Year: 1870

MONTGOMERY, Ala Nov. 20, 1870


This has been week OF some excitement In the
sirst capai OF the late confederacy ana to-day the
excitement rose almost TO fever heat, though the
gravity OF tue occasion served to suppress the de-
monstration Of feeling which might otherwise have
been made To give in detail an account OF all OF it
would occupy more than the limits OF an ordinary
letter. and Will therefore connne myself as far rs
Justice TO 'e truth OF history will allow to re.
cltal Of the main facts aud Incidents.


The Legislature convened on Monday. The new
State ofcers elected on the Sth inst. also came to
town for the purpose OF entering upon the duties OF
the Offices for which they had been chosen by the
people. They were democrats ana conservatives
TIE incumbents were radical republicans and, of
course. didn't like the idea or giving up the money
bags and going out OF power, Having failed before
the people some OF them determined to make last
EFFORT in what they regarded Us their citadel-the
State House-witn radical judges as their defenders
and abettors,


THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
LEADS In THE GAME.


However, the first contestant decided to "go Il on
his own hook" for while at least This was NJ D.
Cloud, the superintendent or Public instruction
WHO failed by 0l3 votes Of reelection to the Office
He constituted himself judge, Jury and witness
and decided that Hodgson, his opponent and
by the way democratic editorl was ineligl.
bic to the ONCE, by reason or having
sent challenge to Judge J. Q. Smith
70 eight with deadly Weapons The fact Is Smith
sent Hodgson to Jail, and the latter after his re-
lease from confinement sent his incarcerator
written invitation ssname q place outside OF the
State where they might continue their correspond.
ence." Smith did not care to 60 outside OF the
State and there ne challenge and no blood
shed. SO, when Hodgson had made tue oaths re-
luired by law, that in regard to duelling among
hQm nnd 6Io1
at the room Of the Board OF Education, that body
being in session, and proposed 10 enter upon the
discharge Of his duties, the first thing at hand being
10 take his seat Us eL ocao President OF the Board
Cloud said he should not do the reasons above
given, and Hodgson withdrew. But after two or
three days OF planning ana scheming the inc rest
ON both sides, meanwhile, becoming more intense.
the members OF the Board decided. by unanimous
vote. that Hodgson was the right man. and invited
him TO go ahead with his business The Board IA
composed IN great part Of carpetoacgers, scalawags
anu negroes Cloud says he stiu intends to contest
the matter before the courts.


THE GOVERNOR AND TREASURER TAKE HAND


but Just as the public pulse had begun to beat
more slowly lrom the matter just related rumors OF
stiil more startling contest and altogether new
ana novel ana far more important than The Grst
commenced to fly around. This was nothing less
than contest by the Governor and the Treasurer
(6oth fncnmbents OF the orces) of the legality OF the
election or their opponents. This seemed TO be
planed delay OF the acting President or the senate
20 20 nSpeng and publishing the election returns
which had already commenced to burn. "But how
Y the contest to be madef" was the question asked
py many. The answer came yesterday friday, In
definite shape that an injunction would be or had
been Issued against the President OF the Senate
straining him from counting and announcing the
votes for Governor and Treasurer. About noon
on Friday the public saw prospect OF soon
when the acting President or the Senate
had copy Of q commnnication read which he had
officer and the body over which lie presided that he
proposed to begin the counting OF the votes on
Saturday at enc O'Clock. Just before the reading
OF this document the House (probably on account
OF the rumored inuncton) had invited the Senate 10
afternoon ana open the election returns. Some OF
the strongest republican Senators favored the
ceptance Of tAe invitation Of the House, but the
now seemed 10 be no doubt that an Injunction for
the purpose heretofore mentioned was actually on
foot, and some OF the most radical members OF the
Legislature expressed themselves privately as being
opposed to paying any attention to It Others
however including the acting President Of the Sen
ate, who for the time being was quite an important
individual evidently delighted at the prospect
OF keeping the democratic Governor and Treasurer
out OF office, at least for SUFFICIENT length or
time to allow President Grant or Congress TO be
induced to take the matter in hand.


AN INJUNCTION.


Wen. to shorten the story, one O'Clock to-day
arrived ION time," and found large crowd assem-
said and DONE or course the democratic members
had laid down their plan OF operations In view OF
II.
and laid their Counter plans; but they did not get
the straight Of the story exactly, and conse.
nave us sad and te Senate venf e nto
hall OF the House Of Representatives A joint con-
vention was duly organized, the acting President OF
10 the business Tor which the Convention had as
sembed, the President exhibited q document which
Supreme Court Of the State, iorbddlng him to open
and count the votes for Governor until further
orders; and another document which no said
was an injunction granted by Judge OF
one OF the Circuit Courts OF the State, for
treasurer until ' urtRer orders But the votes for
tho candidates for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney
General and Secretary OF State were counted, ana
the democratic and conservative candidates were
declared 10 be duly elected. To guard against what
had been understood to be the strategy intended by
lished returns to be Immediately returned to the
on1ce OF the secretary OF State.


FLANK MOVEMENT.


At this point ir appeared that the movement to
disregard or 10 get around the wris OF Injunction
did not partake strictly OF party character, when
republican Senator offered resolution tnat Mr..
Moren, the Lieutenant Governor elect and oDfctO
President Of the Senate, be immediately installed
into office. The President OF the Joint Convention
indicated that he was opposed TO the resolution.
Two or three members spoke few words for
and against 1t. when the President decided the
resolution out OF order. A member appealed from
the decision Of the chair The President declined to
submit the appeal to a vote and vacated the chair
at the same time ordering the Senators to retire to
their chamber, which most of them obeyed and going
e ns oh Chamber ,S the Speaker OF The





lett the chair 1t deyolved upon him 10 preside. The
appeal from the decision OF the chair was sustained;
the resolution was adopted and committee ap-
pointed TO bring Mr.. Moten into the hall for instaa-
tlon When he assembled the Speakers stand one of
the committee announced that he had already
taken the oatn OF Office s.and y Continued Mr
Moren, 81 am the Lieutenant Governor OF Alabama
and President OF the Senate and shall proceed TO
count the votes for Governor and State Treasurer -
THE vors FOR GOVERNOR COUNTED
Al this little coup d'etdt perfecty In accordance
with the law, howcver) the injuncttonlsts grated
tnelr teeth rom very rage. But an idea struck
them and they chuckled at the thought that the
Secretary OF State, being carpct-bagger, would
President OF the Senate. But he did do IL without
delay and the counting OF the forbidden votes was
begun and completed without fnrerruption


The count showed that II. b. Lindsay had been
elected Governor, and j. f. Grant, Treasurer-both
democrats Tne former Is lawyer, and Is Scotch


man Dy birth; the latter Is practical printer, and
mas edited and published 2 country paper in this