The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-14


 bama. The only dificuIty was over that of Governor and Treasurer, the other Re- publicans acknowledging defeat.
 It was said that the hatred of Spencer for Governor Smith helped to bring about the latter's defeat.
 This hatred on Spencer's part seemed to be reciprocated by the Governor and c letter was published from him to friend In Washington showing that he had no good opinion of the Republican Congress. men from this State. That letter was given wide publicity at the time, and was 10 the point. declaring that the Alabama Representatives In Congress were scoun- drels. and were not entitled to respect or credence.
 On the 18th of November, 1870, the two Houses of the Legislature met in joint convention in the hall of the House. Sen- ator Barr Republican, and President of the Senate, presided He announced that finjunctions had been served on him pro- hibiting the opening and counting of the lvotes for Governor and Treasurer. The one as to Governor was issued by Asso- ciate Justice Saffold of the Supreme Court and the one as to Treasurer by Charles Pelham, Judge of the Tenth Cir. cult. There was no interference as to the count for the other officers after the count and declaration as to all the officers sex. lcept Governor and Treasurer. Senator Barr then retired and immediately Lieu- Itenant Governor Moren, who had just been declared elected, and in the mean time had taken the oath ascended the Speakers stand and ordered the vote for lGovernor to be opened. This was done and a majority being shown for Robert B. Lindsay he was declared duly elected tGovernor of Alabama. He then called for the returns for Treasurer. opened and an- nounced the vote and the result showing a majority for James E. Grant: he was declared duly elected Treasurer. Cover nor Lindsay was notified by Conmittee consisting of Senators Sibley and Worthy and Representative Lowe, of the action taken. He was escorted to the chair, der livered a brief address and took the oath of office.
 Governor Smith declined to give up the executive rooms and held out for . few days and then yielded and Governor Lind- tsay took possession. All the other Re- publican officials had surrendered their of- fees to their successors.
 The plunderers and adventurers had left the State in such chaotic and depiora- ble condition that the first Democratic ad- ministration was beset with many ob- stacles at the beginning and had much
 
 fact 1t could not do so because of the op- position of the illegal and holding over Senators and the next two years was one of uncertainty and without accomplish ment of much in the way of straightening out the tangle.
 The endorsement by the State of the railroad bonds was the great evil with which they had to deal and the Alabama and Chattanooga Railroad was at that time the bone of contention and gave the new administration much trouble. In fact that Is said to have been a most cor rupt transaction all the way through. and | those who travelled over the road then and any time soon thereafter saw how snake-like it was and how 1t wound around in the valleys asd ravines to pre-. vent trestles and embankments and grad ing and what an object lesson 1t was to go to show how matters were done in those times. When the road passed into the hands of others 1t had to be almost rebuilt and in being straightened there were many industries left high and dry that had sprung up along the line.
 have shown how the Democrats eIect- ed the first Governor of their party after the war and the next paper will be of the convention of 1872. when the Democrats were at a disadvantage and how they lost in the election. that year. ':