very important decisions and had made good headway toward reëstablishing its old-time reputation. It is perhaps a misfortune that the work of courts, especially when the bench is occupied by really able judges, is done so quietly that the ordinary observer, outside of the legal profession, hears little about it. If there is one department of their government which Alabamians ought to hold in especial honor, it is their judiciary.

The Congressmen chosen this year were all Democrats, but General Shelley was again unseated by the House of Representatives.

QUESTIONS.

What is said of Governor Cobb? Describe the change that has come over Jones's Valley since the early seventies. Tell the story of Birmingham's beginnings. Mention some of the leading men in the movement. What is said of the new industrial movement in general? What were the political conditions during this administration? What is said of Mobile's troubles? Describe the election of 1880. What were the principal facts revealed by the census? What is said of the cities? Describe the election of 1882. What is said of the Supreme Court?

CHAPTER XXXVII.

ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR O'NEAL.

GOVERNOR EDWARD A. O'NEAL.

EDWARD ASBURY O'NEAL was a native of Madison County, Alabama, and of Irish and Huguenot French descent. He was educated at LaGrange College and studied law under Colonel James W. McClung, of Huntsville. Distinguished as a lawyer while still a young man, O'Neal won distinction also as a secessionist leader and as a soldier in the Civil War. He served in the Virginia campaigns, and at Chancellorsville commanded

at the point of attack on the Federal right. Before the end of the war, he was in command of a brigade. He was reëlected governor in 1884 with little opposition, and thus served four years.

The questions with which the legislature had to deal during this administration were not of an exciting nature. The assessment and collection of taxes, the tax rate, the treatment of convicts, the proper relation of the State to railroads, and similar questions were discussed. The city of Selma was deprived of its charter, as Mobile had been, and for similar causes; but, as was also the case with Mobile, it got back its charter after a while.

In order to further the interests of the farmers, a State department of agriculture was established, headed by a com

missioner. The governor was empowered to name the commissioner, and his choice fell on Judge Edward C. Betts, who entered with great zeal upon the duties of the new office. Among the more important of these duties was the formation of State and local associations among the farmers for purposes of instruction and consultation; the investigation of various topics in agriculture; the protection of the farmers against worthless mixtures offered for sale as fertilizers; and the encouragement of immigration. The expenses of the office have been defrayed almost completely by the license tax on commercial fertilizers.

If the work of the legislature was unexciting, another department of the government made amends, for the most sensational incident in the history of the State belongs to this administration. One of the State officers chosen on the ticket with Governor O'Neal was Isaac H. Vincent-" honest Ike Vincent," as he was often called-who had already served two terms as treasurer, but whose popularity broke in his favor the unwritten law by which State officials got only two terms of continuous service. Toward the close of January, Vincent left Montgomery, telling his family that he was going on a hurried visit to New York. But however hurried his departure, his return was rather slow, for it was over four years before he was again seen in Alabama. Meanwhile, a committee of the legislature appointed to examine his accounts found a shortage of more than $250,000. The governor immediately offered a large reward for his arrest, but for several years all efforts to find him were unsuccessful. His bond was missing, and so was the record of it in the office of the secretary of state. From three of the men who were known to have signed it about $50,000 was collected, and the State had to bear the loss of the rest. Nothing was heard of Vincent himself until March, 1887, when he came back a prisoner in the hands of a Texan named Ray to take the punishment of his crime. He was promptly tried on one

A NEW OFFICE ESTABLISHED.

297

of the many indictments against him, convicted, and sent to the penitentiary. His is the most conspicuous example of crime in high places that Alabama history affords. One important result of the incident was the establishment of a new office. The holder of this office is called the examiner of public accounts. Through him the State can keep a closer watch over men entrusted with public moneys.

Notwithstanding the serious loss sustained through the crime of Vincent, the finances of the State were in a good way, and the next year the administration was enabled to congratulate the people on the fact that the treasury was fuller than at any other time in its history, while the tax rate, already low, could safely be lowered still further.

In 1883, a normal school for girls was established at Livingston. Miss Julia Tutwiler, who was connected with the school from its beginning, is well known for her work in education and charity, and is further endeared to the people of

Alabama by the respect in which they hold the memory of her father, Professor Henry Tutwiler. He was for many years principal of a famous school for boys at Green Springs.

The educational interests of the State were again promoted in the year 1884 by a substantial grant from the general government to the State University. The grant consisted of a large tract of land, more than 46,000 acres, and was to be applied, so far as necessary, to making good the losses sustained when the buildings were burned by Federal troops

during the war. The gift has been

carefully administered.

In general, it may be said that the year 1884 marked the height of the first period of the new industrial life of the State. The railroads had nearly 2,000 miles of track in operation. The output of iron, which in 1870 was but little over 7,000 tons, had risen to 125,000 tons. While the black belt was still the richest part of the State, Jefferson had taken its place among the five counties paying the heaviest taxes. The people were making good headway toward the high destiny in the Union to which Alabama confidently looks forward.

PROFESSOR HENRY TUTWILER.

And yet, when, in the month of April, Jefferson Davis came to Montgomery for the last time, in order to dedicate a new monument to Alabama's Confederate dead, a vast multitude, gathered together from all over the State, showed by their enthusiasm that the people of Alabama held him in even greater honor and affection than when he was the commander of mighty armies. Mr. Davis's visit was an event of the deepest interest. His address was simple, manly, and dignified.