William Hugh Smith
Encyclopedia
William Hugh Smith was the first Republican and the 21st Governor of the U.S. state
of Alabama
, serving from 1868 to 1870 during the period of military reconstruction. A former slave owner, he opposed secession from the union on the grounds it would imperil slave property. Practical considerations, rather than principled opposition to slavery appeared to drive his views. From 1855-1859 he served in the Alabama House of Representatives as a "states' rights" Democrat, but he evolved into a strong Unionist. In 1862, he fled behind Union lines and spent the rest of the war recruiting soldiers for the First Alabama Union regiment. He went with this regiment on General William Tecumseh Sherman's famous "March to the Sea". He chaired the first statewide Republican convention in 1867. He was installed as Governor by the U.S. Congress in July 1868. Although he had been elected in February 1868, he would not voluntarily take office due to the failure of the voters to ratify the 1868 constitution. A conservative once in office, he supported restoration of voting rights for ex-confederate public officials and military officers. He took only light action against the Ku Klux Klan
, arguing that local law enforcement could effectively handle the situation. He promoted economic development and railroad development. He was defeated for re-election by Robert Lindsay by the narrow margin of 77,721 to 76,292. He left office under an ethical cloud of corruption regarding state aid to railroads. He remained active in the Republican Party and was appointed as a Circuit Judge in 1873 by Governor Lewis. He was a Federal District Attorney under President James A. Garfield. He died in Birmingham at the age of 72. He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
, serving from 1868 to 1870 during the period of military reconstruction. A former slave owner, he opposed secession from the union on the grounds it would imperil slave property. Practical considerations, rather than principled opposition to slavery appeared to drive his views. From 1855-1859 he served in the Alabama House of Representatives as a "states' rights" Democrat, but he evolved into a strong Unionist. In 1862, he fled behind Union lines and spent the rest of the war recruiting soldiers for the First Alabama Union regiment. He went with this regiment on General William Tecumseh Sherman's famous "March to the Sea". He chaired the first statewide Republican convention in 1867. He was installed as Governor by the U.S. Congress in July 1868. Although he had been elected in February 1868, he would not voluntarily take office due to the failure of the voters to ratify the 1868 constitution. A conservative once in office, he supported restoration of voting rights for ex-confederate public officials and military officers. He took only light action against the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
, arguing that local law enforcement could effectively handle the situation. He promoted economic development and railroad development. He was defeated for re-election by Robert Lindsay by the narrow margin of 77,721 to 76,292. He left office under an ethical cloud of corruption regarding state aid to railroads. He remained active in the Republican Party and was appointed as a Circuit Judge in 1873 by Governor Lewis. He was a Federal District Attorney under President James A. Garfield. He died in Birmingham at the age of 72. He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery
Oak Hill Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama)
Oak Hill Cemetery, located just north of downtown, is Birmingham, Alabama's oldest cemetery. Originally on the estate of James M. Ware, it was already a burial ground by April 1869 when it served as the resting place for the infant daughter of future mayor Robert H. Henley...
.