Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-05
HE HAS A RECORD.
Career of the New United States Sem
ntOr from Alabama.

| ntOr from Alabama.
When Z. w. Pettus, who was elected to
succeed James l.. Pugh as senator from Ala
bama, takes his seat in the senate. he will
| be one of the most striking characters in
congress.
His life which covers a period of nearly
| four-score years, has bristled with some OF
the most thrilling incidents in southern his
| tory
| deal of reconstruction, relates the Chicago
| Times-Herald, he was a leader, and, by his
wisdom and conservatism no less than his
| heroism, he averted much trouble between
| the wines and blacks in the little town OF
Selma, where he lived and practiced law,
| He was loved both by the whites and blacks
and could sway them by his eloquence.
never knew man who was such master
of men. One of the best examples of his
power was shown in 1869
Selma was then q town of 5000 people,
more than half of whom were negroes. In
fact, the republicans carpet-baggers and
negroes controlled the municipal govern
| ment. The town marshal was a negro, as
were all the members of the police force.
Not a month passed without some serious
clash between the two races the feeling con-
tinually becoming more intense. During
these troubles General Pettus acted the role
of peacemaker
During an alteration which grew out OF
these constant differences a young friend or
the general shot negro, who died where he
fell in the streets of Selma. In less than
five minutes a mob of 500 negroes, breathing
vengeance modified to lynch the slayer.
Excitement ran high. Feeling was at that
pitch where the least overt act on the part
of any one would have precpitated a riot,
bloody and disastrous. The slayer secreted
| himself in a saloon near the crowd. General
Pettus heard of his friends danger and i'm
mediatey went to him. Both got into a
covered carriage in the rear of the saloon.
The noisy mob got wind of the movement
and later attempted to intercept the car
rlage.
Bent on murder, the negroes swarmed
about the hack, which was obliged to stop
General Pettus realized the situation, stepped
on the drivers seat, and, with a stern elo-
quence suitable to the occasion, appealed to
the men to disperse and allow the law to
deal with the case, and gave his pledge that
he would see justice vindicated He quelled
the trouble by swaying the multitude. The
hack was then allowed to proceed, bearing
itg occupants out OF town.
General Pettus, true to his word after
ward defended and acquitted his friend of
the homicide.
On another occasion, at about the same
time, General Pettus was the central figure
in very serious race riot in Selma. A
white man and negro became involved in
quarrel and the latter was shot and killed
in front of the market house. Before the
whites could mobilize the blacks had seized
the slayer ana Deaten MIN almost TO death.
They were then dragging his body through
the streets. The mob was met by General
Pettus with other citizens and the body was
recovered, but the man had expired. The
ringleaders were Immediately arrested and
jailed, and were afterward tried, convicted
and several sent to the penitentiary.
General and Senator Pettus Is no less
soldier than a jurlst and statesman. At
the siege OF Vicksburg, Miss the enemy
had captured a redoubt that was OF great
stratgetic importance. and General Stephen
ID. Lee ordered that II be retaken in spite OF
tho danger OF the attempt, Lieutenant
Colonel Pettus was ordered TO lead the at
tack on the lost point He promptly ac-
cepted the duty and called for volunteers.
II looked then as II to volunteer meant GER
tain death. Wauls Texas legion stepped
forward in a body. Selecting forty OF them,
together with three Alabamians, who had
also volunteered, Colonel Pettus stormed the
redoubt, captured 1t and carried away 100
prisoners,