D. J. Daniels was a state legislator in Alabama. He served in the Alabama Senate in 1872 representing Russell County, Alabama. He was a member of the Alabama House of Representatives in 1874[1] until being ousted for not being registered or having taken an oath.[2] Daniels and Prince Gardner received more than 2,600 votes while the candidates who replaced them, W. H. Chamber and A. G. Jones, received less than 2,000.[3]
He spoke out in protest against the resolution to defeat the Sumner Civil Right Bill for several reason including that he believed the bill to be "what I think is right and justice" and that the resolution caused the other legislators to "violate their solemn oath".[4]
He and other 1872 Alabama Senators were photographed on the capitol steps. The photograph is part of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.[5]