The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-12

During the funeral services of the late Hon. William l.. Martin last week, two prominent old time citizens Of Ala bama were seen together. and the incl dent occasioned remark among more than one of the older residents or the city. The two men who were seen to- gether--and 1t was not the nrst time, either--were Colonel Michael l. Woods and Captain tor Rev.l George Y. Sre"- CT.
 Both of them served during the war between the States, earning on many hard fought battlefield the prehxes 70 their names. They were both mem bers of the General Assembly or Ala bama which instructed the Governor or the State to call the 'succession com wention," and both were officers or tne 46th Alabama Infantry.
 At the present time there are but SIX persons living, so far as can be ascer- tained, who participated In the famous session of the General Assembly or lsoV, which ordered the calling of the con vention that resulted, so Tar az Ala bAma is concerned, in the war or ol to e5.
 Colonel Woods, in talking of the sur yiyors of the famous session, because of the incident at the funeral or speak or Martin, said:
 .Captain Brewer and were members of the General Assembly of Alabama during the sessions of 1S59-6o-sl. He was the Senator from the District or Coosa County, having made a record py defeating Hon. William Garrett, both Democrats, the captain running as an Jndependent States Rights, Democrat against Mfr. Garrett, the nominee or the party. I was a member of the House from Montgomery, elected to i'll va cancy caused by the election or Hon. Milton J. SaffoId, who had been chosen Chancellor after his election as a mem Der. took my seat January Is, le6o.
 "Captain Brewer and voted for the Joint resolution of the General Assem- bly, which resulted in the calling or the convention of 1861, known as the Se- cession Convention" This joint reso- lution was adopted January 24. 1880. Ut provided, that in the event or the election of the candidate of the hepun- lican Party for President in the elec- ton of 1880, 1t should be the duty or the Governor of Alabama to order an election for delegates to q convention of the State to consider, determine, and do whatever, in the opinion of said con vention, the rights, interest and honor of the State of Alabama required to De done for their protection
 "The General Assembly on the fol- lowing day, also appropriated $200,0o
  course might involve
 'sThe readers of The Advertiser need not be told what followed. l may say, however, that in my opinion, the thoughtful action of appropriating the $200,000 had something to do in caus- ing. the meeting of the First Confed- crate Congress In this city.
 The number of the survivors of that General Assembly is becoming very small. After diligent inquiry, can learn of only six now living. There fore when 1t is possible. Captain Brew CT and are together. I may say, here, that when the usher seated me in the church at Speaker Martins funeral, I cast my eyes over the large body of mourners present to see if could dis cover Captain Brewer, without success When I turned my eyes to the front however, I saw him just in front of me- Then 1t was we were seen together.
 But let me tell you of the other four survivorsl Hon. John D. Rather is one According to Garrett he was born in 1928. He lives now at Tuscumbia, in god health and strength for a man of his age. He has lived an interesting and useful life. He was member of the House in lS49 and 1851 and was Speaker of the latter body.
 He was Senator in 1857 and 1S59- i60-s61 and President of the latter Sen- ate With the exception of Gen. Leroy Pope Walker, I think he is the best presiding officer I ever have seen. He merits all the comforts of life in his old age, which, l am happy to learn,