The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-09-28
Bill Yancey-Whois He ? 4
[FromtBc Selma Ala. Sentinel, Democratic

AS tnis inulvldual has become notorious
in consequence Of his bold efforts to de-
stroy the National Democratic party, and
to "precipitate the Cotton States into q
revolution" under the guise and cloak of
Democracy, it has been suggested to be
proper and right, his antecedents should
be referred to occasionally. The precise
latitude in which this individual first saw
the light Of day, has not been fully settled
he claims that credit belongs to South
Carolina, but others say il is due to a lit
tie town in Western New York, called
Fanga or Fungas, we don't recollect which.
But that is immaterial. His first political
efforts were made at Greenville, South
Carolina, in favor of notification and in
rebellion to the patriot jackson, in which
efforts to arouse rebellion he most sue
cessfully failed.
His first appearance in Alabama, was in
Cahaba, in 1887, where he attempted to
disorganize and break up an anti State
Bank Democratic county meeting, at
which time a difficulty occurred between
him and our worthy and excellent friend,
Col. G.. w. Gayle-Gaylc being opposed to
the rotten State Bank system, and Yam
ccy espousing the cause, and subsequent
ly got rather deep into the State Banks,
as is shown by the report to the Legisla-
ture.
Yancey next took charge of the South
crn Democrat at Cahaba and prostituted
that paper TO the cause of the State bank
ing system. Finding he was playing q
losing game, both in popularity and mo-
ney, he left Cahaba, went to Wetumpka,
bought some three or four newspapers in
that city, and merged them all into pa
per called the Wetumpka Argus, law suits
followed the purchase of one or two of the
offices and Yancey came out of the little
end of the horn, by the law suits going
against him. About this time, his broth
er, B. G. Yancey, came to Wetumpka,
from South Caroliua or Georgia, took
charge of the Argus, and Bill went to
Grecnville South Carolina and in few
days after his arrival there became involv-
ed in personal difficulty which resulted
in the death of DR.. Earle, an uncle by
marriage. Yancey was tried, found guilty
of manslaughter, sentenced to two years
imprisonment, and fine of fifteen thou
sand dollars. After lying in Jail some
three or four months, his sentence was
committed to the payment of the fine.
The next thing we heard of Yancey was
his admission to practice law at Kingston,
Autauga county, Alabama. Soon after
wards he became candidate for the State
Senate in Autauga and Coosa counties in
opposition to Judge w. w. Morris, the
regularly nominated Democratic candi-
date-4ancey taking up the White basis
hun,Jug-and finally defeated Judge Nor
ris, the Democratic candidate. He served
two sessions in the Senate. The next
movement he made was to smuggle into
the District Convention at Centreville, n
lot Of bogus delegates from Coosa and Au-
tauga countless to secure his nomination
for Congress over Col. George w. Gayle,
who was the favorite among the Demo-
cracy of the district for Congress. Yancey
secured the admission of his bogus dele
gates into the Convention, and he was
nominated for Congress, and the Demo-
Gratis rather than raise disturbance, and
for the sake of their party, permitted the
Congress, the first thing was to challenge
Mr.. Clingman, from North Carolina, for
duel. They met, discharged one shot,
Yancey shooting before the word, his ball
going into the ground about ten feet in
front Of his antagonist-the difficulty was
made up. Yancey returned and rode
rough shod over everything in the district
and was again elected to Congress. He
voted for the Wilmot Proviso in the Ore
gon Territorial Bill, and resigned his seat
in Congress. Col. Cottrcll, of Lowndes
was nominated by the Democracy. Sam.
Beeman, a half brother of Yancey's, u
Wing then, but now Black Republican
in Minnesota, also became candidate
Iancey took the field for Beeman, the
Wing, in opposition to the Democratic
nominee, and by his mischievous inter-
ference came within about so votes of
clecting Beeman, the Wing candidate
We next hear of Yancey boiling from the
Baltimore Convention of 1913, and during
the campaign done all he could against
the election Of General Cass, the Demo-
cratic nominee. He then became quiet
until 1852, when we find him giving aid
and comfort to the disunion ticket OF
Troup and Quitman, and against the Ma
tional Democratic nominees-Pierce and
King. He found himself belonging to a
handful of disunionists and secessionists,
though he had lnbored hard in his State
Convention at Montgomery in 1851, to
disorganize the Democracy of Alabama
and commit the party to secession.
Wene hear of him in the State Con-
vention of 1856, insisting upon the adop-
ton of resolutions demanding Congress
lonal non-intervention by the Cincinnati
Convention, and if not granted by that
Convention for the Alabama delegation to
withdraw. He was appointed delegate
and an elector for the Statement to Gin
cinnati, and he found non-intervention
was the doctrine of the party at Cincin-
natl, and thus was he prevented from car
rying out his favorite mode of withdrawing,
and he really did support Mr.. Buchanan,
the first Democrat he voted for, for about
twelve years. But being disappointed
in securing an appointment from Mr..
Buchanan, in less than Is months after
the election, we find him prowling about
in Lowndes, Macon and Montgomery
counties, forming what he termed South
ern Leagues, with the motto-"A South
ern Republic is our only safety" inscribed
upon their banner.
D1" The man who did not think il
respectable to bring up his children to
work, has just heard Of his sons. One oil
them is driver on canal, another Of
them has been taken up as a vagrant,
and third has gone to public institu-
ton to learn the shoe making business
under keeper.