CHAPTER XVIII.

Legislature of 1842-3-Sketches of Members Continued.

17. JOHN JACKSON, of Barbour, a merchant, was somewhat an extraordinary character. From his familiarity with treasury and bank accounts, and their practical management, it is believed that he had, at some period of his life, been connected with the public departments at Washington, or had been a merchant of large dealings. He could at any time give the rates of exchange between New York and Liverpool, for twenty years, or the dividends of the United States Bank, the amount of Treasury Notes, the receipts from customs, from the public lands, and from miscellaneous sources, and the expenditures under each administration, and what measure of policy produced a stringency in the money market, and through what precise form every account presented for settlement at the National Treasury had to pass, from the first Auditor to the final order of the Secretary at the head of the department. He could even tell who were the stockholders in the Bank of the United States, what year the officers changed, and what transactions the Government had with the banks-with the scale of exchange, how it rose and fell, and how produced. His mind seemed to be a perfect commercial dictionary, with sums and definitions without limit, which he introduced more or less in debate while discussing the bill to place the Branch Banks in liquidation, and its probable effect on the currency. In addition to this class of minute knowledge, he was well acquainted with political affairs, with the history of leading men from the foundation of the Government, and what measures of National policy they introduced or approved. His resources of this kind appeared to be inexhaustible.

This preliminary view of his character is submitted in order to show what he might have been as a legislator, had he been discreet and self-poised, and free from the bitterness which soon deformed his efforts on the floor.

On the second day of the session, Mr. Jackson brought forward a set of charges against the Hon. John P. Booth, a Judge of the Circuit Court, which occupied nearly an hour in the reading-a labor which he performed himself, with dramatic intensity. It was his debut in the Legislature. His rich and sonorous voice, his bright and glowing face, the scholarship of the composition, and the emphasis by which he gave force to particular passages of enormity,

inspired the idea of power in the Representative from Barbour, that would have eminently qualified him for a prosecuting officer in some court of criminal jurisdiction. The charges were in the nature of impeachment, with a strong case made out, on paper; and whatever might have been the result, a trial was rendered unnecessary by the immediate resignation of the Judge. Thus began and thus closed the first chapter in Mr. Jackson's legislative

career.

He had doubtless been a spectator for many years, more or less regularly, of the proceedings in Congress, and had imbibed a a somewhat diplomatic style of intercourse, and of personal etiquette, which he preserved in the Legislature, even when aggressive in debate, or parrying the thrusts of an opponent. He was the Tristham Burges, of Rhode Island, or the Ben. Hardin, of Kentucky, who used the scalping knife with savage cruelty in the debates of Congress, when provoked by John Randolph, or other sarcastic adversary, to lay aside the virtue of forbearance. Mr. Jackson was at all times ready for the tournament, and ten to one his rival was unhorsed in every tilt.

His hostility to the banking system was openly declared in his speeches and by his votes. While the bill to put the Huntsville Branch in liquidation was before the House, Mr. Jackson made some remarks which induced Mr. McClung, of Madison, to say, half-pleasantly, that "he feared the gentleman from Barbour would be disturbed in his sleep that night at seeing ghosts and hobgoblins." Mr. Jackson promptly replied, that "he hoped he should be spared the affliction of seeing the ghost of a broken

bank!"

Another instance may be given, when Dr. Moore, of Madison, brought forward a measure of relief in behalf of a constituent (an Irishman), from the penalty of illegal voting. Mr. Jackson at once rose in his place, and in his usually excited manner, said "he had no doubt, or would venture the opinion, that the violator of the law had voted the Democratic ticket." This was the first suggestion to his mind. He was an entire Whig, and had no charity for anything that savored of Democracy. But with all his bitterness and want of amiability, he was a useful man in his place, and as honest in his purposes as it was possible for one to be who had been so scorched and warped by severe visitations of adversity, and had encountered his disappointments. After the session of 1842-3, Mr. Jackson did not appear in the Legislature of Alabama. He then seemed to be about fifty years of age, and I believe he was a native of Pennsylvania.

His life was terminated by a melancholy accident in 1850, or thereabout. He had started with his family for Texas, and while crossing the Gulf from Mobile to New Orleans, the steamer on

which he had taken passage was burned, and, with a number of others on board, he perished in the flames, or was drowned in the sea. Mr. Jackson was a man of strong intellect, and of mature business capacity. Had his nature been less excitable, his record as a legislator would have been quite different, and probably he would have taken a proud rank with the benefactors of his country. Whatever his infirmities of temper, charity forbids that they should be remembered with unkindness, after a death so sudden and appalling.

18. WILLIAM GILES JONES was a son of the Old Dominion. He was a nephew of the Hon. William B. Giles, who was a Representative in Congress from 1790 to 1798, and again in 1801-2, and a Senator from 1804 to 1815, and afterward Governor of Virginia.

Mr. Jones came to Alabama about the year 1834, and, for a while, held some position in the land office at Demopolis. He was a lawyer by profession, and afterward removed to Greenesboro, where he formed a partnership with William M. Murphy, Esq., who resided at Erie. This connection at once introduced Mr. Jones to a good practice, and, being comparatively a stranger, it expedited his advancement in public confidence. His merits were always sufficient to open a way for him in any community; but the extensive influence of his partner, who had formerly been associated with William J. Vandegraff, Esq., was attended with happy results to both. Mr. Murphy distinguished himself at the session of 1840, and Mr. Jones succeeded as a Representative from Greene, in 1842, with no less ability and reputation.

In debate, Mr. Jones was calm and forcible. His mind was amply stored with information which served him to good purpose, while his logical acumen gave him a mastery over all questions which he handled. The emanations of his intellect were like sunbeams, giving light wherever they fell. For one very little over thirty years of age, this rare quality was remarkable. His elocution and whole manner was much to his advantage. There was no rant, no mere attempt at display or ornament. With him, language was but the vehicle of thought, and its transparency was beautiful and captivating. He was much respected for his courtesy in debate. Though a Whig in politics, he never failed to observe the amenities of life on every occasion where he had to measure strength with an antagonist. His course in the Legislature gained him many friends throughout the State.

The second marriage of Mr. Jones, was with a daughter of Matthew Hobson, Esq., a wealthy and influential citizen of Greene. She was a relative of Mrs. William M. Murphy-both beautiful and accomplished ladies. He afterward removed to Mobile, as a

better field for the exercise of his professional talents. In 1849, he was elected to the House from Mobile county, and took the first legal position, as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

After the Whig party was dissolved, or after the old issues had become, in a measure, obsolete, Mr. Jones coöperated with the Democratic party. On the death of the Hon. John Gayle, Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, about the year 1858, President Buchanan appointed Mr. Jones to fill that office, in which he was confirmed by the Senate. He held this position with great ability, and with satisfaction to the public, until the Confederate Government was organized, when he resigned his first commission, and accepted the same office from President Davis. When the war closed he was, of course ejected, and, under some pretext, he was arrested by the Federal authorities, perhaps to atone for his change of allegiance. After some detention and delay, during which no definite action was taken against him, he was discharged. Judge Jones still resides in Mobile, enjoying the rewards of a well-spent life, and the universal respect of all who knew his lofty qualities, and his unblemished

character.

19. WILLIAM B. MARTIN, of Benton, was born and educated in Tennessee, and is a nephew of Gov. J. L. and Judge Peter Martin. He came to Alabama, and settled in Benton county, about the year 1832, to pursue his profession as a lawyer. He was first elected to the House in 1838, and again in 1842, and reëlected in 1843. In 1844 he was on the Electoral Ticket for Polk and Dallas, and aided in casting the vote of Alabama for these candidates for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency. In 1847 and in 1849, he served in the Senate. In 1853, he was again elected to the Senate, and was made its presiding officer, in opposition to Gen. Joseph P. Frazier. He opposed Sampson W. Harris, for Congress, in 1855, and was defeated. In 1861, he was returned to the House, and served two years. This ended his public course. After the war begun, he entered the Confederate States Army as a private, but his age and infirmities compelled him to return home. He yet lives, and resides at Gadsden, Etowah county.

Mr. Martin is gifted by nature with a splendid intellect, which has been well trained in the political and professional forums, where he has long acted a conspicuous part. He was a good debater, and always ready for a tilt on any question, on the stump or in the Legislature. Some of his efforts were truly eloquent. With all his rich endowments, however, he has been unjust to himself, and to the same extent has increased the disability of serving his country as he might have done, in the absence of the

only impediment to his promotion in high quarters. He permitted a subtile enemy to fasten itself upon him-the convivial habit, strong drink-until he is now only the shadow, in success and capacity, of what nature designed in moulding his noble intellect.

20. JAMES W. MCCLUNG, of Madison, was born and raised in East-Tennessee, where his family connection was large and influential. He was a nephew of the Hon. Hugh L. White, long a member of the United States Senate, and a candidate for the Presidency in 1836. He came from Knoxville to Alabama, soon after the State Government was organized, and settled at Huntsville, as a lawyer. His great abilities at once secured him success in his profession.

The first wife of Col. McClung was a daughter of Gov. D. B. Mitchell, of Georgia, an alliance which strengthened his prospects, by securing material advantages, and largely contributing to his happiness. After this union was severed by death, his spirits became greatly depressed, and he sought temporary relief in the inebriating bowl. But, before the strong man was entirely bound, he burst the fetters, and with manly resolution stood erect once more before his fellow-men. Would that his example of selfredemption were more generally imitated, so that the wrecks from intemperance would not form such an extensive chapter in human misery!

There was one circumstance in the life of Col. McClung which, it is said, he always regretted. A severe attack had been made on his character, in a newspaper, at Huntsville, edited by Mr. Wills, which led to the death of Wills at the hands of Col. McClung. After judicial investigation he was acquitted; yet his mind constantly dwelt upon the unfortunate affair, and he has been known, on several occasions, to interpose his friendly offices to prevent similar results, by referring to his own sad experience. It has been reported that, for many years afterward, and so long as it was necessary, Col. McClung made liberal provision for the family of Mr. Wills, in a way the most delicate, and perhaps without their knowing the source from which it came.

Col. McClung was elected a Representative from Madison county, about the year 1830, if not previously. He was Speaker of the House at the sessions of 1835, 1837, and 1838, and his qualifications as a presiding officer were of the highest order. His person was well formed and commanding, and his address, at all times dignified, was that of a complete gentleman. He was well acquainted with parliamentary law, and prompt in deciding questions of order, as well as in the general application of rules laid down in Jefferson's Manual, and other standard authorities for the government of deliberative bodies, There was a pleasant courtesy