USA > Alabama > Reminiscences of public men in Alabama : for thirty years, with an appendix > Part 78
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After completing a course of legal studies, he was admitted to the bar in 1835. In the Spring of 1836, he volunteered, and served a campaign of three months, as a non-commissioned officer in the Indian war in Florida. On his return, he was appointed by Gov. Clay Attorney-General of the State, to fill a vacancy.
After retiring from this office, Mr. Meek devoted himself mainly to letters, and to composition, for which purpose, as early as 1835, he was connected with the press as editor of the "Flag of the Union," a Democratic paper published at Tuskaloosa. In 1839, he edited a monthly called the "Southron," and in 1842, was ap- pointed by the Governor Judge of the County Court of Tuska- loosa county, to fill the unexpired term of Judge M. D. Williams, who, on arriving at seventy years of age, was rendered ineli- gible by the Constitution. In 1842, he published a "Supple- ment" to the Digest of Alabama. In 1844, he visited Washing- ton City as the bearer of the Electoral vote of the State, and accompanied Mr. William L. Yancey on the field when he fought a duel with Mr. Clingman, of North Carolina.
In 1845, Judge Meek was appointed Law Clerk to the Solici- tor of the Treasury, and resided a year in Washington City. In 1846, he was appointed by President, Polk United States Attor- ney for the Southern District of Alabama, which office he held four years, making his future home in Mobile. From 1848 to
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1853, he was associate editor of the "Mobile Daily Register." In 1853, he was elected a Representative in the Legislature, and, as Chairman of the Committee on Education, reported the bill to "establish and maintain a system of free public schools in the State of Alabama." The report which accompanied the bill was exceeding able, and forms more than eight pages of the printed Journal. To show the high appreciation by the House of these two documents, five thousand copies of the bill, and ten thousand copies of the report, were ordered to be printed. This produc- tion of Judge Meek, so creditable to his intellect and his heart, is too lengty to be incorporated here. Its perusal will amply com- pensate the intelligent reader.
In 1854, he was elected Judge of the City Court of Mobile, a place of considerable labor and emoluments, yet affording suffi- cient leisure to communicate with the press. In 1855, he pub- lished "The Red Eagle," a poem of the South, in a very beautiful volume, and in 1857, he gave the public a volume of "Orations, Sketches and Essays, Romantic Passages in South-Western His- tory," and "Songs and Poems of the South." These are mainly collections which had been contributed to the magazines and papers, at intervals more or less distant, from the time he left college, at the age of nineteen-all forming an adequate founda- tion on which to rest his fame as a scholar and a poet.
In 1859, Judge Meek was again returned to the Legislature, and was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. He had nearly completed a History of Alabama, when the war broke out in 1861, which prevented its publication. He was certainly well qualified for the labor which he had undertaken, and it is to be hoped that at some future day, when the political pressure on the South shall undergo some degree of amelioration, and sec- tional and individual prosperity revive, the work will be pub- lished, as a worthy companion to Pickett's History, brought down, perhaps, to a later period.
One of the early effusions of Judge Meek was set to music, about the year 1840, and has been much admired. It is here reproduced for the grandeur of its sentiments, as well as for the beauty of the composition :
LAND OF THE SOUTH.
Land of the South-imperial land- How proud thy mountains rise ! How sweet thy scenes on every hand- How fair thy evening skies ! But not for this-oh ! not for these- I love thy fields to roam ;
Thou hast a dearer spell to me, Thou art my native home!
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Thy rivers roll their liquid wealth, Unequalled to the sea ; Thy hills and valleys bloom with health, And green with verdure be ! But not for thy proud ocean streams- Nor for thine azure dome- Sweet, sunny South, I cling to thee ; Thou art my native home !
I've stood beneath Italia's clime, Beloved of tale and song ; On Helvyn's hills, proud and sublime, Where Nature's wonders throng ; By Tempe's classic, sunlit streams, Where gods of old did roam ; But ne'er have found so fair a land As thou, my native home !
And thou hast prouder glories, too, Than Nature ever gave ; Peace sheds o'er thee her genial dew, And Freedom's pinions wave- Fair science flings her pearls around, Religion lifts her dome ; These, these endear thee to my heart, My own loved native home !
And " Heaven's best gift to man " is thine --- God bless the rosy girls ! Like sylvan flowers, they sweetly shine- Their hearts are pure as pearls ! And grace and goodness circle them, Where'er their footsteps roam ; How can I then, whilst loving them, Not love my native home ?
Land of the South-imperial land- Then here's a health to thee : Long as thy mountain barrier's stand, May'st thou be blessed and free ; May dark dissension's banner ne'er Wave o'er thy fertile loam ; But should it come, there's one will die To save his native home !
In 1841, he delivered a discourse before the Literary Societies of LaGrange College, Alabama, which was published, by request, in a pamphlet of 30 pages. It is entitled "Jack-Cadeism and the Fine Arts." He delivered many addresses of the kind in differ- ent States, always with great brilliancy and applause.
While residing in Mobile, Judge Meek married Mrs. Slatter, a lady of considerable wealth, the widow of Hope Hull Slatter, Esq., formerly of Georgia. After her death, he married Miss Cannon, the daughter of a distinguished citizen of Lowndes county, Mississippi. Judge Meek then changed his residence to Columbus, in that State, where he died, in the Fall of 1865, aged fifty-one years.
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ALBERT JAMES PICKETT, born in Anson County, North Caro- lina, in 1810, came with his father, Col. William R. Pickett, to Autauga county, Alabama, in 1818. In acquiring fortune and in- fluence, they were both successful.
A biographical sketch of Col. A. J. Pickett, written by Gen. C. M. Jackson, was published in pamphlet form in 1859. Many interesting passages might be quoted, if space would allow.
A few facts from the memoir must suffice. In 1832, Col. Pickett married Miss Sarah Smith, eldest daughter of William Harris, Esq. In 1836, he was Aid to Gov. Clay, and acted as Assistant Adjutant-General in the Creek war.
In 1853, the name of Col. Pickett was connected in the public prints with the nomination for Governor, and the suggestion was received with general favor; but he was then engaged in writing a "History of the South-West," and declined to permit the use of his name for the office. He was a prolific and entertaining writer, and gave many articles and sketches to the newspaper press, which were much admired.
A few years before his death, he connected himself with the Protestant Episcopal Church. He died in peace, on the 28th day of October, 1858, at the age of forty-eight years. Thus passed away a good and useful man, in the meridian of life. In conclu- sion, a paragraph from the "Sketch," by Gen. Jackson, is given:
He outlived his entire family-father, mother, brother and sister-and his off- spring now constitute a new generation, without a single living link to connect it with a former one. He left a devoted wife, several affectionate children, and many friends, to deplore his untimely death; besides the proper appreciation by the public of what may be deemed a great calamity-that of the loss of one who had so largely contributed to the general welfare. His remains were followed by a large concourse of relatives and friends, and interred in the burying ground at the old family residence in Autauga county, which Col. Pickett had inherited - where are also the graves of his father, mother, and other members of the family.
DR. SAMUEL C. OLIVER was a gentleman of letters, who re- sided at Montgomery. He was a chaste and spirited writer, and contributed many articles to the press. He wrote a political ro- mance, "Onslow," which is more particularly noticed in a sketch of the public life of Dr. Oliver, to be found in another chapter.
WILLIAM RUSSELL SMITH has written and published several books, as will appear in the notice of his public career to be found elsewhere in this volume. He wields a classical pen, and his laurels are always verdant.
MISS MILDRED LOUISE TARVER has a claim upon public favor, though not in the capacity of an author of books, it may be. S e was raised in Montgomery county, and her mind became ear y imbued with the love of art. She painted the fine and much ad-
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mired portrait of Gen. Clanton, which has been suspended in the Representative Hall.
The author has endeavored to include in this chapter all the names within his knowledge more or less attached to literature as a profession, or who have contributed freely to the press as ama- teur writers. In addition to those already mentioned, he sub- joins, from a volume entitled "The Living Female Writers of the South," the following in Alabama:
Madame Adalaide De V. Chaudron, Miss Kate Cumming, Miss Annie Creight Floyd, Mrs. E. W. Belamy, Mary E. Cruse, Lilian Rozell Messenger, Sarah E. Peck, Julia L. Keyes, Ina M. Porter Henry, Catharine W. Towles, Mrs. Julia Shelton, Mary Ware, Mrs. E. L. Saxon, S. S., Crute, Anna Tredair, Caroline Theresa Branch, Bettie Keyes Hunter.
Although not an author, in a literary sense, Mr. William C. Sanders, a native of Alabama, deserves favorable mention, as an artist of recognized merit. He passed several years at Rome, in prosecuting his studies as a portrait painter, and now justly ranks among the most eminent of his profession in this country.
CHAPTER XLI.
Administrations Noticed-Sketches of Governors Fitzpatrick, Collier, Moore, Shorter, and Watts.
In other parts of this work notices appear of Governors Bagby, Martin, Chapman, Winston, Parsons, Patton, and Lindsay, with a brief outline of their several administrations. Space here will not permit an extensive review of the official course of the gen- tlemen whose names are at the head of this chapter. A mere outline, in the personal narrative, must suffice.
BENJAMIN FITZPATRICK deserves commemoration for his vir- tues as a citizen and patriot, and for faithful service in the highest positions of the State. He was a native of Georgia, and when quite a young man came to Alabama, about the year 1818, when it was a Territory. He read law in the office of the Hon. Nim- rod E. Benson, and after his admission to the bar, he settled in
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Montgomery, where he formed a professional partnership with Henry Goldthwaite, Esq.
In 1819, he was elected Solicitor of the Montgomery Circuit, and reelected in 1823. In the meantime, he married a daughter of Gen. John Elmore, formerly of South Carolina. By this alli- ance he became the brother-in-law of Hon. Franklin Elmore, subsequently a Senator in Congress from South Carolina; of John A. Elmore, Esq., of Montgomery; of William Elmore, Esq., At- torney-General of Louisiana; of the Hon. Henry M. Elmore, of Macon county; of the Hon. Rush Elmore, Judge of the United States Court in Kansas, and of Albert Elmore, Esq., late Secre- tary of State, and Collector of the Port of Mobile. The Hon. Dixon H. Lewis married a sister of Mrs. Fitzpatrick. This large family influence contributed to the building up of his fortunes. In a few years after his marriage, he retired from the bar, owing to failing health, and settled on his plantation in Autauga county, where he devoted himself successfully to agricultural pursuits.
In 1840, as an Elector on the Democratic ticket, he visited dif- ferent parts of the State, and addressed the people on the issues of the day, boldly and explicitly defending the measures of the administration, which had been assailed by the Whig party. The result of the election is well known for the large majority in Ala- bama cast for Mr. Van Buren.
In the Winter of 1840, Col. Fitzpatrick was presented as the Democratic candidate for Governor, and was elected over his opponent, Col. James W. McClung-the vote being 27,974 against 21,219, showing a majority of 6,755. An abstract of his mes- sages indicates his policy on the many subjects of legislation, which proved so popular that he was reelected Governor in 1843, with- out opposition. On his retiring from office, in 1845, resolutions, offered by the Hon. B. F. Porter, were unanimously adopted by the General Assembly, approving his administration, and cordially respectful personally.
On the death of Mr. Lewis, in 1848, Gov. Chapman appointed Gov. Fitzpatrick to fill the unexpired term in the Senate of the United States. In 1853, he succeeded Col. King in the Senate, by the appointment of Gov. Collier, and was elected by the Leg- islature to serve the unexpired term. In 1855, he was reelected to the Senate for a term of six years. The highest honor of the Senate was conferred upon him, in his election as President of the Senate, pro tempore, in which capacity he served four sessions of Congress.
The eyes of the whole country had been turned upon him for the purity of his character. At the Democratic Convention in Baltimore, 1860, he was nominated for the office of Vice-President of the United States, on the ticket with Mr. Douglas, who was the
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nominee for President. Much to the disappointment of his friends, and to the regret of the party, he declined the nomination. The Hon. Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, was then placed on the ticket.
When Alabama seceded from the Union, in 1861, Gov. Fitz- patrick withdrew from the Senate, as did the entire delegation from Congress, from a sense of duty, as owing paramount allegi- ance to the State. When the war terminated, in 1865, and Pres- ident Johnson appointed a Provisional Governor for Alabama to execute his policy for reconstructing the rebel States, a Convention of the people was ordered to form a new Constitution. Governor Fitzpatrick was elected a delegate from Autauga county, and was chosen President of the Convention. This was his last public service.
The effects of the war on the South, and his own losses by the emancipation of his large slave property, no doubt preyed upon his spirits, though he generally appeared cheerful. After a short illness he died, November 21, 1869, aged about seventy years.
The next day, Gov. Smith transmitted a special message, an- nouncing the sad event, and resolutions were adopted by the Leg- islature in terms of eulogy and condolence. The members of the two Houses attended the funeral as chief mourners. A very hand- some monument has since been erected, by the family, over the remains of Gov. Fitzpatrick, in the cemetery near Montgomery.
The leading feature in his character was integrity-stern and inflexible. This he never compromised for any purpose whatever. He never wore the mask of hypocrisy. Always bland and cour- teous, he never promised with the intention to deceive, nor did he profess friendship which he did not really feel. As a states- man he was actuated by honest principles, and never for a selfish object. He was the patron of economy, and exerted himself to cut off all unnecessary expenditures of the public money. In this respect his example deserves all commendation. He inspected the whole minutia of Government entrusted to his care, and he required all the officers designated to aid in the execution of the laws, and to perform certain duties, to act their parts faithfully ; or, if in default, to substitute others in their place. All his official labor and obligations were promptly performed. It was his priv- ilege, as it certainly was his inclination, to exact the same of others, for the public interest. My official connection with Gov. Fitzpatrick, throughout his administration, and our intimate per- sonal relations, enable me to bear this testimony to his exalted worth.
Soon after his term of office expired, in 1845, being several years a widower, Gov. Fitzpatrick married Miss Aurelia Blassin- game, a very accomplished daughter of William E. Blassingame,
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a prominent and wealthy citizen of Perry county. She contrib- uted greatly to his happiness; and in the elegant and refined so- ciety among the families of members of Congress, and other cul- tivated people who assembled at Washington, she was distinguished for intelligence, and for the grace and dignity of her deportment. In the Summer of 1872, she followed her gentle and affectionate husband to the tomb.
HENRY WATSON COLLIER was born in Lunenburg county, Vir- ginia, in the year 1801. He obtained a classical education, and was sometime a pupil of Dr. Moses Waddell, in his celebrated school, at Willington, South Carolina, where George McDuffie, James L. Petigru, Augustus B. Longstreet, and others known to fame, were educated. After pursuing a course of legal studies, he was admitted to the bar, and settled in Huntsville, Alabama. Remaining there only a short time in the practice of his profes- sion, he changed his residence to Tuskaloosa, where he resided until his death. At an early day, he was elected to the Legis- lature.
His proficiency as a lawyer caused him to be elected to the Circuit Bench at the age of twenty-seven years, in which station he continued until 1836, when he was elected an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. A vacancy having occurred in the mean- time, he was made Chief Justice, an office which he held until he was elected Governor in 1849. He was reëlected Governor, in 1851, and, at the expiration of his term, in 1853, he retired to private life. His health having failed, he visited the Bailey Springs, near Florence, in the Summer of 1855, where he died. Gov. Collier was no ordinary man, and it was his good fortune to have a wife of congenial taste, who made his home happy. With such a stimulus to virtue and ambition, it appeared an easy task for him to reach high places, and to dispense a liberal and elegant hospitality. He married Miss Mary Battle, of North Carolina, a sister of Alfred Battle, Esq., of Tuskaloosa. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their houses were the preachers' homes whenever they visited the city. The Rev. Bishop Capers was the guest of Judge Collier, in 1846, and, in 1847, he entertained, in like manner, the Rev. Henry B. Bascom, while those distinguished ministers were on their travels, and before the latter was elected Bishop. At the Annual Confer- ence, in January, 1847, the venerable Bishop Soule was his guest. Standing at the very head of society, with all the appliances of wealth and refinement to grace their mansion, Judge Collier and his lady were the first in influence and position to attract all en- lightened strangers, and to afford them a social entertainment whenever circumstances permitted. Long will their kindness be
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held in grateful remembrance by hundreds who shared their beau- tiful hospitality. It is pleasant to record these things. Since the death of her husband, that refined and pious lady, who presided with so much dignity and ease in her household, has gone to join him in a better world. They have left several children to emu- late their virtues, and to be cheered by their example.
When first I knew Judge Collier, in 1837, he was on the bench of the Supreme Court, with Ormond and Goldthwaite, his asso- ciates. I ascertained, that while presiding in the Circuit Court, which, by alternation of the Judges as required by law, led him, at different times, to almost every county in the State, he never failed to give entire satisfaction to the bar, and to all parties inter- ested. His very looks on the judgment seat inspired respect and confidence. At all times patient and dignified, he listened atten- tively to the the arguments of the veriest junior of the profes- sion, and with words of kindness, and looks of affability, would encourage him to proceed, until his diffidence was overcome.
To an example so worthy, it may be added, as best of all, that Gov. Collier was the finest specimen of a Christian gentleman. He had been many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he held official relations as steward and leader. He often prayed in public, and in his family he was punctual in his morning and evening devotions, having set up the family altar, and never allowing it to be neglected when present. In assessing contributions for the support of the stationed minister and his family, he gave annually one hundred dollars, and a like sum was paid, each, by Judge Ormond, Gen. Dent, Alfred Battle, Willis Banks, Edward B. Vaughn, and David Scott, all men of wealth, and members of the church-the seven bearing about half the expenses required to support the household at the parsonage. Such liberality may not now be expected, from the altered cir- cumstances of men.
It may be as well to notice here, as at any other point of this narrative, that the Reports of the Supreme Court of Alabama, now extending to some forty volumes, contain the opinions de- livered by Chief-Justice Collier, which form his most enduring monument. His power of analysis, when handling the intricacies of a case, and the statement of authorities, show the grasp of his mind, and its mature discipline in legal science. He was an in- dustrious worker, and never favored himself when public duties required a sacrifice of his personal comfort. Not only were his days given to the Supreme Court, but late hours of the night found him in his office, examining authorities, and writing out his ·opinions. He occasionally had leisure to visit his plantation, early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and this exercise was ben- eficial to his health and spirits. " No such thing as idleness 01
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languor was permitted to waste his time-all was cheerfulness and activity in his employments.
In his message to the Legislature at the session of 1855, Gov. Winston said:
While the industry of the planter has thus been rewarded, we have been exempt from the devastating ravages of disease, to the extent that others have suffered. Though we have been so spared and blessed as a people, yet we have to regret the loss of some of our most worthy and estimable citizens. Of the number whose death we have to deplore, is my immediate predecessor, the Hon. Henry W. Collier, who, in the vigor of physical and mental ability, addressed you the last biennial communication; from this department. He had been long honorably connected with the public service in this State, and at all times enjoyed the confidence of those who knew him, as a man of ability, integrity, and sterling worth. He died in the northern part of the State, whither he had gone to recruit his health. In his death the community have lost a good citizen, and the State a faithful servant.
JOINT RESOLUTIONS IN REGARD TO THE DEATH OF HON. HENRY W. COLLIER.
1. Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Ala- bama in General Assembly convened, That as the representatives of the people, we owe' a tribute of respect to the memory of their distinguished fellow-citizen, the late Henry W. Collier.
2. Be it resolved, That in the language of the Executive, "he enjoyed the con- fidence of those who knew him, as a man of ability, integrity, and public worth;" and that we can point with singular pride and pleasure to his elevated career as a statesman and a jurist, as furnishing an encouraging example to those aspiring to true eminence, by pursuing the path of virtue, of right, and of honor.
3. Be il Resolved, That as Alabamians, we will ever cherish his memory with grateful feelings, for his useful and exemplary life, and his true devotion to the interest of the State, and with a deep sense of our loss by his death.
APPROVED, Jan. 25, 1856.
ANDREW B. MOORE, a native of South Carolina, was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives from Perry county in 1839-a lawyer by profession. He was defeated by the Whigs in 1840, but was elected in 1842, and though representing a South- ern county, he took high ground in favor of the white basis, of North-Alabama origin, which prevailed in the Legislature. In 1843, strong opposition was made to him by the Whigs, on ac- count of his vote for the white basis; in spite of which, however, he was reelected, as he was also in the years 1843, 1844, and 1845. At the three latter sessions he was elected Speaker.
Mr. Moore frequently called some member to the Chair when a question was taken up which he wished to discuss, and freely mingled in debate on the floor. He came with thorough prepar- ation, and his lucid arguments had considerable influence. As a party tactician, he was skilful and rigid, seldom granting quarter to an adversary, and always ready for the contest. He possessed a commanding person and expressive physiognomy, which seemed to qualify him for a leader. His mind was logical, and tenacious of facts, ever having at his control the necessary data to support his statements when required. He was, indeed, a prominent
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