J. Thomas Heflin
Encyclopedia
James Thomas Heflin nicknamed "Cotton Tom", was a leading proponent of white supremacy
, most notably as a United States Senator from Alabama
.
, he attended the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College
, and was admitted to the bar in 1893, practicing law in La Fayette, Alabama
.
Heflin first rose to political prominence as a delegate who helped to draft the 1901 Alabama state constitution. Heflin argued, successfully, for completely excluding Black Alabamans from voting, stating that he truly believed that "God Almighty intended the negro to be the servant of the white man." As Secretary of State in 1903, Heflin was an outspoken supporter of men put on trial for enslaving African American laborers through fraudulent convict leasing. As detailed in Douglas Blackmon's book Slavery by Another Name, these practices were a brutal, post-emancipation form of slavery in which African Americans were often illegally convicted of crimes and then sold to farmers or industrialists. Heflin explicitly used white supremacist rhetoric to mobilize support for the defendants. He argued before a group of Confederate
veterans that forcing African Americans to labor was a means to hold them in their proper social position.
In 1904, Heflin was elected to the United States House of Representatives
as a Democrat
to fill the vacancy left by the death of Charles W. Thompson. Four years later, while a member of the House, he shot and seriously wounded a black man who confronted him on a Washington streetcar. Although indicted, Heflin had the charges dismissed. In subsequent campaigns, he bragged of the shooting as one of his major career accomplishments.
He continued to serve in the House until 1920, when he was elected to the Senate
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John Hollis Bankhead. In 1928, Heflin supported Republican Herbert Hoover
for President and is sometimes credited with coining a term of a yellow dog
. Because of this apostasy, the Democrats did not renominate Heflin for the Senate in 1930. He ran as an Independent candidate, losing decisively to John Hollis Bankhead II. Returning to Washington to serve out his term, Heflin initiated a Senate investigation of voting fraud in hopes of overturning Bankhead's election. The inquiry lasted fifteen months and cost $100,000.
In that same year, James Heflin officially protested in the Senate against New York state's legalization of racial intermarriage
between a black man and a white woman. New York senator Royal S. Copeland
reacted angrily to Heflin, who replied that if Copeland went someday to the South
on a presidential campaign, he would be lynched
and hanged
by the population.
In April 1932, with Heflin's term expired and Bankhead seated, the Senate prepared to vote on a committee recommendation against Heflin. Heflin delivered a five-hour oration, punctuating his remarks with vehement gestures and racist jokes. As he thundered to a conclusion, the gallery audience, packed with his supporters, jumped to its feet with a roar of approval. They were ordered out of the chamber. Two days later, the Senate voted by a wide margin to dismiss Heflin's claim.
After his defeat, Heflin was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the House and Senate on several occasions. Later he was appointed special representative of the Federal Housing Administration
under President Franklin Roosevelt. He died in 1951 in LaFayette.
, a congressman from Alabama. His nephew, Howell Heflin
, was also later elected U.S. Senator from Alabama, serving from 1979 to 1997.
White supremacy
White supremacy is the belief, and promotion of the belief, that white people are superior to people of other racial backgrounds. The term is sometimes used specifically to describe a political ideology that advocates the social and political dominance by whites.White supremacy, as with racial...
, most notably as a United States Senator from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
Biography
Born in Louina, AlabamaLouina, Alabama
Louina, sometimes Ole Louina, is a ghost town located 14 miles west of Roanoke and about one mile east of Wadley in Randolph County, Alabama, United States...
, he attended the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, and was admitted to the bar in 1893, practicing law in La Fayette, Alabama
La Fayette, Alabama
LaFayette LaFayette LaFayette (Pronounced: /la-ˈfeɪ-ɛt/ lah-FAY-et,...
.
Heflin first rose to political prominence as a delegate who helped to draft the 1901 Alabama state constitution. Heflin argued, successfully, for completely excluding Black Alabamans from voting, stating that he truly believed that "God Almighty intended the negro to be the servant of the white man." As Secretary of State in 1903, Heflin was an outspoken supporter of men put on trial for enslaving African American laborers through fraudulent convict leasing. As detailed in Douglas Blackmon's book Slavery by Another Name, these practices were a brutal, post-emancipation form of slavery in which African Americans were often illegally convicted of crimes and then sold to farmers or industrialists. Heflin explicitly used white supremacist rhetoric to mobilize support for the defendants. He argued before a group of Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
veterans that forcing African Americans to labor was a means to hold them in their proper social position.
In 1904, Heflin was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to fill the vacancy left by the death of Charles W. Thompson. Four years later, while a member of the House, he shot and seriously wounded a black man who confronted him on a Washington streetcar. Although indicted, Heflin had the charges dismissed. In subsequent campaigns, he bragged of the shooting as one of his major career accomplishments.
He continued to serve in the House until 1920, when he was elected to the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John Hollis Bankhead. In 1928, Heflin supported Republican Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
for President and is sometimes credited with coining a term of a yellow dog
Yellow dog
- Animals :* Yellow Dog or Carolina Dog, wild dog variety in the southern United States* Nureongi, a Korean dog raised for its meat* Old Yeller, novel about a yellow dog* Yellow Dog Dingo, a character in Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories- Arts :...
. Because of this apostasy, the Democrats did not renominate Heflin for the Senate in 1930. He ran as an Independent candidate, losing decisively to John Hollis Bankhead II. Returning to Washington to serve out his term, Heflin initiated a Senate investigation of voting fraud in hopes of overturning Bankhead's election. The inquiry lasted fifteen months and cost $100,000.
In that same year, James Heflin officially protested in the Senate against New York state's legalization of racial intermarriage
Interracial marriage
Interracial marriage occurs when two people of differing racial groups marry. This is a form of exogamy and can be seen in the broader context of miscegenation .-Legality of interracial marriage:In the Western world certain jurisdictions have had regulations...
between a black man and a white woman. New York senator Royal S. Copeland
Royal S. Copeland
Royal Samuel Copeland was an American academic, homeopathic physician, and politician who held elected offices in both Michigan and New York . He represented New York in the United States Senate from 1923 until 1938.-Early life and medical career:Born in Dexter, Michigan to parents Roscoe P....
reacted angrily to Heflin, who replied that if Copeland went someday to the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
on a presidential campaign, he would be lynched
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
and hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
by the population.
In April 1932, with Heflin's term expired and Bankhead seated, the Senate prepared to vote on a committee recommendation against Heflin. Heflin delivered a five-hour oration, punctuating his remarks with vehement gestures and racist jokes. As he thundered to a conclusion, the gallery audience, packed with his supporters, jumped to its feet with a roar of approval. They were ordered out of the chamber. Two days later, the Senate voted by a wide margin to dismiss Heflin's claim.
After his defeat, Heflin was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the House and Senate on several occasions. Later he was appointed special representative of the Federal Housing Administration
Federal Housing Administration
The Federal Housing Administration is a United States government agency created as part of the National Housing Act of 1934. It insured loans made by banks and other private lenders for home building and home buying...
under President Franklin Roosevelt. He died in 1951 in LaFayette.
Legacy
Helflin was the nephew of Robert Stell HeflinRobert Stell Heflin
Robert Stell Heflin was legislator from Alabama. Heflin, who was born in Georgia, started his life as a court clerk and a lawyer. He then became a state representative in the state of Georgia. After one year, he moved to Randolph County, Alabama, where he became a state representative in 1849, and...
, a congressman from Alabama. His nephew, Howell Heflin
Howell Heflin
Howell Thomas Heflin was a United States Senator from Tuscumbia, Alabama, and a member of the Democratic Party.-Biography:...
, was also later elected U.S. Senator from Alabama, serving from 1979 to 1997.
Further reading
- Senate Historical Minute, "Cotton Tom's Last Blast" (by Senate Historian Richard A. Baker).http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Cotton_Toms_Last_Blast.htm