Moreover, three more of the Southern "States" freed themselves, at this time, from "Black Republican" rule. In Alabama, the respectable whites had now about all gone into the Democratic ranks, and with the election of George S. Houston as Governor, and a legislature in large majority Democratic, the "State" won at last its self-government. Likewise by a similar fusion of all the respectable whites into the Democratic party, A. H. Garland was elected Governor of Arkansas and a legislature with a large Democratic majority was chosen, and from that time forward the "State" government has been in the hands of its own citizens. The same result was reached in Texas, where the union of the respectables of all parties upon the Democratic candidates elected Richard Coke Governor and a legislature of reputable white men. [Sidenote: The status in South Carolina in 1874.] [Sidenote: Governor Chamberlain.] Even South Carolina very nearly escaped her thraldom, and came near to electing a white Democrat Governor. As it was, she got a moderate Republican for {274} Governor, Mr. D. H. Chamberlain, a Northerner indeed, but a man of great ability and undoubted honesty, who did everything in his power to redeem the "State" from the miserable condition into which the errors and crimes of his predecessors had brought it. He naturally soon found himself in conflict with some of the leaders of his own party in the "State" and at Washington, and was greatly impeded by them in carrying out his own purposes. At last, in 1875, the break between him and the members of his party in the legislature was completed by the act of the legislature in electing the notorious F. J. Moses, Jr., and the negro, W. J. Whipper, "State" judges. The Governor was so incensed at this act of downright depravity that he refused to commission the two judges-elect to the judicial offices to which they had been chosen. Whipper threatened to use force to gain possession of the office, and the Governor issued his proclamation threatening to arrest every person who should give Whipper any aid or support in this attempt as disturbers of the public peace. The Governor triumphed and protected the "State" against the terrible degradation which impended over it, but his brave attitude ruined him with the radical and base elements of his party. [Sidenote: The day of complete deliverance.] [Sidenote: The status in Mississippi in 1875.]