II. PIONEER LIFE.

Settlement of Middle Georgia--Prowling Indians--Scouts and their Dogs--Classes of Settlers--Prominence of Virginians--Causes of Distinction--Clearing--Log-Rolling--Frolics--Teachers Cummings and Duffy--The Schoolmaster's Nose--Flogging--Emigration to Alabama

CHAPTER III. THE GEORGIA COMPANY.

Yazoo Purchase--Governor Matthews--James Jackson--Burning of the Yazoo Act--Development of Free Government--Constitutional Convention--Slavery: Its Introduction and Effects

CHAPTER IV. POLITICAL DISPUTATIONS.

Baldwin--A Yankee's Political Stability--The Yazoo Question--Party Feuds and Fights--Deaf and Dumb Ministers--Clay--Jackson--Buchanan-- Calhoun--Cotton and Free Trade--The Clay and Randolph Duel

CHAPTER V. GEORGIA'S NOBLE SONS.

A Minister of a Day--Purity of Administration--Then and Now--Widow Timberlake--Van Buren's Letter--Armbrister and Arbuthnot--Old Hickory Settles a Difficulty--A Cause of the Late War--Honored Dead

CHAPTER VI. POPULAR CHARACTERISTICS.

A Frugal People--Laws and Religion--Father Pierce--Thomas W. Cobb-- Requisites of a Political Candidate--A Farmer-Lawyer--Southern Humorists

CHAPTER VII. WITS AND FIRE-EATERS.

Judge Dooly--Lawyers and Blacksmiths--John Forsyth--How Juries were Drawn--Gum-Tree _vs._ Wooden-Leg--Preacher-Politicians--Colonel Gumming--George McDuffie

CHAPTER VIII. FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Governor Matthews--Indians--Topography of Middle Georgia--A New Country and its Settlers--Beaux and Belles--Early Training--Jesuit Teachers--A Mother's Influence--The Jews--Homely Sports--The Cotton Gin--Camp-Meetings

CHAPTER IX. PEDAGOGUES AND DEMAGOGUES.

Education--Colleges--School-Days--William and Mary--A Substitute-- Boarding Around--Rough Diamonds--Caste--George M. Troup--A Scotch Indian--Alexander McGilvery--The McIntosh Family--Button Gwinnett --General Taylor--Matthew Talbot--Jesse Mercer--An Exciting Election

CHAPTER X. INDIAN TREATIES AND DIFFICULTIES.

The Creeks--John Quincy Adams--Hopothlayohola--Indian Oratory--Sulphur Springs--Treaties Made and Broken--An Independent Governor--Colonels John S. McIntosh, David Emanuel Twiggs, and Duncan Clinch--General Gaines--Christianizing the Indians--Cotton Mather--Expedient and Principle--The Puritanical Snake

CHAPTER XI. POLITICAL CHANGES.

Aspirants for Congress--A New Organization--Two Parties--A Protective Tariff--United States Bank--The American System--Internal Improvements --A Galaxy of Stars--A Spartan Mother's Advice--Negro-Dealer-- Quarter-Races--Cock-Pitting--Military Blunders on Both Sides--Abner Green's Daughter--Andrew Jackson--Gwinn--Poindexter--Ad Interim-- Generals by Nature as Civil Rulers

CHAPTER XII. GOSSIP.

Unrequited Love--Popping the Question--Practical Joking--Satan Let Loose--Rhea, but not Rhea--Teachings of Nature--H.S. Smith

CHAPTER XIII. INFLUENCE OF CHILDHOOD.

First Impressions--Fortune--Mirabeau B. Lamar--Dr. Alonzo Church--Julius Cæsar--L.Q.C. Lamar--Texan Independence--Colquitt--Lumpkin--What a Great Man Can Do in One Day--Charles J. Jenkins

CHAPTER XIV. A REVOLUTIONARY VETERAN.

Tapping Reeve--James Gould--Colonel Benjamin Talmadge--The Execution of Major André--Character of Washington--A Breach of Discipline-- Burr and Hamilton--Margaret Moncrief--Cowles Meade

CHAPTER XV. CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT.

Governor Wolcott--Toleration--Mr. Monroe--Private Life of Washington --Thomas Jefferson--The Object and Science of Government--Court Etiquette--Nature the Teacher and Guide in all Things

CHAPTER XVI. PARTY PRINCIPLES.

Origin of Parties--Federal and Republican Peculiarities--Jefferson's Principles and Religion--Democracy--Virginia and Massachusetts Parties--War with France--Sedition Law--Lyman Beecher--The Almighty Dollar--"Hail Columbia" and "Yankee Doodle"

CHAPTER XVII. CONGRESS IN ITS BRIGHTEST DAYS.

Missouri Compromise--John Randolph's Juba--Mr. Macon--Holmes and Crawford--Mr. Clay's Influence--James Barbour--Philip P. Barbour-- Mr. Pinkney--Mr. Beecher, of Ohio--"Cuckoo, Cuckoo!"--National Roads --William Lowndes--William Roscoe--Duke of Argyle--Louis McLean-- Whig and Democratic Parties

CHAPTER XVIII. FRENCH AND SPANISH TERRITORY.

Settlers on the Tombigbee and Mississippi Rivers--La Salle--Natchez --Family Apportionment--The Hill Country--Hospitality--Benefit of African Slavery--Capacity of the Negro--His Future

CHAPTER XIX. THE NATCHEZ TRADITIONS.

Natchez--Mizezibbee; or, The Parent of Many Waters--Indian Mounds-- The Child of the Sun--Treatment of the Females--Poetic Marriages-- Unchaste Maids and Pure Wives--Walking Archives--The Profane Fire-- Alahoplechia--Oyelape--The Chief with a Beard

CHAPTER XX. EXPLORATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.

Chicago--Crying Indians--Chickasaws--De Soto--Feast of the Great Sun--Cane-Knives--Love-stricken Indian Maiden--Rape of the Natchez --Man's Will--Subjugation of the Waters--The Black Man's Mission--Its Decade

CHAPTER XXI. TWO STRANGE BEINGS.

Romance of Western Life--Met by Chance--Parting on the Levee--Meeting at the Sick-Bed--Convalescent--Love-Making--"Home, Sweet Home"-- Theological Discussion--Uncle Tony--Wild, yet Gentle--An Odd Family--The Adventurer Speculates

CHAPTER XXII. THE ROMANCE CONTINUED.

Father Confessor--Open Confession--The Unread Will--Old Tony's Narrative--Squirrel Shooting--The Farewell Unsaid--Brothers-in-Law-- Farewell Indeed

CHAPTER XXIII. WHEN SUCCESSFUL, RIGHT; WHEN NOT, WRONG.

Territorial Mississippi--Wilkinson--Adams--Jefferson--Warren--Claiborne--Union of the Factions--Colonel Wood--Chew--David Hunt--Joseph Dunbar--Society of Western Mississippi--Pop Visits of a Week to Tea--The Horse "Tom" and his Rider--Our Grandfathers' Days--An Emigrant's Outfit--My Share--George Poindexter--A Sudden Opening of a Court of Justice--The Caldwell and Gwinn Duel--Jackson's Opposition to the Governor of Mississippi

CHAPTER XXIV. THE SILVER-TONGUED ORATOR.

John A. Quitman--Robert J. Walker--Robert H. Adams--From a Cooper-Shop to the United States Senate--Bank Monopoly--Natchez Fencibles--Scott in Mexico--Thomas Hall--Sargent S. Prentiss--Vicksburg--Single-speech Hamilton--God-inspired Oratory--Drunk by Absorption--Killing a Tailor--Defence of Wilkinson

CHAPTER XXV. A FINANCIAL CRASH.

A Wonderful Memory--A Nation Without Debt--Crushing the National Bank--Rise of State Banks--Inflated Currency--Grand Flare-up--Take Care of Yourself--Commencing Anew--Failing to Reach an Obtuse Heart--King Alcohol does his Work--Prentiss and Foote--Love Me, Love my Dog--A Noble Spirit Overcome--Charity Covereth a Multitude of Sins

CHAPTER XXVI. ACADIAN FRENCH SETTLERS.

Sugar _vs._ Cotton--Acadia--A Specimen of Mississippi French Life-- Bayou La Fourche--The Great Flood--Theological Arbitration--A Rustic Ball--Old-Fashioned Weddings--Creoles and Quadroons--The Planter--Negro Servants--Gauls and Anglo-Normans--Antagonism of Races

CHAPTER XXVII. ABOLITION OF LICENSED GAMBLING.

Baton Rouge--Florida Parishes--Dissatisfaction--Where there's a Will, there's a Way--Storming a Fort on Horseback--Annexation at the Point of the Poker--Raphignac and Larry Moore--Fighting the "Tiger"--Carrying a Practical Joke too Far--A Silver Tea-Set

CHAPTER XXVIII. THREE GREAT JUDGES.

A Speech in Two Languages--Long Sessions--Matthews, Martin, and Porter --A Singular Will--A Scion of '98--Five Hundred Dollars for a Little Fun with the Dogs--Cancelling a Note

CHAPTER XXIX. AMERICANIZING LOUISIANA.

Powers of Louisiana Courts--Governor William C.C. Claiborne--Cruel O'Reilly--Lefrenier and Noyan Executed--A Dutch Justice--Edward Livingston--A Caricature of General Jackson--Stephen Mazereau--A Speech in Three Languages--John R. Grymes--Settling a Ca. Sa.--Batture Property--A Hundred Thousand Dollar Fee

CHAPTER XXX. DIVISION OF NEW ORLEANS INTO MUNICIPALITIES.

American Hotel--Introduction of Steamboats--Faubourg St. Mary--Canal Street--St. Charles Hotel--Samuel J. Peters--James H. Caldwell--Fathers of the Municipality--Bernard Marigny--An Ass--A.B. Roman

CHAPTER XXXI. BLOWING UP THE LIONESS.

Doctor Clapp--Views and Opinions--Universal Destiny--Alexander Barrow --E.D. White--Cross-Breed, Irish Renegade, and Acadian--A Heroic Woman--The Ginseng Trade--I-I-I'll D-d-die F-f-first

CHAPTER XXXII. GRADUAL EXTINCTION OF THE RED MAN.

Line Creek Fifty Years Ago--Hopothlayohola--McIntosh--Undying Hatred--A Big Pow-wow--Massacre of the McIntoshes--Nehemathla--Onchees--The Last of the Race--A Brave Warrior--A White Man's Friendship--The Death-Song--Tuskega; or, Jim's Boy

CHAPTER XXXIII. FUN, FACT, AND FANCY.

Eugenius Nesbitt--Washington Poe--Yelverton P. King--Preparing to Receive the Court--Walton Tavern, in Lexington--Billy Springer, of Sparta--Freeman Walker--An Augusta Lawyer--A Georgia Major--Major Walker's Bed--Uncle Ned--Discharging a Hog on His Own Recognizance --Morning Admonition and Evening Counsel--A Mother's Request-- Invocation--Conclusion

THE MEMORIES OF FIFTY YEARS.