from Connecticut in 1821-33. He was graduated from Yale College with the famous class of 1853. He afterward studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1856, and practised law in Litchfield until 1875, when he removed to Bridgeport. Judge Seymour served in the House of Repre sentatives in 1859, 1860, 1870, and 1871, and in the State Senate in 1876. In 1882 he was elected to Congress as a Democrat from the Fourth Dis trict, and served two terms. In 1889 he was ap pointed to the Supreme Bench. He was regarded as eminently just in his judicial decisions, and commanded the respect and confidence of all who knew him. A portrait of Judge Seymour was published in "The Green Bag," October, 1890.
Ex.-Gov. Thomas H. Watts, Alabama's greatest lawyer, died at his home in the city of Montgomery on September 16. The passing away of this distinguished citizen, Christian gentleman, profound statesman, able ju rist, and skilful lawyer has caused a shock of deepest sorrow throughout the length and breadth of Alabama and the entire South, but not of surprise, for when a man has passed his seven tieth milestone his death can never be wholly unexpected. The people have grown so accustomed to Gov ernor Watts's dignified presence, however, that it really seemed as if he might have gone on living forever; and if the affectionate regard of a great people could have kept him in the midst of us, the day of his death would never have come. For nearly half a century his manly form has been a familiar figure in Montgomery and adjacent cities and towns, and his name is a household word in every community in the State. Thomas Hill Watts was born in Conecuh, now Butler County, Ala., Jan. 3, 18 19. After gradua ting at the University of Virginia with high hon ors, he opened a law-office in Greenville, Butler County, in 1841. The next year he represented Butler in the Legislature of Alabama, and was re elected for one or two terms. In 1846 he removed to Montgomery, and opened an office there; in 1849 he represented Montgomery in the House of Representatives, and in 1853 he was elected to the State Senate. Two years later Colonel Watts was the nominee of the Whig Party for Congress,
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and after a very exciting race was defeated by his Democratic opponent, Colonel Dowdell, by a small majority. In the memorable days of 1860 Governor Watts canvassed the State as elector-at-large for Bell and Everett on a platform declaring for the " Constitu tion, the Union, and the enforcement of the laws." He was passionately devoted to the Union, but belonged to the States Rights wing of the Whig Party; and when Mr. Lincoln was elected, he declared for secession. In 1861 he was elected Colonel of the Seven teenth Alabama Regiment, and entered the Con federate army. In the same year he received a very complimentary vote for governor. Had he been a candidate, he doubtless would have been elected. In March, 1862, while with his com mand at Corinth, Miss., he received notice of his appointment by Jefferson Davis to be AttorneyGeneral of the Confederate States Government. Colonel Watts entered the Confederate Cabinet at Richmond, and was the legal adviser of the defacto government till the latter part of 1863, when he was recalled to Alabama to be inaugurated Gov. ernor, having carried every county in the State over Gov. John Gill Shorter but one, — Winston. He was inaugurated in December, and was the chief executive of the State till the close o( the war. Governor Watts resumed the practice of his chosen profession at Montgomery, and continued to the day of his death, with the exception of a term in the House of Representatives during the session of the State Legislature in 1880-81. Governor Watts was President in 1889-90 of the Alabama State Bar Association, and did much while in that office to advance the science of jurisprudence and remedy the defects in our statute law. It was only a few years after his admission to the bar before he was at the front ranks of the profession. He was very eloquent when address ing a jury, and was in the habit of quoting appli cable selections of poetry. His favorite was the couplet found in the opinion in Kelsoe's Case (see 47 Ala. p. 573). The Governor never forgot to use this in every important murder case in which he was interested, — on the side of the defence, of course; he never but once in his life represented the State in a murder trial. He seemed to sway a petit jury at his will. When addressing a court he
