The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-15

to engage in farming. although he had
 peen thorough law student before com
 S6stt sng to Iat Alabama While on a visit to Killed kinsman. Dr. Earle, but the circumstances were of a justifying char acter He was editor of d paper at Ca farming reverses. and was also admitted to the bar in 1889. He moved from Ca haba to Wetumpka, and while there was
 sent to both Houses of the Legislature.
 He was twice elected to Congress and while member, went out on the field to light duel with Thomas l.. Clingman of North Carolina. but the authorities pre- vented a meeting. In 1846 MT. Yancey re- signed his seat in Congress because he
 was too poor to make the sacrifice of re- maining in the public service. and moved to this city, where he practiced law with John A; Fillmore. who stood at the very
 head of Alabama lawyers MT. Yancey was conspicuous on the political field,
 without being a seeker after position. He
 was undoubtedly the central figure around
 which gathered those who contended for the most extreme Southern views.
 It would take too long time to go
 over MT Yancey's wonderful life-to
 tial campaign of 4S, when he refused to support General Cass--of his action
 In '52 and '56 and GO. The latter year,
 however, was the most dramatic of his brilliant career.
 After the split in the Democratic Party. Mr. Yancey advocated Breckinridge and Lane. He went to the New England States and spoke in Fanenil Hall, where
 a most remarkable demonstration took place. There was a t first great disorder and manifest disposition not to hear him.
 He stood calmly and hravely and car
 ried hiS point. and no matter how much
 his auditors may have disagreed with
 him, they paid tribute to his elOquence and power as public speaker. He spoke at various points in the North and West, one of the most notable being in Cincinnati, where at Pike's Opera House he faced a violent opposition 2u- dtencc. MT. Yancev plead with his Northern auditors to stand by the Con stitutiOn and declared that he would not favor disunion except as a means of pre- venting injustice, wrong and ruin to the south. Mir. Yancey's reception on his extended to great soldier on return from victorious battlefelds The town Was fairly ablaZe with lights on the streets. and there was a vast bowling, surglng mass of men attracted here to listen to his wonderful speech on the eve of the election. After MT Lncolns election there was public meeting at the Theatre which MT. Yancey address ed The time for action was then at hand. MT fancey among other things, Snl SSdlui " hen l was speaking in the North and West. I was often asked what l would do or advise in the event Of MT ,Lincon's election. I always stated that in due time 1 would reply. My an sWer l now give and it is this: The door 'S Nlll'u AldbdiIld entered Ine | mon IS still open, and all the Federal bayonets In Christendom will never be able to close it. shout went up from that vast audience. the like of which had never been heard in that building before. MT. YanceY believed emphatically in the truth of what he said, but future events proved how greatly he was mistaken.
 The Alabama Legislature session or
 59-6O authorized the Governor to call a convention in case of the election oi Republican President to consider what should be done, aud provided tn" repre- SentatiOn for each county. Montgomery was accorded two delegates. Soon after 1t became known that MT. Lincoln had been elected. Governor Moore issued his proclamation and fixed the day Tor cleo ton of delegates to the convention. William l.. Yancey and Thomas II. Watts We're chosen for Montgomery.
 One evcring in the month of DCcemchr lS6H, just before Christmas MT. Yancey entered the office of Governor Watts. to discuss the coming convention. l had read law with Governor Watts. and was often in his office and was there then Although a mere youth, l participated in the discussion, or conversation. l had never believed in the policy of scces- sion, and asked MT. Yanccy, Why pre- cipitate trouble over the abstract right where negroes could not thrive on ac- count of the extreme cold weather and produce trouble causing loss of life and property and perhaps destruction of slav- ery?' To this he replied: My young friend you misapprehend the situation troube-ths thing will be done so peace fully and quietly that people who live off of railroads will hardly know it' He implicitly believed every word that he said, and with that kind of belief he urged on the policy of seces-