An Incident of Peril--My Return to the United States in 1869--Thoughts and Feelings En Route--Entered Oberlin Law College and Graduated--Visit to my Brother, J. C. Gibbs, Secretary of State of Florida--A Delegate to the National Convention of Colored Men at Charleston, S. C.--"Gratitude Expensive"--The Trend of Republican Leaders--Contribution of Southern White People for Negro Education--Views of a Leading Democrat. CHAPTER XI 122 President of National Convention at Nashville, Tenn., in 1876--Pen and Ink Sketch by H. V. Redfield of "Cincinnati Commercial"--Colored Leaders Desire to Fraternize for Race Protection--William H. Grey, H. B. Robinson, and J. H. Johnson, of Arkansas, Leaders and Planters--My Arrival at Little Rock, May, 1871--Reading of Local Statutes in the Law Office of Benjamin & Barnes--"Wheeler & Gibbs," Attorneys-at-Law. CHAPTER XII 134 Politics and Politicians--Disruption of the Republicans in Arkansas--"Minstrels and Brindle Tails"--Early Canvassing in the South, with Its Peculiarities--Ku Klux Visits--My Appointment as County Attorney and Election as Municipal Judge--Hon. John Allen, of Mississippi, His Descriptive Anecdote. CHAPTER XIII 145 Lowering Cloud on Righteous Rule--Comparison of Negro Progress--Sir Walter Scott in His Notes on English History--George C. Lorimer, a Noted Divine--Educational Solution of the Race Problem--Baron Russell, Lord Chief Justice of England--Civil War in Arkansas--Expulsion of Governor Baxter and Instalment of Governor Brooks at the State Houses--Stirring Episodes--"Who Shall Bell the Cat?"--Extraordinary Session of the Legislature--My Issue of a Search Warrant for the Seal of the State--Recognition of Baxter by the President. CHAPTER XIV 158 Arkansas Constitutional Convention and New Constitution Adopted--Augustus H. Garland Elected Governor--My Letter from Madagascar on Learning of His Demise--General Grant's Nomination in 1872 at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia--Oliver P. Morton, of Indiana--William H. Gray, of Arkansas--R. B. Elliot, of South Carolina--"Henry at Ajincourt"--Study of Obsolete Languages Versus Industrial Education--Views of Lord Rosebery, ex-Premier of England--Also of Washington Post--United States Have Supreme Advantages for the Negro. CHAPTER XV 173 Presidential Elector in 1876, Receiving the Highest Vote--President Hayes, His Yearnings and Accomplishments--Protest Against Lawlessness by the Negroes in State Conventions--Negro Exodus from the Southern to the Western States in 1878--Secretary William Windom's Letter--Hon J. C. Rapier, of Alabama, and Myself Appointed by Secretary Windom to Visit Western States and Report. CHAPTER XVI 185