The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-04-25
Personal Recollections Of
Governor Arthur p. BGgby

in advocation Of a high protective tar
IN, are unkind enough and sarcastic
enough, to taunt Southern Democrats
with the fact that Southern men led
the way to the ruinous protective sys-
tenn, Ito rs Of the SOUTH
Another ii anomaly in politics is
that the WING lnow Republican
party1 opposed the annexation Of Texas,
contiguous in territory and OF our own
blood and kindred and traditions, and
now advocates the annexation and char
table assinilat ton Of the Philippines, q
foreign, fnongfel' barbar0us.s hybrid
race, of different blood. language and
religion Cor no religion at alb, thous-
ands Of miles away.
But politics make strange bed-foiiows
and there is money in II for some Of
the Don Quixotes, philanthropy, friendly
assimilation, expansionists. We had
better attend to our own business. pol
itics and religion, rather than butt
against q stone wall or be sacrificed
on the car OF juggernaut. None are
so blind as they who will not see. For
these outlying islands are bound event
ually to bring US to grief. The last
time I saw Governor Bagby was In
1852. engaged In a noted criminal trial
at M'onroeyille. A man named Dabney
civilian Winston, / think had previ-
ously killed in Claiborne an inoffensive
Jew, without cause or provocation.
Dabney was either orazed by drink or
had n homicidal mania for slaughter
ing Jews. He seemed to have no
grudge against any particular one, but
declared war against the whole race.
Dabney escaped. but was captured In
Texas and extradited. Governor Bagby
was retained for the defense. 1t SEEM
ed fitting that he should defend him.
Robert Dabney, the father, claimed
that Bagby's father had overseed for
his father in Virginia. As the Bagbys
assembled the ladder the Dabneys de-
scended.
There are many ups and down in
life. d. c. Anderson OF Noble was
prosecutor and Governor Bagby defend
ing. It was a brilliant display of legal
talent and forensic oratory. Governor
sBagby had no standing in court, no
defence except villiication and abuse
of the Jews. Mr.. Anderson parted the
attack in defense of the Jews by stat
ing that they were a law-abidtng race
of people. who never figured in the
courts, who took care OF their poor and
were never a public charge. etc.
The jury convicted Dabney, and he
| was sentenced to the psnitentiary for
life for the murder OF Israel Jacobsen.
Had Governor Bagby been as far
advanced in the defense OF murderers
| and the courts and jury as well edu-
Gated in the diagnosis of mental dis
eases (by the aid of paid experts) as
our lawyers, judges and Juries now
| are, Dabney would have been acquit-
| ted on the plea OF insanity. No doubt
he was temporarily insane--it was emo
tional, and, therefore. excusable. Ju-
ries in those days were guided by COM
| mon sense, not by occult theories and
| scientific opinions Of high grade ESQ
| called experts, who testify or mystify
the mental status of the subject. ac-
cording to the bank account OF the de-
PENDANT or how much defense is will
ing to shell out. AS 10 Governor Bag
bys psrsonnel--he was more than six
feet high. we'll pFcportfoned and Of
stately carriage. He had e keen
black, penetrating eye. deep-sst In his
head, and a head that might have
served as a model for a Greek sculptor
He always wore straight-breasteo
coat with standing collar of blue cloth
His feet are said not to have CORE
4 sponded with his head in calmly pro-
4 portions. An anecdote is told in ref
erence to them. Col. Tom b Tunstall
was Secretary of State during the Bag
by administration. He was q bachelor
who dressed neatly and pridad himself
on his well-foPmed feet encased u
1ots. Gentlemen wore boots
In those days). On one occasion. Tun.
stall tainted or TESTED the Governor
about his large and ungainly feet,
Yes" retortad Bagby. tom, IL yol
had paid as much attention. to the cul.
tfvation of your head and brain az t.
dressing your feet, you might have
been a most valuable citizen anC
worth something to the woEld."
Governor BaRby died In Mobile II
1858. Then passed away one OF thu
most complete and ornate specimens O.
physical and mental manhood ever OF
the stage Of Alabama history. Peaoi
to his remainsl l. wonder il thsre Il
any shaft or memorial tablet to mari
the resting place OF so great mar
and statesman? / pay my tribute.
Selma, April %, 1904