A link to Mississippi's past

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January 10, 2009

Anonymous The Meridian Star Sat Jan 10, 2009, 11:45 PM CST

About 45 days before I was born was the last time the Mississippi Legislature convened in the Old Capitol in the heart of downtown Jackson.

It was Jan. 22, 1980. Legislators gathered for the inauguration of William F. Winter.

Fast forward 28 years later, and Winter, again, addressed the Legislature. This time, however, Winter was speaking about the history of the state and the statehouse the legislators were meeting inside.

Winter was flanked by towering Greek columns that rose from the floor of the house to the gallery level above.

"This is one of the great buildings ... not just in Mississippi, this is one of the great buildings in America," Winter said. "I will put the restoration of this building up against any I've ever seen."

Each house featured restoration down to the finest details, including the gaslight reflector in the ceiling of the Senate chamber. The former statehouse — which first convened in 1839 — is full of history. Former legislators made countless votes throughout the life of the building, including the decision to secede from the Union. But its walls have seen little action since the dawn of the 20th Century.

Gov. Haley Barbour said many of the former legislators who met inside the old statehouse could empathize with them; they too faced tough economic times.

“The men that served here 170 years ago faced daunting obstacles, literally carving civilization out of these 47,000 square miles,” Barbour said. ”This session, you too face very difficult challenges.”

Winter agreed, pointing to a time in the Mississippi Legislature in 1932 when the state was deep in economic turmoil.

"There was $1,326 in the state treasury ... and we owed nearly $6 million," Winter said.

He also recalled how, that same year during the Great Depression, the Legislature made a resolution to authorize the state tax commission to borrow $750 from a local bank to buy postage stamps to mail employees their income tax statements.

"It was that bad," he said.

It was a reminder of how fitting the historic and ceremonial opening of the 2009 Legislative session was for the state.

One of the more unique features of the old capitol: the speakers addressing each house could see each other. There was a clear shot down each hall, through the rotunda from the floor of each house.

Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant remarked, while waiting on former Gov. Winter to address the Senate, that he could see Winter was still delivering his speech to the House down the hall.

"That's not something we're used to," Bryant said.

The Old Capitol, aside from suffering years of neglect, was battered by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The Legislature approved $14.2 million to restore the old statehouse.

On Feb. 7, the Old Capitol Museum is expected to officially open to the public.

I would encourage everyone to take the short drive to Jackson to see this national landmark ... and a true treasure of history for our state.

Fredie Carmichael is executive editor of The Meridian Star. E-mail him at editor@themeridianstar.com.

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