Philander Smith (Mississippi)

Philander Smith (January 11, 1765 – June 29, 1824) was a colonial-era settler of the Natchez District of Mississippi in North America.

He was involved in the political movement to make the district an American territory rather than a Spanish colony.

[2]: 68  In 1797 he was a signatory, along with Peter Bryan Bruin, Gabriel Benoist, Daniel Clark, Frederick Kimball, William Ratliff, Roger Dixon, and Isaac Galliard, to a document known as the "Memorial to Congress by Permanent Committee of the Natchez District.

"[3] The group presented themselves as democratically elected representatives of the white land-owning settlers of Mississippi, and signaled that they would rather be associated with the United States than their current Spanish governors, writing that "...to prevent anarchy, and confusion (when his Catholic Majesty may be pleased to withdraw his troops & cause this Country to be given up to the U.S.) prepare a Constitution or form of Govt for this territory which shall in your wisdom appear the best calculated to ensure to the inhabitants of this settlement in its infant State the blessings of peace safety & good order and that the officers of the new government may have the confidence of the people..."[3] They requested that the U.S. Congress allow the continuation of slavery in the Mississippi lands, writing, "Your memorialists beg leave to represent that great part of the labour in this Country is performed by slaves, as in the Southern States, and without which, in their present situation the farms in this District would be but of little more value to the present occupiers than equal quantity of waste land.

"[4] In 1798 when the Mississippi Territory was organized he administered the oath of allegiance to the United States to several landed literate white men in his neighborhood, including his brother Calvin Smith.