M. Smiley, Uriah Millsaps,
William M. Hancock, E.S. Fisher, C.C. Shackleford, W.B. Cunningham,
W.D. Bradford and A. Alderson. Judges Brown and Cunningham were the only
ones in the above list who were not old residents of the State. After
leaving the bench, Judge Chandler served for several years as United
States Attorney. Judge Niles served one term as a member of Congress,
having been elected as a Republican in 1875. His son Henry Clay Niles is
now United States District Judge for the State, having been appointed to
that important position by President Harrison. He was strongly
recommended by many members of the bench and bar of the State; and the
very able and creditable way in which he has discharged the duties of
the position has more than demonstrated the wisdom of the selection.

The Chancery Courts as organized by Governor Alcorn and continued by
Governor Ames were composed of men no less able and brilliant than those
who composed the Bench of the Circuit Courts. They were: J.C. Lyon, E.P.
Harmon, E.G. Peyton, Jr., J.M. Ellis, G.S. McMillan, Samuel Young, W.G.
Henderson, Edwin Hill, T.R. Gowan, J.F. Simmons, Wesley Drane, D.W.
Walker, DeWitte Stearns, D.P. Coffee, E.W. Cabiness, A.E. Reynolds,
Thomas Christian, Austin Pollard, J.J. Hooker, O.H. Whitfield, E.
Stafford, W.A. Drennan, Thomas Walton, E.H. Osgood, C.A. Sullivan, Hiram
Cassedy, Jr., W.B. Peyton, J.D. Barton, J.J. Dennis, W.D. Frazee, P.P.
Bailey, L.C. Abbott, H.W. Warren, R. Boyd, R.B. Stone, William Breck,
J.N. Campbell, H.R. Ware and J.B. Deason. The above names composed those
who were appointed both by Governors Alcorn and Ames. A majority of
those originally appointed by Governor Alcorn were reappointed by
Governor Ames. Of the forty appointments of Judges of the Chancery
Courts made under the administrations of Alcorn and Ames, not more than
about seven were not to the "manner born." The administration of James
L. Alcorn as Governor of the State of Mississippi is one of the best
with which that unfortunate State has been blessed. A more extended
reference to the subsequent administration of Governor Ames will be made
in a later chapter.

CHAPTER III

THE REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION OF 1869

Although it was not charged nor even intimated that my acceptance of the
office of Justice of the Peace was the result of bad faith on my part,
still the appointment resulted in the creation for the time being of two
factions in the Republican part