USA > Georgia > Floyd County > Rome > A history of Rome and Floyd County, State of Georgia, United States of America; including numerous incidents of more than local interest, 1540-1922, Volume I > Part 15
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The Courier supported Bell and Everett and carried Floyd County for them ; the rival newspaper, the Southern & Advertiser, backed Breckinridge and Lane and got them second place. Douglas and Johnson were a poor third; they split the Democratic vote of the United States with Breckinridge and Lane, else Lincoln might have been defeated.
On Monday, Apr. 23, 1860, the various factions held a national convention at Charleston, S. C. This proved to be a hot session for the delegates: the disunionists withdrew, and it was voted to ad- journ the convention to Baltimore Md., for June 18, 1860. Editor Dwinell attended the Charleston meeting, and sent back to his read- ers some vivid accounts of the tur- moil and strife.
The Romans, always ready with mass meetings and resolutions, met Tuesday, May 3, 1860, to adopt a policy. Here is an account of the proceedings, as presented in The Courier of two days later :
Democratic Meeting .- We publish in another column the resolutions adopted by the Democratic party of Floyd County on last Tuesday. They fully sustain the seceders from the
Charleston Convention and deal a death blow to Squatter Sovereignty in this county.
F. C. Shropshire, Esq., offered a substitute, according honesty and pa- triotic motives to the seceders, but re- fusing to say whether they acted right or wrong. Hon. J. H. Lumpkin re- viewed the history of the party for four years past; from the adoption of the Cincinnati platform to the deser- tion of Douglas; from the rise of Squatter Sovereignty to the adjourn- ment of the Charleston Convention. He gave a succinct, clear and correct re- cital of the action of this body; the de- termination of Judge Douglas' friends, the enemies of the South, to force him upon us, and repudiate the Constitu- tional rights of the South so clearly defined by the Supreme Court, and pre- sented in the majority platform by seventeen Democratic States-fifteen of which were slave states. He showed that no course was left for Southern men who respected the rights and equality of their section but to with- draw from the Squatters.
Mr. Shropshire followed in support of his resolutions. He exhorted Dem- ocrats to harmonize. He told them that the party had been pledged since 1847 to abide by the principles of non- intervention by Congress with slavery in any way, and they should be faithful to their pledge, and stand by their Northern friends who had stood by them. He wound up with a most af- fecting appeal. He assured them the party would be ruined unless there was a compromise; he begged his friends opposed to him to yield a little-just a little-and the great Democratic party would once more unfurl its proud ban- ner, etc., etc.
W. B. Terhune, Esq., made a few pointed remarks in favor of the ma- jority report ; read the resolution adopted by the December convention ; said the seceding delegates had acted in accordance with the principles there- in laid down and they should be sus- tained by the party. He moved to lay Mr. Shropshire's substitute on the ta- ble, which was carried by an over- whelming vote.
*According to Avery's History of Georgia, p. 103, the "squatter sovereignty doctrine claimed the right of territorial legislatures to determine the question of slavery in the terri- tories."
** As a member of Congress in 1835, Mr. Bell was requested by John Ross to call for an in- vestigation of the arrest of Ross and John Howard Payne by the Georgia Guard.
*** It appears from this line-up that a delib- erate effort was made to split the vote of the South and throw the plum to Lincoln.
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The report of the committee was then adopted with only four or five dissenting voices.
We observed the same distinction between the speeches of Messrs. Lump- kin and Terhune on one side and Mr. Shropshire on the other, which char- acterized the debate in the Charleston convention and the letters of distin- guished Democrats in reply to the Ma- con committee.
The two former spoke for principle, for the Constitution and Southern cquality, while the latter spoke for party and nothing but party.
Resolutions Adopted .- First. That the protection of all the rights, both of person and property of all citizens, is the sole legitimate purpose for which Governments are instituted.
Second. That the Federal Govern- ment of the States of the Union is bound, to the full extent of the powers delegated to it by them, to protect all citizens of all the states, in all their rights of person and property, everywhere, and more especially upon the public domain, their common prop- erty.
Third. That a large and increasing majority of the people, under the name of Black Republicans, of the Eastern, Middle and Northwestern States, are striving to get control of the Federal Government, with the avowed purpose of withholding this protection from more than three thous- and millions of Southern property, and of thus putting this property in a state of outlawry, in a government which derives from it more than two-thirds of all its revenues.
Fourth. That, therefore, the demand made by the Southern delegates to the Charleston convention of a distinct recognition of the equal right of South- ern citizens and property to protection by the Common Government, upon common soil, was highly expedient, reasonable and just.
Fifth. That the obstinate refusal of the delegations from the sixteen States now under the control of the Black Republicans, to make this recognition, demanded by the seventeen Democratie States of the Union, and recognized as just by many individual delegates from all the States, gives painful evi- dence that a majority of those delega- tions already sympathize with the Black Republicans in their unrelenting hostility to our Constitutional rights.
Sixth. That the withdrawal of a large portion of the Southern delegates from the convention upon this une-
quivocal manifestation of sectional hostility to our rights was wise, manly and patriotic, and entitles them to the thanks of the whole Southern people.
Seventh. That we will appear by our delegates in the convention, to be held at Milledgeville, on the 4th day of June next, to deliberate upon the course to be pursued by the Democratic party of Georgia, in the present condition of po- litical affairs.
Eighth. That if a majority of that convention shall deem it expedient that Georgia should be represented at the adjourned meeting of the Charleston convention, to take place at Baltimore, on the 18th of June next, we will con- sent to it for the sake of harmony, but upon the express condition that we will not be bound by the action of that body unless it shall give its assent in sincerity of purpose and good faith to the principles contended for by the Democratic states at Charleston, and give us in addition a sound candidate.
The lightning-rod salesman was another "gentleman from the North" for whom Floyd County citizens kept peeled an eager eye. The Courier of Aug. 30, 1860, stat- ed that a correspondent of The Sa- vannah News, writing under date of Aug. 10 from the Steamship Montgomery, declared a man on board by the name of John Owens, of Erie County, N. Y., who had been putting up lightning rods in Geor- gia and West Florida, had asserted that John Brown died in a good cause, and he (Owens) would be willing to lay down his life for the same ; also that he announced his intention of returning to the South.
"Last year a man by the name of Owens, selling patent lightning rods, passed through this county and met with considerable success," continued The Courier. "He had much to say against abolitionists, which was a suspicious circum- stance. Let us be on the watch for him, and when he returns, have an investigation. Will not The Savan- nah News obtain from its corre- spondent a description of John Owens, in order that he may be identified on his return?"
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MINIATURE PORTRAITS OF TWO "OLD TIMERS."
Dr. and Mrs. Jno. Wesley Connor, the parents of Prof. W. O. Connor, of Cave Spring. Mrs. Connor was Henrietta Mayson, of Ninety-Six, S. C. As a girl she met Gen. LaFayette, who pronounced her the prettiest young lady he had seen in America. She lies buried in the Cave Spring cemetery.
A "Lincoln defeat" was seen by The Courier of Thursday, Sept. 1, 1860 :
Lincoln's Defeat Certain .- Hereto- fore we had little hope that the Black Republican candidate could be defeat- ed. With the opponents of that party divided and belligerent we saw no pos- sible chance to avoid the disgrace of a Black Republican Administration. But our fears have vanished, for the defeat of Lincoln is now fixed.
The Rome Light Guards received their caps by July 4, 1860, and by Sept. 22, 1860, one of the brilliant sample uniforms appeared. This uniform was of blue cloth, scarlet trimmings and gold buttons, and made the boys of the other com- panies extremely envious of the wearers.
The desire of the political lead- ers for the Cherokee Georgia vote was emphasized in the autumn of 1860 by the appearance in Rome of some of the "biggest guns" in the state and section. No such an ar-
ray of orators has ever declaimed against Rome's mountain slopes.
On Thursday, Sept. 20, 1860, Wm. L. Yancey, of Alabama, whose speeches did as much as any other agency to stir the war spirit in the South, spoke at Kingston, and a large crowd of Romans went on a Rome Railroad excursion to hear him.
On Thursday, Sept. 27, 1860, Sen- ator Alfred Iverson, of Columbus, addressed a crowd at the City Hall. Alexander H. Stephens sat on the platform at this meeting, but de- clined to make a speech. He spoke on the day following at a barbecue at Floyd Springs, after an intro- duction by Judge Augustus R. Wright.
On Saturday, Sept. 29, 1860, Benj. H. Hill spoke at Sloan, Berry & Company's warehouse. On Mon- day, Oct. 22, 1860, Mr. Hill spoke again. On this latter occasion he was proceeding to Cedartown to
VIEWS AND EVENTS LEADING UP TO WAR
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assist in the defence of Col. J. J. Morrison, charged before the Polk Superior Court with killing Thos. W. Chisolm on the day of the last general election.
On Monday, Oct. 29, 1860, Steph- en A. Douglas ("The Little Gen- eral"), spoke for his presidential ticket at Kingston, and was heard by many from Rome.
The county was on the brink of the war precipice, ready for a head- long tumble in.
From the Tri-Weekly Courier of Tuesday morning, Dec. 4, 1860, we quote to illustrate the rising war sentiment :
"Georgia's Only Hope of Safety Is in Secession."-A large portion of this paper is devoted to an extract from a letter with the above heading. We publish this instead of the speech of Judge Benning, believing that it pre- sents a clearer and stronger argument in favor of secession than the speech alluded to. In the statement of our grievances the writer makes out a very, very strong case and proves very con- clusively-what we believe most peo- ple are ready to admit-that Georgia ought to resist abolition encroachments.
Our Legislature in calling the con- vention state that fact and we have heard no man deny it; and the appro- priation of a million of dollars, which everybody favors, confirms the pur- pose of a firm, determined resistance on the part of Georgia. Now, if we admit what the writer's argument seems to imply, viz: that the entire North is irredeemably demoralized and not at all worthy to be trusted, then how is it that separate State action is to be more effectual against them than the united strength of all the parties aggrieved by their hostility? We are as much in favor of resistance as this letter writer or any one else, but for our life we can see no sense in each one of the fifteen States that have been aggrieved, setting up a separate and independent mode of retaliation; nor any propriety in separately running helter skelter from the common enemy.
As the matter now stands, the entire South is arraigned in solid columns against the North. There are fifteen independent brigades on our side and eighteen of the enemy. The enemy have been practicing a garilla warfare upon us until "forbearance has ceased
to be a virtue," and now along our en- tire lines there is such a state of con- sternation and excitement as was never before witnessed in trying to deter- mine "what shall be done." Two or three brigades seem determined, re- gardless of the action of the others, to break ranks and retreat immediately. Nearly every brigade has called a coun- cil of war, while all are arming them- selves for a fight.
What say you, men of the Georgia brigade? Will you retreat at once, and without even consulting the other brig- ades of this great army-those that have protected your right and left wings, that have been your "front guard and rear ward" during a cam- paign of 84 years? Most surely you will not. The generous bravery that swells the bosoms of Georgia's noble sons would not allow them to be treacherous to an enemy; then how much less to true and long tried friends.
This vexed slavery question must and will be speedily settled, in some way or another. But whatever is done, let us not have a divided South. "A house divided against itself cannot stand."
Floyd County Meeting .- The follow- ing are the resolutions passed in the
BISHOP THOMAS FIELDING SCOTT, of Ma- rietta, who was the leading light in the es- tablishment of St. Peter's Episcopal church.
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meeting of citizens at the City Hall, on Monday the 3rd instant:
Resolved, That the time has arrived when it becomes the duty of every friend of Georgia to discard partizan feelings and purposes, and unite in an earnest effort to maintain her rights, secure her liberties, and vindicate her honor.
Resolved. That this Union of South- ern heads and hearts being an indis- pensable pre-requisite to efficient ac- tion, we pledge ourselves to do every- thing in our power to promote. estab- lish and maintain it.
Resolved. That we recognize the clearly expressed will of a majority of the people of Floyd county as the rule of action. binding upon their represen- tatives, in any convention of the peo- ple of Georgia.
Resolved, That we hereby request our Senator and Representatives in the General Assembly of this State' to pro- cure the following demands by said General Assembly to be made by joint resolutions or otherwise, upon the Nor- thern States. viz:
First. To repeal all personal liberty bills and other Legislative enactments to defeat the rendition of fugitive slaves.
Second. The enactment in lieu there- of of "efficient laws to facilitate such recovery in accordance with their plain constitutional obligations."
Third. The prompt and faithful sur- render of all fugitives from justice and violators of the laws of the slavehold- ing states.
Fourth. The immediate release of all Southern citizens unjustly imprisoned for seeking to recover their fugitive slaves.
Fifth. A distinct acknowledgement and faithful observance of the right of
Southern citizens to settle with their negro property in any territory of the United States, and there hold it like all other property under the protection of just laws faithfully administered so long as the territorial condition shall last.
Sixth. The repeal of all laws giving to free negroes the privilege of voting for members of Congress or for Elec- tors of President and Vice-President of the United States.
Seventh. The co-operation of the Sen- ators and Representatives of said State in the Congress of the United States in procuring the repeal of a pretended law to prevent the slave trade in the District of Columbia.
Resolved. That in the event the states upon which these just and rea- sonable demands shall be made by the Legislative Assembly in the name, and on the behalf of the people of Georgia, shall give unmistakable evidence of a determination to accede to them, in good faith, by or before the 16th of January next, Georgia shall abide in the Union, otherwise secession is the only adequate remedy left her for the maintenance of her interests, rights, liberties and honor.
Resolved, That this Assembly will now proceed to select by general ballot three candidates to represent the peo- ple of Floyd County in a general con- vention of the people of Georgia to be convened at Milledgeville on Wednes- day. the 16th of January next .*
The above resolutions, we are in- formed, were unanimously adopted. In accordance with the last, the following gentlemen were nominated. viz: Col. Simpson Fouche. Col. James Word and F. C. Shropshire, Esq.
*It was at this convention that Georgia se- ceded from the Union.
CHAPTER VII. Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities
T HE following accounts from The Courier set forth elo- quently the final act pre- ceding the war drama of 1861-5. They were written partly by Mr. Dwinell, who had just re- turned to the editorial sanctum after a vacation at East Poultney, Vt., and partly by his brilliant as- sociate, George Trippe Stovall; and they are arranged chronolog- ically as an aid to the reader. Mr. Lincoln was elected Tuesday, Nov. 6, 1860.
It has been suggested that the 11 o'clock service on Sunday, the 4th of November next be devoted to repent- ance, humiliation, and prayer to Al- mighty God, in all the churches of the land-that the country may be deliver- ed from the terrible crisis which threatens us, and that peace and har- mony may be restored to all sections .- Oct. 27, 1860.
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A Final Appeal .- Before the next issue of The Weekly Courier will be printed, the die will be east, and the fate of this Union, it may be, will be doomed forever. All our efforts for a fusion in Georgia have failed, and now there is no patriotic course left for Union men but to concentrate their strength, so far as they possibly can, upon the best Union candidate that is offered for their suffrages. Is there any doubt but that this man is John Bell of Tennessee?
Surely no candid and reasonable man will allow himself to be deceived by the numerous false and ridiculous charges as to Mr. Bell's soundness upon the slavery question. He is Southern man, and a large slave hold- er, and a calm and impartial study of his true record, while it shows him to be a man of moderate and discreet counsel, it demonstrates that upon the question of slavery and Southern in- terests he is unquestionably safe, sound, firm and reliable.
We appeal to Democrats, why can- not you vote for John Bell? We ask you to support him not as a Whig, a Know Nothing, nor as a representa- tive of any of the old defunct parties,
but as a Constitutional man and a pa- triot. "The Union, the Constitution and the Enforcement of the Laws," is the motto inscribed upon his banner. Apart from his record it is his only platform. And what more do you de- sire than this? We know that politi- cians try to ridicule and have sought to throw contempt upon this platform. But does it not contain all the South has ever asked or desired? Such were the principles on which the early Pres- idents of the Republic were elected. They had no long-winded platforms to gull and to deceive the people. Why should we want them? For 50 years the Government was administered with- out platforms, and all portions of the country were harmonious and happy. On the contrary, since the adoption of platforms by party conventions, see- tional animosities have continually harrassed the people, thousands of demagogues have sprung up like mush- rooms upon the body politic, the peace of the country is destroyed, and 30,- 000,000 of people stand today trembling in view of the impending crisis which hangs like a muttering storm cloud above them, threatening to pour out upon the country at any moment all the appalling horrors of civil war, bloodshed and ruin!
This is no false picture, but an alarming reality. Lincoln may, and probably will, be elected, and in three weeks from today, little as you now think it, we will probably witness the outburst of the smouldering flames of one of the most awful civil conflagra- tions which the world has ever seen !
Voters of Georgia, Look to Your In- terest .- On next Tuesday, November 6th, by far the most important elec- tion since the organization of our gov- ernment is to take place. In former strifes party success was the stake con- tended for; but now the very existence of the government is in jeopardy. The question as to how a man shall vote, always important, is now freighted with fearful responsibility. Every man should bring the question serious- ly home to himself and vote from his own conscientious convictions of duty, just as if he knew the fate of this Re- public depended on his individual ac- tion.
The success or defeat of the Union ticket, will-if civil war should hinge
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upon this fact, as it may-make a dif- ference of at least 20 per cent in the value of all kinds of property through- out the country. A man then worth $1,000 has at stake a pecuniary inter- est of $200; if worth $10,000 he risks $2,000. If a man is largely in debt he will be utterly ruined; for, after the depression of property he cannot pos- sibly pay out. A laboring man will find his wages reduced from a dollar and a half a day to one dollar, and the chances for getting work at all will be greatly reduced.
It may be said that pecuniary con- siderations are beneath the notice of patriots. This may be true or it may not. Interest should not be weighed against principle. But that is not the case now. We now have principle, patriot- ism and interest all on one side of the scales and on the other side, partyism, sectional strifes and animosities, and it may be civil war itself. No reasona- ble man in his senses has a shadow of a doubt but that John Bell, if elect- ed, would restore peace and harmony to the country by giving their consti- tutional rights to all sections; and this is all the South wants, or has ever asked for. It is almost certain that three-fourths of the Southern States will cast their votes for this noble pa- triot and pure statesman. Georgia can be carried the same way. Union men of Cherokee Georgia, what say you? In other sections of the State our friends are striving earnestly and hopefully. Let us faithfully perform our duty and all may yet be well.
Judge Douglas at Kingston .- On last Monday a large crowd, probably 3,000 men, assembled to hear the celebrated "Little Giant" upon the political issues of the day. The very crowded state of our columns today prohibits any ex- tended notice of his speech. We be- lieve all parties were well pleased with the entertainment as an exhibition of popular oratory, were deeply impressed with the greatness of the man, and de- lighted at the beauty of his wife, who accompanies him in his Southern tour.
The distinction between Squatter and Popular Sovereignty, the latter of which only he advocates, he made very clear. His whole argument sustaining his peculiar doctrines was, to say the least, very ingenious and plausible, and in many respects unanswerable. Douglas' speeches are everywhere es- sentially the same, and those who would know his position should read them in full .- Thursday, Nov. 1, 1860.
Let Not Rash Councils Prevail .- If the election that takes place today re- sults in the choice of Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, for President for the next four years, there will then rest upon the shoulders of every individual citi- zen duties of fearful magnitude and vital importance, both to himself and the commonwealth. There will, in that event, doubtless be a diversity of opin- ion as to what the South ought to do, and every good citizen should calmly and coolly investigate the whole subject and decide for himself the proper course of action. There will be no need for hairbrained demagogues to be attempting to "fire the Southern heart." The chivalrous and patriotic citizens of the South are not stupid dolts that have to be "fired" up to a realizing sense of their own rights, honor or interests. The people need the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, in order to arouse them to any reasonable course of conduct.
The people should beware of rash counsels, and not suffer themselves to be inveigled into the support of im- practical and foolish movements, or "precipitated" into a revolution. If revolution must come, let us go into it deliberately, with clear heads and steady nerves, and because we know it to be our patriotic duty to do so. But if Lincoln should be elected, he will not have so much power as some people suppose, and it is reported that he is already tremendously frightened lest he should be elected !- Nov. 6, 1860.
For Tax Receiver .- We are request- ed to announce the name of H. P. Lumpkin as candidate for Tax Re- ceiver of Floyd County at the ensuing January election.
For Solicitor General .- We are au- thorized to announce the name of M. Kendrick, of Newnan, Coweta county, as a candidate for the office of Solic- itor General of the Tallapoosa circuit. Election first Wednesday in January next.
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