A Brief Sketch of George Peabody (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1898 Excerpt: ... The payment of the Florida bonds was nearly as vexatious a question as grew out of Mississippi's persistent refusal. Various committees were appointed to consider and adjust; and finally Gen. Henry R. Jackson was requested to visit the State, and confer with the proper authorities in order to facilitate a settlement. No session of the Legislature being held, he could not present formally the Memorial which had been prepared, as in the case of Mississippi; but he sought the views of distinguished Floridians upon the subject-matter. These gentlemen protested against the assimilation of the Florida default to Mississippi repudiation. No acts of the Legislature, no decisions of courts, or of any tribunal, had affirmed the validity of the bonds; but the Territorial Council, the people, and the State had always denied their obligatoriness. The Peabody Board did not recognize the force of the arguments adverse to the payment, as the Territory obtained the money on the bonds in Europe, and loaned it to the Union Bank as capital. The General Agent was instructed, in 1885, in view of the obligations to the children of other Southern States and of their needs, to place Florida on the same footing with Mississippi. In historical accuracy, it should be stated that the act of withdrawal of aid from these States never had unanimous approval, one of the Trustees saying that the children should not be punished for their fathers' sins, and another contending that the infidelity of the State to solemn obligations only increased the duty of educating the children. The Chairman, with his loyalty to Mr. Peabody's Trust, and his unwillingness to allow any discredit to be cast on his scrupulous integrity, could not refrain from expression of feelings of sincere regret at missing F...