In concentrating, or giving additional _power_, the secret and difficulty consist in preventing the _abuse_ of this power. Not in excessively frequent elections; not in the glowing descriptions as given by Republican and Democratic orators and writers, which have had their origin in the wild domains of fancy; nor not in the harsh acerbitude which come from the archives of despotism can the remedy be found to prevent the abuse of power. All these have sufficiently been tried with a melancholy failure. A form of government perhaps well adapted to one stage in the progress of a nation, may, if continued, prove fatal in a more advanced period of progression. Let us hope that passions will subside within due bounds for temperate reasons to mount the throne, so that this necessary change can be accomplished without further effusions of blood—resulting in permanent order, peace and prosperity for the enjoyment of every class in this great and powerful nation. INDEX. PAGE. Memoir of the Author 3 Introduction 5 Hon. T. C. Carter’s Certificate 12 Preface 19 Life and Career of James Copeland 21 Poisoning the Overseer in Texas 37 Murder of two Mexicans in Texas 41 Welter and Harden—Welter acting as U. S. Marshal 64 Plot to kill Robert Lott and Thos. Sumrall 66 Mr. Moore in pursuit of the Hypocrite Preacher McGrath 68 McGrath in Disguise 76 Murder of O’Conner on the Mississippi River 77 Meeting of the Clan in Mobile, Ala. 88 Burning of Eli Maffitt’s House and attempted Murder of his Wife 96 Wages and McGrath killed by Harvey 99 The Famous Harvey Battle 103 Trial of James Copeland 110 Execution 118 Members of the Copeland Clan 120 Copeland’s Letter to his Mother 121 Mystic Alphabet 122 APPENDIX. S. S. Shoemake and his John R. Garland Letter 127 Sheriff’s reply 129 S. S. Shoemake visits the Sheriff 130 Shoemake returns with a writ for the arrest of the Sheriff 133 Important information about the buried money 142