The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21


 gives authority to the legislature of a state to call on the President for aid in srrpressing domestic violence" The blow is struck when the threat Is made. Gov ernor Lewis called Captain Weir of the Opelika garrison of federal troops. with 20 armed men. to go into camp on the adjoining block to the capitol of Ala bena with purpose to oust the legislature by force. The capitol legislature having the right to count the vote and qualify the governor to assume office. upon the merits of the returns, possessed all the l rights of legislature.
 No power anywhere lay in repose to make choice of the subjects fl for legis- lative action, save the constitution of the state and of the United States. It was the design of the governor to forestall the right of the legislature to hear contest for the seats in each house, from Marengo and Barbour counties. In lieu of a lawful process of contest his purpose was to expel by force the certi- fled claimants. He intended to install | in their places other persons for the , sole reasons that the persons selected by hAhA NCiC OA HIS pOilllCol party The political party in whose interest the governor acted was not indigenous to Alabama Public intelligence and public virtue in this state repudiated and ab- horred the governors party. In this state 1t was excresenee, too vile and fetid to be absorbed by the normal body polite.
 The fact of domestic violence stood forth when the governor ceased to hold communication required of him by law with the capitol legislature, from which he had accepted his commission when he audaciously recognized as "the legisla- ture'' the group of aliens and negroes, drunken. vulgar mob. at the United States court room; when he summoned detach- nont of the United States army to shed blood in the capitol.
 The federal constitution provides. "On application of the legislature, or the ex- ecutive (when the legislature cannot be ccnvened)" the army of the United states may be sent to state to subdue do nestle violence" The court room leg islature" did not make application for Captain Weir and his men. The "capitol legislature" made no such application About the first thing done by Governor Lewis after he took the oath was to call on the garrison at opelika for troops, and this before he had opened communica- ton with either legislature.
 All the incidents associated with the status of affairs at Montgomery, in --.e winter of 1s72-7s. arc of prime importance to history because all point to the exist
 ing understanding between the govern ment at Washington and Senator Spencer and Governor Lewis.
 The leaders of Alabama overcame the purpose of the government at Washing ton and it's allies in the state to subju- gate our people. The annals of statecraft present in no age a more magnificent achievement than that by which the lead CT of Alabama saved the state In this day of extremity of peril.
 While General Pettus and his posse cemmitatus stood ready at the door of the house, and the faithful Pat Doran, doorkeeper, stood ready at the door of the senate, there was no sign of mad haste within the two halls. Wisdom, valor end resolution ruled there
 The. senate appointed a special commit tee to investigate to the limit the allesa- 1 ticn of the governor that the certificates of election held by James W. Mabry i from Barbour and James Taylor Jones | fl om Marengo 10 be void in law. Gen. George r. Harrison, democrat, appeared to 1 contest the seat of John L. Pennington, carpet bagger from Lee county but the contestee sat in the court room body, so the senate referred the matter to the appropriate committee A joint memorial was ordered to be sent to President Grant, l setting forth the facts and incidents of the dseerd With the governor joint committee was appointed to wait on the governor Ito inquire of him the cause of the presence of federal troops now bi- vouacked on the capitol grounds" A joint committee was appointed to go to Washington to wait upon the President. The committee was in- structed to take copies of the corre- spondence of the legislature through it's committees with the governor The court room legislature sent for mcr Governor Smith. State Auditor R M. Reynolds and former Congressman Norris, both carpetbaggers to explain to President Grant
 1 The commission selected by the two houses at the capitol to- go to see the President was under the leadership of ! Peter Hamilton, senator from Mobile, and in the front rank of the bar In the absence of the committee at Washington dissatisfaction with tho governor developed among his friends that he omitted to employ the troops he had received developed in the court room and especially among those who held state securities The straight" bonds fell to ca cents and the railroad endorsed bonds to 45 While this sen l timent of discontent prevailed in his i own ranks, the democrats seriously considered an attempt to impeach and
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