The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-23
MR. AGEE WRITES "REMINISCENCES
 OF LEGISLATION.
He Represented Monroe, Baldwin and Clarke Counties in That session, In Which Many Distinguished
 Men Took Part.
By N. A. AGEE.

HY N. A. AGEE.
 The political canvass of 1857 was not an exciting election or in any way re- markable. The same may be said of the sessions of the Legislature of 1857 and 1858.
 The whirlwind campaign of Governor Henry A. Wise. of Virginia, in 1853. broke the backbone of the native Amer ican or Know-Nothing Party, and II melted away like snow from the not sun. The old whig Party. without leader, after the death of Henry Clay, had taken temporary refuge in this new party; but 1t was short-lived, and us members were gradually absorbed by the Dempcrats.
 There was an era of good feeling. as during the administration of James Monroe. A very feeble opposition to the election of Democrats to offlce was manifested. The election for State off, cers took place on the first Monday in August. Andrew B. Moore. of Perry County, was elected Governor by large majority, and was inaugurated on the first day of December. The Legis- 7. lature convened on the sth day of No vember. The Senate was organized by the election of James M. Calhoun. or Dallas. as President; Joseph Pheian. Secretary. and w. B. Padgett Door. keeper.
 Some of the Senntors.
 This body numbered among its members many strong men of reputar tion before and since then. Among them were Robert M. Patton. of Lauder dale. Governor in 1s67-1S6S: Robert E. Lindsey, of Franklin. Governor In lS1O- 1872: Edward c. Bullock. of Barbour. Colonel of 18th Alabama Regiment. who died early in the war. and for whom Bullock County was named: Samuel K T ftt xlrn Vol al n Confederate Army, and afterwards Chancellor of the Northern Division; < Robert Jemison, of Tuscaloosa; Alex Clitherail, of Pickens; o. H. Bynum, or Lawrence; Allen c. Jones. of Greene, and Thomas ]. Burnett of Butler.
 had the honor to represent the dis trict composed of the counties of Mon- roe. Clarke. and Baldwin. It was large district, and Baldwin was large County. often referred to as the State of Baldwin. In fact, it's area was about as large as the State of Rhode Island, and Its territory extended along the bay op- posite Mobile. nearly to Pensacola. It was thinly populated except on the Tensas and Alabama Rivers about Stockton. Old Blakely and Montgomery HiIi. It's population on the coast was mostly composed of scattered fishermen.
 During this session General William Walker, the noted filibuster. visited Montgomery. He had undertaken the role of revo1utionizng Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and had met with partial success. His mission to Alabama was to arouse 8 sympathy for his wild scheme and enlist recruits for his army. A reception was given him at the Madison House, and a few speeches made. He was a small man with grey eyes and was alluded to by his admir- < CTS as the '.grey -eyed man of destiny" He pronounced 1t Nicaragua. Colo mel Bullock was a great admirer and enthusiast. and joked Colonel Cochran, who was quite conservative, as being fishy on the Nicaragua question. Gen eral Walker failed to get many rein forcements returned to his army of occupation and was soon after captured and executed.
 f pr. Neal Smith, of Clarke County. was one of my constituents. He was the same Neal Smith referred to by General Woodward fin his "reminiscences published in The Advertiser of the eth. General Woodward says he spent the night with him at Pine Jackson in 1s16. (Why is4t called Pine Jack7 sonD Dr. Smith was a rare character and an old political stager.
 Unique. Character.
 ' He had been member of the Legis- lature of North Carolina in 1871. and was often elected to the Senate of Alabama from Monroe and Clarke counties from 1922 to 1928 For years after that. he was often candidate, but his prescription for chill and fever, stomach -ache and general debility among the children (without charge) began to be ignored by the credulous mothers and his nostrums ceased to influence votes, so the old stager was left without a platform to secure votes. For thirty years he was a standing and running candidate for the Senate in Monroe and Clarke counties. It was a remarkable acrobatic feat or political .legerdermaip, only equalled by our Democratic candidate for President. It is a mystery to the uninitiatedl (not be- hind the curtain) how a man can be standing and running at the same time. especially when he knows and every one knows. he is destined for defeat pr. Smith had wisdom enough to know that his day had passed, but he liked the excitement and the fun of being defeated.
 Dr. Smith was always electioneering, seldom at home, gave no concern to domestic or household affairs, but kept busy travelling, advising and pre- scrihing. At one time he lived at Suggsville Cor his family did) in the