The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-19
TEN YEARS OF ALABAMA
No. 2-Administration of Governor Parsons
t865-1874

the lips of Major of the Confederate veterans: 'Barkeeper! You are to serve gentlemen first. you will remember t There was no resentment at the place but news of the incident spread on the streets and at once number of veterans in gray volunteered their services to the major.
 Discreet gentlemen consulted among 1 themselves. They determined to take General Hubbard, commanding the post, in tow Hubbard was young, a West Pointer, man of the world in his tastes Mr. John Chapron. a Frenchman of the West Indies. business man of Philadel- phia, planter near Demopolis famous for great aptitude in giving dinners to his friends at his plantation home. MT. Chapron was let into the plan A dinner in all respects equal to his wide repu- tation was given by this host to Gen. eral Hubbard Hubbards department as guest of honor proved he was acquiescent Thereupon Mrs. Josephine McRae of the 'Athol' plantation nearby. with pretty and accomplish daughters, gave General Hubbard his second dinner of honor.
 Gen w. J. Hardee had a plantation in the vicinity where he took ul his abode. He went from Derhopolis on steamer to Mobile. As soon as he registered his name at the Battle House hotel, United States officers of the post hocked to his apart ments. They proposed to give him a dinner, and did so, but not until the generals tailor could make for him the suit of gray for the occasion
 Tn this same period, a gentleman of the plantation region drove into Demopo- lis and upon his appearance on the streets, q rude fellow accosted him. in- troducins himself as a detective with or ders to put the citizen, an aged man, un- der arrest and deliver him a Selma Both men boarded a passing train. Selma was reached and there the citizen was re- leased without explanation upon the com pulsory payment on the spot to his abduc- tor Of $500. This was the experience of the venerable MT. Alfred Hatch
 The soldiers of the garrison had been taught from the outset of the war that their government desired the invasion should visit ruin in it's path. They did not find much left in Alabama to steal or destroy. They burned churches, pr- vate houses. business houses and did other outrages. They burned the Epis- eopal church at Demopolis months af- ter the war.
 Horace Greedy was not a manysided man but as political priest and prophet he was great Before Governor Parsons took office noisy demand for the trial of Confederate civil and military lead CTS by military court arose at the north
 
 tice that he would not remain in office if the attempt was made. Greedy issued an eloquent public appeal He said the execution of Marshal Ney proved to be an indelible stain upon the fame of France. Later the Austrian govern ment had executed thirteen of the fol- lowers of Kossuth and the Christian world despised the deed. He said no real friend of the freedmen of the south would be willing to remove from them the care of their old masters who were the leaders of the Confectionery.
 l was reared on cotton plantation of the black belt and knew all the con ditions at the downfall of the Confed- eracy It has been suggested. with pro- priety, that a monument be raised at testing the fidelity of the plantation slave negroes in the four years of war. The conception should be developed to take in the good conduct of the plan tation free negroes in reconstruction times.
 They were urged, plead 1 with, prom ised rewards to be bad. As race and distinct community, they resisted the counsels given to them in high places. The ballot was forced into their hands, their votes cost blood and treasure But the evil committed by them was infinite ly below the degree of evil which the invader planned that they should com init and was actually less than the limit designed only because the tool re- fused the part
 From Provisional Governor Parsons to presidential quantity, Oscar Underwood, is a brief political period. replete with facilities of culture of political thought most valuable.
 l might in justice to the circumspect appreciation of the state, omit acknow- edgement of the source of this narra tive. We have an organized and dis ciplined institution. practically a Col lege of Political Art, by statute, known as the Alabama Department of Archives and History. The legislature consented to the conception of a son of the soil, l a type of the people. He-Thomas Me Adory Owen, prosecuted to the remark able result.
 JOHN WITHERSPOON DUBOSE.