The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-31

plantation. Great crowds left the fields to hear him. He drew s contrast between farm wages here and in the West. There the harvesters worked for $2.5O day with board at the farmers table. Here for 50 cents and eat out of doors.
 Major Jones, the cotton planter. went into bankruptcy, surrendered all he had to his creditors, not even reserving a homestead and ultimately paid all of his debts
 Military District No. 3
 Congress abolished the state govern ment set up by Provisional Governor Par sons Georgia. Florida and Alabama were designated as Military District No. g. Major General John Pope, U. S. A, was put in command and his authority over life. liberty and property was pro- claimed absolute except in the matter of an impracticable appeal allowed to the President at Washington.
 First Negro Voting
 General Pope ordered an election to he held on the first three days of October 1S67 for delegates to constitutional con- vention to assemble in November in the capitol. At this election the negroes were expected to cast their first ballot. It was ordered that all country precincts in every county, be closed and all voters repair to their county Seats respectively to vote. The agents of the Bureau had been very busy for two years organizing secret poitical< societies among the ne- gores of Montgomery and vicinity. When election day came their victims were aroused to a high pitch of excitement and resentment against the old masters. They had been taught to believe that their votes would be thrown out, if cast for Convention" and delegates On the other hand, a convention would perpetuate their freedom; mo convention and no delegates would result in the restoration of Jeff Davis and slavery.
 Committee of Ten In view of the situation, a meeting was held in the law offices of Stone, Clopton & Clanton ana Gen. J. T. Holtz- pointed "committee of ten" Major Jones was one of the ten. When election day came great crowds of excited negroes from plantations, near and remote Hooked to Montgomery to vote. They soon set fire to the town in several places. The Bureau seemed paralyzed. Finally 1t was agreed that Major Joones should take command. He rode out, pacified the negroes, by relieving their anxiety about the safety of their votes, and order was restored.
 Tae Picayune
 At this time there was an organixa- tion in Montgomery known as the "Asso- ciated Printers" It set up small aft ernoon paper called the '.Picayune." The political attitude seems to have been lon the fence" The law firm of Jones & Walker still had time on their hands not professionally occupied, so they struck a bargain with. the "Pfcayune" and became editors. The senior men- Der informed this writer that his main object as editor was ro encourage the Ia to ali ov,t In pariOd of plexity of society. The files of the Pic ayune' show that the paper was a most ardent protestant against the Recon struction'' then being saddled upon an afflicted country by force of arms. The editors retired after few months of service because their law practice had become sufficient to occupy all their [ time.
 Military Legislation
 The fragment of Congress at Washing ton legislated full State government inc to effect in Alabama in June, 1868. and by the same usurpation of power filled all the county offices in each county. The Supreme Court, composed of three jus tices, was thus installed. Two members of the court had been logn known as good lawyers. The same Congress leg islated into effect the rourteenth Article of Amendment. leaving the question raised by United States Secretary of State Seward open. whether the article had been constitutionally ratified. Pres- ident Johnson, himself great lawyer, ever denied the validity of the claim to ratification.
 In 1870, when the progress of recon stHIction" had become most burdensome and the people were casting about for policies and resources of relief the bar of Montgomery unanimously. applied to Major Jones to take the place of Re- porter of the Decisions of the Supreme Court The object was to-use his services in palliation. The motif was to close the avenue of the court to the selection of Republican partisan to fnl the important office. The lawyers of the State were all practically Democrats, If the par tisan, and irregularly created court It. self should use this opportunity to ip- flict on the bar, as 1t was most likely to do. a Republican Reporter. this ap- pointed. would. in all probability. be IT. II.| I