USA > Georgia > The history of the State of Georgia from 1850 to 1881, embracing the three important epochs: the decade before the war of 1861-5; the war; the period of Reconstruction, v. 1 > Part 10
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" Resolred, That the administration of Gov. Brown stands ont in its own solid, yet unpretending grandeur, a splendid monument of high intellectual sagacity and moral
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CASS COUNTY ALONE ANTI-BROWN.
heroism, reminding us most vividly of the stern and manly virtues of those noble and great men who illustrate the early history of the republic."
The Merriwether county Democracy complimented Gov. Brown's " watchful guardianship." Wilcox county deemed it " but an act of sheer justice " to renominate him; Appling county declared him " the man who was not afraid to throw himself between the frowns of the cor- porations and the people's interest." Muscogee county, in a meeting presided over by Wiley Williams, declared that Gov. Brown "is our first choice." Even Chatham county, the central point of the bank influ- ence, endorsed Gov. Brown's administration as a whole.
The endorsements above selected are taken from an unbroken current of commendation, that the people of the state gave to Gov. Brown. No public man has ever been so endorsed. There was almost literally no dissent in the Democratic party. Fulton county at first seemed divided upon Gov. Brown, there being many disappointed state road ex- employés in Atlanta, but a public meeting decided overwhelmingly for Brown. Polk county sent a divided delegation to the convention. And Cass county alone sent an anti-Brown delegation headed by a dis- charged railroad official. The Wire Grass Reporter with a grim humor, said editorially, " We were really getting a little wearied and jaded at the everlasting resolution, recurring in every county, pronouncing in favor of the renomination of Joseph E. Brown, until we came to Cass. Here we found a change come over the spirit of the meeting; a new sensation sprung quite refreshing amid the Brown monotony; a new ' hu-r-r-ah,' reminding us strongly of Rip Van Winkle's approach to the whig meeting after his thirty years' nap, swinging his beaver and huz- zaing for old King George; and like Rip if the Cass boys do not get hustled for it, we shall wonder." Even some of the opposition press were for Gov. Brown. The Sumter Republican, edited by Mr. Han- cock, was for calling an American state convention, but urged that the convention should endorse Gov. Brown.
The Democratic convention, assembled in Milledgeville, on the 15th of June, 1858. It was a very large and able body. There were 405 dele- gates from 117 counties. Among them were Gen. Henry R. Jackson, and Hon. Julian Hartridge of Savannah, Hon. James Jackson of Clarke, Gen. William Phillips of Cobb, Milton A. Candler of Dekalb, E. W. Chas- tain of Fannin, Logan E. Bleckley of Fulton, Daniel S. Printup of Rome, W. A. Lofton of Jasper, F. H. West of Lee. Samuel Hall of Macon, Randolph Spaulding of MeIntosh, T. P. Saffold of Morgan, Porter Ingram of Muscogee, H. Fielder of Polk, L. J. Alred of Pickens,
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THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION OF 1858.
Dr. J. C. C. Blackburn of Stewart, W. A. Hawkins of Sumter, D. N. Speer of Troup, C. J. Wellborn of Union, E. H. Pottle of Warren, George Hillyer of Walton, J. A. R. Hanks and W. K. Moore of Whitfield, Gen. T. J. Warthen and T. O. Wicker of Washington, and Hon. James L. Seward of Thomas.
The business went through with a rush in this large convention. The party had spoken with an emphasis and a unanimity rarely seen. The great gathering was merely met to record the popular will. The ordi- nary formalities were brushed aside. Mr. Steele moved to dispense with the calling the list of delegates and go to business, and it was promptly done. Col. John A. Jones moved a committee on organiza- tion. E. W. Chastain moved that John B. Walker be made president by acclamation, and it went through like a flash. Mr. Walker was a farmer, but he made a ripping little speech. Modestly claiming to be no presiding officer, he glittered out in a rare succession of eloquent utterances. Said he, warming up:
" We have not assembled here, gentlemen, to discuss our political creed, to repair our political platform, to add a plank to it, or take one from it. No, gentlemen, we feel that our old political platform is one so durable, that time may wither at its base, eternity play around its summit. We have come here to place upon that old political platform a man that is worthy of our full and entire confidence, and who will secure the popular vote of the state."
He closed in a whirlwind of applause. Several motions were made for a business committee, but the body was in no mood for formalities. Hon. James L. Seward offered a crisp trio of resolutions. The first reaffirmed the Cincinnati platform of 1856; the second endorsed Pres- ident Buchanan; the third was as follows:
" Resolved, That the honesty, fidelity and ability which Joseph E. Brown has mani- fested, as the Executive of Georgia, eutitles him to the confidence of the whole people of the state, and we hereby nominate him by acclamation, as the candidate of the dem- ocratie party of Georgia for the next Governor."
The first and third resolutions were immediately adopted unani- mously. The second resolution about Buchanan was adopted by 3:1 yeas to 34 nays. Hon. Henry R. Jackson was called on by the conven- tion for a speech. Rising in response to the call, Mr. Jackson began in that musical, tremulous, penetrating voice that so well suited the exquisite diction and eloquent thought that marked his speeches.
" And what am I to say, Mr. President, in response to a call so flattering to my vanity, but at the same time so wholly unexpected by me. Indeed the occasion for a speech would seem to have passed, when by its action this convention has already annonnced the almost universal thought. I seize upon the moment, then, not for argument but for
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GEN. HENRY R. JACKSON'S ELOQUENT SPEECH.
congratulation that argument has been in truth at no time necessary to secure among us concert of opinion, of feeling and of action. The principles we profess, the course and character of the men we support-more potent than words of eloquent persuasion had already secured it for us.
" If I begin where the action of the convention left off-if I begin with the nomination of Joseph E. Brown for re-election to the Gubernatorial Chair, I feel that my last re- mark comes with peculiar propriety from one who represents in part the County of Chatham aud City of Savannah. It seems to have been at one time supposed that such a nomination might not be acceptable to the Chatham Democracy. But I am assured that I utter the sentiments of those who have sent me here as a delegate, and also the sentiment of my colleagues, in that delegation, when I say that our honored Chief Magistrate, by the general ability of his State Administration, by his integrity of pur- pose and energy of action has deservedly secured for himself the earnest support of the true-hearted democracy of Chatham, precisely as he has this day commanded the ap- proval of the entire democracy of Georgia. It is not that there may not have been some conflicts of opinion between us in the past ; nor that the possibility may not still exist of similar conflicts in the future; but because in the essentials of our political faith we are with him, and with him in full, honest and warm accord."
The applause that followed Mr. Jackson in these beautiful allusions to Gov. Brown showed how warmly he echoed the popular pulsation. He concluded with a brilliant defense of President Buchanan's course to the South. A committee was appointed of S. J. Smith, J. H. Steele, H. R. Jackson, D. C. Campbell and Porter Ingram to notify Gov. Brown and request his acceptance of the nomination. The committee returned in a few moments escorting the fortunate recipient of this marvelous honor. Gov. Brown came in amid a storm of feeling, placid and com- posed as he ever was. But a brief two years had elapsed since, un- known to the state at large, he had while binding wheat-Cincinnatus like-on his mountain-valley farm, away from the telegraph and the iron track, received the unexpected news of his nomination for gover- nor. The question that pealed from the public voice, " Who is Joe Brown ?" was an honest one. It had to be answered. The people did not know. The homely young countryman had answered it, and the answer was a real one. It was a response of unparalleled power. But a year and a half of executive duty was needed to result in a unanimous and irresistible demand by the great popular will for his re-in- stallation in his exalted trust. The state knew him, and knew him so well, that the people,-the " Woolhats" that he came from, and whose interests he had guarded as well as the aristocrats who ridiculed him and whom he had fought, stood shoulder to shoulder in admiring recog- nition of his high public service, and vied in doing honor to this simple but superb public administrator of the people's affairs. And it was a singular and impressive coincidence that the man of all others that
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GOV. BROWN'S SPEECH OF ACCEPTANCE.
stood as the eloquent mouthpiece of a great state in emphasizing this matchless tribute to the plain self-made man of the democratic masses was the aristocratic descendant of one of the great and illustrious fami- lies of the republic,-a family princely from its achieved distinctions, -- who represented the courtliest constituency in the state, that placed high value upon the hereditary transmission of gentle blood and thorough-bred ancestry. Not only this, but this constituency had been the very pedestal of these financial influences that the executive had so successfully antagonized, and it was a striking reward of honest pur- pose and undeniable ability that even these embittered powers joined in this splendid and substantial ovation.
Gov. Brown's impromptu response on this supreme occasion was in some respects a remarkable one. Expressing the deep sense of appre- ciation of the public confidence, modestly referring to his past execu- tive course, incisively endorsing the national policy indicated by the convention, he went on to speak with pride of the position of Georgia in the sisterhood of states and her unequaled resources. Her bonds were quoted at a higher premium than those of any other state. Her debt was only two and a half millions, while she owned property worth from seven to ten millions. Her railroad enterprises were being pushed rapidly, so that the people of remote sections were becoming neighbors. His earnest expressions of interest in the subject of popular education drew enthusiastic cheering. But the part of his speech that surprised the convention and illustrated his dutiful ideas, was his declaration that he should not undertake to canvass the state. He said :
" My official course has been open and above board, and is known to the people. I am willing to be judged by my acts. While in office I could not canvass the state with- out frequently neglecting important official duties ; and I am unwilling to neglect the duties of an important official trust confided to me by the people for the purpose of canvassing for another term in office. If my health permits, and I perform faithfully my executive duties, and by necessary co-operation with the able, efficient and trust- worthy officers of the state road, can assist them to pour into your state treasury from thirty-five to forty thousand dollars in cash per month, I shall feel that I am doing the state more service than I or any one who may be my opponent could do by traveling over her territory and making stump speeches. This monthly argument I expect to continue to repeat. Thirty-five to forty thousand dollars per month is an argument in favor of the democracy that will be felt in the elections."
Singularly free from the slightest attempt at rhetorical display, Gov. Brown's speeches have been exceptionally effective. His avowal that he would not canvass for re-election placed him, if anything could, with increased strength before the state.
CHAPTER XII.
THE GUBERNATORIAL TUSSLE BETWEEN GOV. BROWN AND WARREN AKIN.
The Opposition Convention called by an Extraordinary Pronunciamento .- Sharp As- saults on Gov. Brown .- Personelle of the Convention .- Warren Akin Nominated. -The Canvass of Col. Akin .- The Congressional Canvass .- Martin J. Crawford. -Gov. Brown Re-elected .- The Legislature of 1859 .- Its Personelle .- Clifford Anderson, John Screven, Robert N. Ely, George N. Lester, A. R. Lawton .- Gov. Brown's Second Inauguration .- Review of Gov. Brown's Rare Administration .- Brown's Reference to Federal Affairs -His Affinity with the Southern Side of the Slavery Question .- A Strong Message .- Tribute to Sir James Oglethorpe .- An Unerected Monument Appropriated.
THE Know-Nothing flurry was over. The name of "Know-Nothing " had been discarded for " American," and this title was becoming weari- some. The party was anti-Democratic, but at sea for a proper name. The press of that party was divided. The Macon Journal and Mes- senger, and Columbus Enquirer were against running a candidate. The Sumter Republican wanted a convention, but wished it to endorse Brown. A number, however, were for a convention, among them the Lagrange Reporter, Atlanta American, Athens Watchman, Bainbridge Georgian and others. The central executive committee of the Ameri- can party, composed of J. H. R. Washington of Macon, J. W. A. San- ford of Milledgeville, J. M. Calhoun of Atlanta and Foster Blodgett of Augusta issued an address declaring that they did not deem it advis- able to call a convention of the American party. They, however, arraigned the Democratic party for a " series of unparalleled abuses and frauds upon the American people ; " and enumerated among these the " Kansas swindle," squandering the public money, encouraging sectional feuds, conniving at Mormon protection and electing an abolition Gov- ernor over a Southern state. The evils connected with the naturalization of foreigners would be corrected in due time. To hurl the corrupt demoe- racy from power was the high public duty of the day. The committee therefore called an OPPOSITION CONVENTION to meet in Milledgeville the third Wednesday in July, 1858, to consist of delegates chosen without respect to political antecedents, provided they were opposed to the party in power. This remarkable pronunciamento, one of the most
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THE OPPOSITION CONVENTION.
astounding political documents ever issued, wound up with these words, "Our word for it, we shall be able to organize such a party as will not only correct all local abuses, but rout the plunderers, and save the national government of our fathers from demoralization and ruin." This formidable fulmination of a bewildered committee representing a shattered and floundering party organization, occasioned a flood of rail- lery from the Democratic press of Georgia. Grandiloquence, bombast, last splutter of the wet powder pyramid, possum party, womble- cropped family, conglomerated, ring-streaked, were some of the ridicul- ing phrases that found vent against this amusing manifesto.
The Savannah Republican was the most savage of the opposition press against Gov. Brown. It flamed out ferociously against him. It called him " that inflated little demagogue Joe Brown," that flapped his wings like " a bantam cock ; " said he was " disgustingly puerile " in his speech in the convention ; that an " ass" would rule the people of Georgia as well. These terms were somewhat different from the pol- ished encomiums of the eloquent Jackson. The Milledgeville Recorder, the organ of the opposition party candidly owned that Gov. Brown " has done well and deserves the thanks of the whole people of Georgia." Thus divided among themselves, the opposition were undecided what to do. There was one controlling reason why the organization under some name should be kept alive, and this was that in several congressional districts they could secure congressmen. The convention was called by the central committee in July in Milledgeville. The Savannah Republican, in bitter opposition to Gov. Brown, insisted that the opposition convention should not meet in Milledgeville, because Brown had been nominated there. A call was issued for Macon, and the conven- tion met there and adjourned until the 10th of August, 1858, in Atlanta. The re-assembling of the convention in Atlanta was during a wet, gloomy spell of weather, that typified the spirit and the prospects of the party it represented. Hon. D. A. Reese was chairman of the con- vention. A business committee consisting of C. H. Hopkins, Jonathan Davis, R. P. Trippe, B. H. Hill, Dr. H. V. M. Miller, Dr. R. D. Winn, David W. Lewis, John Milledge, was appointed. Messrs. Trippe, Winn and Lewis not being present, their places were filled by Peter W. Alexan- der, Mr. Gibbs of Walton and Miles W. Lewis. Dr. Miller, the chair- man of the committee, reported that the committee had failed to agree as to the propriety of nominating a candidate for Governor, and desired to refer the matter to the convention.
A spirited scene occurred in the body over this matter. Col. W. F.
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COL. WARREN AKIN.
Wright of Newnan, who was running for congress against Col. Gartrell, let it out that in the event the convention decided to nominate the com- mittee had determined on the man. Mr. Alexander wanted the vote of the convention to be by counties and not by delegates. These two matters created quite a disturbance. Both Mr. Alexander and Col. Joshua Hill of Morgan charged upon Col. Wright a blunder in divulg- ing the action of the committee. The confusion was very great. One delegate whose name is not given in the proceedings threw a bombshell in the stormy assemblage by saying that "he had supposed all along that the question was not who they should nominate, but who they could get to take the nomination. If they could get a responsible man to take it, he thought it foolish to waste any more time in determining how it was to be given to him."
After a tumultuous time the convention voted to have a nomination and the committee reported the name of Col. Warren Akin of Cass county, now Bartow, for Governor. The committee to notify Col. Akin of his nomination was James Johnson, John Milledge and Cincinnatus Peeples. Col. Akin accepted the nomination in a brief letter that con- tained no enunciation of policy, but declared that he would not be able to canvass the state. This he re-considered afterwards, however, and he did make a series of speeches.
Col. Warren Akin at this time had not been prominent, in state pol- ities, though he had considerable local reputation as a very able and successful lawyer. He was a self-made man, possessing decided ability, and very effective speaking power, and as much purity of private char- acter as any public man we have ever had in Georgia. He was a local methodist preacher. Col. Akin was rather a small man in physique, but had a voice of remarkable compass, both shrill and deep, with pe- culiar ringing quality in its high notes. He had unusual fervor and sincerity of conviction and earnestness of character. He could not be called a popular gentleman, on account of a certain unyielding vigor, and a forcible impatience at what he condemned. As a laborions student, in'a clear comprehension of the law, and in strong argument, Col. Akin had no superior, and few equals in his circuit. No man in his section enjoyed a larger share of individual and public esteem than he, and his selection to lead the forlorn hope of the opposition was a de- served tribute to his worth and ability. He was afterwards elected to the confederate congress, and made merited reputation in that field.
He was a strong speaker, but in his canvass he was not at a proper advantage. He was principally confined to a warfare upon Gov.
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GOV. BROWN RE-ELECTED.
Brown's administration, and that had been too good a one to admit of successful assault. He traversed the state, making as much of the can- vass as any one could have done. The opposition press settled into a very bitter and slanderous war upon Gov. Brown, assailing him with detraction and scandal. Gov. Brown staid in his office quietly discharg- ing his executive duties, and letting the democratic press and the peo- ple fight his battle. Col. Akin made a gallant but an unavailing campaign. He had no hope of success, nor did the sensible men of his party. He made much reputation in the state for eloquence and ability, but he gained no votes from Brown. On the contrary, Gov. Brown in- creased his previous majority of something over 10,000, to over 22,000, or more than doubled it. In Brown's own county, Cherokee, and. Akin's own county, Cass, as well as in Baldwin, that had never given a democratic candidate for governor a majority, Brown obtained majori- ties.
Mixed with the gubernatorial canvass was the congressional cam- paigns. The democrats had nominated Peter Love, Martin J. Craw- ford, Alexander M. Speer, Lucius J. Gartrell, John W. H. Underwood. James Jackson, R. G. Harper, and Jenks Jones. Mr. Stephens had retired from public life, and Jenks Jones of Burke was the democratic nominee in his place. Against these gentlemen the opposition party was running J. McIntyre; against Crawford, Gen. Bethune and Mr. Douglass; Thomas Hardeman, Jr., W. F. Wright, - Shackelford, Lytle, Joshua Hill and Ranse Wright. The opposition elected Hardeman and Hill by small majorities. Three of the democrats re- elected had made high reputation, Martin J. Crawford, James Jackson and Lucius J. Gartrell. All of these had delivered eloquent speeches in Congress, that had attracted much attention. Mr. Gartrell was a large, powerful man, robust, hearty and full of animal spirits, a bold, buoyant declaimer, and a ready debater. Crawford and Jackson were both slender, nervous men, but of intellectual vigor and earnest speakers. Crawford has, all of his life, been marked by a dry vein of exquisite humor, and a keen, practical wisdom that have made him not only an en- tertaining companion, but a man of strong influence. Jackson, of the two, was the most fervent orator. No man in the state has been more free from partisanship, whether political or personal, than Crawford. It is a little curious that three of the gentlemen, conspicuous in that con- gressional canvass of 1859, Crawford, Jackson and Speer, now occupy the supreme bench of Georgia, in this year 1881, and constitute a very able court. Mr. Speer was defeated, but he has from that day to this
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THE LEGISLATURE OF 1859.
been an influential public man, especially noted for practical ability and a genial disposition. Mr. Jenks Jones is still living in Burke county, one of the honored and influential citizens of that fine old county, a lawyer of ability, and a gentleman of great local power.
The Legislature convened in November. It was overwhelmingly dem- ocratic. Of those who had so vigorously fought the bank veto of Gov. Brown, few had been re-elected. The House included among its leading members, Clifford Anderson of Bibb, Julian Hartridge and John Screven of Chatham, George N. Lester of Cobb, R. N. Ely of Dougherty, T. W. Alexander of Floyd, R. L. Mcwhorter and M. W. Lewis of Greene, J. L. Harris of Glynn, D. W. Lewis of Hancock, I. Fannin of Morgan, C. J. Williams of Muscogee, William Gibson of Richmond, and S. J. Smith of Towns. The speaker elect was Isaiah T. Irvin of Wilkes county. Among the brightest of these men was Julian Hartridge of Savannah, a very ornate and eloquent speaker and brilliant lawyer, who afterwards became a congressman and died. in congress. His colleague, John Screven, was a son of Dr. James P. Screven of Savannah, who was the chief founder of the Atlantic and Gulf railroad, in which the state took a million dollars of stock. Col. John Sereven is still living, a stately, slender gentleman of delightful address. He was for years mayor of Savannah, and succeeded his father as president of the Gulf road. Two members of this general assembly, by a curious coincidence, have held the position of Attorney General of the state under the present execu- tive Gov. Colquitt, Robert N. Ely and Clifford Anderson. The admin- istration of Mr. Ely as Attorney General, has been a conspicuous success, being especially noted for his collection of nearly a quarter of a million of back taxes from the railroads. Col. Anderson is a large, dig- nified gentleman of high ability, and a graceful, strong speaker. Col. An- derson was a member of the confederate congress, as also was George N. Lester. Mr. Lester has been Judge of the Superior court, and was de- feated candidate for congress in the hot contest in the 7th district, in 1878, with the famous Parson Felton. Few men have equaled Judge Lester on the stump. Thick-set and solid in figure, with heavy, mas- sive, homely features, bearded to the very eyebrows with dense black whiskers, with a voice of remarkable sweetness and power in its low tones, with an inexhaustible fund of humorous anecdotes, and an inimita- ble humorous way of telling them, with a fine sonorous flow of words, and especial capacity of pathos, this gentleman is a rare talker on the hustings.
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