The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-26
EIGHT GOVERNORS OF ALABAMA
1874-1901

1874-1901

ing man of native ability In this class.
Associate Justice B. F. Saffold was only
less able than Rice. At the outset OF the
reconstruction period Rice in public often
presented .unanswerable argument to con-
denim his later course. Saffold wrote
carefully studied and elaborate personal
letter to Governor Parsons declaring the
freedmen to be a deadly incubus, that
they would cease to be either profitable
farm laborers or qualified domestic serv
ants, and the only escape from the race
was in prompt deportation of it.
The committee ordered a state nominat-
ing convention for July %. The part of
white men between times was to make
ready. The sons of light were now of
one family. striving with darkness. Great
men had contended in ardent strife
against each other. That time had passed.
Forsyth and Langdon had fought each
other bitterly. Hooper and Bullock had
been at enmity. Yancey and Hil1lard
had met with visor down and lance
set for the end.
The noble appeal OF the committee re-
leased the energies of the whole mass
Through the busy spring season, no far
mer was SO busy that he would not leave
the plow In the unfinished furrow and
meeting, where neighbors talked only of
plan of redemption. No aspirant for
office failed to treat most reverently the
best meeting. Beat meetingse ripened into
county conventions and still the enthusii-
| asm broadened and the resolution deep
ened
| To Barbour the honor seems due of
leader in the movement of county conven-
tions. Jefferson NJ. Buford was chairman
of the county committee. s. B. Jones was
| secretary. Among the members wera
Henry d. Clayton, Alpheus Baker, John
| ID. Roquemore. S. III. Dent. John NJ. Nc
Leroy. Early n May this committee is
sued an address to white men, 1t was
| a classic utterlnce. No political crisis
was ever more eloquently described. I'VE
would awaken your Judgment was the
reading, ito full appreciation of the
ma gnitude of the struggle we shall make
| to place in better hands the, government
of our state. We would impress upon you
:, the necessity of fearless, sagacious, united
| action. We must find rescue for our peo-
pie from the domination whose advent has
| been followed by utter prostrations OF our
social and material prosperity.
| Dependency has spread itself over
the country. Investments are not at
tempted. Industry is unrewared by those
comforts which in better days 1t was ever
able to provide. The interests of educa-
| tion are neglected., good schools are rev
and far between; children, white and
black, are denied rightful opportunity.
Poverty has crept into almost every homo
and want sits at many fireside once
blessed with abundance.
| The Barbour county democratic conser-
vative convention soon followed the pub
lication of the county committee address.
James L. Pugh wrote the resolutions.
These resolutions fixed the tone OF all
county resolutions that followed. They
We're dispassionate, eloquent, logical,
convincing recaptulaton of the expert
| ence of the state for 10 years. They were
bold declaration of purpose, conf
cent announcement of anticipated sue
| cess.
| Perry followed. The county committee
here too took the initiative with an ad-
dress: I'VE would implore you" said the
committee, to white men. I'VE would i'm
rlore you by all you hold dear, by the
grievances, the expressions, the wrongs
you endure; by the bright hopes of the
future. to throw aside all lethargy, indif-
terence and despair and prepare your
selves like men to meet in the pending
| campaign the most important issues ever
presented, issues which involve not mere
| ~ the success Of your political party, but