The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-17
The Mission of Francis ss,1 As Gsssss Pss=n& t%~ Scott Key to Alabama in 1853 5" ssi5S's si
 Rv T1OMASC McCORVEY Tuscaloosa.


had been nominated for the Presidency bv the Alabama Legislature; and when Van Ruren became the nominee or the Democratic party by the Baltimore convention of May, 1885, when was attended only by Van Buren men, Gov ernor Gayle refused to acquiesce ln me nomination and led losing fight on the White electoral ticket m Alaoiiha in 1886.
 The Governor now found himself, q lifelong Democrat (Republican), Tn sympathy with his former political op- ponents, now marshalled under the new party name of Wings, and his subse- auent public career was identified with that party. His name was on the Harrison and Tyler electoral ticket III the memorable log cabin and hard cidor" campolgr of 1S4O, and in the following year he received the Whig support for United States senator against William R. King.
 kry,a Successful Mission.
 Tho suhseouent troubles with the ln- dians which led to the so-callcd Creek war of 1896 and the final remoVal oI tbe remnant of the Creeks to thelr new homes west of the Mississippi, belong to another chapter in Alabama history; It remains here to note only the ioI'i, announcement from Washington or the
 
 ing friendly relations between tue ota'c and Federal Governments. ietter from the Secretary of Wor to the GOV ernor Of Alabama, dated March l2' lSS4' gave him official notice that the addi- tIopal troops ordered into Alanama hau been withdrawn. and that the ohIy ordinary garrison at Fort Mitcheli would remain in the Creek coul't ~ y, Tte letter also expressed the pleasure of the President at the recent attitude of the State government of Alabama and stated that he would be much grat- flied if the enforcement of the stlpu- lntions of the Creek treaty should rem der 1t unnecessary for him to resort 10 the provisions of the Act of 1SO7- which he had not the slightest wish to do unless required by the obligations assumed by the United States. Later, after MT. Keys return to Washington. he wrote Governor Gayle, under date Of June II, 1884: "I called on the Secre- tary of War soon after receiving your letter and he expressed the fullest con- fidence in you and his willingness to leave the whole matter (of Indian troubles) to yourself" The happy re- suits here indicated of MT. Keys diplo- mitic mission closed one of the most interesting and important episodes in his history of the State: but there re- main to be told some of the pleasant incidents in the unofficial side of his visit.
 The Alabama poet and historian, the late Judge Alexander R. Meek, who had been graduated from the new University of Alabama Gin the class of 1S33) just before MT. Keys visit, some years later noted in an editorial preface to some of Mir. Key'e verses in the Southron, that during his stay in Tuscaloosa the literary and fashionable circles of the little city were much delighted with the brilliancy and wit of his conversation Judge Meek recalled the efforts at the time of some of the society young la dies to procure souvenirs of the poets visit in the shape of original verses for their albums,
 The most Interesting social features of MT. Keys visit to Alabama have been preserved in the journal of Mrs. sarah Ann OHaynesworth) Gayle. wife of Governor John Gayle. which is in the ]