Atlanta - Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow. John R. Hornady
the present and future welfare of the people of Georgia."
The resolutions concluded "Entertaining these views with reference to General Meade and to the course he will pursue in the administration of his office, we welcome him to our City, and trust he will continue his headquarters in Atlanta, as Commander of The Third Military District."
A committee of seven was appointed to present the document to the military commander and to forward a copy to the President of the United States. The committee, in waiting upon General Meade, was cordially received, and if he saw in the resolutions any effort to shape his conduct, he did not betray the fact. Indeed, he was quite as cordial as his predecessors had been on a similar occasion, and made quite as favorable impression. That he was not greatly moved, however, was demonstrated exactly four days later when he threw Governor Jenkins out of office for declining to put his O. K. on that much discussed bill for $40,000!
The Constitution Convention, which had been the subject of so much bitterness, completed its labors March 11, 1868, and the new constitution was ratified in an election held April 20, 21 and 22. Fulton County, of which Atlanta is the heart, voted for ratification by the narrow majority of 210 out of a total vote of 4,248, but gave an emphatic majority for John B. Gordon for Governor, in opposition to K. B. Bullock. The latter was nominated by the delegates to the constitutional convention, who had resolved themselves into a nominating convention for this purpose, and he was elected by the vote of the people in the State at large. In Fulton County he received 1,914 votes, while General Gordon received 2,357. The vote for these two candidates showed about the relative strength of the white and colored voters in Fulton County, the whites being in the majority. However, this condition did not obtain universally, the negro voters greatly outnumbering the whites in some quarters.
Called together under a proclamation issued by Governor-elect Bullock on June 25, 1868, the Legislature of Georgia convened in Atlanta on the Fourth of July, and had become organized to the satisfaction of General Meade, Military Commander, by July 21. Immediately thereafter a resolution was offered ratifying the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and it was passed by the following vote: House 89 for and 69 against: Senate, 28 for and 14 against.
Governor Bullock was formerly inaugurated on the day following and served until his acts of incompetence and alleged venality created such a crisis that he fled the State, soon thereafter to become the subject of a warrant, charging larceny in connection with certain bond transactions.
This session of the Legislature furnished one of the most sensational and amazing incidents in the entire history of the Commonwealth, when a Republican was elected to the United States Senate over Joseph E. Brown, former Democratic Governor of Georgia, the end being accomplished by Democratic votes. Another extraordinary phase of the picture was the delirious joy the result occasioned in Atlanta and throughout the entire State.
The candidates whose names were balloted upon were Joseph E. Brown, Alexander H. Stephens, Joshua Hill and C. H. Hopkins. On the first ballot Former Governor Brown received 102 votes, Alexander H. Stephens 96, Joshua Hill 13 and C. H. Hopkins 1. Fearing that Brown might win on the next ballot and determined to beat him at any cost, the Democratic members, who had been supporting Stephens, flocked solidly to the support of Hill, the Republican, and on the second ballot Hill received 110, Brown 94, Stevens 1 and C. W. Stiles 1. Hill, Republican was elected.
Excitement over this contest was intense, and when the news went forth that Former Governor Brown had been defeated, an immense crowd gathered in front of the United States Hotel, where a remarkable demonstration of enthusiasm was witnessed.
On the same day, H. V. M. Miller was elected to the Senate, defeating Foster Bloodgett, a very unpopular representative of the Republican party, and this added to the cup of joy.
The reason for this attitude of bitterness toward former Governor Brown was his alleged "desertion of the South and the Democratic party" during the fervid days of Reconstruction, and even now, after the passing of more than a half century, one still may find among older citizens some evidence of this feeling. Indeed, in all the history of Georgia it is doubtful if another man has been more genuinely hated by his enemies — or more loyally supported by his friends — than was Governor Brown. The former denounced him with all the heat of an unusually torrid period; the latter credited him with greater vision than is given to most men and with the courage to stand for the things he deemed right, despite consequences to himself. Upon his death in November, 1894, his body lay in state at the Capitol for twenty-four hours, viewed by hundreds, and impressive ceremonies were held in the Senate Chamber.
The Legislature of 1868 did another thing that created great excitement and which brought additional troubles to the State, when it threw out twenty-seven negro members, including two senators. This action was participated in by a number of Republican members, as well as by the Democrats, and it met with popular approval, but one may well imagine its effect upon the extremists in Congress who were writing prescriptions for the conduct of Southern States. Thaddius Stevens was dead, but Charles Sumner was much alive, and he took immediate steps to have the State of Georgia punished. The result was another " reconstruction" for Georgia, in the process of which thirty-one negroes were admitted to seats in the Legislature and twenty-four Democrats were thrown out.
Governor Bullock went to Washington himself, and directed personally the fight for the legislation which finally was adopted. The act finally passed by Congress required members of the Legislature to take an oath that they had not participated in rebellion after holding office; prohibited the exclusion of members by reason of race or color, and required the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment before the representatives of the State of Georgia would be seated by Congress.
The Legislature was called together on January 10, 1870, and other unique chapters in reconstruction history were written. An attempt was made to elect three United States Senators at this one session, the body actually undertaking to select one senator whose election was due to come before the next Legislature. The men elected to the Senate were R. H. Whatley, H. P. Farrow and Foster Bloodgett — all of whom were denied seats when they appeared in Washington, though Governor Bullock once more went to that City and attempted to have his amazing legislative maneuvers approved by Congress. However, his indifference to constitutional requirements had been observed in Washington and this time he met defeat at every turn. Congress condemned the proceedings of the Legislature, and passed an amendment forbidding the extension of terms of office — the last being a bitter disappointment to Bullock.
But even in the face of these reversals, Bullock did not surrender, but straightway set about trying to so fix matters that he could dominate the approaching election. His star was waning, however, and he failed in this also. The election was held; the Democrats swept the State, and from that day to this have remained in control of public affairs.
CHAPTER VI. Incidents of Long Ago
MANY other spectacular and thrilling events transpired in Atlanta during the years intervening between the close of the war and the final restoration of the government to the people of the State. This City "became the political center of the commonwealth and the pivot around which turned events of an absorbing character.
Seeing no reason why the State Government should not function, especially in the light of the fact that action was needed as never before in the history of the State, Governor Brown called the Legislature to meet on May 22, 1865, and immediately thereafter he was placed under arrest by order of General Wilson, who also issued an order forbidding the Legislature to assemble. Governor Brown was carried to Washington, where he was placed in prison, but he obtained an audience with President Johnson and was released after the passage of some ten days. Returning to Georgia, he was denied the right to exercise the duties of Governor — James Johnson, of Chambers, having been appointed Provisional Governor on June 17 — and on June 29, 1865, Governor Brown resigned.
At the time of the arrest of Governor Brown, Alexander H. Stephens, General Howell Cobb and B. H. Hill were also taken into custody. The arrest of these conspicuous figures in the public life of the State created a great sensation, and added fuel to the flames of passion burning