The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-27

was graduated from Princeton University.
New Jersey, in 1874. and was admitted to
the bar in 1915. He served in the Mexican
war as a staE major. He was a national
representative in 1852 in the Thirty-third
congress, and was a state legislator in
1859. In 1850 he was a Breckinridge-Lau
eIector, and the next year a member of
Jhe Georgia secession convention. He
went INTO the war along with the first
and was successively captain, colonel,
brigadier general and major general In
1877 he was elected president of the state
democratic convention and on the same
day president of the State Agricultural
Society, to which latter Office he was
elected for six years successively. In 1876
he was chosen governor of Georgia for
four years, and in 1880 was reelected for
TWO years. In 1878 he was elected presi-
dent Of the International Sunday school
convention. He was first elected to the
Senate in 1888 since which time he re-
malned as representative-Of his state in
the upper house of congress. Such, rap
idly sketched and setting down only cold
facts, is record of the career of one of
the finest specimens of the influence
of heredity ever produced. For Al
fred II. COlquitts father Walter
t. Colquitt was a man of exceptional
brilhance and versatility at the bar and in
congress, and n public servant whose
qualities won the confidence and esteem
of the state. The son was like the father
IN force of character, ability and genial
lty, and the popular esteem in which the
elder Colquitt was held was accorded TO
the younger as soon as he was old enough
to demonstrate his capacity.
Young Colquitt entered upon the prac-
tice of law Immediately after his gradua-
ton; but, Notwithstanding his natural
powers as an orator, which would have
won him distinction in the law, he found
the profession uncOngenial, and began life
as planter. And as planter he made
his ventures successful. His
was one of the largest and most
productive plantations in the state, yield
ing thousand or more bales Of cotton
year. In 1852, after he had returned from
the Mexican war, the young man began
his political career-One that was destined
to be long, honorable and almost unre-
mittlng. The people of the Second dis
trict almost forced a congressional nomi-
nation upon him, and he was elected
after laboriOus campaign, by a hand
some majority. 1t was that first canvass
by Colquitt that is credited with having
made Herscheu V. Johnson governor Of
Georgia. Maj. Colquitt-he was then "a
major by right of his Mexican war title
was, as a matter of course, in full sym
pathy with southern sentiment in those
stormy days, preceding the breaking
out of the war, and was selected by his
people to represent them on all
occasions when representative
was wanted. Thus, after his first con-
gressiOnal term and while he was a mem
ber of the state legislature, he was chosen
a delegate to the Charleston convention
and national presidential elector. and
later member of the convention that
took Georgia out of the union along with
her southern sisters.
And when Georgia went out, Colquitt
went out with her-Out into the field to
fight for her liberties He was with the
gallant Sixth Georgia regiment. first as
captain, then as colonel of the troop.
His bravery, coolness and ability won
him the esteem of Gen. Beauregard,
under whom Re operated, and there was
no officer in the service to whom the
great French confederate confided more
than he did to Colquitt. Colquitt's
movements as soldier were dar-
ing, and led him to many hair
breadth escapes. In one of the fights be-
fore Charleston a ball come so near end
ing his career as to Craze his scalp But
his dash and daring had its reward in
raising him to the rank of a majOr-gen-
eral. And that the distinction was
worthily worn is evidenced by the result
of the battle of Olustee, or Ocan Pond,
Fla. That decisive engagement settled
the federal operations in the peninsular
After the war Gen. Colquitt retired for
a short while almost from public obser-
walton, in his quiet attention TO matters
Of private business interests. But modest
as was his walk he was not able to with
draw himself from his neigh hbors hence
they turned TO him for advice and an
example during the sore trials of
To-, 4
an advisor and eXemplar was he that he
soon found himself drawn into politics
again, and was sent to the Baltimore con
vention in 1872 along with an uninstructed
delegation empowered to do whatever
might to them seem best for the demOC-
racy and the south. That convention
nominated Horace Greeley for Presi-
dent
In 1876, when it became necessary to
provide q successor ITO Gov. Smith, the
first executive under white home rule,
after the war, public sentiment turned,
almost ley universal impulse, to Colquitt.
There was no opposition to him worth
speaking of, and he was nominated by
acclamation by one of the largest
and most influential conventions ever
held in the state, and was
elected by the great majority of $4,000
votes That term, under the then exist
ing constitution was for four years. Dur
ing that term the Hon. John b. Gordon,
then senator, resigned his seat in that
body, and the governor appointed as his
successor ex-Gov. Joseph K. Brown and
shat act crystaliZed an opposition TO Gov.
Colquitt that had grown for year or
two. His administration was attacked
Justify by many of the public men
Of the state The opposition determined
the governor upon seeking reelection as
a vindicatiOn of his administratiOn-he
had not previously desired a re election
After a warmly contested preliminary
campaign the state convention met in
Atlanta. on Aug. 4, 1850, continued in ses-
sion seven days and nominated ColGuitt
by a vote Of 224 in a total OF 800. And he
was reelected by a majority of $4,000 not
withstauding the strong opposition that
had developed prior to the convention
and the fact that so strong a man as
Thomas NJ Norwood, who had been nom
mated by minority of the convention
was in the field against him As results
of Gov COlquitt's administrations, taxa
tion was reduced from 80 cents on the
500 to 20 cents, increased revenue to the
extent Of S500,0OO were added to the
treasury, floating debt of S350,00 was
wiped out, more than 81, 900, 900 of the
public debt was paid the state
securities rose in value. the pub
lie schools were improved, agriculture in
creased and the state made monster
strides towards rehabilitating herself
after the disasters of war and reconstruc-
tioO