Alexander Cummings (territorial governor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexander Cummings
3rd Governor of the Territory of Colorado
In office 1865–1867
Preceded by	John Evans
Succeeded by	Alexander Cameron Hunt
Personal details
Born	November 17, 1810 Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Died	July 16, 1879 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Resting place	Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Union Army
Rank	Colonel Bvt. Brigadier General
Commands	19th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Alexander Cummings (born November 17, 1810 – died July 16, 1879) was an American newspaper owner and a politician. He was a member of the Republican Party. Cummings served as the third Governor of the Territory of Colorado from 1865 to 1867.

He owned several newspapers, including the Philadelphia North American and the New York World. During the American Civil War, he worked for the U.S. War Department. He also served as a Colonel in the Union Army. Later, he became a Brigadier General. After his time as governor, he worked as a U.S. Consul in the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Early Life and Newspaper Work

Becoming a Newspaper Publisher

Alexander Cummings was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on November 11, 1810. He started his career as a printer. In 1845, he bought part of the Philadelphia North American newspaper.

Two years later, in 1847, he sold his share. He then started his own newspaper, which became the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. Cummings was the publisher of the Bulletin until 1859.

Starting the New York World

After leaving the Bulletin, Cummings founded the New York World newspaper. He intended for the World to be a newspaper with a religious focus. However, it did not do well under his leadership.

By 1862, other owners took control of the New York World. They changed its focus from religious to general news. They also changed its political views from Republican to Democratic. Through his newspaper work, Cummings became friends with Simon Cameron. Cameron later became the Secretary of War for President Lincoln.

Alexander Cummings and the Civil War

Working for the War Department

When the American Civil War began, Cummings used his connections. He was appointed as a special agent for the War Department. His job was to help with the defense of Washington D.C. This included arranging train travel for soldiers and buying supplies.

Cummings was given a large budget of $2,000,000. However, he spent a lot of money on items that were too expensive. Some of these items were not even used by the soldiers. For example, he bought 790 Hall carbines. The military had already decided these guns were old and unsafe. The government had sold them for $3.50 each. Cummings bought them back for $15 each.

He also bought many straw hats and linen pants. These items were not part of the official military uniform. A group from the U.S. House of Representatives looked into Cummings' spending. They could not find out what happened to $140,000 of the money.

Military Service

After leaving the War Department, Cummings joined the army. In October 1863, he helped create the Nineteenth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. He became a Colonel in this regiment. The regiment fought in Tennessee and Mississippi in 1864.

In February 1864, Cummings was given a new role. He became the Superintendent of Troops of African Descent for Arkansas. He helped organize five regiments of African American infantry soldiers. He also organized one battery of light artillery. President Andrew Johnson promoted him to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General. This was for his excellent service.

Governor of Colorado Territory

Taking Office in Colorado

President Johnson appointed Alexander Cummings as the new Governor of the Territory of Colorado. He started this job on October 17, 1865. He replaced John Evans, who resigned after the Sand Creek Massacre.

Many people who worked with the previous governor were not happy. They did not like the change in leadership. Cummings did not want Colorado to become a state. When he became governor, Colorado had already voted to become a state. They had even elected a state legislature and a new governor.

Disputes Over Statehood

Cummings publicly disagreed with the new "state" legislature. He said that the territorial government was the only legal government. This forced people in Colorado to choose sides. They had to pick between those who wanted statehood and those who did not.

President Johnson also did not want Colorado to become a state at that time. The proposed "state" constitution only allowed white men over 21 to vote.

Cummings had a big disagreement with Samuel Hitt Elbert. Elbert was the Secretary of the Colorado Territory and supported statehood. Cummings complained about the territorial offices. He said Elbert chose them to make things difficult for him.

Cummings moved to a better office. He took the Great Seal of the Territory with him. This seal was used to make official documents. Elbert demanded the seal back. Cummings accused Elbert of trying to use the seal illegally. Newspapers that supported statehood, like the Rocky Mountain News, wrote negative stories about Cummings. They even mentioned his past problems with the War Department. This argument led to Elbert's resignation.

Later Years as Governor

Cummings encouraged people to invest in mining and build railroads. In the 1866 election for Congress, Cummings supported Alexander Cameron Hunt. Hunt was against statehood. The election had problems, with votes being counted illegally. The Territorial Canvassing Board said George Chilcott won. But Cummings said Hunt won. The issue went to the House Committee on Elections, and Chilcott was sworn in.

Another bill for Colorado statehood was discussed in Congress in December 1866. It was debated in January 1867. Congress was going to reject it because it still did not allow African Americans to vote. Congress passed the bill when it was changed to allow African Americans to vote. However, President Johnson vetoed it again. He said the population numbers were not right. He also said a state legislature resolution rejected statehood.

In January 1867, the Colorado territorial legislature passed a law. This law stopped African Americans from serving on juries. Cummings vetoed this bill. But the legislature voted to override his veto. Cummings' political opponents tried to make him look bad. They accused him of paying his daughter for work she did not do. They also said he paid too much for shipping goods for the Department of Indian Affairs.

Cummings resigned as Territorial Governor on April 27, 1867. Alexander Cameron Hunt took over as governor.

Life After Governorship

After leaving Colorado, President Johnson appointed Cummings to another role. He became a collector of internal revenue in Pennsylvania. He was also nominated to be the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. However, the Senate did not approve this.

When President Johnson's term ended in 1869, Cummings' political connections lessened. He may have studied law and published a revised law book. In this book, he called himself a "Counsellor of Law."

When Rutherford B. Hayes became president, Cummings was appointed as a U.S. Consul. He served in the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Alexander Cummings died in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in 1879. He was there for his consular duties. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today, a simple government tombstone marks his grave.

Images for kids

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  Alexander Cummings

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  Rank insignia for a Colonel in the Union Army

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  Rank insignia for a Brigadier General in the Union Army