The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-06-28
ALMOST roRGoTTGS HISTORY

The death oil EX-tIOVeIHOf CldTieo
J. jenkins, of Georgia, TeviVes some
passages in history IN
which he played prominent part.
He became at an early age conspicu-
Gus as politician, and was offered a
position, which he declined, in Presi-
dent Fillmore's cabinet. In 1849 he
figured among many distinguished
men in the legislature of Georgia, an
the state rights element |
with vigor. He was Wing, and |
was nominated by convention of |
Wings, who were dissatisfied with the |
attitude of their party, for vice-presi- |
dent on a ticket with Daniel Webster |
for president, in the Pierce campaign. |
In 1860 Gov. Jenkins was appointed |
as member of the committee on the
state of the republ C, which addressed
a communication to leading citizens
of both parties asking them to meet
together and in a conciliatOry, practl-
cal way to try and devise some plan
to escape the then impending danger.
The result of this conference was the
calling of the state convention which
carried Georgia out of the Union IN
d lOOl. LII lOOO llS w do ClCCG-
ed to the supreme bench, as the sue
cessor of Linton Stephens, and in 1865
he was chosen governor of the state
without opposition. He was inaugu-
rated in December of the same year.
The provisional governor, James
johnson, was removed by the federal
authorities and Gov. Jenkins was IN
formed that the administration would
ah nnrfIIllu with tho CtQfQ
government Of which he was the
head. This promise seemed full of
hope for the people of Georgia, but
the work of reconstruction which
began soon afterwards, sadly
changed the aspect of affairs,
When the fourteenth amendment was
presented to Georgia for ratification
Gov. jenkins addressed a message
amendment be rejected, and resolu-
ton was passed to that effect with
only two dissenting voices in the low
er house. Then it was that congress
passed what is known as the Sher-
man bill, prescribing, not only the
amendment, but negro suffrage, and
speedily the state government was
overturned and military despotiSm
| 1h0OOftus Ne
Black, Robert j. Brent, Edgar Cowan
ami Charles O'Connor were employed
as counsel Tor the late civil govern
ment of Georgia, and they plead
its cause at Washington, aided
by Governor Jenkins, who, ever
Jealous of the dignity and honor of
the part of his people, issued an adj
Irocc IN thnO, in which ha aHIriCn1 81
firm but temperate refusal of acqui-
escence in the Sherman bill, and a
patient, manly endurance of military
government, until in the efflux Of
time, and on the subsistence of pas
siOns generated by civil war, better
councils shall prevail at the Federal
serving law and order, and vigorously
addressing ourselves to industrial
pursuits" The supreme court dis
missed Governor Jenkins bill and the
gloomy era of reconstruction began.
General Pope, then in COM
mand of Georgia, wrote to Coy
ernor Jenkins and asked if he had
seen in his order prohibiting state
officials from influencing the people
on reconstruction before he had is
sued the address from Washington.
Jenkins replied that he had not, but
added that he should in future do
whatever his oath as governor re-
quired of him. Gen. Pope replied
that state officials would not be al
lowed to denounce acts of congress
under which his military SuperviS-
ion was constituted. What is known
as the reconstruction convention met
in Atlanta on the 18th of December,
1867. The convention demanded
$4,000 for its expenses, and Gen.
Pope made requisition upon the
state treasury for that amount. The
treasurer declined to furnish the
money. AT this juncture Gen. Pope
was succeeded by Gen. Meade, who
wrote to Gov. Jenkins requesting the
payment of the $4,000. Jenkins re-
fused and answered Meade in a
strain of keen satire. Meade
replied that Jenkins refusal to
pay the money was an obstruction to
Che policy OF Reconstruction and COM
PEELED his removal from Office. Gen.
Kruger was "detailed for duty" as
Governor of Georgia, and took abso-
Lutte control of the state government.
The treasurer was thrown into Jail.
Governor jenkins was resolute and
determined to appeal to the law Sc
curing s4AA, 00g of the states money
and taking with him the state seal
he went to Washington. Before the
supreme court he filed bill complain
ing that Ulysses s. Grant, George G..
Meade, Thomas III. Ruger and G. F.
Rockwell had illegally seiged the
states property and imprisoned her
officials. He prayed for an injunction
to prevent them from further spolia-
ton. The injunction was refused.
Governor Jenkins continued to coun-
sci peaceful reslStan "e to reconstruc-
ton, and to assure the people that
their trials could not last beyond the
fit of passion then in control of the
Federal legislature. The military
government remained supreme, until
in 1868 Rufus B. Bullock was de-
clarea elected governor of Georgia
Then there was inaugurated in Geor-
gia the same corrupt government,
which signalized all the administra-
lions Of the southern states, imposed
by disfranchisement and through cor
ruption upon them all, Georgia was
the first southern state to rid herself
OF the corrupt carpet bag government,
and Bullock had to flee the state to
keep out of the state prison. The
history of reconstruction in Georgia,
and OF the governments imposed
Hereunder, bad though it was, is
pleasant to contemplate beside the
utter wretchedness that was imposed
upon the people of many of the other
reconstructed states. The fate of
Texas was worse even than that of
Georgia, if we except the fact that
public robbery was especially rampant
in the latter. Once In a while one
of these land marks in the field of
history is taken away, and then crowd
upon us the unpleasant memories of
sad days that are fast fading from
memory, but which history win per-
petuate, showing that a brave and
chivalrous people could be heroic in
defeat, noble even under the basest
and most shameless mastery.