--The Confederate
Senator elect from
Mississippi,
Hon. J. W. C. Watson, is said to be one of the ablesmen in that State.
The
Atlanta Register names the following facts about him:
‘
He stood at the head of a body of jurisconsults famed for their attainments, who, many year ago, made
Holly Springs, by the attractions they contributed to social life, the most delightful interior city of the
South.
Mr. Watson has been distinguished, not less than his more noisy compeers, for his firm devotion to the cause of Southern independence.
He was appointed last year by the
President Commissioner for
Mississippi under the
Appraisement Act, and has sedulously devoted himself to the duties of his position.
He is tall, slender, with blue eyes, light hair, and with an expression of face, benignant manner, and musical voice, remarkably attractive in social intercourse.
In his professional habits he was the most laborious of men, and his success at the bar was brilliant.
Not many months ago
Judge Watson was arrested by a hand of marauding Federal cavalry and taken to
Pocahontas, where a Yankee
Provost Marshal administered a horrible oath to Mississippians and others of debilitated moral constitutions. "By twos" the captured citizens were marched in and sworn by the
Yankee official.
Mr. Watson was the last brought before the
Federal magnate.--He was very plainly dressed, and the officer knew nothing of him except his name.
When "the book" and oath were placed before him, he remarked to the officer in the blandest, mildest tone conceivable that he might very well perhaps take that oath, but that he had conscientious scruples on the subject, and must therefore positively but respectfully decline.
He said "that with his fixed convictions, his allegiance was primarily due to his State; no oath that could be administered would change the direction of that allegiance or of his duties as a citizen.
The proposed oath to obey and respect the
Government and laws of a foreign power, the
United States, would be a nullity in the form of conscience." The officer said, "You seem to be an honest old gentleman, and if you will swear that you will reveal nothing that you have heard or seen within our lines that would militate against our interest, you may go."
Judge Watson assented to this reasonable proposition. --He lost his horse, however, and all his clothing except that on his person, and is said to have reached the centre of
Mississippi, on foot, within a shorter time than one of
Morgan's men could have made the same distance.
’
