vention were John Erwin, of Greene; John A. Winston, of Sumter; Judge Stone, of Lowndes; and Chief Justice Collier, of Tuscaloosa. After two days of balloting, Judge Collier was nominated, and at the election he was chosen without opposition. But at the same

time the Whigs carried the State Senate. The lower house and the two houses on joint ballot were, however, Democratic.

Before the day came for the inauguration of Governor Collier, a startling event occurred. On December 14, while both houses were in session, fire was discovered in the new capitol, over the Representatives' Hall. The Senate quickly adjourned and the House broke up. The flames spread rapidly. Most of the archives were saved, but the library was almost totally destroyed. In a few hours the State was without a capitol, and almost immediately talk of another change in the seat of government began to be heard.

The following is an abstract from the Alabama platform of 1848, on the subject of protecting slave property in the Territories:

"Resolved, That the treaty of cession should contain a clause securing an entry into those Territories to all citizens of the United States, together with their property of every description, and that the same should remain protected by the United States while the Territories are under its authority.

"Resolved, That the opinion advanced or maintained by some, that the people of a Territory acquired by the common toil, suffering, blood and treasure of the people of all the States, can, in other event than the forming of a State Constitution preparatory to admittance as a State into the Union, lawfully or constitutionally prevent any citizen of any such States from removing to or settling in such Territory with his property, be it slave property or other, is a restric

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tion as indefensible in principle as if such restriction were imposed by Congress.

"Resolved, That this Convention pledge itself to the country, and the members pledge themselves to each other, under no political necessity whatever to support for the offices of President and Vice-President of the United States, any persons who shall not be openly and unequivocally opposed to either of the forms of excluding slavery from the Territories of the United States, mentioned in these resolutions, as being alike in violation of the Constitution, and of the just and equal rights of the citizens of the slaveholding States."

QUESTIONS.

What is said of Governor Chapman? What was the final step in settling the affairs of the bank, and who was entrusted with the work? Mention some of the other subjects discussed by the legislature of 184950. What was done about the trust funds? Describe the King-Lewis contest. Explain how the Mexican war brought up the slavery question. What was the plan of the extreme anti-slavery men? What was meant by Squatter Sovereignty? What became of Senator Lewis, and who succeeded him as a State-Rights leader? What was the "Alabama platform"? Describe the presidential election of 1848. What changes were made in Alabama's representation in the United States Senate? How did the congressional elections of 1849 result? What constitutional amendment was submitted to the people in 1849? Tell about the nomination and election of a governor in 1849. What misfortune occurred in December, 1849?

fairness, moderation, and good sense.

The first thing the legislature had to do after the inauguration of Governor Collier was to provide a home for the State government, and this was the chief business of the session. An attempt at a third removal was made, but it failed, and it was finally voted to build again on Goat Hill. The new capitol was built in two years, and was ready for use when the session of 1851 began.

It is probable that it was only the discussion over the rebuilding of the capitol that prevented the legislature of 1849 from establishing one of the most creditable institutions the State now possesses. During the winter of 1849-50, Miss Dorothea L. Dix, a philanthropic woman of New York, visited Alabama. She had devoted herself to the help of the

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insane, and she came to urge upon the legislature a duty too long neglected. Bills to establish a State hospital for insane persons were introduced into both houses, but did not pass. At the next session the measure was passed, and Tuscaloosa

was selected as the site, but the hospital was not opened for patients until 1861. Since that time it has been greatly enlarged. For many years it was under the care of Dr. Peter Bryce, a man of national reputation, whose name is now a part of its official title. The legislature of 1849 reëlected William R. King to the office of United States senator.

The census of 1850 showed a population of 771,623.

The

whites were 426,514; the slaves, 334,844; and the rest were free negroes. The same year a new county was formed out of a portion of Walker, and named for the Massachusetts patriot, John Hancock; but some years later the name was changed to Winston, in honor of a governor of Alabama.

Some industrial progress was made during the administration. In 1850 there were twelve cotton mills in the State. At the close of the year 1851, about thirty-three miles of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad had been completed, making, with

With the final report

the forty-four of the old Tuscumbia and Decatur and the eightyeight of the Montgomery and Western, a total of one hundred and sixty-five miles. The organization of the Mobile and Girard, chartered in 1846, was perfected in 1849, but little progress had been made. The people, however, were getting interested in the subject of railroads, and it was not long, as we shall see, before they got almost as much excited over them as they had once been over banks.

and the resignation of Commissioner

Lyon in 1853 we reach a point where we may at last dismiss the State bank entirely. The report showed that the State's bonded debt, which was nearly nine and a quarter millions when the bank was placed in liquidation, had been reduced, chiefly through the excellent management of the commissioner, to a little more than three and one-half millions; while the notes of the bank still outstanding were freely received at par. The legislature passed resolutions of thanks to Mr. Lyon. John Whiting, who was chosen to succeed him, discharged the remaining duties of the office in a creditable way.