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 4
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BROWN AS A JUDGE.
patch and energy, that have given him his steady and phenomenal suc- cess in his worldly matters.
This placid, positive, capable gentleman made a remarkable reputation as a Judge in his circuit, a reputation that in the land of telegraphs and railroads, mails and daily newspapers, would have carried his name broadcast, and made him a state fame. But, " cribbed, cabined and confined," in the remote hills of North-east Georgia, whatever his merit, he had little chance to be known outside of his hidden bailiwick. There he achieved a celebrity very marked. There was an iron force of char- acter and a positive way of doing things that made the administration of this slender, quiet-mannered, calm-spoken Judge, a highly dramatic one.
He had come, however, to the edge of his destinies, that enlarged sphere of public duty for which nature had lavishly fitted him. And the transfer came curiously.
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CHAPTER V.
GOV. BROWN'S SCRATCH NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR IN 1857.
James Gardner, J. II. Lumpkin, and H. G. Lamar in Gubernatorial Conflict .- Gardner Wrecked by a Youthful Indiscretion .- L. N. Trammell's eve on Brown .- Incident of Trammell and S. J. Smith .- The Famous Convention .- Its Personelle .- Linton Stephens .- A Long and Heated Balloting .- A Dead-Lock for Three Days .- Gardner's Nemesis .- Experimental Voting .- The Slaughter of Gardner keeps on to the Others .- Fillibustering without Limit .- A Committee of Conference .- Colquitt's Graze at Governor .- A Chapter of Surprises. - The Gubernatorial Lightning Strikes Joe Brown, while he was Binding Wheat in the Mountains .- An Incident in ISSO .- Dick Clarke's Speech.
THE gubernatorial campaign of 1857 was a very memorable one in Georgia polities. It was marked by much personal heat, it ended in a protracted convention, and had an utterly unexpected result. It finally settled the gubernatorial aspirations of some very prominent and dis- tinguished men, and brought to the front by one of those scratches that sometimes occur in politics, an almost unknown individual who from that day to this has been the leading factor in public matters, who is te-day the most powerful citizen of our State, and whose future, if he lives and has his health, is big with great possibilities.
There were five prominent gentlemen for the high position of Georgia's chief magistrate, James Gardner of Angusta, Hemy G. Lamar of Macon, John H. Lumpkin of Rome, Wm. H. Stiles of Savannah and Hiram . Warner of Merriwether county. James Gardner, as editor of the Augusta Constitutionalist, had achieved a remarkable influence. A small, quiet-mannered gentleman, without any capacity for public speak- ing, he was possessed of more political writing ability than any editor we have ever had in Georgia, Bold and able, coming of a family known for their courage and decision, Gardner made himself a power in Georgia politics, and his paper yielded a tremendous influence. He was, however, a romantic instance of how youthful folly can wreck a strong man's greatest hopes. Gardner in his youth had been guilty of an indiscretion with a young lady, whose family was powerful enough to make him feel their resentment. The ghost of this folly followed him relentlessly. It was exaggerated and used like an avenging Nemesis.
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THE GOVERNOR'S RACE OF 1857.
It defeated him for the Democratic nomination for Governor, and blighted his political ambition.
John H. Lumpkin was the candidate of North Georgia, which sec- tion vigorously claimed the right to have the Governor. Lumpkin had been a Congressman and Judge of the Superior Court, and was a gentleman of excellent ability. Henry G. Lamar was one of the famous and brilliant Lamar family, that have been so conspicuous in the annals of State and Nation. It has been a family of genius and cour- age, a family adventurous and eloquent. Judge Lamar was a strong member of this notable and gifted blood. He, like Lumpkin, had been Judge and Congressman. Wm. H. Stiles of Chatham, was a stately and aristocratic gentleman, a writer of exquisite culture and a silvery tongued orator. He frequently served in the State Legislature. He possessed excellent abilities. Judge Warner we have spoken of. In addition to these, the name of Alfred HI. Colquitt was also discussed, who became Governor in 1877, twenty years later.
A few friends of Judge Brown in his section, among them L. N. Trammell, Wm. Phillips and Sumner J. Smith, had their eyes upon him and determined, if there was any chance to do so, to press him for Gov- ernor. But the general mention of his name for the place even in his own section was not made, Judge Lumpkin being the accepted candi- date of the section. Mr. Trammell told the writer that he and Smith rode down to the convention as delegates in a buggy together, and were united in the purpose to push Brown if possible. Col. Trammell has been a strong factor in State politics for twenty-five years. He was quite a young man then, with only ordinary facilities of education. His father was a gentleman of great force of character. Young Trammell has shown a remarkable'capacity for political management, and as will be seen, in this very campaign he gave evidence of his power. Col. Smith was a large, powerful man, of extraordinary vehemence and volu- bility in speaking. In the Legislature, when he got into a controversy with any one, he had a habit of springing to his feet suddenly, rushing over in the vicinity of his opponent, pouring out the most fiery torrent of declamation with vigorous gestures, and then stopping suddenly, he would stalk back to his seat and drop into it with a startling suddenness. Tatum, of Dade county, a great wag, put a rousing laugh upon Smith in one of these controversies by rising and pointing his long finger at the rapidly retreating figure of Smith, exclaiming with mock solemnity the scriptural quotation, "The wicked fleeth when no man pursueth."
The convention of the Democratic party to nominate a Governor met
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THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION OF 1857.
in Milledgeville, the 24th of June, 1857. There were 107 counties rep- resented, with 399 votes. The President of the convention was Tenant Lomax of Columbus, the editor of the Times, a gentleman of fine attainments. Counties with two Representatives cast five votes, and other counties three votes. Among the delegates were Judge R. H. Clarke, O. A. Lochrane and James A. Nisbet of Macon ; Alfred Austell of Campbell, now a wealthy banker of Atlanta ; George A. Gordon and Philip M. Russell of Savannah; the latter a potential controller of Chatham county politics for the last quarter of a century ; Wm. Hope Hull of Athens, now dead; Hugh Buchanan of Coweta county, Judge Thomas W. Thomas of Elbert, E. W. Chastain of Fannin, Judge Augustus R. Wright, J. W. H. Underwood and Daniel S. Printup of Rome, Thomas Morris of Franklin, John W. Duncan of Fulton, W. H. Dabney of Gordon, Linton Stephens of Hancock, F. H. West of Lee, C. J. Williams and Peyton H. Colquitt of Muscogee, Herbert Fielder of Polk, T. L. Guerry of Randolph, Julian Cumming and Geo. T. Barnes of Augusta, E. W. Beck of Spaulding, W. A. Hawkins of Americus, S. J. Smith of Towns, L. N. Trammell of Union, Geo. Hillyer of Walton, B. D. Evans of Washington, E. H. Pottle of Warren, D. B. Harrell of Webster.
Mr. Lochrane married a daughter of Henry G. Lamar; Judge Thomas of Elbert was in that day one of the pronounced and foremost men of the state. Judge Wright of Rome was one of the brightest thinkers and most sparkling orators we had, but an embodied independent. Col. Printup became afterwards a wealthy railroad lawyer. A smart little gentleman was John W. Duncan, whose regret was that he was foreign born, thus excluding him from being President. Col. Dabney was a profound lawyer, and since the war was well known as having been defeated for congress by the doughty Parson Felton, who so long polit- ically ruled the seventh congressional district. The most powerful man intellectually in this convention was Linton Stephens, brother of Alex- ander H. Stephens. A nervous, sinewy person, there was an intrepid audacity of brain in Stephens, and a muscular vigor of logic that few men have. His nature was jagged and aggressive. He worked badly in joint harness. His unmalleable spirit illy brooked government, and was not suited to harmonious cooperation. Positive and independent he had his own views of things, and was unbending in his convictions. We have had few men in Georgia the superior intellectually of Linton Stephens, but he was too uncompromising and outspoken to succeed by popular favor. He became judge of the supreme court, appointed by
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34
THE CONTEST FOR GOVERNOR.
Gov. Brown, and was afterwards elected and went to the legislature, but he never could get to Congress, where he would have been a conspicu- ous figure. Gen. C. H. Williams of Columbus became a gallant soldier of the war and a warm friend of Gov. Brown. Peyton H. Colquitt, brother of Gov. Alfred H. Colquitt, was a splendid physical specimen of a man, was rising rapidly when the war broke out, and but for his death in the bloody battle of Chickamauga at the head of his regiment would have gone up to high political preferment. Herbert Fielder moved to Randolph county and has been a leading figure in state politics since the war, having been pressed for Governor and United States Senator. Col. E. W. Beck was sent to Congress. E. H. Pottle and D. B. Harrell both became judges. Augusta has furnished a rare family of men, of which Julian Cumming was the most gifted. He had glittering charms of mind and speech, but died young. Another gentleman of unusual powers was Willis A. Hawkins, one of the most electrical talkers, and a superb advocate. He reached the Supreme Bench. Such was some of the material of this memorable convention.
A committee on resolutions was appointed, with Judge Thomas W. Thomas as chairman. . Gen. C. H. Williams put in nomination Lamar; Samuel Hall, Esq., nominated Gardner; Thomas Morris presented the name of Lumpkin; D. B. Harrell nominated Stiles, and R. J. Willis presented Hiram Warner. The first ballot resulted as follows : Lump- kin 112, Lamar 97, Gardner 100, Warner 53, and Stiles 35. Gardner showed a clean pair of heels and steadily rose to 141 on the sixth ballot, with Lumpkin 124 and Lamar down to 46. A sharp fight was made over the right of alternates to vote, and resulted in their being allowed to do so. After the eighth ballot, Lamar having fallen to 35 with Gardner at 152 and Lumpkin 122, Lamar's name was withdrawn, and the ninth ballot resulted with Gardner 172, Lumpkin 127, and Warner 64. Mr. George Gordon then practically withdrew the name of Wm. H. Stiles in a neat speech, saying that it was not the purpose of the Chat- ham delegation to present the name of Stiles at the opening of the convention, hoping if no selection could be made from the more promi- nent candidates the convention would unite on him. A delegate from another county had put in Col. Stiles, and the Chatham delegates could not withdraw hin, but he begged those who had been supporting him to feel at liberty to vote for any one else. No one but a Savannah man could have made this diplomatie speech. By this time the convention had become thoroughly heated up. The aliguments were distinctly drawn. The fight on Gardner became desperate. The Nemesis of that
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William de Stely
HON. WM. H. STILES, Ex-U. S. MINISTER TO AUSTRIA.
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1729512
GARDNER SLAUGHTERED.
youthful indiscretion stalked openly and importunately into the battle. Experimental votes were shot in for one after another of new men, Henry R. Jackson, Joseph Day, T. W. Thomas, J. H. Howard, H. Cobb of Houston, E. Starnes and J. N. Bethune.
Gardner's friends made a tremendous effort on the tenthi ballot and strained his vote to 173, but it was the top notch that he reached. On the eleventh ballot he tumbled to 151, and it was evident that he was slaughtered and his chances gone. After the thirteenth ballot a short patriotic letter from Gardner to Col. Clanton, the chairman of the Rich- mond county delegation, written on the 19th of June, five days before, was read. It was a ringing little letter, characteristic of Gardner. It said that a contingency might arise where his nomination was impracti- cable ; that a harmonious union on a candidate was indispensable, and he regarded party harmony as above the success of any member of it ; if it became necessary he authorized the withdrawal of his name. And his name was taken out, and his gubernatorial hopes were forever dead. He was out, but a spirit had been raised that would not down. The slaughter continued, and Gardner's friends prolonged the funeral. Thomas hoped his friends would not vote for him.
The name of Lamar was re-introduced by Gen. Williams. The four- teenth ballot was taken amid a suppressed but fiery excitement. A solid legion of 151 votes were turned loose, and the seething body was burning to see where lightning would strike. Lumpkin bounded to 179, Lamar had 137, Warner took his original 53 with three more, Stiles received 4 and Alfred H. Colquitt plumped in with 10. Lump- kins' friends became almost delirious. It looked as if his chances were sure at last. Their enthusiasm was unmeasured. The announcement of the ballot brought a storm of applause from them, and the next ballot was taken with feeling at fever heat. Mr. Harrell withdrew the · name of Stiles, and the fifteenth ballot was taken, showing that Lump- kin had gained four votes, standing 183, Lamar 140, Warner 61, and Stiles 4. Lumpkin had reached in this ballot his highest point. On the next ballot he fell off, and though he rallied to 179 again, there was an unmistakable dead-lock. The balloting went on to the twentieth, extending the session of the convention to the afternoon of the third day. The feeling was intense, and seemingly implacable. The Gardner men stood resenting his treatment and immovable. New names were flung into the contest but unavailingly. Votes were skirmished upon W. W. Holt, Geo. A. Gordon, J. W. Lewis, H. V. Johnson, E. J. Har- den, A. R. Wright of Floyd, John E. Ward, and even three were
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A CURIOUS SCRAP OF HISTORY.
thrown on the nineteenth ballot to Jos. E. Brown. There was fillibus- tering without limit. Strong speeches of appeal in behalf of each can- didate were made, but there was the hot dead-lock unbroken and unbreak- able. Col. Pottle futilely moved the abandonment of the two-thirds rule. On the nineteenth ballot Warner was withdrawn. One more ballot was taken as a final test. It stood Lumpkin 179, Lamar 175, Warner 1, H. V. Johnson 11, Wright of Floyd 5, John E. Ward 3, J. E. Brown 3.
The realization was universal that there could be no nomination in the continuance of the conflict. No man had even reached a bare ma- jority, much less a two-thirds majority. The convention was wearied and ripe for compromise. Mr. Wm. Hope Hull of Athens moved that a committee of three from each District, to be selected by the delegates from the District, be appointed to report a mode in which the conven- tion could be harmonious, and a nomination be made. This was done.
That quick-witted and unequaled political manager, Col. L. N. Tram- mell, saw his opportunity for Brown, and in the meeting of delegates of the 6th District he moved the selection of the chairman and then promptly moved that three gentlemen, whom he knew to be Brown men, be appointed as the committee men from his district. The com- mittee of 24 were as follows :
1st District, R. Spaulding, G. A. Gordon, Wm. Nichols.
2d District, C. J. Williams, N. McBain, J. A. Tucker.
3d District, R. H. Clark, J. A. Ramsay, B. F. Ward.
4th District, H. Buchanan, W. T. Thurmond, W. Phillips.
5th District, J. W. H. Underwood, E. W. Chastain, W. Shropshire.
6th District, S. J. Smith, J. E. Roberts, W. H. Hull.
"th District, L. Stephens, Wm. MeKinley, J. M. Lamar.
8th District, I. T. Irwin, A. C. Walker, E. H. Pottle.
The committee retired. Wm. H. Hull and J. A. Tucker, both dead, are responsible for the following extraordinary scrap of secret history. In the committee it was first proposed that a ballot be taken, each one writing his preference on the ballot. The ballots were written and depos- ited, but before they were read, Linton Stephens stated that such a formality was not necessary, and moved that Judge Joseph E. Brown of Cherokee be selected as the compromise man, which was promptly carried by voice, and his name reported to the convention. . Through curiosity the written ballots were counted, and Alfred H. Colquitt was found to have had a majority of one. It was a close shave to becoming the Governor of a great state at the youthful age of 31. Had the ballot have been examined and announced, what a change of result.
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37
BROWN NOMINATED WORKING IN HIS WHEAT-FIELD.
It is curious to follow out the incident. Joseph E. Brown thus unwit- tingly defeated Alfred H. Colquitt for Governor after Colquitt had been really nominated. Twenty years later, Colquitt became Governor of Georgia, winning in an easy fight the place that he held in his grasp by an accident so long before. Twenty-three years later Colquitt, as Governor, appointed as United States Senator Governor Brown, who took the governorship from him so many years ago. And this was followed by Gov. Brown aiding Gov. Colquitt to a re-election as Gov- ernor in 1880, in the fiercest and most protracted personal and political battle ever witnessed in Georgia. The matter certainly contributes a singular and romantic chapter of accidents, surprises and coincidences. Judge Hawkins, who was in the convention, told the writer that Colquitt had a strong following for Governor then.
But to Joseph E. Brown fell the glittering prize, dropping to him like heaven-descended manna, unsolicited, unexpected, the outcome of a heated struggle, and a providential gift born of a state political con- vulsion. Not the least curious of the incidents of this remarkable nom- ination is the undoubted fact, that at the very hour when this magnifi- cent honor was being conferred, Judge Brown was working in his wheat-field on his farm, far away from the telegraph and railroad, in the quiet, distant county of Cherokee, unconscious of his exalted prefer- ment. The incident keeps up the romantic character of the nomina- tion, as well as preserves the consistency in the dramatic career of this homespun man. In the fall of 1880 the following incident took place as narrated by the Atlanta Constitution, which furnishes Gov. Brown's own testimony to the fact.
" Gov. Brown on his way to Canton a few days ago, remarked to some men who were near Canton : 'That is the field, gentlemen, that I was tying wheat in the day I was first nominated as Governor of Georgia,' pointing out a field laying along Town Creek. 'I was then Judge of the Blue Ridge Circuit,' he continued, 'and I came home one day, and after dinner I went to the field to see how my hands were getting along with their work. I had four men cutting wheat with com- mon cradles, and the binders were very much behind, and I pulled off my coat and pitched in, about half after 2 o'clock p. m., on the 15th of June, 1857. The weather was very warin, but I ordered my binders to keep up with me, and I tell you it made me sweat, but I pushed my binders all the evening. About sundown I went home, and was shaving myself and preparing to wash myself for supper, when Col. Sam'l Weil, now an attorney in Atlanta, but then living in Canton, rode up rapidly to my house. He came in and said excitedly to me : 'Judge, guess who is nominated for Governor at Milledgeville ?' I had no idea that I was the man, but I thought from what I had heard that John E. Ward was the most prominent man, so I guessed him. 'No,' said Col. Weil, 'it is Joseph E. Brown, of Cherokee.' Col. Weil was in Marietta when the telegram came announcing my nomination. I subsequently ascertained that the nomi-
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RESOLUTIONS ABOUT KANSAS.
nation had been made about three o'clock that day, and at the very time I was tying wheat in this field. They say in Canton that two or three men have been trying to buy this field latterly. They want to sow it in wheat year after next."
Mr. I. T. Irwin of Wilkes, chairman of the committee of 24, re- ported to the convention the action of the committee, in a neat speech. Richard H. Clark of Bibb made the following characteristic and admi- rable speech in support of the report of the committee:
" Unlike the gentleman who preceded him, he was acquainted with Hon. Joseph E. Brown, had served with him in the Senate, knew him to be a man of sound principles, clear head, unquestioned ability, and speaking powers of the first order. The reputa- tion made by him as a member of the legislature was of the first order. He is a man of unexceptionable character, in every respect, private or public. He is young enough for the services of the campaign, and for a long career of usefulness, and not too young for a matured judgment, and prudent counsels. His fellow-citizens have promoted him to the Judgeship of Blue Ridge Circuit, in which position his reputation as a man of intel- lect and integrity, has steadily increased. He comes from Cherokee, the stronghold of Democracy, and the balance of the state take pride in nominating him as a proper tribute to them, and will take greater pride in electing him."
This was a graceful and merited tribute from a high source to Judge Brown. The nomination was made unanimous. Resolutions reported by the committee on business, were passed, commending the adminis- tration of James Buchanan as President, and H. V. Johnson as Gover- nor, and the course of our United States Senators, Hon. Robert Toombs, and Hon. Alfred Iverson. The main resolution, however, was one condemning the inaugural address of Governor Walker, of the terri- tory of Kansas, which prescribed the terms on which Kansas should be admitted into the Union as a state, and expressed the opinon that Kan- sas would be a free state; and the resolution declared Gov. Walker's course a gross departure from the principles of non-intervention and neutrality established by the Kansas bill, and expressed confidence that Mr. Buchanan would recall Gov. Walker.
The convention adjourned, having appointed a committee to notify Judge Brown of his nomination.
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CHAPTER VI.
BROWN DEFEATS BEN HILL, IN A HARD CANVASS.
" Who is Joe Brown ? the Query of the State .- The Know-Nothing Convention .- Its Personelle .- Dr. H. V. M. Miller, the " Demosthenes of the Mountains."-" Ranse Wright." -- B. H. Hill Nominated .- An Earnest Campaign .- Brown's Practical Speeches .- The Calico Bed Quilt, and the Cherokee Girls .- The Real Issue Know-Nothingism .- Great Gatherings .- Southern Conventions .- Brown and Hill lock Horns .- A Tilt between Severe Common Sense and Splendid Rhetoric .- Brown's Phenominal Development .- Sharp Sparring -Brown, "D-d sound in his Doctrine."-Porter Ingram's Retort .- The Mountain Plow Boy Judge elected Governor over his brilliant Rival .- Know-Nothingism buried forever in Georgia .-- Gaddistown Triumphant .- The Man for Revolutions had come.
WHO is Joe Brown ? was the earnest inquiry that rang over the state upon the adjournment of the Convention. It came sneeringly from the opposition press. It was echoed interrogatively by the Democratic papers. The pæans of local fame in the mountain countries, unpene- trated by the iron track, had not sounded beyond their borders. A brief service in the State Senate was easily forgotten in eight years of stirring public event, when one remained in the back ground out of sight. In a lively sketch in the Constitution, "H. W. G." thus refers to this matter:
" General Toombs when in Texas, hearing that Joe Brown was nominated for Gov- ernor, he did not even remember his name, and had to ask a Georgia-Texan 'who the devil it was.'
" But the next time he met him he remembered it. Of course we all remember when " Know-Nothings " took possession of the whig party, and Toombs and Stephens seceded. Stephens having a campaign right on him, and being pressed to locate himself, said he was neither whig nor democrat, but " was toting his own skillet," thus introducing that homely but expressive phrase into our political history. Toombs was in the senate and had time for reflection. It ended by his marching into the democratic camp. Shortly afterwards he was astounded at seeing the standard of his party, upon the success of which his seat in the senate depended, put in the hands of Joe Brown, a new campaign- er, while the opposition was led by Ben Hill, then as now, an andacious and eloquent speaker, incomparable on the stump. Ilill and Brown had bad a meeting at Athens, I believe, and it was reported that Brown had been worsted. Howell Cobb wrote Toombs that he must take the canvass in hand at once, at least until Brown could learn how to manage himself. Toombs wrote to Brown to come to his home at Washington, which he did. General Toombs told me that he was not hopeful when he met the new candi- · date, but after talking to him a while, found that he had wonderful judgment and sagacity. After coqnetting with Mr. Hill a while, they started out on a tour together,
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