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 18
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169
GEORGIA'S EXPANSION IN FOUR YEARS.
is a grand monument to the administrative genius of our Governor from Gaddistown, the common-sense outcome and exponent of the Woolhat masses.
In 1856 the state's property was 8495,516,224, and in 1860, $672,322,- 777, and the stupendous and unparalleled increase in four years, $116,- 811,553. The first year the increase was 33 millions, the second year 11 millions, the third 70 millions, and the 4th 62 millions, making the amazing total of 176 millions in 48 months. It would be declared an incredible thing as a prospective achievement. It stands a consum- mated historic fact, proven by solemn official records, whose correctness has never been disputed. But let us look into the details of this un- precedented enlargement of wealth and power. Giving their proper credit to development and to an improved and more rigid return of prop- erty, the undeniable reality exists that in these magical four years the state grew with the expanding power of a giant under the positive brainful rule of Gov. Brown.
Slave property had increased 33,298 in numbers and $92,260,221 in value; land 'had enhanced 830,034,969; city property had grown 88,957,798; merchandise had extended in commercial bulk, $6,360,105; and money and good debts had swelled the huge amount of $30,260,042. These are surprising figures, and create greater surprise, when it is remembered that Gov. Brown began his official rule at a time of bank suspension and commercial distress, in which he had formulated a policy of his own in contravention of the views of capitalists and trade kings- a policy looking alone to popular interest and the welfare of the masses. Not only this, but he boldly resisted a legislative doctoring of the finan- cial evils that was in sympathy with the wishes of the financial mon- archs, who were alone supposed to possess the ability to give relief. It was a daring attitude that he assumed, involving the restriction of bank privilege and the curbing of the money power. He was threatened with an "Illiad of Woes " for the state as the logical sequence of his theory, and it took a boundless degree of personal nerve to stand to his views in the face of such menace and prophecy of disaster. The result was out of all probability. A scheme of law, that while giving the broadest proper latitude to the transaction of bank capital which engineered com- inerce, at the same time restrained with an iron hand those illicit speeu- lations that abused popular confidence and led to widespread financial distrust and ruin, was the very one to preserve the state from monetary trouble, and was the ideal of Gov. Brown, for which he fought and was savagely berated. That the state grew so marvelously and presented
170
GEORGIA IN PEACE AND WAR.
such a development so rapidly after commercial depression, enhances ther prestige of Gov. Brown's administration.
It must ever be a subject of profound regret that the unprecedentel progress of Georgia was checked in the very hour of its increasing sweep. Looking back to the condition of Georgia in 1860, it wouli seem that Providence was making her and her people objects of especias favor. She was leading the South in substantial advancement. SI was foremost in the national councils. She had a prodigal affluence of eloquence and statesmanship among her citizens, giving her power and fame. She had a future of immeasurable possibilities. It was in the line of her supremacy that she was so potential in precipitating the revo- lution. Her sublime energies from this culmination of her princely prosperity were to be henceforth directed to the mad destruction of war instead of the arts and aims of peace, in which she had made such incredible strides. The transition but illustrated her native greatness. Her genius had ennobled peace; it illumined war; and the very wreck that she left of her proud and peerless prosperity attested her courage, chivalry and patriotism.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE RAPE OF THE GUNS.
Gov. Brown's Audacious Reprisal upon New York .- The New York Authorities Seize some Georgia Guns .- Gov. Brown demands Them of Gov. Morgan .- No Answer .- The Seizure of New York Ships at Savannah by Henry R. Jackson .- Tart Cor- respondence between Governors Brown and Morgan -The Guns Ordered Released. -The Ships Released .- The Guns Retained .- The Ships Re-Seized .- Spicy Press Comment .- Action of New York Legislature-Federal Congress and Confederate Congress-The Theme of National Discussion .- Gov. Brown's Pluck -The Ships ordered Sold .- The Guns Released .- Justice Torn from Unwilling Hands .- The Confederate Congress Rasped Brown. The Augusta Constitutionalist .- Brown for Confederate President .- Georgia Holds Public Attention.
WE come now to an occurrence that gave basis to the most dramatic episode connected with Georgia's war record, a bold reprisal upon the State of New York, and which brought Gov. Brown to the attention of the people of the whole Union in a manner that made him for the time the most marked man of the day .. It established his character perma- nently for resolute audacity and intrepid will. It added a flattering prestige to the State abroad, and fixed Gov. Brown, if possible, more firmly than ever in the popular esteem as the undeniable leader for the turbulent war times upon which we had fallen.
The firm of D. C. Hodgkins & Sons of Macon, had purchased two hundred guns in New York, and had them shipped on the steamer Monticello for Savannah. There were thirty-eight boxes of muskets altogether in the shipment, the balance over the two hundred, belonging it was said, to the State of Alabama. The New York police seized these guns on the 22nd of January, 1861, without any lawful authority, and placed them in the State arsenal. Hodgkins & Sons were notified of the seizure and immediately sought Gov. Brown, furnishing him proof of their ownership. The Governor first satisfied himself as to the justice of Hodgkins' claim, and then began a correspondence which grew to be very. tart before it was finished, and involved a conflict between the Governors of New York and Georgia, the two " Empire States," that excited a deep interest, created a varied commentary over the whole country and resulted in a complete victory for Gov. Brown.
172
GOV. BROWN AND GOV. MORGAN.
On Saturday, the 2nd of February, 1861, Gov. Brown sent the following dispatch to Gov. Morgan of New York in regard to the matter.
"EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, 1 MILLEDGEVILLE, GA., Feb. 2, 1861. j
HIS EXCELLENCY GOV. MORGAN, Albany, N. Y .:
" Sir,-I have before ine satisfactory evidence that two hundred muskets belonging to D. C. Hodgkins & Sons, citizens of this State, were placed on board the ship Monticello. at New York for Savannah, and were seized by the police of that city on or about the 22nd of January last, and taken from the ship and are now detained in the State arsendi! in the city. As Governor of Georgia I hereby demund that the guns be immediately delivered to G. B. Lamar of New York, who is hereby appointed my agent to receive them. I trust no similar outrage may be perpetrated in future.
" You will oblige by communicating your decision immediately by telegraph. " Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "JOSEPHI E. BROWN."
It perhaps will serve to show the temper of those days that the ordi- nary ceremonious etiquette between the chief magistrates of two great States was wholly waived, and the controversy at the beginning assumed the hard tone of the prevailing spirit of sectional bitterness. Polite phrases were dispensed with at once. Gov. Brown waited until Mon- day, the 4th of February, 1861, to hear from Gov. Morgan, but receiving no reply, he telegraphed the operator at Albany to learn if the dispatch had been delivered to Gov. Morgan. The reply was that it had. Upon this, Gov. Brown, with that decisiveness that he was wont to display under such, as well as all circumstances, issued the following order to Col. Henry R. Jackson, his aid de camp in Savannah:
" EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, MILLEDGEVILLE, GA., Feb. 5th, 1861. Half-past 9, P. M.
" I have demanded of the Governor of New York, the prompt delivery to my agent for D. C. Hodgkins & Sons, citizens of this State, of their guns, seized by the police of New York, on board the Monticello, and deposited in the arsenal of that state. The demand has been delivered to him. He has had a reasonable time and has made no reply. I am determined to protect the persons and property of the citizens of this state against all sneh lawless violence, at all hazards.
" In doing so, I will, if necessary, meet force by force. I feel it my duty in this case to order reprisal. You will therefore direct Col. Lawton to order out sufficient military force, and seize and hold, subject to my order, every ship now in the harbor of Savan- nah, belonging to citizens of New York. When the property of which onr citizens have been robbed is returned to them, then the ships will be delivered to the citizens of New York who own them.
" JOSEPH E. BROWN. "Col. H. R. JACKSON, Aid de Camp, Savannah, Georgia."
After the issuance of this order to Col. Jackson, Gov. Brown received
173
SEIZURE OF NEW YORK VESSELS.
a dispatch from Gov. Morgan acknowledging the receipt of the first dispatch, alleging that certain arms had been detained in New York, but saying " its grave character and unofficial form forbid him from tak- ing action in regard to it without better authenticated information." Gov. Morgan's dispatch concluded by saying that a response was given to enable Gov. Brown if the first dispatch was "veritable " to com- municate his wishes by letter. The reply of Gov. Morgan was unfortu- nate in several respects, especially in connection with the prompt methods and unyielding temper of Gov. Brown. Such a dispatch to verify the authenticity of the first one could have been sent immedi- ately. The delay indicated, what was afterwards shown, a disposition to trick in the matter. Gov. Brown was neither insensible to the dis- courtesy of silence, nor willing to lose his chances of redress by delay or subterfuge. The terms of the reply excited his suspicion of Gov. Morgan's fair dealing. Wary and resolved, he permitted Col. Jackson to proceed in making the seizure of vessels, so as to be upon perfectly equal terms with Gov. Morgan. A less firm or vigilant person would have acted on Gov. Morgan's evasive telegram, which probably was inspired by information of the order of reprisal.
On the Sth, Col. Jackson seized the following vessels: the brig Kirby; bark, Adjuster; brig, Golden Lead; schooner, Julia, and bark, Golden Murray. Col. Lawton effected the seizure. Detachments of the Phoenix Riflemen under Captain George Gordon were placed in charge of the ships, with instructions not to molest crew or cargo. On the 8th, the same day, Gov. Brown wrote fully to Gov. Morgan detailing the whole matter. After a recapitulation of the facts, Gov. Brown thus continued and concluded this plain-spoken letter.
"I am unable to perceive what reason you had to doubt that my dispatch was verita- ble. It was dated at the Executive Department and signed here by me. Yon also ob- ject to it on account of its unofficial form. It is not only dated at this Department, but I expressly state that I make the demand as Gorernor of Georgia. I am not aware of the additional language which your Excellency would consider requisite to give to a demand of this character official form !
" A lengthy official correspondence in this case is neither invited or desired. The out- rage was a public one. Citizens of this state have been robbed of their property in your state by officers under your control. As the Executive of Georgia, I have demanded its re-delivery to its owners. My demand when met, has been met evasively, by raising a technical objection to its form, which has no foundation in fact, as a simple reference to the demand itself will show. The case is one, therefore, which requires action, not lengthy diplomacy. I have the honor therefore to notify your Excellency of the seizure of the vessels above mentioned under my order, and that I shall hold them until justice be done the injured citizens of this state, above named, by re-delivery of the
1:4
THE PRESS ON THE SEIZURE.
guns to them or to G. B. Lamar of New York, whom I have appointed my agent to receive them. If the property seized as reprisal belongs to citizens of New York, who are friendly to the cause of justice and truth, and the equal rights of the people of the Southern states, I shall regret the inconvenience to which they may be exposed.
"I cannot forget, however, that my first duty is to protect the citizens of this State against the lawless violence of the officers or citizens of other states. If, in so doing, incidental injury should be done to orderly and law-abiding citizens of such offending state, for just and full indemnity they must look to their own government, which has brought the injury upon them.
" I trust your Excellency may have no difficulty in arriving at the conclusion that this communication is 'official ' and 'veritable.'"
At the hour of nine o'clock P. M., on the 9th of February, the day , after his letter was written to Gov. Morgan, and before it was received, Gov. Brown received this telegram:
" NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 1861.
"The arms have been put at the command of the owners here : please release all vessels.
"G. B. LAMAR."
Upon receipt of this dispatch Gov. Brown telegraphed to Col. Jackson:
"I have just received a telegram from G. B. Lamar, my agent in New York, stating that the arms have been put at the commands of the owners. The object for which the seizure was made having been accomplished, and the rights of the citizens of this State having been vindicated, you will order vessels seized to be immediately released."
Gov. Brown also replied by telegram to G. B. Lamar that he had ordered the release of the vessels. But the matter was not to end here. The subject was very fully discussed, and especially the law of reprisals. The Governor's authority to resort to this arbitrary remedy was clearly shown by quotation from Vattel's " Law of Nations." The Savannah Republican took issue on the matter with the Governor, and condemned his course as hasty, and endorsing Gov. Morgan's action in requiring the dispatch to be authenticated. Public sentiment in the State was, how- ever, almost unanimously in favor of Governor Brown's action, and there was much tart commentary on the Savannah Republican. Out of the State the Governor was highly commended. The Charleston Courier said he was " the man for his place and for the times." The Richmond Despatch said there was a "broad grin over everybody's face at the lightning-like rapidity with which the New York police let go the guns." The New York Herald dubbed Gov. Morgan's act as " the climax of absurdity, folly and political iniquity," and further declared that:
"Gov. Brown will find an abundant justification of the act he has ordered in the responsibilities of his position, and in the necessity of indemnifying private citizens, who are his constituents, for an unwarrantable robbery committed by our police, for which they could obtain no other redress. It is the very nearest thing to a civil war,
HADDE
175
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE AND CONGRESS.
but let the blame rest where it belongs, upon the Republican Executive of New York, whose atrocious usurpation of powers that do not belong to him, has led to such a sad result."
The New York Herald of the Sth contained a paragraph that Gov. Morgan assumed that the arms were intended to be used against the Federal government, and felt bound by his official oath to interfere. And such was, undoubtedly, his motive, and he was sustained by the Republican press of the North. Mr. Toombs telegraphed from Milledge- ville to Fernando Wood, mayor of New York city, asking about the seizure, and saying, that a reply was important to us and to New York. Mayor Wood replied, that the seizure had been made, but that the city of New York should in no way be held responsible for the outrage. As mayor he had no authority over the police. If he had the power, he said, he would summarily punish the authors of the illegal and unjusti- fiable seizure of private property. A dispatch was also sent to Crom- well & Co., agents in New York of the steamer Monticello, from parties in Savannah, stating that the seizure of the arms had created excite- ment, and asking if they could not get the arms back, as retaliation was feared. The matter stirred so much public interest, that it was made the subject of a resolution in the New York Legislature, requiring the metropolitan police commissioners to report to. the House by what authority, if any, they ordered the seizure and detention of the arms. The resolution, however, was voted down. Henry C. Wayne, Adjutant- General of Georgia, addressed a brief communication to the New York ITerald, correcting the erroneous statement, that the State of Georgia had purchased the arms.
Early after the seizure, the law firm of Munn & Parsons of New York, representing W. H. D. Callender, cashier of the State Bank of Hartford, Conn., demanded of Mr. Kennedy, superintendent of the police, the arms. Kennedy referred the matter to his counsel, and finally peremp- torily refused the demand, and a writ of replevin was served upon him, when he placed the arms in the custody of Sheriff Kelly. The agents of the seized ships were in constant telegraphic communication with their owners in New York. Mr. G. B. Lamar was notified of Gov. Brown's purpose to seize the ships, and was preparing a dispatch advis- ing against the course when he received information of the seizure. In Washington, Congress took up the matter, Hon. John Cochrane of New York offering a resolution directing the Secretary of the Treasury to inform the House, whether he had any official information on the subject, and he further gave notice of his purpose to call up and press
176
SECOND SEIZURE OF VESSELS.
to a passage a bill previously introduced, providing for the protection of the commercial interests of the nation against flagitious attacks upon them by the seceded states.
The matter, it will be seen, was for the time the theme of national discussion, as well as of home interest. It was even molding national legislation. But in spite of promises it was unsettled, and it was des- tined to test still further Gov. Brown's pluck and persistence, and evoke Confederate legislation against Gov. Brown's course, which was as powerless as all the other agencies at work to stop the resolute Executive in his protection of Georgia citizens and Georgia rights. Mr. Lamar was informed that the guns were at the command of their owners and, as has been stated, so notified Gov. Brown, who ordered the release of the ships. Mr. Lamar waited upon Mr. Kennedy, and to his surprise was informed that he had changed his mind and would not deliver up the arms to any person except the sheriff, until compelled to do so by law, and would also make further seizures of "contraband articles." The New York Herald announced the delivery of the arms, but the New York Tribune denied that they had been given up, prob- ably acting on partisan information.
In this state of things Governor Brown met the new issue as squarely as he had the old one. He instantly ordered another seizure of vessels. There appears to be well-grounded doubt for implicating Gov. Morgan in the treachery that was used, and the retention of the arms after their delivery had been agreed upon. In fact he denied to a Herald reporter that he had ever ordered any seizure at all of the arms, and expressed the opinion that the whole thing had originated in a late charge of Judge Smalley to the grand jury. And a letter was published alleged to have been written by him to Funch and Meincke in New York city. owners of the bark "Adjuster," at the first seizure, advising them to go into the courts for their rights, giving the opinion that the retalia- tion was unjustifiable, and that if idemnity could no where else be obtained, the Federal government itself would in a last resort be liable. The Herald was disposed to place the responsibility either upon Super- intendent Kennedy or the police commissioners, to whom he owed his appointment.
Gov. Brown's second order of seizure to Col. Henry R. Jackson was issued on February 21st, 1861. His letter of instructions was quite full, going with considerable detail into the occurrence. In this he stated that Mr. John Boston, the collector of the port of Savannah, had received word that the guns had been delivered up. He also
127
RELEASE OF THE SHIP ADJUSTER.
referred to Gov. Morgan's silence on the subject. It was clearly evident that it was the settled policy of the New York authorities to subject Southern commerce to a dishonorable surveillance, and to seize our property and plunder our citizens at their pleasure. He added these strong and manly words:
" Under these circumstances I feel that I, as the Executive of Georgia, would prove recreant to the high trust reposed in me by my fellow-citizens, were I to refuse-to pro- tect their rights against such unprovoked aggression, by all the means which the law of nations, or the constitution and laws of this state have placed at my command. It therefore becomes my duty again to direct you to call out such military force as may be necessary for that purpose, and to renew the reprisals by the seizure, as soon as practi- cable, of vessels in the harbor of Savannah, or other property in the city, or elsewhere within your reach, belonging to the state, or to citizens of New York, at least equal in value to double the amount of the original seizures made by you. You will hold the property so seized, subject to my order ; and it will be released when the guns in ques- tion (together with any other property of our citizens which has been or may in the meantime be unlawfully seized by the authorities of New York) are actually shipped from the harbor, and are beyond the reach or control of the police of the city of New York or the authorities of that state."
In response to this order Col. Jackson seized three ships, the Martha J. Ward, the bark Adjuster and the brig Julia A. Hallock. Gov. Brown then wrote on the 25th of February, 1861, to Gov. E. D. Morgan, noti- fying him of the new seizure, and concluding with this information of the additional steps he should take:
" Should I fail to receive official information from your Excelleney, prior to the 25th March next, that the guns above mentioned have been delivered to their rightful owners, or to G. B. Lamar, my agent, and that he has been permitted to ship them from the Port of New York to Savannah, I shall on that day, cause the vessels above named. to be sold in the City of Savannah, to the highest bidder, and out of the proceeds of the sale I shall indemnify the injured citizens of this state against the loss sustained by them on account of the unjust and illegal seizure and detention of their property by the authorities of New York. That you may not fail to receive this notice, it will be sent to you at Albany, in duplicate, by different mails."
Of the three vessels last seized the bark Adjuster was freighted with a cargo of cotton belonging to British and Russian subjects. Proof of this was furnished to Col. Jackson and by him forwarded to Gov. Brown, who at the intercession of the representatives of the British and Russian governments, permitted the bark to be released and pro- ceed to sea instead of compelling them to unload and seek another ship. This was done to cultivate friendly relations with foreign powers and throw no obstructions in the way of foreign commerce. This release of the bark AAdjuster was made on the 28th of February, 1861. On the 2nd of March, 1861, executive order was issued to Col. Jackson to adver- 12
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178
THE CONFEDERATE CONGRESS CONDEMNS GOV. BROWN.
tise the two remaining ships for sale on the 25th of March for cash. The advertisement of the sale was published, and would have been car- ried out, but on the 18th of March, G. B. Lamar telegraphed that the ten cases of arins had been delivered and were on their way to Savannah. Discerning that they were powerless against Governor Brown's sum- mary and unalterable methods, the New York authorities wisely gave in and released the guns. The Governor, on the 22nd of . March, upon entirely satisfactory proof of the release of the guns, concluded this novel altercation by ordering Col. Jackson to release the vessels. The order ended with these characteristic words:
"It is to be hoped that the annoyance and losses to private interests occasioned by the lawless, unprecedented and wholly unjustifiable conduct of the New York authori- ties, and the ultimate vindication of the right by the steps I have been constrained to take, will prevent the recurrence of any like complication in the future."
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