Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 8

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294

USA > Georgia > Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I > Part 8

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Among the gallant Georgians who distinguished themselves in the Mexican war were Gen. Wm. S. Walker, Capt. Hardee and Lieut. Wm. M. Gardner, each of them receiving a sword in recognition of his valor. Col. James McIntosh, a hero of 1812, who took an active part in the war, fell in the bloody engagement at El Molino del Rey. Capt. Josiah Tattnall and Gen. David E. Twiggs also ac- quitted themselves with distinguished ability and reflected additional honor upon southern chivalry. The defeat of Santa Anna by Gen. Taylor on Sept. 13, 1847. closed the bloody drama, and a treaty of peace was concluded on Feb. 2, 1848, by

CIVIL HISTORY.

which the United States gained the territory of California, New Mexico, Utah and Texas, in consideration of $15,000.

An important event that marked the administration of Gov. Crawford was the organization of the supreme court of Georgia. For several years the lawyers of the state had been clamoring for this court of appeals, in order to establish a uniform administration of justice, and to correct the errors of the lower courts of law and equity. Hon. Joseph Henry Lumpkin was made chief justice with Eugenius A. Nisbet and Hiram Warner as associate justices. The state has never been served by abler or purer men than these illustrious pioneers of the supreme bench. Senator Berrien, who had resigned his seat in the United States senate on account of public censure, was triumphantly re-elected by the legislature as a mark of confidence and esteem.

ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. TOWNS AND THE SLAVERY QUESTION.

In the fall election of 1847 Geo. W. Towns, the democratic candidate for gov- ernor, defeated Duncan L. Clinch, the candidate of the whig party. Gov. Towns was a native of Wilkes county and had served the state on the floor of congress. At the first session of the legislature Hon. Wm. C. Dawson was elected to the senate of the United States and quite a number of important laws were enacted.

Gen. Zachary Taylor, the whig candiate, in the presidential election of 1848, defeated Lewis Cass, the democratic nominee. In addition to these the free- soilers, opposed to the extension of slavery in the newly admitted states, nominated Martin Van Buren. The campaign resulted in the triumph of the whig party. In dispensing the patronage of his administration the president called to the port- folio of war, Geo. W. Crawford of Georgia.

The year 1849 was marked by the completion of the Western & Atlantic railroad from Chattanooga to Atlanta and the re-election of Gov. Towns to the chair of state. The agitation of slavery had now commenced in real earnest, and the stormy debates on the floor of congress emphasized the intensity of the situa- tion. These debates were precipitated by the admission of California into the Union and by the proposition to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. The southern states insisted that no restriction be placed upon the territories or the newly-admitted states, and urged the enactment of a law providing for the restora- tion of fugitive slaves. A brilliant son of Georgia was at this time speaker of the house of representatives and held the reins with a firm grasp. This was Howell Cobb. He had been elected to the speakership after months of ineffectual balloting, the opposition being pronounced on account of the slavery agitation.

In his message to the legislature, following the stormy scenes that had been enacted on the floors of congress, Gov. Towns urged the legislature to pass a resolution authorizing him to call a convention in the interest of the state's sov- ereignty and to see that the rights of Georgia were properly respected. The suggestion of Gov. Towns was not only adopted, but the legislature added that if congress persisted in its aggressive legislation that Georgia would adopt secession as a remedy.

During this period of excitement the country was shocked by the death of President Zachary Taylor in July, 1850. He was succeeded by the vice-president, Millard Fillmore.

The compromise measure of 1850, introduced by Henry Clay, afforded tem- porary relief to the situation. California was admitted into the Union as a free state, the slave trade was forbidden in the District of Columbia, a law was passed

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

for the arrest and return of fugitive slaves and $10,000,000 was paid to Texas for the recently acquired territory of New Mexico.

In accordance with the resolution of the state legislature Gov. Towns issued a call for a convention. Two hundred and sixty delegates, a majority of them from the union party, as opposed to the southern rights party, met at Milledgeville in December, 1850. A platform was reported to the convention by Chas. J. Jenkins, the chairman, in which the devotion of Georgia to the Federal constitution was affirmed, together with her insistence upon the doctrine of state rights and her willingness, in behalf of the national harmony, to abide by the compromise measure of Mr. Clay.

During the ten years that had elapsed since the last official census the popula- tion of the state had increased to 906,185 souls, more than a third of this number being slaves. The industries of the state had correspondingly increased.

GOV. COBB'S ADMINISTRATION.

The popularity of Howell Cobb was emphasized in the fall election of 1851 by his successful campaign for governor, the defeated candidate being Chas. J. McDonald, one of the best and purest of Georgia's public men. Gov. Cobb was born in Jefferson county, Ga., and was a son of Jno. A. Cobb, a native of North Carolina. He had filled several positions of honor prior to his election as speaker of the national house of representatives and was one of the leading figures of the country. Gov. Cobb was elected as the candidate of the union party. A con- dition of unusual prosperity marked the state at the beginning of Gov. Cobb's administration. The expenses of the state were promptly met and a fair appropriation was made for the encouragement of education. The sum of $10,000 was appropriated for the Georgia Academy for the Blind, and $500,000 for needed repairs on the Western & Atlantic railroad.

In the presidential election of 1852 Franklin Pierce, the nominee of the demo- cratic party, was the successful candidate. A number of votes in Georgia were cast for ex-Gov. Geo. M. Troup.

GOV. JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION.

Herschel V. Johnson, the democratic aspirant for governor, defeated Chas. J. Jenkins for that office in the fall of 1853. Gov. Johnson was a native of Burke county. He was a man of rare accomplishments and had filled many positions of honor and responsibility. On the resignation of Hon. Walter T. Colquitt as United States senator he had been appointed by Gov. Towns to that august and dignified body. The administration of Gov. Johnson, like that of his predecessor, was marked by great internal improvement. A number of steamboat, factory, banking and telegraph companies were incorporated and several railroad charters granted. A joint committee was appointed to investigate the condition of the state road.

A disposition on the part of several of the northern states to renew the slavery agitation was resisted by a resolution of the state legislation in 1854, deploring this fact and expressing the determination of Georgia to adhere to the compromise of 1850. A new party sprang up in Georgia at this time. The whigs and the democrats had substantially embraced the same political faith, and the principles of the new party, opposed to alien suffrage and Catholic office-holding, were promulgated by those who styled themselves Americans. In the contest of 1855 Gov. Johnson defeated Garnett Andrews, the candidate of the American party.

CIVIL HISTORY.

On account of the heavy increase of legislative business a constitutional amend- ment was adopted restricting the power of the legislature and conferring certain powers upon the state courts, as changing the names of persons and establishing bridges and ferries. The granting of charters was afterward conferred also.

The indications of a renewal of the agitation of slavery were beginning to make themselves apparent and a prudent foresight prompted the legislature to provide for the assembling of a state convention whenever the aggressive attitude of congress should make it necessary. A convention of the anti-slavery men was held in Philadelphia in June, 1856, and the republican party, based on an opposi- tion to slavery in the territories, was formally organized. At this convention John C. Fremont was nominated for the presidency.

The democrats nominated James Buchanan for president and Jno. C. Breckinridge for vice-president. They adopted the compromise of 1850. Still a third candidate was put in the field, Millard Fillmore being the choice of the American party. In the ensuing election the democrats triumphed by an over- whelming majority. President Buchanan appointed Howell Cobb of Georgia secretary of the treasury.

GOV. BROWN'S ELECTION.

Perhaps the most exciting gubernatorial contest ever known in the history of the state occurred at this period. After an exciting personal campaign the demo- cratic convention met at Milledgeville in the fall of 1857 and the names of five distinguished Georgians were presented for the office. These were James Gardner, John H. Lumpkin, Hiram Warner, Henry J. Lamar and Wm. H. Stiles. Having adopted the two-thirds rule the balloting proceeded for three days, and great excitement prevailed. Finally it was moved that a committee of three from each district be appointed to make a nomination. This motion prevailed and the com- mittee reported to the convention the name of Joseph E. Brown. This dis- tinguished Georgian, whose public services were afterward so closely interwoven with the history of the state, was comparatively unknown at this time. He repre- sented the farming interests of North Georgia, and at the time of his election he was at work in his wheat field.

In the bitter campaign that followed his nomination Brown was opposed by that brilliant and illustrious Georgian, whose talents as an orator have never been eclipsed, Benjamin H. Hill. Mr. Hill was the candidate of the American party. His speeches during the campaign were characterized by a fervid brilliancy that sharply contrasted with those of his opponent, but he represented the weaker party, and, in spite of his own personal magnetism, his flag went down on the political field.

Gov. Brown was only thirty-six years old at the time of his election. He was born in South Carolina, and came to Georgia with his father at a very early age. In spite of hardships and reverses he succeeded in obtaining a meager education. He settled in Canton, Ga., and was shortly afterward admitted to the bar. He was subsequently elected to the state senate, and afterward to the bench of Blue Ridge circuit. During the campaign Gov. Brown developed the qualities of leadership that distinguished him in after life, and clearly evinced that he was a man of destiny. The administration of Gov. Brown was characterized at the start by his attitude toward the banking institutions of the state. On account of the financial stringency a number of these had suspended the payment of specie in the interest of their own preservation. They alleged that heavy drafts from the north made it absolutely

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

necessary. In his inaugural address Gov. Brown, in spite of this defense, declared that he would institute proceedings against the banks for a forfeiture of their charters. He failed to secure the co-operation of the general assembly, however, and a bill was introduced holding up all forfeiture proceedings for one year. This bill was warmly discussed, but finally passed, only to receive Gov. Brown's prompt veto. It was returned to the general assembly and passed over his veto by a two- thirds majority. This caused a breach of feeling between the executive and the legislature, but nothing could be accomplished, as matters were at a standstill for at least a year.

The press of the state sternly criticised the attitude of Gov. Brown, but his official conduct was approved by the people at large. The banks resumed their specie payments during the following year. As a result of Gov. Brown's vigorous measures an alteration in the banking system was adopted that proved greatly beneficial to the state.

A charter having been granted to the Air Line railroad, the corporation selected Jonathan Norcross as the first president. On account of several difficulties in the way, including the rupture between the states, the building of the road was not commenced until several years later. It was finally completed to Charlotte in October, 1873, at a cost of nearly $8,000,000. The legislature of 1857 re-elected Robert Toombs to the senate of the United States. In this body Mr. Toombs was the peer of the strongest men in the nation, and he was considered by many as the intellectual and oratorical successor of Daniel Webster. At this session of the legislature the law governing the session of the general assembly was repealed, and instead of meeting biennially, a yearly session of forty days, unless extended by a two-thirds vote, was agreed upon.

On account of the failure of the state road to yield a sufficient income to the state Gov. Brown decided upon its reorganization. He adopted a rigid policy, but one that built up the road and made it pay a handsome sum into the state treasury.

GOV. BROWN'S RE-ELECTION AND THE BEGINNING OF HOSTILITIES.

The election of Gov. Brown in 1859 was followed by a renewal of the slavery agitation. Compromises were no longer discussed, and the nation was now confronted with the issue, slavery or anti-slavery. The quietude of the preceding years had only been a prelude to this tremendous outbreak, and no power could now check the irresistible current of events. Public meetings in the north left no doubt upon the public mind as to the feelings and attitude of that section of the country, and the frightful realities of dissolution responded to the faintest exercise of the imagination. The indignation of the south was highly inflamed at this critical juncture by the celebrated John Brown raid upon the arsenal at Harper's Ferry. He was captured and prosecuted in the courts of Virginia for inciting the negroes, and on being found guilty of the charges he was executed.

The national democratic convention met in Charleston in April, 1860. Georgia had held two state conventions, electing the same delegates to represent the state at each of them. The first instructed for Howell Cobb, but the second refused to give instructions. In a personal letter addressed to one of the delegates Mr. Cobb declined to allow his name to be presented. A deplorable division of sentiment distracted the national convention. The platform committee submitted three reports to the convention, one from the majority, and two from the minority. The northern delegates in the convention largely predominated, and in spite of lengthy debates they refused to be led by the sentiment of the south. This led to a with-

CIVIL HISTORY.

drawal of the southern delegates under the leadership of William L. Yancey. A convention was called to meet at Richmond, Va., in June, 1860. The remaining delegates to the Charleston convention also adjourned to meet in Baltimore in June. The fate of the democratic party was thus distinctly foreshadowed in this unfortunate division.

The Baltimore convention nominated John Bell for president and Edward Everett for vice-president. At the Richmond convention the delegates were still divided, and several states, among them Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Oregon, withdrew. Caleb Cushing, the chairman of the convention, resigned his position to follow the seceding delegates. Those remaining in the convention nominated Stephen A. Douglas for the presidency and Herschel V. Johnson for the vice-presidency. The seceding delegates nominated John C. Breckinridge for president and Joseph Lane for vice-president.

The republican convention met in the city of Chicago and presented a solid organization. A platform antagonistic to slavery was adopted, and Abraham Lincoln was nominated for the presidency, with Hannibal Hamlin for the vice- presidency.

The division in the democratic ranks made an easy success for the republicans. They carried the fall elections by a large majority. In Georgia the popular vote was given to Breckinridge, closely followed by Bell. More than 11,000 votes were also given to Douglas.

The election of Mr. Lincoln and the success of the republican party revived the determination of the south to secede from the Union. South Carolina, always impulsive, was the first to act. The ordinance of secession was passed in that state on Dec. 20, 1860, the convention charging that congress had openly violated the constitution and virtually annulled the compact existing between the states of the American Union.

Just at this time the prosperity of Georgia was unprecedented, and the threat- ened dissolution of the Union was a serious menace to her progress. Her popula- tion had increased to 1,057,286, and twenty-six banking institutions, in addition to several railroad corporations, had been chartered. During one year alone the public wealth of the state had increased over $60,000,000. Commerce and agri- culture had been greatly stimulated, and the resources of the state were daily multiplied.

In his message to the legislature Gov. Brown gave a gratifying report of the state road, showing that $450,000 had been paid into the state treasury. The legislature appropriated $75,000 for the purchase of arms, and recommended a further appropriation of $1,000,000 to defend the state from invasion. The office of adjutant-general was created, an order was made for 10,000 volunteer troops, and 1,000 rifles and carbines were purchased for the use of the militia in the event of hostilities.

GEORGIA PASSES THE ORDINANCE OF SECESSION.

In spite of these preparations for war the counsels of two eloquent and patriotic Georgians urged upon the people of the state the need of calmness and deliberation. These were Alexander H. Stephens and Benjamin H. Hill. They opposed secession with great eloquence, and were followed by a large number of supporters who thought it wiser to remain in the Union. On the contrary, influences were steadily at work in favor of secession. Howell Cobb resigned his position as secretary of the treasury under President Buchanan, and he and his brilliant brother, Thomas R. R. Cobb, who had never taken an active part in politics, boldly and openlv

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

favored secession. The influences of such men as ex-Gov. Wilson Lumpkin and Robert Toombs were also thrown in this direction. In the midst of this exciting campaign the news was received in Georgia that South Carolina had seceded from the Union. Gov. Brown promptly issued an order to the First regiment of Georgia volunteers, under Col. A. R. Lawton, to seize Fort Pulaski, at the mouth of the Savannah river, and to hold it until the meeting of the secession convention on Jan. 16, 1861. The fort was seized on Jan. 3, and Gov. Brown immediately telegraphed his action to the various governors in the south.

The legislature having called for a state convention to consider the advisability of secession, this body met on Jan. 16, 1861. It was the ablest body of men that ever assembled in the state, and the friends and foes of secession were both repre- sented. Hon. George W. Crawford, one of the ablest political leaders in the state, and a man of national reputation, having served in the president's cabinet, was selected as the chairman of the convention. Among the delegates were Robert Toombs, in the prime of his intellectual strength, Alexander H. Stephens and his brother Linton Stephens, ex-Gov. Herschel V. Johnson, Eugenius A. Nisbet, Benjamin H. Hill, Alfred R. Colquitt, Henry L. Benning, Hiram Warner, Francis S. Bartow, Thomas R. R. Cobb, and many other brilliant public men. The inter- ested gaze of the nation was fixed upon this dignified and august assembly. The ordinance of secession was prepared and introduced by Judge E. A. Nisbet, a man of blameless life and distinguished reputation. Albert Lamar was elected secretary of the convention. Gov. Brown and Hon. Howell Cobb were invited to seats on the floor. Before proceeding to business the convention listened to an able address from Hon. James L. Orr, commissioner from South Carolina, and Hon. John G. Shorter, of Alabama, who urged upon the convention, on behalf of their respective states, the importance of secession. The discussion of the great question was formally precipitated by the resolution introduced by Judge Nisbet. A substi- tute for this resolution was offered by ex-Gov. Johnson, calling for a convention of the southern states to meet in Atlanta, Ga., in February.

The scene that followed the introduction of this resolution was one that can never be described. Eloquence never soared to such heights, and the storm of enthusiasm resembled a wild, tumultuous sea. Speeches were made in favor of secession by Judge Nisbet, Thomas R. R. Cobb, Robert Toombs, Aug. Reese, and Francis S. Bartow. Those who eloquently opposed immediate secession were Johnson, Stephens and Hill. The convention seemed to be in favor of adopting the substitute until the brilliant speech of Thomas R. R. Cobb, in which he declared that better terms could be made outside the Union than in it, and appealed to the Union sentiment in favor of secession. The substitute was lost, and the vote on the original resolution stood 166 in favor of secession to 130 against it. The committee presenting the ordinance of secession to the convention was composed of the following: E. A. Nisbet, chairman; Robert Toombs, H. V. Johnson, F. S. Bartow, H. L. Benning, W. M. Brown, G. D. Rice, T. H. Tripple, T. R. R. Cobb, A. H. Kenan, A. H. Stephens, James Williamson, D. P. Hill, Augustus Reese, B. H. Hill, E. W. Chastain and A. H. Colquitt.

The ordinance of secession was adopted on Jan. 19, 1861, and thus Georgia formally seceded from the American Union. The announcement was received with great enthusiasm through the state and south. As soon as Georgia declared her intention to quit the Union Gov. Brown ordered the state troops to seize the Federal arsenal at Augusta. The garrison was in command of Capt. Arnold Edzey, with eighty United States soldiers. Terms of surrender were agreed upon, and the ensign of the state was hoisted in place of the Federal flag. The passage of

CIVIL HISTORY.

the ordinance of secession resulted in the resignation of the following congressmen: Martin J. Crawford, L. J. Gartrell, Thomas J. Hardeman, Peter E. Love, James Jackson, John Jones and J. W. H. Underwood. The only member of the Georgia delegation who refused to resign was Joshua Hill.

ORGANIZATION OF THE CONFEDERACY.

In pursuance of a call for a convention of the seceding states the convention met at Montgomery, Ala., on Feb. 4, 1861. . Six states were represented: Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi. Howell Cobb, of Georgia, was made the chairman of the convention. The principal work of the convention was to form a provisional government and to elect officers for the Confederacy. The choice of the convention for president was Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, and for vice-president, Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia. Mr. Davis was installed on Feb. 18, about two weeks in advance of President Lincoln's inauguration. The first official act of President Davis was to appoint a committee, consisting of Messrs. M. J. Crawford, of Georgia; John Forsyth, of Alabama, and A. B. Roman, of Louisiana, to proceed to Washington and treat for a peaceful adjustment of all the issues between the two governments. The committee, how- ever, failed to accomplish its mission.

At a peace convention held in Washington city thirteen states were represented, but nothing resulted from the convention. On March 7, 1861, a state convention was held in Savannah for the purpose of framing a new state constitution, and to adopt such measures as were necessary to defend the state in the event of war. Gov. Brown was equal to the exactions of his high office at this critical period. He placed Maj. Gen. W. H. T. Walker in command of a large body of troops, con- tracted for a number of large cannon, and seized the government mint at Dah- lonega, Ga., capturing $20,000 in gold.

FORT SUMTER TAKEN.

The war between the states being now at hand the state of Georgia no longer presented a division in her ranks. From the mountains to the sea the state was enthusiastic in its loyal adherence to the young Confederacy. Nearly all the forts and magazines belonging to the United States and located within the limits of the Confederacy were captured except Fort Sumter, on the South Carolina coast, and Fort Pickens, at Pensacola. President Davis made a requisition upon Gov. Brown for a regiment of soldiers to defend the strongholds of Pensacola, and such was the patriotic feeling of the state that over 250 volunteer companies were organized. A regiment was formed from a careful selection of these companies, and Col. J. N. Ramsey was put in conmand, with J. O. Clark lieutenant-colonel, G. B. Thompson major. Commodore Josiah Tattnall was placed in charge of the gunboats along the coast near Savannah.

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Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 8

Author: Publication date: 1859 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association Number of Pages: 1294

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294