The age-herald., 1897-09-19
WHO HAVE HELD THE DEsTINIEs OF ALA
 BAHdA IN THEIR HANDS
Discord n the Democratic Ranks Has Prevailed From the Beginning and Has Only Been Settled by
 Fighting the Issues to Finish


 "Eg4st to form statesmen, Legislators, and judges, on whom public prosperity and individual happiness are so much to depend; second, to expound the prin- ciples and structure of government; the laws which regulate the intercourse Of nations and those formed mnutclpally for our own gopernment; and a sound spirit of legislation, which, bansiirg all unnecessary restraint on individual ac- tien, shall leave us free to do whatever does not violate the equal rights of an- other thidd. to harmonize and promote the interests of agriculture, manufac- lures and commerce, and by well-in- formed views of political economy to give free scope to the public industry"
 He said these ends could be advanc d by no study so effectively as history. Alabama's history is very attractive and beautiful. But the dark. unfathemed cover of oblivion contains much the greater portion of it. to our shame.
 The most interesting Indian history in all America is painted by Pickett, yet who studies Pickett! Not Vassari not Harvard Pickett was slave owner and gentleman of leisure, southern bo. n, a democrat and a disciple of Calhoun. How could history" issue from point so far south and from amidst the en- vironments of a cotton plantation? But from the pages of Pickett we learn of the Indians who alone had invented an alphabet who overmatched Massas 0 it, of Massachusetts, with TuslSaloosa, who fought the battle of Mobile against DeSoto, ard the battle of the horseshoe against Jackson nearly three centuries later, and who DOW maintain across the Mississippi churches and schools better than any other Indians, and who main- tain republican forms of government surpassipg in enlightenment many of the so-cailed free governments of the world.
 Oratory, poetry, polite literature, en- terprise in peace and glory in war adorn the chaplet upon the brow of Alabama that is held too much in the shadow of neglect.
 Apropos to the citations from MT. Jeff ferson, Alabama has always been pure democracy when the hearts of the people found voice in the government. It is quite peculiar, nevertheless, that the university of the state teaches, as part of the history of constitutional growth with us, thu dogma that the theories of Hamilton and not those of Jefferson are the normal products of our system; that the fourteenth amendment is the "ligical conclusion" of our con- stitutional growth. Those are distinc- tive features of Hannis Taylor's work on constitutional evolution adopted by the state university, as a text book, at any rate.
 Our high school and university his tories made to create harmony" and generate "patriotism, skip most of the things that give to Alabama beautiful character among fler sister common weasths, not only in regard to her ex- ceptionally fascinating Indian history, but in al else. Alabama really brought to head the issue of 1S60-65, but who gives her credit for the fact?
 I shall come down inter media res.
 Alabama has had twenty-nine civil governors and was, for eleven years, more or less, under the shadow of hos tile troops of the United States. The loye of state rights has proven to be universal in the United States and it was found perilous to hold on to the reconstruction scheme. The love of state rights is insra dicable everywhere. So we have prospect of recovery Of liberty.
 The roll of governors, where they were born and how long they served in the office contains illustrious names, and is here given in full:
 1. William Wyatt Bibb, native of vir-, ginia 1SlS-20
 2. Thomas Bibb, native of Virginia iS2o-21. President of senate, filled un- expired term of his deceased brother.
 g. Israel Pickens. native Of North Caro- lima; 1S2i-25.
 4. John Murphy, native of North Car olina; 1s25-29.
 D. Gabriel Moore, native of North Car olina; 1S29-31.
 6. Samuel B. Moore native of Tennes- see; 1881. The latter was president of the senate and filled the unexpirsd term of his predecessor chosen to United States senate.
 '. John Gayle. native of South Caro- lima; 1S31-35.
 S. c. c. Clay. native of Virginia; 1885, 37.
 g. Hugh McVay, native Of South Caro- lima; 1887. The latter was president of the senate, filled the unexpred term of his predecessor, who was chosen to the United States senate.
 10. Arthur F. Bagby, native of Vir- ginia; 1SS7-H.
 Il. Benjamin Fitzpatrick, native of Georgia; 1S41-45.
 12. Joshua Lanier Martin, native of Tennessee; 1S45-47.
 IS. Reuben Chapman, native of vir- ginia; 1S47-49.
 IA. IT. w. Collier. native of Virginia; 1S49-53.
 15. John Anthony Winston, native of Alabama: 1853-57
 Is. Andrew B. Moore. native of South Carolina; 1S57-61.
 F. Jno. Gil Shorter, native of Georgia; 1861-63.
 as. Thomas H. Watts, native of Ala bama; 1S63-65.
 19. Robert M. Patton, native of vir- ginia; 1S65-6S.
 21. William H. Smith, native of Geor- gia; 1S6S-70.
 2l. I obert B. Lindsay native of Scot land; ls70-72.
 % David p Tau-ir tf~.a ese xy;,...-t.