The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-05
EIGHT GOVERNORS OF ALABAMA
1874-190t
No. O-Administration of Governor Houston
1374-1901

The election of Houston brought into
the political situation the second phase
OF reconstruction. namely, the part the
democratic and conservative party must
take up in the rescue of the State gov
ernment from the impractical interpreta-
ton and the impossible application sought
to be put upon the fifteenth article of
amendment by the republican party.
The state election of 1874 drew a deem
line between the preceding ten years.
when elections to state and federal Of
fees were determined by ballot boxes
dominated by the United States army
adversely to white supremacy, and the
subsequent sixteen years, up to 1901. when
elections, state and federal, were deter
mined by party action favorable to the
absolute, unconstitutional and unayoid-
able dominance of the whites in govern
ment.
The carpetbaggers found the scalawags
an overmatch for them in the scramble
for the emoluments of office and even
before the election year, 1874, that class of
knaves had lost their grip. Senator spen-
GER from New York held their fate lin
tiiC AioiiOW VI lis ldlu. III lSfU II WAS
Spencer who managed to defeat his car
petbagger colleague Willard Warner of
Ohio, for reelection. In 1872 Spencer con-
spired with the Grant administration to
have his own reelection made secure by
a bogus courtroom legislature. Francis
w. Sykes went before the senate with a
contest for the seat. Sykes was elected
by the contemporary capitol legislature.
The democrats employed Gen. John L.
Morgan and Gen. E. A. O'Neal as attor-
neys to conduct the case Of the contest
ant The exposures made were published
and while the senate permitted Spencer
to possess the seat the corruption by
which he had acquired his election proved
to be gross and vulgar, beyond the en-
durance of the public mind of the coun-
try.
Spencer's fate was sealed by the leader
ship of Houston that reversed his hold
upon the white counties. When Spencer
fell, the carpetbagger phalanx broke in
rout.
Beginning with 1874, the scalawag ele-
ment absorbed leadership of the negro
vete. The self-sought part failed after
prolonged, desperate and exhaustive ef-
fort of the leaders supported by the ma
chinery of the federal government.
Two distractions were encountered by
the federal government, acting for the
republican party, in its Southern policy
The one that found in, the negro a race
that possessed none of the normal in
stinct for political organization to effect
the ends of government, was conclusive
The other that found in the scalawag a
broken reed to lean upon was incidental
The scalawags, rampant, were Judge
Samuel F. Rice, a leader of the bar and
an intellectual giant. This verastile and
most interesting gentleman described his
qualities as counsellor and guide aptly
by an anecdote he often repeated with
himself as the central figure The fami-
liar spasm of public war against bar
rccms prevailed in the town of Talladega
and at his home in Montgomery Judge
Rice had been heard of as a temper
ance"l man. He responded to a call to
deliver q temperance lecture at Talla-
dega. That was long before the war.
In the forenoon the distinguished
orator captivated the audiance assem-
bled to hear him at Talladega on his
appointed theme. In the afternoon a
gentleman walked out to find the orator
of the day to congratulate him. On the
way he was astonished to hear the
voice of Judge Rice behind the screen
of. the village barroom. Peering eau
uously and ir1creduously behind, tile
scene broke upon his amazed view. The
orator of the forenoon with flushed
cheeks and fiery glances, one of party
of bibulous associates, was tipping
glasses with them while they listened,
spell bound to his wit The friend
from without led the orator off and as
they walked the latter explained He
was charitably disposed; he had helped
one side to a controversy in the fore
noon and when interrupted, was help
ing the other.
Associate Justice B. F. Saffold of the
supreme court. scalawag, possessed a
strong Inheritance of intellect. He was
next after Rice in capacity among
scalawags. While Parsons was acting