the hotel that evening, to which I
had no objection. Among those present were ex-Senator Willard
Warner, and a number of the leading men who had so quickly transformed
an open farm into the active and progressive city of Birmingham.
The reception was held and was a very pleasant affair. Being called
upon for a speech I made a few remarks, which were well received,
and as the gentlemen present expressed a desire to have a larger
meeting I consented to speak on the following evening at the opera
house.

That afternoon, when my room was thronged with callers, most of
whom were Democrats, I was handed the following note:

"Birmingham, Ala., March 20, 1887.
"Hon. John Sherman, U. S. Senator.

"Dear Sir:--The undersigned, citizens of Birmingham, Alabama, take
this method of writing you to extend your visit from Nashville,
Tennessee, to our growing city, and bear witness to its development
and progress in the prospective mining, manufacturing and business
metropolis of the state. Feeling confident that you are naturally
interested in our welfare and happiness, American citizens in every
capacity and relation in life, we earnestly trust that you will
comply with our solicitation.

"Yours respectfully,
"Sam'l R. Lowery, Editor 'Southern Freemen.'
"A. L. Scott, Real Estate Agent.
"W. R. Pettiford, J. M. Goodloe, A. J. Headon, A. D. Jemison and
R. Donald, Pastors of Colored Churches in Birmingham, Ala."

The letter was written to be sent me at Nashville, when it was not
known that I was at Birmingham, and was indorsed as follows;

"Hon. John Sherman, U. S. Senator.

"Dear Sir:--A colored delegation, as given above, desires to call
upon you to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock or at 3. Please do us
the kindness to say if we may see you, and when.

"Yours faithfully,
"A. L. Scott."

I at once sent word to the delegation that I would see them in my
room the next morning at 10 o'clock, having already arranged to
accompany some gentlemen on an excursion among the mines and other
evidences of Birmingham's boom at 11 a. m. The next morning I
waited in my room with General Warner, Judge Craig and others until
11 o'clock, and, the delegation not appearing, was about to start
on my visit to the mines, when the following note was handed me by
one of the colored servants of the house:

"Birmingham, Ala.
"Hon. John Sherman.

"Dear Sir:--In accordance with arrangement, a committee of colored
citizens of the U