Madison-Morgan County AlArchives Biographies.....Chapman, Reuben 1802 - 1882
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 18, 2011, 2:04 pm

Source: See below
Author: Smith & De Land, publishers

  REUBEN CHAPMAN was born in Caroline County, Va., in 1802. His father, Col.
Reuben Chapman, was a soldier in the war of 1776 for the independence of the
American colonies.  His mother's maiden name was Reynolds, and she was of Essex
County, Va. Well educated in his native State, he came to Huntsville, Ala., in
1824, where he studied law in the office of his brother, Judge Samuel Chapman,
who had preceded him. During that year he was chosen to carry the electoral vote
of the State—the second it had cast—to Washington. In l825 he was admitted to
the bar. He practiced a year in Huntsville, and then removed to Morgan County.
In 1832 he was elected to represent that county in the State Senate and was
twice re-elected, when, in 1835, he was sent to Congress over Messrs. R. T.
Scott, of Jackson, and William H. Glasscock, of Madison, by a large majority.
Two years later he was re-elected over ex-Gov. Gabriel Moore by 6,300 majority,
after a close canvass. In 1841 he defeated Hon. John T. Rather, of Morgan, the
candidate for this District on the Whig general ticket. He remained a member of
Congress, until 1847, when he was nominated for the office of governor without
his solicitation and to concentrate the strength of the Democratic party,
threatened by personal divisions. He was elected over the nominee of the Whig
party, Col. Nicholas Davis, by a majority of 6,255 votes.

  During his career as a member of Congress, the Hon. Reuben Chapman was bright,
humorous and impressive in conversation, with courtly manners. Reared in the
school of "John Taylor, of the Carolinas," he was a consistent Democrat of the
States' Rights wing all his life. On the great questions of the tariff,
independent treasury, Cumberland road bill, United States bank. Abolition
petitions, and the admission of Texas into the Union, he stood squarely with the
Hons. R. B. Rhett, Dixon H. Lewis, William L. Yancey and other staunch defenders
of the rights and safety of the Southern States under the Constitution, against
the sectional encroachments of the North. His accurate knowledge of the
political history of the country, his strict adherence to principle, unswerving
devotion to the true interests of his constituents, coupled with contempt of
demagogism and line judgment, made him a man of decided influence. He commanded
the respect and confidence of his contemporaries. Of a calm and courageous
spirit and comprehensive views, he was a statesman of practical ability. Besides
understanding public men, his sympathies with the people were strong.

  When elected Governor the State was suffering great financial embarrassment,
largely brought about by the gross mismanagement of the Bank of the State of
Alabama and its branches, whose funds had been scattered broadcast in loans to
local politicians, producing failure and general distrust. From 1845 to '47 the
affairs of these banks had been placed in the hands of three commissioners: F.
S. Lyon, C. C. Clay and W. Cooper, for settlement, and to apply the assets to
the payment of the State bonds. The proceedings of these commissioners were
formally recognized as faithful and able. But Governor Chapman conceived that,
in negotiations of the sort, one commissioner was better than three, and Mr.
Lyon was constituted "sole commissioner and trustee to apply the remaining
assets of the banks, with power and discretion as to settlements with debtors,
in buying exchange and taking up the indebtedness to the State, as he thought
best for the public interest." In consultation with the Governor, who was a very
able financier, the task was performed quietly, on the best information
obtainable in each case, with integrity, firmness and good judgment. The result
turned out greatly to the advantage of the State, which was much relieved,
during this prudent and skillful administration of two years.

  Governor Chapman was brought forward as a candidate for a second term before
the Democratic State Convention in 1849. But, Governor J. W. Martin, who
preceded him in the office, elected as an independent, over the nominee of the
Democratic party, had been superseded at the close of his first term, and now
his friends within the ranks of the party retaliated on Governor Chapman and
went to the support of Judge Henry W. Collier, of the Supreme Court. In this way
the two-thirds majority of the Convention, requisite under the usage of that
date, was not obtained for Governor Chapman's renomination, although he had a
decided majority and the solicitous support of many of the ablest and most
influential men in Alabama. The Whig party was strong, and in the next
Legislature obtained a majority of the Senate. In the face, therefore, of a
severe party contest in the State, and to avoid a heated struggle within the
Democratic ranks, Governor Chapman had his name withdrawn and lent his support
to Judge Collier, who, after two days Ballotting among four candidates from
Middle Alabama, was unanimously nominated and elected in the fall.

  On November 12, 1849, Governor Chapman transmitted to the House his annual
message. Toward its conclusion the following significant paragraphs occur:

  "Having thus placed before you, for your consideration, every subject
connected with the domestic policy of the State, and the immediate interests of
her people, I should feel that I had not discharged my whole duty, if, before
retiring from office, I did not call your serious attention to the question of
slavery in the Territories, and the action of Congress on that subject. A more
important subject never presented itself to the consideration of a people: for
it concerns not merely our property, but is a question of State and individual
honor—of self preservation.

  "I recommend that provision be made by the Legislature, at once, for the
calling of a convention of the people of the State immediately upon the passage
of the Wilmot Proviso in Congress, or any similar measure having a tendency to
exclude slavery from the Territories, or abolish it in the District of Columbia,
or interfere with the removal of slaves from one State to another. I recommend
also, that provision be made that, in any such contingency, our sister States,
similarly affected, be invited to unite with us in general convention, to
consult upon the state of the Union, and the best means of preserving our common
rights."

  In this message, Governor Chapman showed his thorough understanding of the
political position between the North and the South, and suggested the only
method of meeting sectional aggression. But his advice, based on superior
knowledge, was not appreciated, and further submission to unconstitutional
exclusion of the Southern people was submitted to under the so-called
compromise, adopted in regard to the Territory acquired through the Mexican War.
This postponed for ten years the inevitable issue, while the Northwest was
filled up by hundreds of thousands of trained soldier immigrants from Germany,
and thousands of miles of railroads were built between the sections.
facilitating the invasion and conquest of the South.

  Governor Chapman retired to private life and removed his residence to
Huntsville in 1850. He devoted himself to his large landed estates in Madison,
Morgan, and Sumter, Ala., and in Texas.

  In Madison County, in 1855, the American or Know-Nothing party gained some
foothold, and ex-Senator Jere Clemens was put up as a candidate for the lower
house of the State Legislature. Upon the demand of the Democratic party,
Governor Chapman consented to run against him, and defeated Colonel Clemens.
This was his last official service.

  In 1860 he attended the Baltimore Convention, held after the break of the
Democratic party in Charleston, and used his utmost efforts to bring about an
understanding between Northern and Southern men there. He came near succeeding,
but was defeated by the irrepressibles on both sides.

  During the war the Federal troops burned his residence, desolated his
possessions, imprisoned and harrassed him, and finally forced him out of their
lines. And his cup of sorrow was filled by the fall of his young son, Steptoe
Chapman, on the field of battle.

  Governor Chapman survived the war, residing in Huntsville until his death, in
April, 1882. He was a man of fine proportions, six feet high, straight, sinewy
and unencumbered with flesh. He had a florid complexion and chestnut colored
hair. His wife was Miss Felicia Pickett, a sister of Hon. R. O. Pickett, of
Lauderdale, and a relative of General Pickett, of Gettysburg fame. He left a son
bearing his name, and four daughters, one of whom married Captain Humes, a
prominent lawyer of Huntsville; another, Col. Turner Clanton, of Montgomery; a
third, Mr. Hubbard, of Virginia; and the youngest. Mr. Taylor, of Colorado.

  Notwithstanding the losses of the war. Governor Chapman left a large estate.
He was a man of public spirit, took an interest in all matters of general
benefit, and befriended those who were in trouble, with his credit as well as
his advice. During his later years his mind was bright, and his social qualities
and great fund of information and dry wit was greatly appreciated. He was a
Nestor among the young men of the community, often sought after and consulted.
Having been for years a consistent member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, he
died suddenly and much regretted.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical
Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land
1888

PART IV.
MONOGRAPHS OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ALABAMA,
TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVE PEOPLE.


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