Alias Simon Suggs: The Life and Times of Johnson Jones Hooper

VII. “… then, where shall we be?”

CHAPTER SEVEN " ... then, where shall we be?" THE YEAR 1858 was a quiet one in Alabama politics, enlivened only by William Lowndes Yancey~s continual fight to gain active leadership of the Democratic party.1 Simply, his plan was age-old: to divide and conquer. Withdrawal from the national party was to be the first move. Then, in order were to follow the creation of a separate "Southern Rights" party, the election of himself as United States senator, and, lastly, secession from the Union.2 As a means to these ends he actively sponsored the organization of the "Leagues of United Southerners," the purpose of which was obviously to mold voters into a party to enforce without compromise the rights of the South. Although the idea met stem opposition from die-hard Democrats, it received the encouragement of such "States Rights" stalwarts as William F. Samford (who believed the Leagues would CCunite all those who are willing to fight for the South [which] will then be the Leaguer') and Johnson J. Hooper, whose Mail adherred rigidly to the principles of the Leagues.3 Meanwhile, Yancey was using his genius of oratory in support of General William Walker's Nicaraguan filibuster. Again Hooper supported him. Indeed, the editor was elected secretary of the cCNicaraguan Meeting," held in Montgomery's Commercial Hall, January 23, 1858.4 But when the Nic- 114 ALIAS SIMON SUGGS araguan scheme fell by the wayside and Yancey finally abandoned the short-lived organization,5 Hooper retired momentarily from active politics and devoted his attention to the constant promotion of "things Southern," to rest and travel, and to the improvement and enlargement of his paper.6 Between August and November, 1857, Hooper and Coyne, obviously prospering, installed complete fonts of new type for the Mail, and "dressed it up" as "the handsomest paper in two States." They believed it compared "favorably with any paper in all this region of the country." Brittan, Hooper's old rival of the Advertiser, who now was editing a small Montgomery paper, the Daily Messenger, complimented the Mail on its ~'brand new suit of type" and the editors for their ability at "money making." "Go on, brothers Hooper & Coyne,~~ he added, "for in the bright lexicon of the Mail there is no such word as a small circulation-there are thousands of names in its bright lexicon of an address book."7 At this time also Hooper and Coyne began negotiation with John F. Whitf~eld, who was interested in buying an interest in the Mail-a deal which was finally consummated early III 1858.8 Whitfield served the paper as news and local editor, relieving Hooper of much of the writing. The additional leisure was doubtless appreciated, for Mrs. Hooper and the boys had now moved to Montgomery and the family, after several years' separation, was at long last together again.9 Into the new Mail these prosperous days Hooper put much more local news, especially theatrical, and passed up no opportunity to pay tribute to the South: Alabama books, women, cigars, and wines were the finest; Southern magazines, horseraces , boats, guns, dogs, newspapers, and foods were the choicest. Even "Southern Cordial" was best for "persons afflicted with Bowel diseases."lo Significantly enough, Hooper also began in October to publish a series of historical though nostalgic essays about "Old Times in Alabama," by General ". • • THEN WHERE SHALL WE BE?" 115 Thomas S. Woodward, a Georgian who had settled in Alabama about 1810, fought in the Seminole War under Andrew Jackson, and as a "Brigadier General of Militia:J' had conducted La Fayette from Fort Mitchell to Montgomery on his famous tour of 1824.11 The first two "letters," addressed to Edward (~'Horseshoe Ned") Hanrick, of Montgomery, a mutual friend whom Hooper had described in A Ride with Old Kit Kuncker,12 were dated May 2 and December 9, 1857, from Wheeling, Louisiana, where Woodward was then living. Evidently enthralled by the old Indian fighter:Js descriptions of early Alabama, Hooper engaged him to furnish the Mail a series of such reminiscences, and on February 12, 1858, "Number 1" appeared. Thereafter, at infrequent intervals throughout the year the essays continued,13 Hooper declaring that they were read "with more avidity than any contribution ever given in the Mail." Soon he indicated his personal interest in collecting , editing, and publishing them in book form. Within three months the job was under way: "the...