1872 to 1874 Nov. to Dec. 17, 1872 governor in 1872, but David Paul Lewis, of Madison, the Republican candidate, was elected. 5. Governor Lewis.-Governor Lewis was a native of Virginia. He grew to manhood in Alabama, where he was honored with high public offices. He favored the Union so strongly that during the war he went through the Federal lines to Nashville, where he spent the closing year of the war. The returns of the election in 1872 gave a majority of Democrats in the general assembly. They organized in the capitol and were recognized by Governor Lindsay. They also counted the votes of the election and declared the results. To prevent the Democrats from electing a member of their party as United States senator, the Republican members of the legislature met in the courthouse. These were joined by some of the Republican candidates for the legislature who had been beaten in the election by Democrats. Mr. Lewis recognized this body as the legislature. There were now two legislatures, a Democratic "capitol legislature" and a Republican "courthouse legislature.' The attorney-general of the United States and General Grant fixed up a compromise whereby the Republicans were given a majority in the general assembly. Thus Alabama was again in the hands of the radicals. There was no use for the Democrats to protest; although the compromise was unfair, the Federal troops were ready to make them submit if they refused the compromise. .The foul tricks of the Republicans in the courthouse legislature and afterwards in the capitol, and the broken credit of the State added to the burdens of a general financial panic. The debt of the State was now $30,037,563. The people were so much aroused that in the next election they defeated Governor Lewis, who wanted to succeed himself, and elected George S. Houston, of Limestone county. With the defeat of Lewis came the downfall of Republican rule in Alabama. The Democrats have been in power ever since. SUMMARY Among the important events in the history of Alabama during Federal military rule may be mentioned the adoption of the constitution of 1865, the formation of military districts, the action of Congress in forcing on the State the constitution of 1868, the reckless expenditures of a corrupt legislature and the consequent increase in the State debt, the rise of the Democratic and Conservative party, and the election of a Democratic governor and legislature. QUESTIONS 1. How did Lewis E. Parsons become governor, and what. election did he call? 2. Who were elected United States senators in 1865? 3. Give the principal events of Governor Patton's administration. 4. Of what classes was the legislature of 1868 composed, and how was the State's credit ruined? 5. Give an account of the contest between Governor Smith and Robert B. Lindsay. 6. What was Governor Lindsay's most praiseworthy act? 7. Sketch briefly the life of David P. Lewis before he was elected governor. 8. Describe the contest for control of the legislature in 1872. 9. What was the State debt in 1874? 10. Who Succeeded Mr. Lewis and to what party did he belong? 11. Name the governors of Alabama during Federal military rule. 1874 to 1878 CHAPTER XXXI UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF 1875 (1875-1901) 1. Governor Houston.-George Smith Houston, of Limestone, stands out prominently among the Democratic governors of Alabama. He passed a long and distinguished career in public service. He spent George Smith Houston eighteen years as representative in Congress, retiring in 1861, when Alabama seceded. He was a strong Union man and did not enter the Confederate army, but he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the government of the United States, and he suffered much loss of property at the hands of the Federals. Reform in politics and the reëstablishment of honest measures marked the four years of good government while he was in office. The first thing that had to be attended to by Governor Houston was to provide a way to meet the heavy debt of the State made during "reconstruction." The general assembly provided for the appointment of three debt commissioners with power to settle all claims against the State for bonds that had been issued. Governor Houston, Levi W. Lawler, and T. B. Bethea were appointed commissioners. They found the debt to be $30,037,563, much of it clearly unjust and due to the carelessness and greed of rascally legislators and officials. After a conference between the bondholders and the commissioners, it was determined that the State justly owed a little more than $9,000,000. New bonds to this amount were accepted by the bondholders in full payment of their claims against the State. A new State constitution was demanded, and delegates elected to frame it met in convention in Montgomery. In this convention were many of the most distinguished men of the State. The constitution which it framed was such a good one that it was continued in force until the new constitution of 1901 went into effect. While Governor Houston was in office, the salaries of public officers were lessened; the public school system was reorganized; laws were passed permitting the organization of companies for mining, manufacturing, building railroads, and for doing other business; Federal troops were withdrawn from the State; the amount owed by the State to the University was fixed at $300,000, with interest at 8 per cent; convicts were hired and made to bring a revenue to the State. At the end of his second term Governor Houston was elected United States senator from Alabama, and died in that high office on December 31, 1879. 1878 to 1882 1882 to 1886 2. Governor Cobb.-Rufus W. Cobb, of Shelby, was elected without opposition from the Republicans. During his term of office taxes were reduced and their collection was made easier; schools were improved; Mobile, burdened by the debts of "reconstruction," was deprived of its city charter, and a committee was appointed by the governor to wind up its debt; Congress was requested by the legislature to remove the 10 per cent tax on State banks, to establish a national quarantine, and to check the abuse of power by United States officials who tried to collect fees for which there was no law; the railroad commission was created with Captain W. L. Bragg as president, and Captain James Crook and Colonel C. P. Ball as associate members. 3. Governor O'Neal.-The next governor of AlaAlabama was General Edward Asbury O'Neal, a trained lawyer and a gallant officer who had led his regiments in the hot battles under Lee in Virginia, During his term of office, Congress granted fortysix thousand and eighty acres of land to the State University; normal schools for white teachers were opened in Livingston and Jacksonville; the State department of agriculture began its work under Commissioner Edward C. Betts, of Madison; the office of examiner of public accounts was created; many reforms in the treatment of convicts were beApr. 29, gun; and the foundation for the monument to the memory of Confederate soldiers from Alabama was laid on Capitol Hill, in Montgomery, by Jefferson Davis. 1886 1886 to 1890 4. Governor Seay.-Governor O'Neal was succeeded in office by Thomas Seay, of Hale. Governor |