The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-03

Monday in September, 1875. say fen
months after the election of Houston. and
opened its work in the hall of the House
Oh representatives. Two units of repre-
sentatlon by delegates comprised the body
and these were the county one delegate
and the senatorial district. one delegate
except that Mobile county was allowed
two.
Among those who held seats were lead
ers who had come over into the new from
the passed era. Francis S. Lyon has
tened from his usual summer tour of the
virginia mineral springs to represent
Marengo. Charles c. Langdon, from Mo-
bile, Leroy Pope Walker, from Madison
James T.. Pugh, from Barbour; William
). Mudd, from Jefferson, were of this
class OF the younger men now known
oy their deeds in the period of mighty
transition were Gen. George p Harrison
of Lee, Gen. Edward A. O'Neal of Iau-
derdale, Col. w. c. Oates of Henry, Col
Fhomas H Herndon of Mobile, A. C.
Hargrove of Tuscloosa, w J. Sanford
of Lee, Robert A. Mcclellan of Limestone
Sumter Lea of Dallas, Rufus w. Cobb of
Shelby. The carpetbagger had already
nnally disappeared from Alabama legis-
lative halls and none had seats but Sam
uel f. Rice and the young man, Robert
II. Knox, scalawags, were seated froro
montgomery county. Perry county's two
uciS6dleS we're negroes. LOWndeS sent
one negro and far away Washington
county sent one negro.
Six delegates had held seats in the Sc
cessfon onvention-namely, John W. IN
ger of st. Clair, Thomas H. Herndon of
Mobile, Lewis M. Stone of Greene, S. J.
Boiling of Butler and DIR. J. P. Rails of
the new county, Etowah.
General Leroy Pope walker, upon talk
ing the chair as president of the conven-
fiOD 1pIiVArad a IL III
address. Coming from a leader of the
secession movement and the first Con-
federate secretary of war, the temperate
and philosophic sentiments of the orator
received general applause throughout the
county. In part he said:
What is called the present constitution
of the state of Alabama, is piece of un-
seemly mosaic, composed OF shreds and
patches gathered here and there incon-
gruous in design, inharmonious in action,
discriminating and oppressive in the
hurthens 1t imposes, reckless in the license
1t conveys on unjust and wicked legisa-
ton, and utterly lacking in every element
to inspire popular confidence and the rev.
erence and affection of the people
we have met today. not indeed to re-
claim the scattered fragments and re-
build the old temple, but to construct a
constitution not wholly unworthy we
trust, to succeed it,
The truest craftsmanship is that which
SO generalizes principles as to give them
flexible adaptability to the purposes and
need of civilization. Let us endeavor to
give to our proceedings this characteristic
of wisdom.
Let the organic law we are to frame
be comprehensive consistent, enlightened
and non-partisan; alike just to all classes.
protective of all interests. and equal in
Its burthens as in it's benefits
THE events of the last decade have
eliminated from our institutions the onlv
element of sectional controversy. Let us
recognize this fact with a broad signi6-
canoe, and incorporate into the constitu-
ton the national spirit and the national
law of the perfect political and civil
equality of all men, of whatever race,
color or previous condition"
JOHN WITHERSPOON DJ1ROSE