The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-21
PHoToGRAUH OF ALABAMA 0RDI-
 NANCE SENT TO DR. OWEN.
Mir Fleming, of Florida, Returns Pfc- tyre with Interesting History to state Department of Archives
 and History. s

Hon. H. P. Fleming. Vice President of the Florida Historical Society yester- day sent to the State Department Of Archives and History, a large photo- kraph of the original ordinance of Secession of the State of Alabama, which was enrolled by the late Joseph Goode of Montgomery, an expert draughtsman.
 In connection with the picture Mir. Fleming wrote to Dr. Thomas M. Owen. Director of the Alabama Depart ment, as follows:
 "A short time ago a friend of mine, Mir J. V. Detweiler. of>New Smyrna, loaned the Florida Historical Society the negative of a photograph which he took of the Alabama Ordinance of Se- cession, being the original paper and signatures of the members of the con- vention. This photograph was taken in 1895. Mr. Detwiler tells me that the document was in the possession of an individual who stated that he had belonged to a New York regiment and was on the stan of the General who captured Montgomery during the war and that he took this paper out of the state house. and he permitted Mir DetwsiIer to make photograph of 1t. The latter gentleman tells me that this party. whose name he would aot give, afterwards sold the document stating that he did not propose that 1t should be gotten back to the reb- els
 "T have had some photograph prints made fl on1 this negotive and send you one by mail. From an examination of the photograph do not think there can be any doubt that 1t was taken from the original document. but you can decide upon that doubtless by com parison of the signatures with those of the individuals known to be genu- inc"
 Mr. Owen is of the opinion that the photograph was taken from one Of the original ordinances. There were three ordinances made. One was given to William M. Brooks. President of the Convention. A second was deposited in a tin can in the capitol building. while a third was attached to the orig inal journal Dr. owen Is now in pos session of the third copy and he is of the opinion that the Federal offlce- came in possession of the one in the can.
 A Baltimore firm In 1861 made some fAesimilas of the original ordinance one of which Is now in the possession of State Librarian Riggs and another in the vault of the Department of His- tory.
 This document, photographed by the friend of the Florida gentleman, Is no doubt the same that was held by an old Federal soldier who lived some years ago In Florida. He spent his time In a house boat and was reeluse. hav- ing little to do with any one from tho outside. An Indiana gentleman wrote the state Department here in 1901 saying that he could get the document If the State would pay for 1t the sum of $f00 This gentleman said that hs had been in Florida. and had seen fl in the possession of the old soldier in question and had been told that ii could be returned for that amount of money. The Governor and Director Owen decided, however. that as the State had one of the original copies and possessed no funds to buy with 1t would not pay the money.
 Dr. owen wrote the Indiana man to this effect, saying to him. that as the ordinance was stolen from the State he thought the man who had 1t should send 1t back to it's real owner. Since then nothing had been heard of 1t un- til the arrivol of the Florida photo graph Dr. Owen said that he hoped 1t would eventually come into the pos session of some one who would re- turn 1t to the State where it should be Among the signatures of that re- 1 n1arkable document there seems to be | but four now living, John T Morgan | United States Senator; Dr. George A ! Retchum, Mobile, Ala; Hon. A. A. | Coleman, Judge of the Jefferson Coun- | ty Circuit Court, and Hon. John W i Inzer, Ashvil1e. John P. Rails, of Gads, l den died last year.