![]() I referred in this narrative to my being elected as the first Democratic Senator from the Twelfth North Carolina District, after the Civil War. I began to take part actively in its proceedings, and was the author of many bills which became law, some of which are alluded to in my experience, as hereinafter detailed. ![]() I was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Corporations, and in the Judiciary Committee and other committees. The Senate was presided over by my friend, Lieutenant-Governor Holt, who conducted the affairs in an able and impartial manner. I voted when in the Senate for nearly every measure they advocated, but it was the result of my judgment that they were all for the common good. I will say that, notwithstanding my refusal, the Alliance members all voted for me, for many of them were my personal friends and clients. I declined, telling them that while I was in favor of most of their demands I would not sign any agreement which would control my judgment in advance as to what I would do, in the event of my election. The Alliance sent a committee of farmers to meet with these Alliance demands, with the request that I sign them before the Alliance members would support me. They framed, and had printed, circulars containing reforms which they expected to put through the Legislature of 1891, and required all candidates for the Legislature throughout the state to agree to accept as a condition of their support. The Farmers’ Alliance was then absolutely in control of North Carolina. Having been nominated for the Senate in the summer, after my return from Europe, I began actively the campaign in both counties. This naturally broke the strength of and ended, for a season, the Republican misrule in Wilmington. There was a contest in the courts over the returns from Cape Fear Township, New Hanover County, but the other candidates, when the returns were canvassed and the vote of that township, for gross irregularity, thrown out, were also declared elected, and were inducted into office. ![]() Kerr for the Lower House of the Legislature, and several others for County Commissioners, whose names I do not recall. They insisted that I should be nominated for the State Senate from the Twelfth District, composed of New Hanover and Pender Counties Stedman for Sheriff Owen Fennell for County Treasurer John L. Morton, and the author, agreed to form a political club to enable us to redeem New Hanover County from Negro domination. Stedman, formerly of Cumberland County, Owen Fennell, John L. In July 1890, a band of Democrats, composed of Frank H. Bellamy, Observer Printing House, 1942, Chapter VIII, pp. Wilmington and New Hanover County Politics: 1891-1894:
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