61 2. Ow ?Ll 3 GoJp*»» 3 Alabama Centennial Commission Alabama, or the Making of a State Wherein are Presented Some of the More Important Events in Pioneer Life and the Transition from Territory to State Third of a Series of Historical Plays in Commemo- ration of the Close of a Century of Statehood By Marie Bankhead Owen Issued by the Commission Montgomery, Alabama The Paragon Press 1919 Alabama Centennial Commission Created by act of the Legislature, February 17, 1919. Headquarters : Montgomery His Exellency, Thomas E. Kilby, Governor, ex-officio, Chairman Dr. Thomas M. Owen, Director, Department of Archives and History, ex-officio, Secretary and Historian. Fitzhugh Lee, State Auditor, ex-officio Spright Dowell, Superintendent of Education, ex-officio Dr. Thomas C. McCorvey, University, Ala. Dr. George Petrie, Auburn, Ala. Mrs. Bibb Graves, Montgomery, Ala. David Holt, Newspaper Publicity Director, Montgomery, Ala. The Commission, created by enactment of the Legislature, has for its activities the encouragement of general interest in the history of the State, the general observance of the 100th anni- versary of Statehood, the marking of historic spots, and the pub- lication of local and other historical materials. Wide organ- ized publicity has been given its plans. The most general co- operation has been promised. Correspondence invited. Address Dr. Thomas M. Owen, Director of the Centenary, State Capitol, Montgomery Copyrighted, 1919. EXPLANATORY NOTE. In the preparation of “Alabama, or The Making of a State” third of the series of historical plays, the author has found it necessary to somewhat violate certain of the principles of or- dinary play construction, because of the length of time cov- ered by the four historical episodes used to illustrate life in the territorial period, and the transition to statehood. Numerous characters are introduced, some historical, while others are types merely of the pioneers who thronged the ter- ritory. Some are introduced to illustrate the manners and customs of the period. The temptation to violate the “unity of place,” by trans- ferring the action of the play from Huntsville to Fort Jack- son for the third scene, was irresistible, not only because of the dramatic possibilities afforded, but also because it seemed desirable to thus emphasize the importance of the Creek War, and its far-reaching results, both upon the Indians and upon the white settlers, who rushed into the territory as soon as the newly ceded lands were thrown open for settlement. Huntsville was selected as the scene of the play because it was the most populous locality in the territory and also be- cause of the leadership and the historic events centered there. 4 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. COSTUMES. SCENE ONE Leroy Pope, Gabriel Moore, Clement C. Clay wear black broad- cloth coats that may be fashioned like the present evening coat, or with full coat-skirts somewhat like the Prince Albert, or even like the cutaway coat with fancy vests. The trousers are long, and the shirt is white with stock collars and ruffled fronts. The cuffs are either lace ruffles or stiff white cuffs turned back over the coat cuff. The stock tie may be either white or black. Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Pope, Mrs. Clay and Mrs. Walker wear full skirts, tight waists, lace at the round neck and at elbows. On their heads are white or black lace caps, much like the boudoir caps of today. The military men are in uniform, the officers with coats cut like the present day dress-suit, revieres, cuffs and linings of coat tails caught together on the thigh, with a button. The en- listed men wear jackets, trousers, shoes and leggins. John Hunt is dressed as a pioneer. The young ladies of the ball may disguise their present-day evening gowns by the addition of over-draperies or scrafs to give fullness. Their hair should be dressed true to the period, parted in the middle and looped across the temples, carried back into a coil with bunches of curls either at the temples, or hanging from the coil. The home-seeking women and children are in homespun frocks and wear sun-bonnets, nubias, shaws, etc. SCENE TWO Moore, Pope, Clay, Maderra, Hammond, Mosley and the mi- litiamen are dressed as in scene one. General Jackson wears a blue military coat with gold braid across the breast, epaulets with fringe, revieres, cuffs and coat-tail revieres of buff. His hat is cocked, front and back. ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. SCENE THREE 5 Generals Pinckney and Jackson are dressed as Gen Jackson in scene two. Coffee, Reid and Caller wear shoulder straps on their uniform instead of fringed epaulets, Col. Hawkins is in civilian clothes. Weatherford and Big Warrior wear fringed buckskin jackets, fringed breeches, shoes. The fringe on the jacket and down the seam of the breeches may be made from yellow cloth. Big Warrior is stained a dark-reddish tan, but Weatherford, the half-breed is of much lighter complexion. They wear feathers in their long hair. SCENE FOUR All the public men are dressed as were the gentlemen in scene one. Old fashioned “beaver” hats, or modern evening hats may be worn or carried. General Jackson may wear a long, double- caped overcoat, and is not in uniform. The pioneers and sports- men should be dressed to conform to their characters, the former flashily, the latter in substantial homespun, or simple clothes as suggested in scene one. PERSONS CONCERNED IN SCENE ONE John Hunt, founder of Huntsville. Judge Leroy Pope, the leading citizen. Mrs. Pope, his wife. Gabriel Moore. John D. Walker. Mrs. Walker, his wife. Clement Comer Clay. Mrs. Clay, his wife. Archibald Maderra, Tavern Keeper. Captain Jack Mosley, of “Hazel Green.” Captain Eli Hammond, of the “Mounted Rangers.” Mr. Parham, editor of “The Madison Gazette.” A Slave-drover. A Horse-packman. A Homeseeker, wife and three children. A Messenger. A number of young men and women. Two Fiddlers. Two Negro Men Slaves Alabama, or the Making of a State PROLOGUE Good friends, our company of players will now set before you four episodes from the stirring history of Alabama that took place during the years 1813, when we were still the eastern half of Mississippi Territory, and 1819, when Alabama Territory be- came a Federal State. The territory which we now so happily claim as Alabama was invaded in 1540 by Spaniards under De Soto. Of this event we have told you in the first of the Centenary plays — “The Battle of Maubilla.” More than a century and a half elapsed before white men again came to our shores, and these were the French, under the leadership of the intrepid Ibervill and his brother Bi- enville. Of this, the first permanent settlement, we have told you in the second Centenary play, “At Old Mobile.” Another century passed, and we see the families of the Anglo- Saxon, the Protestant peoples, who had settled Virginia, New England and other parts of the Atlantic Seaboard, moving into our territory, building homes and planting the civilization that had made the mother country great. Varying motives induced these territorial settlers to found homes here. Some were sincere in their loyalty to the English kings, and as Tories, not desiring to live at strife with their for- mer neighbors, moved into the wilderness, then known as the Georgia Western country. Some were Whigs who had borne arms against old England and sought a wider range for the en- joyment of their hard won liberty. Some were adventurers who wanted that freedom, akin to license, only to be found far from the reach of law. Some, and these were the greater number, were led hither by romance and the lure of the unknown and the untried, brave men and women, who faced the hardships of pio- neer life with the zest of children on a holiday excursion; men and women who rode on horseback through the dim trails of the Indian wilds or drifted down the broad rivers and winding streams in insecure boats to found new homes in the fertile val- leys, or upon the gently undulating hills with their crystal 8 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. springs, or upon the mountain tops with sweeping views, or upon the bay shore where coming and going ships kept them in touch with the outer world. But pioneer homes were not set up without dangers. The sav- age who had inhabited the land from time immemorial, fully re- alized that the advent of the white man in his midst would finally lead to his own destruction. He used every means known to his unschooled mind to turn back the tide of immigration. Lonely families were massacred and robbed by the savages; whole com- munities, upon learning of threatened attacks, gathered in forts for their mutual protection. But these too often proved inade- quate for defense and some of the bloodiest Indian massacres in American history took place upon Alabama soil. It was to avenge these attacks upon the defenseless settlers made by tomahawk and scalping knife, that the troops of our border states rushed to the scene of intrigue and bloodshed. Tennessee Militia, led by General Andrew Jackson, Georgia Mi- litia, under command of General Floyd, Mississippi Militia, un- der General Claiborne, and volunteer fighting men, took up the battle cry and through force of arms made se- cure the life and property of as hardy and worthy a people as ever created a commonwealth. The third Centenary play, “Alabama, or The Making of a State” will review, for your entertainment and instruction, scenes from the Creek War period of our history and following that the inflow of new settlers, and the assembling of the first Legislature of the State which met at Huntsville, the temporary capitol. We are honoring ourselves in honoring these founders of our State, when we pause to contemplate their difficulties and the noble heritage they have left to us. That you have come to witness our presentation of these scenes is evidence that you have a full appreciatoin of the occasion, and a gratitude to our forefathers for what they did to make us secure and great. We thank you. ( Bow . Exit.) ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 9 SCENE ONE Place i The public room of Madeira’s tavern, Huntsville, Miss. Territory. ( There are doors at rigli and at left , a window at ieftj hung with a white muslin curtain. At center hack is a clerk’s desk and above this a rack holding guns , with shot bags and 'powder horns as well as pistols in their holsters hang- ing from the hooks. A glowing fire burns in the fireplace, right, and above the mantleshelf is a deer’s head or horns . There is 1 also a picture of George Washington, President Madisort, then in office or some other Revolutionary celebrity . In a corner 4 is a tall clock . Candles are burning. Benches are against the walls and chairs are placed about the room if space admits. Fid- dles are heard off stage, right , playing a rolicking dance twie. At rise of curtain Maderra, proprietor of the tavern, and several young people are laughing and talking.) Maderra. That’s a very good joke, young man. But you had better be joining the dancers. The Young People . Adieu. ( Exit right.) Maderra. Adieu. ( Taking a newspaper from the clerk’s desk, sitting before the fire to read.) Enter John Hunt. (He is dressed in a backwoods garb.) Heigh! Maderra. ( Rising and coming forward cordially .) Well, Mr. Hunt. Glad to see you. (Placing a chair before the fire.) It’s cool for early October. Hunt. (Speaking with a frontier drawl.) I thought I’d drop in and see what’s going on at the tavern. Maderra. (Taking a chair.) If any man’s welcome to peep in on Huntsville making merry, you’re that man. Hunt. It’s not so long either since Bean and I found the Big Spring. Eighteen hundred and five, it was, just eight years ago. There were some friendly Indians settled here and there. Old Ditto had a landing on the Tennesse river and was one of the few white men in all this region. Joe and 10 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. Isaac Criner had settled north of us. ( He lights his pipe from the candle .) Maderra . But you were the first white man to drink out of the Big Spring. Hunt . Bean and I came along together. He went back to Ten- nessee, but I staid here. Now I’ve sold out and am going back to old Tennessee myself. My family are already on the way. Maderra, And we are all mighty sorry to lose you, Mr. Hunt. You’re a prime favorite at Huntsville. Hunt. “Huntsville!” ( Laughing softly .) Well the town’s got my name and I reckon I won’t be forgot Maderra . I’m glad your name will live with the place, too. I never Was in favor of calling the town “Twickenham.” Hunt. ( Lauching .) “Twickenham!” Well it’s been a pretty stiff fight between the “Royal Party” and the “Castor Oil Party.” Maderra. And your side has won. Hunt. Yes. Maderra. ( Bringing a bottle and glasses from behind the desk.) And here’s to Huntsville and her founder. ( Both drink.) Hunt. That’s mighty good licker, Maderra. It warms an old man up. Makes me feel like going into the hall and shaking a foot with the young folks. Maderra. Of course. Who is so welcome at the muster ball as our good friend Hunt? This way, please. Pick out the prettiest girl and she’ll be honored to dance with you. Hunt. ( Shaking the ashes from his pipe.) Well, I’m a ven- turesome man, Maderra. I’m a venturesome man. ( Laugh- ing softly. Exit.) Enter Mr. Parham. {He is a professional looking man.) Good evening Maderra. Maderra. ( Who had resumed reading the paper.) Come in Mr. Parham, I was just looking over your esteemed journal, (< The Madison Gazette .” ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 11 Parham. You can’t build a town without the press, Maderra. Glad you like my paper. How goes the muster ball? Maderra . Hear the fiddles, don’t you? The young people are making merry, while their elders look on. Parham. Everybody here, eh? Maderra. I thought two months ago when the county boys came riding in for the muster drill that we had crowds, but to- night we’ve got more than we can handle in the taverns. Parham. Madison county is growing amazingly. It’s been about eight years since Hunt and Bean came here, and by the cen- sus report just gathered by the Government agents there are more people in this county than in all the rest of the east- ern Mississippi Territory combined. Mobile and the south end have a hundred years the start of us, but we are out- stripping them all. Maderra. It looks to me like Tennessee and Georgia are liable to be depopulated pretty soon ,the way people from those states are coming in. Parham. And Kentucky, Virginia and the Carolinas are send- ing us some of their best citizens. Is Judge Leroy Pope at the ball? Maderra. The judge and his lady, Mr. John W. Walker and lady, Clement Clay and lady, Gabriel Moore, the military officers with their men and sweethearts* — the Lord only knows who else. Go in and pick up some items for the Gazette . Parham. Thank you, Maderra. You’re an ideal host. {Exit.) Enter Slave Drover and Horse-Packman. (They wear back-woodsman clothes, boots and fur caps. Across their shoulders or in their hands are their saddle-bags.) Horse-packman. HoJhere^MaderfSrK Any beds? Maderra. GocnL^vening, gentlemen. Sorry^\but every bed is takep^by the militia-men. ~Horse -packman. Muster drill, eh? Well, they’ll need it by and by. The Red Sticks ain’t none too peacable. 12 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. Maderra. Sorry I can’t put you up. Horse-packman . Sorry too. I’m just in with twenty pack- horses loaded up with merchandise for Alexander Gilbreath. ( Taking an orange from his pocket .) A boat from Mobile brought several barrels of oranges to Tuskaloosa. I got a few and have brought them with my packs. ( Handing one to Maderra .) How does that smell? Maderra, { Taking the orange and smelling it with pleasure .) Ah, fine. Slave-drover. I ain’t brought no such a sweet-smelling merch- andise to Huntsville as the gent thar. Mine’s niggers. Two hundred of ’em, and the best quality. Maderra. You’ll sell them out before noon tomorrow. The slave market is good here. Our new comers have brought many slaves with them, but the lands are rich, cotton, a ready money crop and labor in demand. Slave-drover , {To horse-packman .) Well, friend, I reckon we’d better be hunting us a shed. {To Maderra .) Sorry beds are short tonight. So long. {Exit Slave-drover and horse- packman.) Enter Traveler , wife and three children. Traveler. Good evening, Mister. Maderra. Good evening, Sir. Come in. Good evening Madam. Come children, get up by the fire and warm wourselves. Traveler. We’ve just lit, and the old ’oman and the chaps is about wore out. Ridin’ horseback from way down on the Tombigbee ain’t no joke an’ hit by bridle path most o’ the way. Maderra . Came from round St. Stephen’s did you? Traveler . Close to hit. Maderra. What’s the condition in South Alabama, much travel? Traveler. Peers like the whole world’s movin’ in. Got some ferries now and home seekers is huntin’ good lands all over the Territory. But we set out for these parts soon as we ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 13 heard ’bout the fine lands and the Big Spring. Maderra . What about the Indians? Traveler . La, Mister, the Injuns is raisin’ hell. Them Spanish is settin’ ’em agin the white folks — Traveler's Wife. An’ they ain’t forgot all the lies the British told ’em durin’ of the Revolution. Small boy . An’ them Frenchers ain’t no saints, they ain’t. They’s all agin the settlers. Small Girl. Pa why don’t you tell him ’bout Tecumseh? Traveler . (To Madera.) My folks is turrible stirred up ’bout the Injuns. This here Tecumseh come down our way and along about the Hickory Grounds on the Coosa, and has raised the devil ’mongst the Red Sticks. I heard Sam Dale say that the British sent him and a crowd of painted war- dancers from the Great Lakes to the Territory to bring on war. His wife. And war it’s a-goin’ to be. Hit aint safe for women and chil’en in them parts. There’s too much killin’. Small boy. Mister, did you ever hear about Bill Weatherford? Maderra. Yes, sonny, every body knows about Red Eagle. He’s some big Injun, eh? Traveler . And some big devil. He’s makin’ more troubles than all the rest of the Red Sticks. He’s a follerin’ Tecum- seh’s war notions. Folks is killed and scalped ev’ry day. Small Boy . Mister, is you heered ’bout the battle of Burnt Corn? Maderra . In July. Yes. Your friend Captain Sam Dale did a man’s job there. Traveler's Wife. The settlers is puttin’ up forts round about. They’s countin’ on trouble. Maderra. And Madam, see how brave the women and children are as well as the men. Making homes in the midst of death ! It’s wonderful! Smallest child. ( Beginning to cry.) Quit talkin’ ’bout Injuns, I’s skeerd. (Wailing.) 14 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. Traveler's wife. ( Taking the little one in her arms soothingly .) And she’s tired, too. (To Maderra.) I ain‘t heered you say nothin’ ’bout beddin’ us yet. Maderra. Well Madam, I’ve turned away a score of men, but when it comes to women and children — I’ll give you my room and sleep on a shakedown before the fire here, Traveler. Sorry to put you out Mister, but as I said the ole ’oman and the chaps is ’bout wore out. Maderra. ( Ringing the office bell.) Enter a Negro Servant . Servant. Yas sah, marster. Maderra. Take these travelers to my room and see that there’s a good fire burning. ( Traveler and his family , with thanks 9 make their exit.) Re-enter Mr. Parham ^ accompanied by Judge Pope 9 Captain Eli Hammond and Captain Jack Mosley, Judge Pope. I was just saying, Mr. Parham, to these young gentlemen, that they deserve our thanks for keeping the boys in military order. If I’m a judge of conditions we are far from being in a settled state. Mr. Parham. Captain Mosley and Captain Hammond are in- deed doing a most patriotic service to the whole section. Captain Mosley. We realize, as do the other officers of the militia, that there may be a call to arms sooner than the general public thinks. You hear everything, from travelers, Maderra. What’s your opinion? Maderra. The Indians in the Coosa and Tombigbee country, and even nearer us, are in an ugly mood. Homeseekers, horse- men, every traveler that comes this way indicates an un- easy feeling. Enter Two Youig Ladies. First Young Lady. Mr. Maderra, we have a favor to ask. Maderra. I’m always at the service of the ladies. ( Bowing gal- lantly.) Second Young Lady. The crowds are so large we can’t dance ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 15 well in the hall. Would you let some of us come in here — First Young Lady. There are enough fiddlers for both places. Maderra . And you want to dance in the public room too? Very good. Let joy be unconfined. Both Girls. Oh, thank you. Captain Mosley. (To the girls.) And may Captain Hammond and I escort you and help select some of the couples to come with you? (The two captains offer their arms to the girls and the four go out.) Maderra. I can never say no to the ladies. (Rings the bell and two negro men come in.) Remove the benches and chairs. (While the negro servants are removing the furniture , the fid- dlers come in and begin their music. In a moment a crowd o/J young people pour in from the adjoining hall and begin to dance a quadrille with animation and much talking and laughing. There is some buck dancing on the side by a few young men. In the midst of the revel a messenger enters hurriedly and holds up his hands in command.) Messenger. Gentlemen! (All gather about to listen and several men to question.) The Indians have massacred five hundred men, women and children at Ft. Mims on the Alabama river. All. (Terrified excitement). Ah! Messenger. The Creek Indians have sworn to destroy the white settlers and to hold to the land. No family is safe and even the improvisd forts to which they have fled are poorly protected. Judge Pope. Why does not General Claibore bring more sol- diers from the western part of the Territory? We are all Mississippians and the eastern frontier deserves protection. Messenger . Claiborne is powerless to override the orders of his superior officer, General Thomas Flournoy at Ft. Charlotte, Mobile. He is under the impression that the greatest dan- ger rests at that point which the Spaniards plot secretly to re-take and occupy, claiming that it belongs to Spain, and the British openly swear to capture. 16 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. . Captain Mosley. Are all the Indian nations against the whites? Messenger . The Chickasaws have listened to Col. John McKee and are banded for the destruction of Creek towns and warriors. They marched to Tuskaloosa Falls to burn that village, but found it already in ashes. The Choctaws un- der their greatest Chief Pushmataha, have come to our side, and five thousand warriors are ready to fight with us. This is the good work of George S. Gains and Col. Flood Mc- Grew. Oantain Hammond . (To the young men.) Well boys, we’ve got our work cut out. Ft. Mims must be avenged. Captain Mosley . Life and property must be made safe for every white settler in this great Mississippi T'erriotry. I’m ready, men! Who’s with me? ( The excitement is intense , the men rushing forward to volunteer for the war , the women talking to each other , some weeping 9 some showing great courage and urging the men forward.) Messenger . I’m bound for Tennessee to get Andrew Jackson. All. Hurrah for Jackson! Judge Pope . Report to General Jackson that we’ll have men here to jonit his troops. Alt the Men . Yes. Here and ready. ( Some take down the guns and pistols from the rack.) Messenger. Farewell. ( Exit.a All. Farewell. ( They turn to each other and begin all together to talk and gesticulate excitedly 9 a babel of noise and confu - usion.) CURTAIN. ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. SCENE TWO 17 Persons Concerned, General Andrew Jackson, Major-General Tennessee Militia. John Reid, his Secretary. Archibald Maderra Judge Leroy Pope. Captain Eli Hammond Mr. Gabriel Moore Captain Jack Mosley John W. Walker A Messenger Clement Comer Clay Militiamen (without) SCENE 2, THE SAME AS SCENE 1. Two Weeks Later ( The speech of General Jackson to the crowds are his own words,) ( The curtain has been down only a few moments to indicate the passing of time. At rise Jude Leroy Pope , Gabriel Moore f John W. Walker and Clemen Comer Clay are on stage,) Judge Pope, ( He is walking about anxiously.) It will be ut- terly impossible for General Jackson to recover from his wounds in time to lead the troops. Mr, Clay. ( There is a moment of silence , all showing gratae con- cern.) If the Bentons could only have held off their attack until the Creeks were whipped ! J ackson has been the idol of the frontiersmen since he disobeyed orders of the Secre- tary of War and carried his army back to Tennessee before disbanding it, following the futile Natchez rendezvous. Mr. Moore. Governor Blount of Tennessee has called for three thousand men. Their legislature has appropriated $300,000.00 to pay and feed them, expecting the Government to repay the bill. These steps, together with the danger of a general Indian attack upon the Georgia and Tennessee frontiers will impel many men to take up arms in defense of their fire- sides. Mr. Walker. Since Jackson beat John Sevier by that tie vote for Major General of Tennessee Militia, he’s been waiting 18 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. for a good chance to show his military qualities. The time has come. I don’t believe the doctors will be able to hold “Old Hickory” in his bed at “The Hermitage ” in spite of his shattered shoulder and arm. Judge Pope. But, Walker, remember its been less than a month since he was shot. It would be suicide to attempt the hard- ships of a wilderness campaign in his condition. Walker. Andrew Jackson has more than a mortal’s will. Enter Maderra. (He carefully closes the door after him.) Judge Pope. Well Maderra. Maderra. A message has come from Nashville. General Jackson has gone to Fayetteville to meet his army. dll . Hurrah for Jackson! ( They show great satisfaction.) Jlay And from Fayetteville to Huntsville is but thirty-two miles. A good day’s march for infantry. (There is knocking at the door.) Maderra. (Looking out cautiously t speaking to Messenger) . What is it? Messenger. I bring a message from General Jackson. Maderra. (Speaking to the gentlemen within.) It is a messen- ger from General Jackson. Judge Pope. Admit him. Enter Messenger. Messenger. (Saluting.) I am looking for Judge Pope. Judge Pope. I am he. Messenger. General Jackson presents his compliments and wishes you to know his troops will reach Huntsville tonight. All. Tonight! We will be ready for them. Judge Pope. How many men? Messenger. A large force. Walker. And they have been marching all day? Messenger. No, sir. At noon General Jackson received orders to march. At three o’clock this afternoon the troops moved. At eight tonight they will be here. ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 19 Walker . Thirty-two miles in five hours? Pope. Impossible. Messenger. Nothing is impossible with God and Andy Jackson. {Exit.) ( The noise of advancing horsemen is heard . The clock begins to strike eight o’clock.) All. Jackson! Jackson! Maderra. { Throwing open the door.) General Jackson. Enter General Jackson. { He is followed by John Reid 9 his Secretary.) Jackson. { His left arm is in a sling 9 his shoulder bandaged .) Gentlemen. All. General Jackson. {They ring his free hand eagerly.) Jackson. This is my Secretary, Mr. Reid. {To Mr. . Reid.) Judge Pope, Mr. Walker, Mr. Clay, Mr. Moore, Mr. Maderra. {They shake hands.) General Jackson. I'm this far, gentlemen, upon my way to the Creek Indian Country. Mr. Clay. And right welcome you are. May I have the pleas- ure of entertaining you in my home tonight? You must spare yourself in every possible way. Jackson. Thank you, Mr. Clay. It was Napoleon who said that a General should sleep with his troops. Judge Pope. That rule should not apply to Generals who have new wounds. Jackson. To illustrate — if our Government agent, Mr. Hawkins, had remained on the spot during his Peace Council with the Creek Chiefs and Warriors, Tecumseh would not have so ef- fectively made his war speech at Hickory Grounds. Judge Pope. A number of messengers have come from the seat of trouble. All say that the Indians are well determ- ined, through Tecumseh’s persuasions, to abandon the plow and the loom and to take up their savage weapons for the complete extermination of the whites. Jackson. I’ve sent Gen. Coffee on ahead with seven hundred 20 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. cavalry and mounted rifles to see what the Red Sticks are doing. Judge Pope. It will be a big undertaking to feed your troops. There are no roads for your Commissary wagons. Jackson . Fll cut roads through the wilderness. Clay. If your commissary fails to connect wtih your troops you’ll starve. Jackson. We’ll eat the wild beasts of the woods. Failing that we’ll eat the horses of the troops. Walker. There are mountains to pass. Jackson. And if they were greater than the Alps I’d pass over them. Judge Pope. It is reported that the Indians are marching in this direction. Jackson. Not to be outdone in politeness, I’ll endeavor to meet them on the middle-ground. Mr. Moore. The British are at the bottom of this Indian war. Jackson. Yes. They cannot stand the humiliation of the Revo- lution. We are Britons, also, gentlemen, with some of their perversity. We will not yield the right of search, they shall not have equal rights with us in navigation of the Missis- sippi river. We will keep ships of war on the Great Lakes without their permission, and we will not surrender a foot of the land they are asking of our Commissioners at Ghent. Certainly, Mr. Moore. The British are at the root of the Indian war upon the white settlers of the Mississippi Ter- ritory. Clay. We are fighting a second Revolution in the L^nited States and meeting defeat on the Canadian border and everywhere in the North. Jackson . The British purpose to attack Mobile and New Or- leans. This Indian trouble has been stirred up but to di- vert and harrass us. Clay. They mean to over-run the whole southwest. Jackson. ( With vigor.) But by the Eternal, the blood of the ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 21 men who won our liberties shall not be shed in vain. I’ll whip the Creeks and all the rest of the red devils in a month if General Cocke and Major Lewis will victual us. Then I’ll run the Spaniards out of Florida, for they are playing into the hands of our enemies. After that I’ll send the Britons packing home, even if I have to take my Tennesseeans clean to hell and back again. All . Ah! Ah! ( There is a great shouting outside.) Enter Captains Hammond and Mosley. Judge Pope. These young men will go as far as you take your Tennessee troops, General Jackson. Captain Hammond, Cap- tain Mosley. ( They salute , then shake hands.) Captain Mosley. Captain Hammond and I command two out of the five companies Madison County has raised to fight with your men. Jackson . You’re welcome, gentlemen. There’s a hard campaign ahead. ( The cheering outside continues with cries of “Jack- son.”) Captain Hammond. Our men are eager to greet their General. Will you speak to them? Jackson . Yes. Maderra. From this window, General Jackson. (He draws the curtain and the crowds outside press up close to see and hear. Maderra later holds a candelabra high above the speakers’ heads to light them.) Captain Mosley. Judge Pope will you introduce the General to the men? Judge Pope . And esteem it an honor indeed. (He and Jack- son go to the window.) Judge Pope. Men of Madison County, General Andrew Jack- son is here. (Cheering outside with cries of “ Jackson ”) I need not tell you who Andrew Jackson is. Since the Brit- ish murdered his grandfather in Scotland and killed his fa- ther and two brothers in Carolina, that father who died be- 22 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. fore he was born, he has been taught to hate tyranny and to love freedom. ( Cheers outside .) He is marching, and you will march with him, to hold back the savage hordes who threaten to murder the women and children of your homes, as they have murdered the women and children and slaugh- tered the men of the southern part of our Territry. ( Cries of “Jackson!” “Speech!”) General Jackson. Men of Madison County: We are about to furnish these savages a lesson of admonition; we are about to teach them that our long forbearance has not proceeded from an insensibility to wrongs, or an inability to redress them. They stand in need of such warning. In proportion as we have borne with their insults and submitted to their out- rages, they have multiplied in number and increased in atro- city. But the measure of their offenses is at length fulfilled. ( Cheers .) The blood of our women and children recently spilled at Ft. Mims calls for our vengeance; it must not call in vain. (Cheers.) Our borders must be no longer disturbed by the warwhoop of these savages and the cries of their suffering victims. (Cheers.) The torch that has been lighten up must be made to blaze in the heart of their own country. It is time they should be made to feel the weight of a power which, because it was merciful, they be- lieved to be impotent. (Cheers.) But how shall a war so long forborne and so loudly called for by retributive justice be waged? Shall we imitate the examples of our enemies in tne disorder of our movement and the savageness of their disposition? Is it worthy the character of American sol- diers, who take up arms to redress the wrongs of an injured country, to assume no better models than those furnished them by barbarians? No, fellow soldiers; great as are the grievances that have called us from our home, we must not permit disorderly passions to tarnish the reputations we shall carry along with us. We must and will be victorious. (Cheers.) But we must conquer as men who owe nothing to ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 23 chance, and who in the midst of victory, can still be mind- ful of what is due to humanity. You are, fellow soldiers, about to penetrate the country of your enemies. It is not to be believed that they will abandon the soil that embosoms the bones of their forefathers without furnishing you an opportunity of signalizing your valor. Wise men do not expect; brave men do not desire it. You are about to leave your families to avenge the cruelties com- mitted upon your defenseless frontiers by the inhuman Creeks, instigated by their no less inhuman allies. You shall not be disappointed. ( Cheers .) If the enemy flees before us we will overtake and chastise him; we will teach him how dreadful, when once aroused ,is the resentment of free men. ( He bows and leaves the window 9 which Maderra closes. There are cheers without , applause within the room 9 general handshaking and congratulations .) Jackson, ( To Mosley and Hammond.) I desire to hold a coun- cil tonight with the officers of the Madison County compan- ies. Maderra. This room is at your service. Jackson. Thank you Maderra, but I prefer to have the officers meet me in my tent an hour from now. Mosley. Come Captain Hammond. We will notify the others. ( Exit Mosley and Hammond 9 bowing to the civilians and sa- luting the General who returns their salute.) Judge Pope. We are all at your service General. Will not you and Mr. Reid join us at supper? Jackson. Thank you, Judge Pope, but there are too many du- ties at hand to stop for food. My orderly will give me a cup of coffee between conferences. I must be going now. Good- night. And good bye. ( They all shave his hand,) CURTAIN. 24 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. SCENE THREE Place, Ft. Jackson, formerly the French Ft. Toulouse, located at the confluence of the Coosa and the Tallapoosa rivers. Time. Spring 1814. Scene. General Jackson’s Headquarters. PERSONS CONCERNED. Gen. Andrew Jackson, Maj. Gen. U. S. Army. Gen. Thomas Pinckney, U. S. Army. John Coffee, Brig. Gen. Tennessee Cavalry. Wm Carroll, Brig. Gen. Tennessee Cavalry. Major John Reid, Adjutant to General Jackson. Col. Arthur P. Hayne, Inspector Gen S. C. Troops. Col. Beujamin Hawkins, Government agent to Creek Nation. Several Soldiers, Guards, &c. INDIANS. William Weatherford, Leader of the Creek War Party. Big Warrior, Leader of the Creek Peace Party. (At rise of curtain Major John Reid is seated at a table made of planks laid across two log sections . He is working with pa- pers and correspondence and smoking a pipe.) Enter Gen. Coffee. Coffee. Good morning Major Reid. Reid. ( Glancing up and continuing to write.) Good morning General Coffee. Coffee. You’re getting your reports ready in anticipation of a visit from General Pinckney, I suppose. (He lights his pipe from Reid’s.) Reid. Yes. General Jackson wants things in apple pie order for the inspection of the Commander of the Southern De- partment. ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 25 Coffee . ( Sitting and smoking.) These Regular Army officers are great sticklers for correct reports. “Paper work.” Ha! Reid. Naturally the War Department likes to know what we are doing out here in the heart of the Creek Nation. Coffee. Well, Major, tell the War Department, with my com- pliments, that we’re raising hell. Reid . General Jackson has ordered me to say we’re settling it. Coffee . General Jackson ought to know. He usually does. ( Get- ting up and standing over Reid.) When I think, Major Reid, what difficulties that man has had to meet out here in the wilderness, what issues hinge on success, and how every power that ought to help us has done its best to discourage and to thwart us, I’m almost ready to “jine the Injuns.” Reid. Its been pretty rough work, General Coffee. Coffee. Beginning with the Commissary which fell down on us and let us starve, then the enlistments of the militia expir- ing in the midst of the campaign and the men encouraged to return to their homes by the politicians in power in Tennes- see; with the Volunteers getting homesick and marching away by Regiments; with the Government at Washington and the Regular Army leaders failing to see and to appre- ciate the importance of our undertaking and to properly co- operate with it — Bah! Enter Gen. Carroll . Reid. Good morning Gen. Carroll. Carroll. ( Lighting his pipe from Coffee’s.) Good morning gen- tlemen. {To Reid.) Busy as usual. Reid. I’m revising my notes for General Jackson’s final review of the Creek War. I’ve mislaid something about the Battle of Horse Shoe Bend. Ah, here it is! Carroll. If I were writing that report I would pay a handsome tribute to the fighting qualities and the strategy of the Red Man, especially the brave Chief Manowa, equal in courage to any man that ever lived. It seems a crime to break the spirit of such a proud people. 26 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. Coffee . But the Creek nation is still unconquered as long as William Weatherford is free. He is a great leader. Enter Gen. Jackson . Jackson. ( His left are is still in a sling. AU rise to greet him .) Good morning, gentlemen. All. Good morning, General Jackson. Jackson. Major Reid, have you gotten off the letter of ap- preciation to General Claiborne? j Reid. Yes, General. ( All sit on camp stools.) Jackson . Without the aid of the brave Mississippi boys we might still be in the field. Their example should inspire the sol- diers of America as long as we are a Republic. When these men were exposed to the swamps and canebrakes. to incle- ment weather, without tents, warm clothing, shoes or food, with their enlistments expired, they went nine days without meat, subsisting upon parched corn, fought an important battle and made secure the former victories of our arms in the Creek W ar. Carroll. The Mississippi Militia has done splendidly in this war of course, but the local Volunteers under Captain Sam Dale deserve due consideration. The Canoe Fight will go down in history as one of the most picturesque and daring hand to hand fights of this or any other war. Jackson. And posterity must not forget the services of Push- mataha and his faithful Choctaw Braves, Reid. And the daring Cherokees. Jackson. (Rising.) Yes. Our Indian allies were loyal and brave. Enter Soldier . Soldier. (Saluting.) General Jackson, I beg to report that Major General Pinckney has arrived and is with Col. Hawk- ins in his tent. Jackson . General Pinckney ! Very good. Come gentlemen, we will go greet him. (Exit all except Col, Reid.) Enter Big Warrior. Big Warrior. Tell me, Major Reid, why does General Jackson ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 2T keep us here. We have helped him defeat the hostile Creeks and we want to go home. Reid. Big Warrior, you are a Chief, but General Jackson is the biggest Chief of all. He knows that the hostile Creeks are not 'through fighting, murdering and burning the whites as long as Red Eagle is free. Big Warrior . Who can gather up the whirl-wind? Reid . There is one big Chief that will catch Weatherford soon — Starvation. Big Warrior . Red Eagle has his farm and slaves. Reid . But he cannot feed the women and children of the whole Nation. Re-enter Jackson , Hawkins f Col . Hague , Pinckney 9 Coffee, and Carroll. Jackson. Gen. Pinckney, this is Major Reid. Pinckney. Glad to meet yau, Major. ( They shake hands.) Jackson. And this is Big Warrior, leader of the Creek Peace Party and our faithful ally in arms. Pinckney. It is always an honor to meet a brave man. ( They shake hands.) Jackson. Be seated, General Pinckney. Have seats gentlemen. {All sit on camp stools except the Indian who refuses and stands , right , his arms folded.) Pinckney. I have come. General Jackson, for a final review of the situation and to ask why you are waiting here at Fort Jackson when the Creek War is over and the British are growing more troublesome around the Gulf and on the Mis- sissippi river? Jackson. I came here, General Pinckney, to stop the Creeks from murdering the American settlers, whether on their isolated farms or in their improvised forts and stockades. There are few of their fighting men left. Some of these have made their escape to the Spaniards and British at Pensacola, Flor- ida, but I will get them presently. Some are hiding in the swamps and forests with the expectation that Weatherford 28 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. will defeat our armies by some sort of miracle since strategy and force have failed. Pinckney . Then Weatherford is the cause of your delay here? Jackson. One cause, General, but the chief one is that I want the representatives of the Creeks to come to Fort Jackson and sign the Treaty that will open up this fine country to white settlers. That expectation may hold me here for weeks, for to make a satisfactory and lasting treaty with a dozen Indian Chiefs is not the work of a day. That is the most fateful hour in their history. They have lost their sovereignty over their old hunting grounds, their warriors are dead or vanquished, their women and chilidren are starv- ing in the woods. Time and I must w r ait with Patience for the bitter end. Pinckney. You and your men have done valiantly. Major Reid, may I look over your file of reports to the War Department to refresh my memory on the various steps of the cam- paign? Jackson. I know r every step by heart, General Pinckney. On November 3, 1813, General Coffee, with nine hundred Ten- nessee troops conducted the attack upon the tow r n of Tal- lasehatchie. He left near two hundred red men dead upon the ground and captured eighty women and children. Not a warrior escaped to carry the news. Six days later, Nov. 9th, wdth twelve hundred infantry and eight hundred cav- alry, w r e fought the battle of Talladega. Three thousand Indians fought with Spartan valor for the defense of their land, for they had been told by leaders of the Peace Party that if they engaged in w r ar with the w r hites and lost they would be utterly ruined. General Pinckney. What of the battle with the Hillabees? Jackson . That affair was a massacre, not a battle. Pinckney. What do you mean, General Jacgson? Jackson. ( Walking about , perturbed.) A body of volunteers ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 29 from East Tennessee had marched to the seat of war under Major General John Cocke. Gen. White, with a thousand men of Gen. Cocke’s division, marched to Turkey Town and there reported to me that he would receive my orders. I sent him to negotiate with the Hillabee people who had sued for peace. While on his way to conclude these overtures for surrender General White received orders from General Cocke to attack the Hillabee towns. Pinckney. (Rising.) But he was your messenger of peace. Jackson . There w r ere two Generals in the field, and White chose to take orders from General Cocke. He fell upon the un- suspecting Hillabees and slaughtered them. ‘Truly that should be called a massacre and not a battle. Pinckney , And you were thought by the savages to have play- ed them false? Jackson. They considered it an outrage that the attack was made on their town while they were waiting their messen- ger of surrender, and it was! (Fiercely.) By the Eternal it was. Pinckney. The Battle of Autossee was fought by the Georgians under General Floyd. What happened there? Jackson. With a thousand men of the Georgia militia and four hundred friendly Indians, among them Chief Mad Dog. the attack was made. Two hundred warriors were killed and the town burned. At the same time Tallassee was destroyed. After finishing their w r ork the Georgians returned to Ft. Mitchell as there were rumors of an attack at that point. Pinckney. You count the battle of Emucfau in which you led as a mere skirmish I understand. (He laughs.) Jackson. It was an all day fight, with heavy losses on both sides, but we drove off our assailants. Enitachopca was also an obstinate combat, in which our army was at one time in great peril. The Indians have boasted that they whipped me and ran my troops into the Coosa river. (He laughs .) 30 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. Pinckney . After General Floyd had recruited his forces did he not return to the seat of war? Jackson. Yes, General, and was attacked in the Callabee Valley, but drove the savages into the swamps with severe losses. Floyd then retraced his steps and again the Indians claimed that the results of the fight were wholly theirs. Pinckney, You wrote me you thought the battle of the Horse Shoe Bend was the decisive battle of the war. Jackson. It was. When I looked at the Muscogee defenses the Red Men had made across the peninsula or bend of the Tallapoosa River they call Tohopeka, I saw that the enemy had penned themselves up for slaughter. They had calcu- lated that if their breastworks were taken they could escape in the hundreds of canoes tied on the river bank. Seeing their purposes I sent Gen. Coffee across the river below and his Cherokee Indian troops swam over at the battle point and removed the boats. Then I sent a flag of truce, but it was fired upon and the battle began. There I lost Major Lem- uel Montgomery, the flower of my army, and thirty-one other valuable men, besides nearly a hundred were badly wounded. Pinckney. But the Indians lost heavily. Jackson. Of their thousand warriors only a few escaped alive. Pinckney. And thus was subdued the enemy. Jackson. We cannot say that with truth until Weatherford is dead or captured. It is he who has directed the strategy of the war. Pinckney. The “Red Eagle.” Jackson. And still not so red as white. (A noise is heard without. Big Warrior shows emojion and drains his knife from his belt.) Enter Weatherford . Weatherford. ( His gun is lying across his arm, he does not speak, but a moment of stillness falls , with every one show- ing surprise.) ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 31 Big Warrior . (Threateningly t with his long knife raised.) Wea- therford, we have got you at last! Weatherford. ( Pushing him aside.) You traitor! If you give me any impudence I will blow a ball through your heart. (To Jackson.) General Jackson I am Weatherford, by my people called the “Red Eagle.” Jackson. How dare you Sir, ride up to my tent after having murdered the women and children of Ft. Mims? At the battle of the Holy Ground our soldiers found the scalp pole with three hundred scalps drying on it — men, women and children, grey hair and the sunny locks of little girls. Weatherford, you deserve to die. Weatherford. I am a brave man, General Jackson, and am not afraid to die. My warriors have fought and died like free- men. We defeated the Americans at Burnt Corn and forced them to flee. We reduced Ft. Mims after a fight of five hours and exterminated its numerous inhabitants. We en- countered the large force under General Coffee at Talla- sehatchie and fought until not a man was left nor asked for quarter. We opposed you at Talladega and although sur- rounded by your army, poured out our fire and fled not till the ground was almost covered with our dead. We met General Floyd at Autossee and are not ashamed of the encounter. At Emuckfau three times did we charge upon you and when you retreated towards the Coosa we sprang upon you at Enoctochopco and you have said we attacked you with the courage and impetuosity of lions. Two days later we sprang upon the army of General Floyd in the Val- ley of the Calabee and with our small band fought him till daylight. At the Horse Shoe Bend, a month later, you at- tacked us before we were ready, but the field of our dead was our field of glory, for we fought like free men and asked no quarter. At the battle of the Holy Ground General Clai- borne will tell you we died but did not surrender. I escaped in order to aid my people as long as there was life left in me. 32 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. Jackosn. And now you have come to surrender upon this spot where were born your ancestors. It is well that your white blood cries out for peace and order. In your veins runs the blood of Frenchmen, Scots and Georgians — Weatherford. I am an Indian. Upon this spot lived my people, the ruling tribe of the Wind. From Chieftains I am sprung and a Chieftain I will die. Jackson . As the Zeader of your people why did you not council them against the talk of Tecumseh; that talk that has brought on all this strife? Weatherford . We gave the white man a bridle path through our nation and soon it became a wagon road filled from end to end with white families coming to take our hunting grounds and to stay. We gave him a field and he took a Nation, Jackson. It is the law of nature, Weatherford, that the fittest shall survive. We have met you on your own ground and the victory is ours. The end of your day has come. Weatherford. { With great pride). General Jackson, I am not afraid of you. I am a Creek warrior. I fear no man. But Pve come to beg of you to send for the women and children of the War Party. Their fields and cribs have been destroy- ed by your people who have driven them to the woods with- out an ear of corn. If I could fight you any longer I most heartily would do so. Kill me if the white people want it done, but send for the starving women and children and have them fed for they have done you no harm. Enter Several Soldiers Who Have Crowded About . Soldiers. Kill him, kill him, kill him ! Jackson. Any man who would kill as brave a man as this w r ould rob the dead. {To Weatherford.) Weatherford, the for- tunes of war are against you. I accept your surrender. You shall have every possible protection. Col. Hawkins. {Shaking the hand of W eatherford.) I have been long among your people. I have grown grey in your ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 33 service. I shall not much longer be your agent, but I shall continue to be friendly and useful to you while I live, and my children, born among you, shall be brought up to do the same. Weatherford . I thank you, Col. Hawkins. Jackson. Your work is not yet done, Weatherford. It becomes the duty of Big Warrior, leading the Peace Party and your- self, the War Party, to induce your chiefs to sign the peace treaty I have here drawn up. ( He picks up map from table , with a document ready for signatures.) Weatherford. I speak your language, General Jackson, but I do not read your signs. Jackson. The United States wants the Creek Nation to divide its lands with the settlers and to grant roads through their part of the domain. ( Reading the document.) “The line commences upon the Coosa and the northern boundary of the Cherokee Nation, and continues down that river to We- tumpka and thence easterly to Georgia. East and North of that line, continuing upwards of one hundred and fifty thou- sand square miles, remains to the Indians, West and South of it is secured to the United States.” (He lays down the document .) Gen. Pinckney. Gen. Jackson, you and your troops deserve to rest. I order you back to Tennessee. These Indian leaders will need more time to consider the peace terms with their people Later a joint conference may be held here for the formal signing. Weatherford. A defeated foe cannot dictate terms. When the Creek Chiefs sign that treaty, as we must, we will have to take up the white man’s pursuits or be crowded off the face of the earth. We are no longer an independent nation, but a ruined and a broken empire. (He lays down his gun on the table , hands General Jackson his hunting knife t bows his head and sighs deeply.) CURTAIN. J 34 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. SCENE FOUR Place: Huntsville, Alabama. Time: Winter of 1819. Scene: Public room of Maderra’s Tavern. PERSONS CONCERNED . William Wyatt Bibb, Governor of Alabama. Thomas Bibb, (his brother), President of the Senate. James Dellet, Speaker of the House, Gen. Andrew Jackson, Guest of Honor. John William Walker, U. S. Senator. William Rufus King, U. S. Senator. Henry Hitchcock, Attorney General. William Kelly, Member of Congress. Thomas Eastin, State Printer. Howell Rose, member of the House. Reuben Saffold, Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit. Clement Comer Clay, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Leroy Pope, President Merchants & Planters Bank of Huntsville Principal of Green Academy. Mr. Parham, Editor of the Madison Gazette . Gabriel Moore, Lawyer, Member Constitutional Convention. Archibald Maderra, Tavern Keeper. A Methodist Preacher. A Real Estate Agent. A Slave-drover. A Horse Racer. A Cock Fighter. A Peddler. Two Duelling Seconds. Members of the Legislature. Home Seekers and Their Families. Some Ladies and Girls of Huntsville. Servants. ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. - 35 ( The curtain rises 9 showing Maderra at his desk trying to as- sign rooms to overflowing crowds . On stage besides Maderra are a number of homeseekers and their families. These are poorly dressed in some cases , and carry bundles of clothing and house- hold effects . Members of the Legislature and others come and 9 °-) Maderra. { With emphasis.) I tell you Sir, the Tavern is over- flowing with legislators, politicians, land agents, home seek- ers and sportsmen. You may sleep in the attic or move on. Traveler. Very well, Mr. Maderra, I take the attic. Come wife, Come children. ( His wife t with an infant in her arms 9 and eleven other children ranging in ages from sixteen to babe 9 form in line and the father counts them off.) All here. ( They gather up their bundles and follow their father out f left.) Horse Racer. { He is dressed very flashily and carries a riding whip.) With that family out of the way there’s space enough for a fellow to change his mind. Maderra, I’ll take that bed in the room with the two gents who, as seconds, are negotiating for a duel. All I want now is room for my racers. General Jackson is on his way from Nashville with a string of thorough-breds and the Green Bottom Inn is as full of sportsmen as an egg is of meat. Maderra. My stables are full, Sir. Send your horses to the Green Bottom Inn out in the country. They will be nearer the race course and the ostlers there will be better able to care for them than my grooms. Horse Racer. I’ll take your advice, but I go with my horses and sleep in the hay loft. Good-day, Sir. Maderra. Good-day. {Exit Horse Racer.) Another Traveler. {After a conference with his friends.) Mr. Maderra, as spokesman for the crowd, I’ll say that if you can take care of the women and children of our party we men' will camp with our pack-horses and wagons in the grove. You can put them all in one room. What say you? 36 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. Maderra . Yes . I’ll fix them up somehow. ( Calling ) Cato. Cato. (He is a negro porter .) Yaas Sah. Maderra . Show this party up to number ten and hare Dilsy look after their comfort. Cato . Yaas Sah. One of the women. Thank you, Mr. Maderra for this kindness. We will remember you in our prayers. A small girl. (Beginning to cry aloud.) Her Mother. What ails you Sissy? The Girl. I’ve got the yeer ache. Her Mother. (Dragging her along in spite of her screams. Exit the whole party of women and children left.) The Spokesman Traveler. Come men. Lets get out and see the land agents. (Exit all the home-seekers , right.) Entr Duelling Seconds . First Second. In this book on “The American Code of Honor,” I find the very thing we’re looking for. I will read it to you. (He reads.) “When ever you believe you are insulted, if the insult be in public, and by word and behavior, never re- sent it there, if you have self command enough to avoid noticing it. If resented there you offer an indignity to the company, which you should not. If the insult be by blows or any personal indignity, it may be resented at the moment, for the insult to the company did not originate with you. But although resented at the moment, yet, you are bound still to have satisfaction ,and must therefore, make the de- mand.” Second Second .. Wait there a minute, friend. Do the rules state how the seconds must conduct themselves when forced to sleep together for lack of room in the tavern and one of them snores like a horse and keeps the other one awake so that he doesn’t want any thing for his breakfast but a good swig of brandy? First Second. (Indignantly.) The rules for seconds to a duel require that each shall show the other full respect. ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. . 3T Second Second . Then I propose that we go get a drink. First Second. ( Softening .) Just about three fingers. (Exit.) Member of Legislature. (Who, with others , has been looking on.) As a member of the first Legislature of the State of Ala- bama, I am going to introduce a bill against the inhuman and barbarous custom of duelling. It never settles the question as to who is the best man, or who was right in the quarrel, and costs a lot of valuable lives. A Senator . I’m in the Senate, Sir, and will help you make the fight. Member of Legislature, Let’s go discuss the matter with those seconds. Ahem — just about three fingers. (Exit together.) Enter Principal Green Academy . Principal . (Very poliltely to two other members of the Leg- islature.) Good-day, gentlemen. The Members. Good-day, Sir. Principal. I’m the principal of Green Academy of Huntsville. The first institution of learning chartered by the Mississippi Territory in what is now Alabama. First Members. We’re glad to meet you, Sir. (They shake hands.) Principal. You may know, gentlemen, that we were authorized to raise four thousand dollars by lottery to secure funds for our buildings. This w y e did some time ago. The Alabama Territorial Legislature gave us five hundred more last year and now we want authority from your honorable body to sell at auction certain shares of the Planters and Merchants Bank of Huntsville to be issued for that specific purpose. Second Member. And you want our vote, is that it? Principal. (With increasing politeness.) It seems to a poor school master, gentlemen, that it should not be necessary to beg this favor from your honorable body, seeing that it is education that fits the future citizen for usefulness. First Member . You will have my vote. Second Member. And mine. Lets go take a drink on the prom- ise. 38 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. Principal, Excuse me, gentlemen. I do not wish to appear unso- ciable, but it is against my principles to imbibe liquors. I must be an example to the young gentlemen of my institu- tion. I desire, through proper education of the youth of the land, to abolish the evil of intemperance. First Member. I like those sentiments, Professor. Please en- roll my son in your school for the next term. Good-day, Sir. ( The Legislators make their exit , right,) Re-enter Duelling Seconds, First Second, {Both are tipsy.) Paragraph three says. {Read- ing.) “When you believe yourself agrieved be silent on the subject, speak to no one about the matter, and see your friend who is to act for you, as soon as possible/’ {He throws his arms around his companion.) I haven’t got a thing against you, Bob. Wh-hat you reckon these fools want to fi-g-gh-fight for? Second, Second. {Holding the Code of Honor up- side -down.) Paragraph four says — oh, I’ve got the book up-side-down. {He laughs loud and foolishly.) Here Sam, there’s some- thing the matter with my eyes. You’re the scholar of the family. You read what paragraph four says. Maderra. It says that no drunk man can stop in the public room of this taverns. {Calling) Cato. Cato, Yaas Sah. Maderra. Take these men to their room, and remove their boots. Cato. {After some difficulty , leads the two drunk men off left.) Enter Slave-drover. Slave-drover, Well, Mr. Maderra, I seem always to have the good luck to strike Huntsville when the crowds are here. I’ve brought another drove of niggers. They’re fresh from the old states and most of them can speak enough English to understand orders. No use asking for a room, eh? Maderra, I can put you up with a couple of drunk duellists. They’ll be sober by bed time. Slave-drover. No dueling gents for mine. Town still growing? 39 ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. Maderra. Growing fast. Madison County now has a population of twenty thousand people. Austioneer is Heard Without. ( This scene off stage should he made very realistic with bidding and selling by the auctioneer and buyers.) Slave-drover. Austioneer ! Maderra. Land. Slave-drover. I’d better go out to the crowd and show my niggers. {Exit left.) Enter Methodist Preacher. Preacher. Good-day, Brother Maderra. Maderra. ( Pleased .) Why, here’s the Parson. ( They shake hands.) hands.) So glad to see you. Stay to dinner. Preacher. Thank you, Brother I’ve promised to dine with Sis- ter Moore. But I do want to meet some of the big men that are gathered here for the session of the Lgislature. You never can tell when you can find a lost soul to save. Maderra. There are a good many lost ones floating around here now. Politicians, land agents, and some just folks. You passed a slove drover as you came in. How do you feel about that institution? Preacher. Slavery? It is God’s way of putting the poor heathen in reach of the gospel and of salvation. They were mostly slaves already in their native country. Their heathen mas- ters were more capable of cruelties towards them than the meanest white man ever made can be. Maderra. You are thinking. Brother, of what the white man will do for the Negro by giving him his civilization and re- ligon, whle I am thinkng of what the Negro wll do for the white man. He will develop a fine quality of self-esteem in the mind of the superior race. Preacher. Arrogance is already a ruling passion with the peo- ple of this country. All the Protestant Churches are send- ing missionaries among the settlements to warn them against 40 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. the sins that beset the human heart. Day and night we ride through sun, through rain, through heat, through cold, preach- ing and praying with the men and families who are building homes in the wilderness. Maderra . ( Confidentially .) Have you been out to Green Bot- tom Inn? Preacher . No. Maderra . When you hold your meeting Sunday at the new church don’t say any thing against horse-racing. Some of our best members like a good race and take a pride in “Gray Gander” the world’s record horse because he was bred here. A By-stander. And parson, don’t talk too much agin card play- ing. There be some of the leadin’ prayin’ men amongst the Methodists that know an ace takes the trick. Another Bystander. And Parson, as to licker — I’d advise you to omit that subject in your discourse. A nip or two is the rule with the gentry, to say nothing of the commonality of folks. Preacher. Maderra tells me not to preach against horse-rac- ing, this brother tells me to fight shy of the subject of gambling, and you say I must not say anything against drunkenness. What do you men expect me to preach about? Second By-Stander.. Jump on the Dutch and give ’em hell. There aint one in a thousand miles of here. First By-stander. Come with me gents, I’ve got a jug of butter- milk down in the well. That’s safe, I reckon. ( Exit Preacher and the Bystanders.) Enter a Cock-fighter . Cock-fighter. ( He has a game rooster under his arm.) Any sportin’ gents ’round here, Archie? Maderra. Two dueling seconds, but they’re both drunk. Cock-fighter . ( Taking a chew of tobacco.) I want a rooster fight. When’s General Jackson cornin’? Maderra, Can’t tell you Shorty. The word has come that he’s ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 41 bringing some of his best race horses down from Nashville to entertain the members of the Legislature. Cock-fighter, In times past I have saw the Gineral out at Green Bottom Inn. He‘s a gentleman of the first water, is Old Andy. But I reckon he’ll be hob-nobbin’ with the big-bugs this time. So long. {Exit,) Enter A Peddler , Paddler. {He has a huge pack on his hack.) Enter Several Ladies and Half-Grown Girls . First Lady, Oh, do show us what you have in your pack. Have you any lace scarfs? I must have one to wear to the Gov- ernor’s ball tomorrow night. Second Lady, And gloves. I must have some gloves. Third Lady, I want a lot of things. Do hurry and open your pack. Peddler, {All the while untying his pack.) I heard that the ladies of Huntsville had beautiful taste and have come all the way from Charleston with these imported dainties. {Showing lace 9 gloves , etc.) First Lady. All the way from Charleston. Think of it. Second Lady. What a journey. Peddler. If I can only please the ladies, no trouble is too great. A Girl. Here’s’ a red ribbon. Oh, Mamma, do buy me a rib- bon. Second Girl. {Taking a fan and walking about airly.) I just must have this fan. Her Mother. That is ridiulous. And you only a chit of a girl. I’ll buy the fan for your big sister. Here you may have this handkerchief. Second Lady. This is too public a place to do our shopping. {To the peddler.) Bring your wares to my house and I will send for all my neighbors to come and buy. {To her party.) Come friends, lets go to my house. {Exit all the party and the peddler.) Enter Real Estate Agent and Home Seekers. 42 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. Agent. Gentlemen, it is true that Madison County is the richest spot in the State of Alabama. A hundred bushels of corn and fifteen hundred pounrs of seed cotton is the prevailing average per acre. Buyer, Put me down for the best five hundred acres you’ve got on your list. Here’s a check on the Planters and Merch- ants Bank. Agent. The Government Land Agent will stand back of my advice. He knows I’m straight, and he knows, none better, that the Government lands are getting mighty short. Buying has been so brisk he couldn’t keep up with the demand. Who wants a fine town lot? Several together . I do. I do. I do. ( They get in each other’s way trying to get the attention of the agent.) Maderra . Gentlemen ! Please remember this is a tavern, not a real estate exchange. Agent. Excuse me, Maderra, but these home seekers are so per- sistent they won’t let me stop long enough to eat my dinner. Come on boys, we’ll settle this outside. ( Exit agent and buyers.) Re-enter the Legislators . First Member. Down in Marengo County we’ve got some oi the first citizens of France for settlers. A number of offh cers with their friends and families, followers of Napoleon Bonaparte, have started up a town they call Demopolis. They aim to plant grape vines and olive trees. Second Member. In my county we’ve got some of the first fami- lies of old Virginia, and I reckon you can’t beat that. Third Member. Georgia’s turned loose a lot of “Crackers” on us down our way, and as for Carolina folks, why you can’t move, but you step on ’em. First Member. We have about given up our old way of “pairing off” and use the justices and the missionaries now for wed- dings. Second Member. The law’s taking hold everywhere. Alabama ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 43 is fast getting out of the pioneer class. ( The clock strikes five.) First Member. Five o’clock! Here come the big- wigs from the Assembly Hall. Governor Bibb, Speaker Dellett and Gabriel Moore. Come up to my room boys. ( Exit legisla- tors.) Enter Bibb 9 Dellet and Moore. Moore. I want to congratulate you, Governor Bibb, upon the splendid message you have issued to the people. It was appropriate that you should express our gratitude to the Al- mighty for the fine crops we have made and the general health of the public. Especially should we be grateful for the splendid Constitution the Convention framed. No state in the Union has a saner or finer document to base its laws upon than has the new State of Alabama. Speaker Dellet . And Governor Bibb, let me thank you for em- phasizing the liberality of Congress in the bestowal of sev- enty-two sections of land for a Seminary of learning, and the donation of the sixteenth section of every township for schools and five per cent of the proceeds of public lands for internal improvements. In a pioneer country there is dan- ger of neglecting education, and we must have bridges, fer- ries, and good roads to enable the children to go to school and to get our cotton to market. Gov. Bibb. I thank you gentlemen, for your commendations. Yes, Mr. Dellet, our Federal Government has been far-sight- ed in the provsions you mention. Moore. When President Monroe surprised us in Huntsville with a visit in June I took the liberty of expressing the appre- ciation Alabama feels for the selection he made for our Territorial Governor. We have confirmed his judgment by electing you to be our first State Governor also. Gov. Bibb. This is very gratifying, Mr. Moore. Speaker Dellet. And so you have had the town of Cahaba laid off as directed by the Territorial Legislature and the tern- 44 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. porary statehouse contracted for! Gov. Bibb . And have sold a hundred and eighty lots for one hundred and twenty-four thousand dollars. The money is now in the Planters and Merchant’s Bank of Huntsville. Enter Thomas Bibb and John W . Walker. fiibb and Walker. Good afternoon, gentlemen. Gov. Bibb . Mr. Walker, I have not had the pleasure of con- gratulating you upon your selection as our first United States Senator. ( Shakes his hand.) Enter Senator King. Gov. Bibb. And here is our other Senator. Mr. King we are for- tunate. ( Shakes his hand.) King, And we certainly are indebted to Georgia for sending us the Bibbs. Here, William Wyatt, our Governor, and here, Thomas, President of our State Senate, and as one might say the heir apparent to the throne. Enter Hitchcock . Gov. Bibb. Mr. Hitchcock, are you acquainted with these gen- tlemen ? King. And New England has given us our first Attorney Gen- eral. Congratulations, Mr. Hitchcock. Enter Howell Hose. Bose. Good evening, gentlemen. I have some interesting news for you. Gov. Bibb. We will welcome it, Mr. Rose. Bose. General Andrew Jackson has arrived. King. The guest of honor of the Alabama Legislature! ( Noise of (C hurrahs for Jackson” outside.) Bose. The people will hardly let the General pass, he is so pop- ular. Senator Bibb. Mr. Rose, your joint resolution granting to Gen- eral Jackson a seat in each branch of the Legislature was unanimously passed by both bodies this afternoon. The hero of the Creek War and the battle of New Orleans is undoubt- edly presidential timber. ALABAMA, OR THE MAKING OF A STATE. 45 Enter Jackson, {He is accompanied by Judge Pope , Reuben Saffold and Clement C, Clay.) Rose. {Stepping forward.) General Jackson. {Shake hands.) Jackson. I’m happy to see you again, Rose. Rose. General Jackson, it is a great honor to introduce you and the Governor of Alabama, the Honorable William Wyatt Bibb, formerly Congressman and Senator from Georgia, and now our first regularly elected Governor. Governor Bibb. General Jackson, on behalf of the people of Ala- bama, I give you a most cordial welcome to Huntsville, our temporary Capitol. You have been tendered the privilege of sitting with both branches of our legislative body and every one wishes you to command him at your pleasure. Jackson. These are honors I highly esteem. Governor Bibb. If there is any other man living outside the confines of our State who has made so large a contribution to the welfare of its people as yourself I do not know him. Rose and others. There is none. No one has. Jackson. With the help of the boys I did the best I could to make secure the lives and property of the pioneer settlers of Alabama. The success of the undertaking is my highest reward. Enter Eastin. Eastin. {Bowing respectfully.) Governor Bibb, I have the hon- or of handing you a copy of the Resolution passed by Con- gress admitting Alabama to the Union of States. It is fresh from the press. Governor Bibb. General Jackson, this is Mr. Eastin, the State printer. Jackson. I’m glad to meet you, Sir. {Looking at the document.) I should like to hear this read, Governor Bibb. I know the other gentlemen present will endorse my request. Gov. Bibb. Senator Walker, as you were President of the Con- stitutional Convention will you please read the Congressional 46 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. Resolution declaring us duly admitted to the Union of States? Walker. With pleasure, Sir. ( Taking the document and read- ing .) RESOLUTION DECLARING THE ADMISSION OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA INTO THE UNION. (Approved Dec. 14, 1819). Whereas, in pursuance of an act of Congress, passed on the second day of March, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, entitled, “An Act to enable the people of the Alabama Territory to form a constitution and State Government, and for the ad- mission of such State into the Union on an equal footing with the original states,” the people of the said Territory did, on the second day of August, in the present year, by a convention called for that purpose, form for themselves a constitution and State Government, which Constitution and State Govern- ment, so formed, is republican and in conformity to the principles of the articles of compact between the origi- nal States and the people and States in the territory northwest of the river Ohio, passed on the thirteenth day of July, one thous- and seven hundred and eighty-seven, so far as the same have been extended to the said territory by the articles of agreement between the United States and the State of Georgia. Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the State of Alabama shall be one, and is hereby declared to be one, of the United States of America, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States, in all respects what- ever. — U. S. Statutes at Large, Vol. Ill, p. 608. ( The orchestra or piano sounds the notes of “Alabama” and the audience rises and sings 9 with those on the stage 9 while a child goes to the center of the stage and waves the State flag.) CURTAIN . UNIVER9ITY OF IUUNOI9-URBANA -