USA > Georgia > The history of the State of Georgia from 1850 to 1881, embracing the three important epochs: the decade before the war of 1861-5; the war; the period of Reconstruction, v. 2 > Part 16
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Senator T. M. Norwood thought that all money actually loaned the
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THE BOND COMPROMISE REJECTED.
State should be refunded. He did not think the State's credit injured, though the bond-holders were trying to hurt it to force a compromise. Ile advised delaying action. Herbert Fielder thought if the innocent holders of Confederate war bonds could stand it to lose, the holders of the Bullock fraudulent bonds deserved no more consideration. The bonds were clearly illegal and should not be paid. We had to bear the consequences of a bad government. T. P. Branch thought that every practical enterprise was injured by this bond complication. He favored making the compromise and paying it by taxation.
Judge David Irwin's letter attracted much attention. He urged that the matter should not be closed without an investigation, and the void bonds should be rejected, but all just equities should be recognized ac- cording to the facts. Hon. John E. Ward said there were two difficul- ties. The State should not act under any menace to her credit, and a general compromise like the one offered recognized the bad as well as the good claims. The just course was for the State to give parties a chance to show just what their equities are.
The press of the State were equally divided with perhaps a small ma- jority against the compromise. The writer took the position that while the bond committee had investigated the legality of the bonds, it had not examined into the equities, and they should not be condemned with- out an investigation. There were Brunswick and Albany Railroad bonds that had been signed by Treasurer Angier, who opposed Gov. Bullock's irregularities, and these bonds had been sent to Europe and negotiated in Germany at a good value. There seemed to be a valid * equity in such bonds as these. The legislature would do nothing with this compromise. In 1877 the constitutional convention carried out Gen. Toombs' idea, and incorporated in the constitution a prohibition against the fraudulent bonds and a clause against lobbying.
Judge O. A. Lochrane, in 1872, was the attorney for some two mil- lions of the rejected bonds, and made a strong effort to get them paid. He is still hammering away upon it, and the last move is said to be an amendment to the Federal Constitution, to allow States to be sued for such obligations. The State has never suffered by her bond action, and her securities stand the peers of any in the civilized world.
This General Assembly re-districted the State under the new appor- tionment of representation in the Congress of the United States result- ing from the census of 1870. Georgia gained one Representative in the Federal Congress, and the State, which had been divided into eight, was cut up into nine districts. An interesting incident occurred in con-
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HON. A. H. STEVENS AND THE EIGHTH DISTRICT.
nection with the new apportionment which is a very valuable piece of underlying history, and not only demonstrates how grave public matters often have a curious personal inspiration, but also the strong esteem in which one of our most remarkable public men is held. Major E. D. Graham was chairman of the committee on apportionment. He says that Hon. Alex. H. Stephens called upon him, and in his peculiarly shrill voice requested that Taliaferro county in which he resided might be placed in the Eighth District, that he did not desire to direct the dispo- sition of any other county, but that he wished his own county to re- main in the Eighth. The concession was cheerfully granted, though it disordered the regularity of number, and brought the three northern dis- tricts in the sequence of 7-9-8. But for this, the district in which Mr. Stephens lives would have been numbered " 9" in its order.
It was presumed that the distinguished Commoner, Mr. Stephens, was prompted by a natural desire to preserve the numerical designation of the district which he had made so famous. He was not then in Con- gress, but was elected in 1873 to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Ranse Wright. Taliaferro county, in 1843, was in the Seventh District, though there were then eight districts. In 1851-2 the eight districts were reorganized and Taliaferro county was placed in the Eighth District, and until the retirement of Mr. Stephens, just before the war, that district was represented by him. It was natural that he should wish to retain the familiar and honored number that he had so brilliantly illustrated. And it was a graceful compliment to his services and fame that his desire should have been respected.
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CHAPTER XLIV.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. JAMES M. SMITH.
The Republican Revolt in 1872 .- Horace Greeley .- Alexander Stephens and the Con- stitution .- Delegates to Baltimore .- The Grecley Electoral Ticket .- Stephens' Straight Fight .- The Land Scrip Fund .- The Georgia Memorial Association .- The State Geologist .- Department of Agriculture .- Judge J. T. Henderson .- Great Western Canal .- John B. Gordon elected United States Senator -A Lively Battle of the Ballots .- A. H. Stephens for Congress .- The Great Seal and ex-Gov. C. J. Jenkins .- A Beautiful Incident .- Gov. Smith's Administration .- Ilis Misunder- standings .- Jack Jones and his Painful Episode .- The Double Bond Payment .-- John W. Renfroe .- His Fine Administration .- A Controversy .- Dr. W. H. White. -- New Congressmen .- Hon. B. H. Hill .- Dr. Felton and his Independent Fight in the Seventh District .- Emory Speer.
DURING the year 1872 there was a lively time in Georgia over national politics. The Liberal Republicans revolted from the Radical party and nominated Horace Greeley for President. The Northern Democracy determined to support Greeley instead of running a Democratic candi- date. This policy evoked a fierce controversy in the Democratic ranks, North and South, but especially South. The Stephens brothers and Gen. Toombs opposed it bitterly. Alexander H. Stephens was editing the Atlanta Sun, and wrote daily against it. Linton Stephens and Gen. Toombs made strong speeches against it. Mr. Stephens declared he would not support Greeley. A stiff discussion ensued between Mr. Stephens in the Sun and the Atlanta Constitution, under the writer, which continued for months. The Constitution urged support of the National Democracy. A convention was called June 26th, 1872, at Atlanta, and there were 424 delegates present from 135 counties. Albert R. Lamar was made President.
Among the delegates were Gen. Toombs, B. H. Hill, A. H. Colquitt, Thomas Hardeman, Warren Akin, J. Hartridge, Linton Stephens, H. L. Benning, A. R. Wright and others. It was one of the strongest con- ventions ever held in Georgia. The resolutions sent delegates to the Baltimore Convention untrammeled to do the best for the party. This was a clear defeat of the Stephens policy. The delegation consisted of H. L. Benning, Julian Hartridge, A. R. Wright, T. Hardeman, C. T. Goode, A. H. Colquitt, J. B. Gordon and I. W. Avery from the State
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THE STATE ELECTIONS IN 1872.
at large. As the names were read out Gen. Toombs was heard to exclaim audibly-" Packed-By God."
At Baltimore Greeley was nominated, and the Cincinnati platform adopted, the Georgia delegation voting against the platform. On the 24th of July, 1822, another State Democratic Convention was held. Thomas Hardeman was made President. The convention was an im- mense body, having 624 delegates from 136 counties, and including all of our public leaders, nearly. The resolutions endorsed the Baltimore Convention, recognizing the exigency of the times, which required the nomination of Greeley and Brown and pledging their support. The Liberal Republicans asked that Col. T. P. Saffold be put on the Elec- toral ticket, but this was not done.
The Electoral ticket nominated consisted of Wm. T. Wofford, H. L. Benning, Washington Poe, Julian Hartridge, H. G. Turner, R. N. Ely, W. J. Hudson, J. M. Pace, H. R. Casey, J. N. Dorsey, E. D. Graham. Gov. Smith was re-nominated for Governor. Judge Linton Stephens had died, and the Convention paid a noble tribute to this illustrious Georgian. The brief eulogy upon him by Geo. F. Pierce, Jr., was an exquisite bit of eloquence and taste.
Mr. Stephens fought Greeley's nomination sturdily. The clash between him and the Constitution, under the writer, continued to the close. He supported the Straight movement with Charles O'Conor as the Presidential candidate. A Straight Convention was called and had 5? delegates from 23 counties, which put out an O'Connor electoral ticket. The Republicans held a convention of 212 delegates from 77 counties, with John S. Bighy as chairman, which nominated Dawson A. Walker for Governor, and put out a Grant electoral ticket, composed of A. T. Aker- man, B. Conley, A. W. Stone, J. Johnson, W. B. Jones, W. W. Merrell, J. R. Griffin, J. F. Shine, C. D. Forsyth, G. S. Fisher and C. A. Ellington.
The election resulted as follows: Greeley 75,896; Grant 62,485; O'Connor, 3,999; total vote, 142,370. Greeley's majority over Grant, 13,411; over O'Conor, 71,895. Gov. Smith was re-elected the Execu- tive over Walker by 58,444 majority. Gov. Brown supported Gov. Smith and voted for Greeley. The following Congressmen were elected: Morgan Rawls, R. H. Whitely, Phil. Cook, H. R. Harris, J. C. Free- man, James H. Blount, P. M. B. Young, Ambrose R. Wright and H. P. Bell. Greeley was defeated for President, though he carried Georgia. He died before the day for casting the vote. There was much speculation as to how the Georgia Electoral college would vote. The electors curiously enough split up as follows:
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503
THE LAND SCRIP FUND.
Gen. Benning, Washington Poe and Col. Hudson voted for Greeley for President.
Gen. Wofford, Col. Hartridge, Mr. Ely, Col. Pace, Col. Dorsey and Major Graham voted for B. Gratz Brown for President.
Col. Turner and Dr. Casey voted for ex-Gov. C. J. Jenkins for President.
Gen. Benning, Mr. Poe, Col. Hudson, Dr. Casey and Col. Turner voted for Gratz Brown for Vice-President.
Col. Hartridge, Col. Pace, Col. Dorsey, Mr. Ely and Major Graham voted for Gen. Colquitt for Vice-President.
Gen. Wofford voted for Gen. N. P. Banks, of Massachusetts, for Vice- President.
The new Democratic Executive Committee, appointed by Col. Harde- man, was John L. Harris, Warren Akin, Nelson Tift, J. H. Christie, J. C. Nicholls, J. H. Hunter, H. Fielder, T. M. Furlow, E. H. Worrell, J. C. Wooten, J. S. Boynton, T. G. Lawson, Augustus Reese, J. B. Jones, T. S. Morris, J. B. Estes, I. W. Avery and L. N. Trammell. Col. Hardeman was elected Chairman, and I. W. Avery, Secretary.
Among matters of general interest was the Land scrip fund. By act of 1862, Congress gave each State 30,000 acres of land for every Sen- ator and Representative. Georgia's part was 270,000 acres. The fund was to be used in endowing an agricultural college in five years. By act of 1872 further time was given. The Legislature of Georgia, in 1866, accepted the donation, and authorized the Governor to apply for, receive, and sell these lands. Gov. Conley, in his term, obtained and sold them for ninety cents per acre to Gleason F. Lewis, of the West, for $50,000 cash, and the balance in eighteen months, making $243,000 realized. Some of the States realized four and five dollars an acre. Gov. Smith had to organize the college by the 2d of July, 1822, or the land serip would have been forfeited. Many of the cities applied for the fund. He finally gave it to the State University at Athens, insti- tuting " The Georgia State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts." The interest alone can be used. The principal was invested in Georgia State bonds. The first 850,000 Gov. Smith used in buying Georgia bonds at ninety cents, thus adding 85,000 to the fund.
The Georgia Memorial Association, under charge of Mrs. Mary A. Williams and Miss Mary J. Green, had most faithfully used the $4,000 given to remove the Confederate dead. A cemetery was established at Marietta, and 2,393 bodies removed, principally from the battle
504
THIE GEOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS.
grounds of Chickamauga and New Hope Church. There are also local Confederate Cemeteries at Resaca, Atlanta and Griffin.
During Gov. Smith's administration two departments of incalculable State benefit were established. The office of State Geologist was created by Act approved February 27, 1874, and Gov. Smith appointed Dr. George Little to the place August 10, 1874. The Department of Agriculture was created by Act approved February 20, 1874, the act passing the House by the vote of Speaker Bacon, and on the 26th of August, 1874, Gov. Smith appointed Dr. Thomas P. Janes State Com- missioner of Agriculture. The State Geologist held office until re- moved by the Governor or the office was abolished, received $2,000 salary, and was allowed two assistants at $1,200 each. The sum of $10,000 yearly was appropriated, for five years. The Commissioner of Agriculture held office for four years, received $2,000 salary and was allowed a clerk at $1,200. The sum of $10,000 was appropriated for the annual expenses of the Department.
Dr. Little was an accomplished Geologist, and his work of survey proceeded vigorously. He made a large collection of minerals and woods. He had up to 1879, when the appropriation ceased, completed a survey and maps of nearly half of the State. He had developed the mineral resources of the State, inducing the investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars of foreign capital. The legislature of 1879 failed to make a further appropriation. The office was not abolished, Dr. Little is still State Geologist, but there being no money appropriated the geological survey has ceased. The wagons and surveying tools have been sold, and the magnificent collection of geological specimens is in charge of the Commissioner of Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture was successfully established by Dr. Janes. It proved to be a great practical benefit. Its distribution of seeds, its introduction of new ideas, its valuable reports and publica- tions, and its inspection of fertilizers preserving farmers from frauds in commercial manures, have been of large utility to the farming vocation, the basis of all of our prosperity. Dr. Janes was a zealous worker, and he accomplished much good. In 1878 he was re-appointed by Gov. Colquitt. He resigned his place in September, 1870, and on the 24th day of September, 1879, Hon. John T. Henderson was appointed by Gov. Colquitt as the Commissioner.
Mr. Henderson's administration of the office has been most brilliant. Taking the position when there was for some reason a good deal of pub- lic opposition to the Department, he has popularized it in the general
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HION. JOHN T. HENDERSON, COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 505
esteem. He has exhibited nerve, tact, discrimination and capacity. He had a battle with the fertilizer manufacturers that tested his pluck and decision conclusively. He fought their analyses, and under acri- monious demonstration from them, persisted in his reforms until he had revolutionized and graded up the standard of artificial manures. He was instrumental in getting up a National Convention on this subject. His enterprise has been sleepless, and his labors judicious and admi- rably directed. The Department is on a solid basis, and its usefulness yearly increasing. The receipts from the inspection of fertilizers last year, were $76,232.03, and the expenses of the department $12,171,81, leaving a handsome balance of $64,060.23 that went into the State Trea- sury. One of the new projects of Commissioner Henderson is the establishment of an experimental farm. It will be a progressive move- ment that would benefit the State. And under the present able com- missioner it would be a success.
Gov. Smith was instrumental in May, 1873, in calling a convention of Governors and delegates in the interest of the Georgia and Great West- ern Canal. Three hundred members were present, including Gov. John C. Brown of Tennessee, President of the Convention, Gov. Silas Woodson of Missouri, and Gov. T. A. Hendricks of Indiana, from the Eighth District.
Two notable events in the year 1873 were the election of Gen. John B. Gordon United States Senator from Georgia by the General Assem- bly, and the election of Hon. Alexander H. Stephens as the Representa- tive in Congress from the Eighth District.
Gordon's victory was a signally striking one. He had for competitors, Hon. A. H. Stephens, Hon. B. H. Hill, Hon. Herbert Fielder and Hon. . A. T. Akerman. The friends of these gentlemen threw themselves vigorously into the canvass. Gen. Gordon and Mr. Hill both made speeches. Mr. Stephens was in Atlanta, and his quiet, effective influ- ence was seen in the ardent rallying of his admirers in his favor.
The triumph of Gen. Gordon was one of which any man could be proud. He had an unparalleled array of competitors, the most popular, gifted and veteran public leaders in Georgia-men around whom clus- tered peculiar considerations of public support. Mr. Stephens in- par- ticular had been a public idol, maintaining in a long career an unbroken series of political victories. He had been elected Senator after the war and was not admitted. It seemed a proper thing to return him again. Ile was handicapped, however, by his decided disagreement in the presidential campaign with the bulk of the party.
On the first joint ballot Gordon received 81 votes, Stephens 71, Hill
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JOHN B. GORDON'S EXCITING ELECTION AS U. S. SENATOR.
35, Akerman 14, Fielder 8. Mr. Stephens' vote was remarkable in view of his contest with his party, and could have been evoked by no other man under the same circumstances. He grew in strength in succeed- ing ballots. For a time it was thought he would be elected. Upon the disintegration of Hill's and Fielder's votes Gordon swept to victory. On the fourth ballot Gordon had ninety-five and Stephens seventy-five, necessary to elect one hundred and seven. On the fifth ballot Gordon ran to one hundred and one, and Stephens seventy-six, when men began to change, amid as wild an excitement as ever existed in a deliberative body. Three of Gordon's men broke to Stephens, Mattox, Brantley and Scott. Nine of Hill's men followed to Stephens. Two of Akerman's men added themselves to this growing tide. Two of Stephens' men, Peabody and Mcclellan, rushed to Gordon to give variety to the battle. Nine of Hill's men followed suit. Three of Akerman's joined this cur- rent. Baker of Bartow, with commendable impartiality, changed from Stephens to Gordon, and then back to Stephens. Watt did the same. Dorsey, not to be outdone, plumped from Hill to Stephens and then from Stephens to Gordon. Lee of Appling shifted from Gordon to Stephens, and then back to Gordon. The confusion and excitement were simply indescribable. Everybody was at fever heat. The gal- leries were packed with spectators, with a large sprinkling of ladies. At one time it was said by some investigating arithmetician who traced out the changing phases of the ballot, that Mr. Stephens was elected by one majority. The transfer of ballots was so swift and mixed that men were in perplexity, but amid the torrent of confusing changes Gordon went up steadily until the ballot was announced, Gordon one hundred and twelve, and Stephens eighty-six, and in a hurricane of shouts, the atmosphere variegated with the tossing hats, Gordon was declared elected.
It was a large clutch of honor for the young Gordon to have won this high trust, and the whole State was pleased. He had in the war carved his way to fame with the sword, rising to continental reputa- tion. He was a fine representative of the chivalry and patriotism of the South. Endowed with a clear mind, a strong honor, and a pulsing public spirit, backed by a rare physical vigor, Senator Gordon became a marked figure in the national councils, and gave an administration of his exalted trust, both useful and brilliant.
The next day after the election the Atlanta Constitution raised Mr. Stephens' name for Congress. Gen. Toombs announced that Mr. Stephens would "stand " for Congress in the Eighth District, and the
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BB Gordon GEN. JOHN B. GORDON, Ex-U. S. SENATOR.
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SUPERB TRIBUTE TO CHARLES J. JENKINS.
numerous aspirants dropped out and down, and the "Commoner," as he was felicitously called, was returned to Congress, where he still continues to give the country his services. Forty years ago he had been elected to Congress. For sixteen consecutive years he had served, his stout heart and large brain, in a weak frame, battling manfully for the rights and interest of the whole country. Retiring voluntarily from public life, he emerged from his privacy to become the second officer of the Confederate government. After thirteen years absence he returned to the seat in Congress he had vacated, the representative of the princi- ples, thoughts and policies of the best school of American statesman- ship. The event was a notable one, and created national comment and congratulation.
This Legislature elected as State House officers, Col. N. C. Barnett Secretary of State, Col. John Jones Treasurer, and W. L. Goldsmith as Comptroller General. Col. Barnett and Col. Jones had both been removed from office by Gen. Meade, and their election was the sponta- neous tribute of the representatives of the people to these officers for their fidelity to the State's interest.
A very interesting incident of Gov. Smith's administration was con- nected with ex-Gov. Charles J. Jenkins. Hon. J. B. Cumming intro- duced a resolution, which passed and was approved August 22, 1872, authorizing the Governor to have made and present to Mr. Jenkins a fac-simile of the great seal of State that he had taken with him when removed from office, with this additional inscription: "Presented to Charles J. Jenkins by the State of Georgia," and this legend, " In Arduis Fidelis."
Gov. Smith had the gold copy made, and in July, 1873, he transmitted it to ex-Gov. Jenkins through the hands of Mr. Cumming, the author of the resolution, in a suitable letter. The formal presentation of this testimonial of a republic's gratitude, this State recognition of fidelity to her honor and prosperity, was certainly an event of beautiful signifi- cance. The letter of ex-Gov. Jenkins, in reply, was like everything else emanating from his brain, a document of grace and power. The exquisite elegance of diction, the rare propriety of sentiment, and the strong tenor of vigorous thought that mark this letter, make it a paper to be read with admiration and treasured in remembrance. This senti- ment deserves preservation:
" My position is that there is now no cause for despondency ; that the wrongs and oppressions we have endured resulted from administrative abuses, not from structural thanges in the government. This distinction should be kept constantly in view. In a
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GOV. SMITH'S CONTROVERSIES.
complex government like our own, the political powers divided between the general and State governments, let it never be conceded that a power once usurped is thenceforth « power transferred ; nor that a right once suppressed is for that cause a right extinguished ; nor that a Constitution a thousand times violated becomes a Constitution abolished; nor finally that a government prostituted by two or three consecutive administrations to purposes of tyranny and corruption must thereafter be regarded as a government revolutionized."
Brave, noble words these were, that rang over the length and breadth . of the State, giving truth and inspiration to every wearied champion of constitutional government.
Gov. Smith's administration was firm and able and made him very popular. He concluded his fragment of Bullock's time, and entered upon his regular term of four years amid the general and earnest favor of the people. His whole administration, nearly as an entirety, was a beneficial and capable one. There were, however, two matters that occurred that marred the harmony of his regime. There was an aggres- sive quality in his temper that developed itself, and that was productive of many personal misunderstandings, and created an unnecessary oppo- sition. He was unfortunate enough to get up some very grave conflicts of statement with several distinguished gentlemen in the State upon the delicate subject of their appointment to office. Whatever may have been the merits of these controversies, they made hostility to Gov. Smith. Ex-Gov. H. V. Johnson was the most prominent of the persons with whom Gov. Smith had these by no means beneficial differences. Gov. Johnson considered that Gov. Smith had promised to put him on the supreme bench, and Gov. Smith denied it, and the issue drifted into quite an unpleasant correspondence. Such incidents made an opposi- tion disproportioned to what might be supposed their legitimate effect.
At the expiration of Dr. Angier's term as Treasurer in 1872, as has been stated, Col. John Jones, Treasurer tinder Gov. Jenkins and who had been removed by Gen. Meade, was elected to this office. The election was unfortunate for himself and for Gov. Smith. He had earned an unusual reputation, and was endeared to the people by his striking experiences. " Honest Jack Jones " was his enviable designation. It was a cruel thing that such a character, so uncommon and priceless, should have been sacri- ficed, with every undeniable purpose to merit its continuance, and with the fact of integrity untouched. Charges of loose management became general, and the alleged payment of duplicate securities was formulated upon the public thought. The Legislature of 1875 put a committee at work to investigating the Treasurer's office. This committee reported a bad state of things existing in that office, and resolutions were passed censuring the Treasurer, instructing suit against that officer and his
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