New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-28

Rufus Brown Bullock, twenty-eighth Governor OF
Georgia, from 1868 to 1870. born In Bethlehem.
Albany County, n. Y. March %. 1894 He at
tended the Albion Academy IN the town Of Albion.
N Y, and was graduated at the age OF sixteen.
He was one of the pioneer telegraph operators OF
the country and is mentioned In Reds THE Tele-
graph in America the first who was able to
read messages by sound.
He was soon engaged in the superintendence OF the
construction OF telegraph lines from New York City
10 the South. and In 1853. when he only twenty
five years old. he was employed by the Adams
Express Company 20 organize and to manage its
business in the South. with headquarters at Au-
gusta. Ga. This system became the Southern Ex-
press Company with the breaking out Of the Civil
War. and Mr.. Bullock. although Northerner, re-
manned in charge.
He was opposed 20 secession but accented the
fact and threw in mis- services with the Confeder-
acy. establishing railroad and telegraph Hnes
throughout the South and serving with the Army OF
Northern Virginia. He was parOled at AppomattOx,
IN 1862 as an acting assistant Quartermaster gen
eFal with the rank Of lieutenant colonel
Colonel Bullock then returned TO Augusta and
resumed his duties with the Southern Express
Company, OF which he was soon elected trustee
and made the secretary. He secured a charter for
ana organized the First National Bank OF Au-
gusta' and in 1867 he elected the president OF
the Macon & Augusta Railroad
The question Of Congressional reconstruction be-
ing then before the people. he advised It's ACCEPT
anee as choice Of evils. on the ground that civil
government. even with negro suffrage was pref
eIae 10 military rule, with its attendant paralysis
or business and material development He took
a leading part in the deliberations OF the Con-
sututOnal Convention OF 1861 and the choice OF
the progressive members OF that body for Gov
ernor under the provisions OF the law.
He was elected after hard fought contest. In
which the reactiOnarteS succeeded in securing a
majority OF the Legislature. The negro members
were unseated against the protest OF the Governor
who carried his complaint to Congress. The Gov
eFnor was thereupon empowered by Congress 90 re-
convene the Legislature originally constituted
including the unSeated members
Governor Bullock achieved much unpOpulaTtty
by this action i'll behalf of the constitutional rights
of the negroes and made the target OF so
much personal abuse that he resigned from Office
in 1870 when he saw that the next General Assem-
bly, would be even more strongly antagonistic to
him than the former one. Charges OF malfeasance
in office, OF issuing bogus state bonds OF misman
aging the state railroad. OF cheating ana swindling,
were brought against him. and he was accused OF
abscondinS from the state IN order TO escape pun
ishnent for his misdeeds. AS matter OF fact, the
case was not called until 1877 and was even then
postponed for several months. in spite Of Governor
Buocks demands for immediate trial. In the end
he acquitted by the courts Of the state and
settled in Atlanta. He became president Of one OF
the largest cotton mills in Georgia, trustee OF
Atlanta University, president OF the Atlanta Cham
Der of Commerce. vice-pTesident OF the Piedmont
exposition government director OF the Union Pacific
Railroad, a leading OfficGr of his church and &C
tive I'm all public spirited work for mis- city and
state, but he took further part in political af-