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•; PART THREE.
THE STARTING POINT OF SECESSION!.
Savannah the Scene of the Initial Move
ment.
A Graphic Account of What Was Said and Doaa by the Savannah Leaders
Scenes and Incidcats That Will Bs Remembared by
Some of Savannah’s Citizens.
BY COL. CHARLTON H. WAY, SECRETARY OK THE KIRST SECESSION
XIEEITIXG HELD IX TIIE SOUTH
I propose to write a brief account of the
manner in Which Secession was inaugu
rated in the South. I don’t mean to tell
how governors convened legislatures, how
conventions were called, nor how ordinan
ces passed. All these are facts in histo
ry. My task is to set down what occurred
behind the scenes and was obscured from
the public; to Jot down personal reminis
cences and to tell how the extreme wing
of the Southern party, following the lead
ership of the Hon. Wm. L. Yancey, that
gifted Alabama statesman, made their ar
rangements to precipitate the cotton
states into a revolution, either with or
without the help of conventions and legis
latures.
All things have a beginning, and while
South Carolina has been called
the hotbed of Secession and Charles
ton its cradle. It was here
In Savannah that action ■ was first ta
ken and the first secession meeting was
held here some days prior to the one at
Charleston. Besides It was In Georgia that
the "Coffin Brigaclte” was organized, some
time In 1552. This brigade was composed
of the leading State's Rights men to the
number of 3,000, under the command of
the Hon. Walter T. Colquitt, (father of
our late senator) and was organized to
promote secession whenever it became nec
essary. It took Its gruesome name from
the fact that every man who joined it
was supposed to carry his coffin, figura
tively, on his back should there be any
conviction for treason against the Union.
It became a guild of honor and whenever
you found am ardent fire-eater you would
discover that he was a member of the
"Coffin Brigade.”' Its roll was never print
ed, nor was it open to everyone who es
sayed to enlist under its colors, only men
tried, tested and true could Join this "corps
d’elite” of stale’s rights.
Personal Hclutiuna With Che Lend
ers.
But to return: X was secretary nnd
treasurer of the Democratic Executive
Committee In 1860-‘6l, and was elected sec
retary of this first secession, meeting and
naturally knew all the details connected
with the movements. Besides this, my
personal relations with all the leaders gave
me unsurpassed opportunities of learning
their views and sentiments. I learned
how each man stood and what part each
was to lake In the herculean task of dis
solving the Union and forming that dream
of Southern statesmen "a southern confed
eracy.” Apart from all ihis;the prominent
facts have been often recalled in friendly
interchange of reminiscences between
those of us who have been permitted to
survive the heroes of those days, and what
I write Is the plain, unexaggerated truth.
I had been on a visit to New York and
the Eastern States during the summer of
3860, from the time of Lincoln's nomination
until the last of September, when I re
turned home, I was thrown with men of
every party and heard them express their
opinions and prophecies about the result
of the election. Almost the first friends I
met, the day after my return, were Gen.
Henry R. Jackson, Col. W. T. Thompson,
editor of the 'Morning News, and
Capt. Francis S. Bartow. Naturally
they wanted to hear news of the political
outlook. I told them what was generally
believed by far-sighted men of all parties—
namely: that with the Democratic party
hopelessly divided between Douglass and
Breckenridge, with the party of Bell and
Everett which had no reason for existence
save to abstract votes from both wings of
the Democracy, and with a Republican
party united, compact, aggressive and en
thusiastic, the election of Lincoln was re
garded as a foregone conclusion, but there
was one hope for us nnd only one. If the
Fusion party in New York which was
composed of all the elements hostile to the
Republicans, could cross Harlem River
with a majority of 60,000. the State of New
York would he lost to Mr. 'Lincoln, the
election thrown into the House of Repre
sentatives, and Mr. Breckenridge would be
chosen President. “What do they say of
secession?” I was asked.
"They expect it,” 1 replied, and every
man has either a remedy for it or a plan
to further It. “For example,” I went on,
“a .discussion took place at the New York
Hotel one evening when Gen. Gustavus \V.
Smith and Gen. Mansfield Lovell were
Present. ‘lt would be the easiest thing in
the world,' said a prominent Republican,
'lor Mr. Lincoln to fit out an expedition
here in New York and coerce the South
before they got ready to organize a gov
ernment.’
“ 'How can you say so,’ replied a Demo-
C| at. 'when the expedition would have to
fight us—fight a battle on the pier before
Ihey could attempt to go on board their
ships. You Republicans can’t realize, he
continued, that New York City contains as
many secessionists as South Carolina, and
that they will wage war here In the
streets with any party attempting to go
South and coerce the people down there.' "
1 gave this conversation as a sample of
what was being thought nnd said North
concerning this tremendous problem which
confronted us. I remember that Bartow
regarded It as a hopeful sign that we
would have no war, because a civil war
ra ßlng North and South, ho looked upon,
as Impossible.
Mulilnj- Treason it esprclnlle.
Hot Jackson and Thompson did
Tl ”' It In that light. Jack
*on said: “Those men will fall us when
the Issue comes, bocauso they can only
otTrr the reslstnnce of an unorganized
i’ to trained soldiers.” “However," ho
* :l ‘'t. "I don’t believe we will have any
al! > lf the South acts promptly.”
''’lll you tell, me,” I asked, “how the
south can act promptly and In what way
10 you propose to act? How can you
t'cgln, the secession movement?”
Nothing enslcr,” ho replied. “If Lln
tn n ! S 0 "t!(l let one hundred me a band
seiner so as to make treason respecla
“•*: Het us seize the Custom House
od tho Forts Jackson and Pulaski,
•mould tho government attempt to retake
n ”fn Issue a call to the men of the South
*or help. Can you contemplate the tens
fpje llofning
of thousands of the best young men In
the couniry who would pour into Savan
"l” *° a *d us? We would have an army
within a week and secession would then
b’ f t a. omplished fact. 1.-g.dutvir-s
and conventions would but confirm what
we had precipitated.”
"But will you do this? Will you lead
these one hundred men?” I asked.
"Most assuredly,”- he replied.
~ well, then,” I said,' laughingly.
If Lincoln is eleeied you will probably
be callejl upon to redeem your promise.”
And so on that September day in 18S0
the crude idea of beginning the secession
movement was evolved. We spoke of
arms and money, the wherewithal to
support an army, and finally we separat
ed. I walked up the street with Bartow
and asked him what he thought of Jack
son’s plan.
He said he didn’t approve of It, while
he recognized it as the very thing to
bring on a conflict. With his conserva
tive nature he preferred to await the
regular action of authorized government.
He did not know that the General’s plan
had been conceived In Washington and
that it was just what Mr. Buchanan was
praying that the South might do. Fur
thermore it had the Indorsement of at
least two members of ills cabinet. It was
the hope of Mr. Buchanan i nd his friends
that if the South intended to secede,
it should be prompt to show its earnest
ness. He could then say to those of the
North who wished him to increase the
garrisons in the South, so as to forests,l
any overt act, "You see, gentlemen, that
these people are terribly In earnest. This
is not a fiasco, but a determined effort
on their part to leave the Union. I have
no warrant in the constitution to coerce
them nor has the government the means
at its command to accomplish their sub
version. They have been brought to this
condition by the success of a party pledg
ed to Intel ference with their Institutions,
and what they believe to be their consti
tutional rights. I shall rot imbrue my
hands In their blood. Let those who kin
dled the flame put it out.” He well knew
that at that time the Northern people
were not only not ready for war, but
were averse to it. Mr. Lincoln and his
friends only wished him to hold the
'TJflicn r getherutuu they got coritro! of
the government, but It is doubtful If at
that time, even they were unwilling to sec
blood shed on either s de. All these facts
were unknown to us cn that day when,
on the sidewalk in front of the Custom
House, Gin. Jacksor. promised to lead the
party of one hundre l who essayed "to
make treason respectable;” but the truth
all came out the night after Lincoln’s
election.
Some Views of Citizens.
Events pars and quickly In those times.
The ptllileal cauldron boiled fiercely, and
men’s passions were aroused until con
servative opinions seemed to have no
place. “Why,” sad Hamilton Couper, af
ter a conve Ration with a prominent Bay
stnet merchant, “I could make that man
black ir.y b.ots or rerform any menial
wrrlt I desired. He Is a coward, sir.
Wants us to await an overt act before we
secede.” If any counseled submission,
they kept their views secret or confided
them to a few friends of like tendencies.
But the e'ertlon day came and that
night the office of the Morning News, the
o:gan of the B:uth. standing up for her
rights and her Interests as she does to
day and always has done, was
crowded with every clays of peo
ple. Politicians, business men, lawyers
woi*kmen, young and old. all assembled
there to hear the returns and to learn
therefrom the fate of the South. We await
ed above all things the reports from New
Y'ork city. Wbat majority would the
Fusion ticket cross Harlem bridge with.
On that hung the future of the South.
About midnight the news was made pub
lic, the figures were large enough to over
come any Republican vote ever given in
New Y'ork state or country district. Men
drew long breaths. “Thank God” Was
heard on every side. Every one felt that
we had escaped, for four years et least,
the necessity of making the momentous de
cision of war and peace, and- as the former
condition loomed u.p we began to think,
perhaps we are not quite prepared for
war—perhaps ere four more years are
passed, the Democratic party will present
an unbroken front and rout any party
whose platform is a menace to our rights
ond privileges. So great had been the
tension, the nervous excitement, that when
it was relaxed or removed, men dropped
asleep In their chairs. I know that I
went home happy In the thought that
war had been postponed at least four
years; for war, aside from its personal
danger, Is the hardest, toughest, mod
relentless and exacting work. There Is no
let up in It. One never has an hour, a min
ute, in which he can feel or say, "I have
earned a rest and I can take it.” The very
next moment your life or your liberty Is
required of you. So with some thousands
of others I fell asleep, rejoicing that tho
work of war and the trials of the South
had been put off.
The next morning, after an early break
fast, I started for my office where I al
ways got the news. As I came out of my
door, whom should I meet but Gen. Jack
son.
"Ah,” I said, “what a glorious relief It
Is to feel that our troubles have been ad
vanced for four years.”
"Haven’t you read the morning paper?”
he asked.
"No,” I said. "I get my paper at my
office. Tell me wlrnt Is the news?”
"Why, Lincoln Is elected.”
"Is It possible? Can there be no doubt?”
"None whatever. He carried New York
state after all.”
For about a block we walked on silently.
Our thoughts were upon the same subject.
Then I asked:
"Do you remember the conversation and
the pledge In front of the Custom House
lost September?”
“Perfectly.”
“Are you ready to carry It out, ns you
said you would?”
"I am.”
’’When?"
"As soon as I can get the men.”
A Call for n t’nbllc Meeting.
"Well,” I said, "let us go down to the
Morning News office at once and Issue a
call for a public meeting. If we delay
so long as a day, you will find men who
will say: ‘1 don’t see that Lincoln’s elec
tion makes any difference. I get my
throe meals a day and sleep quite as
soundly. My business prospers as It did
day before yesterday.’ In a word, you
will find more enthusiasm and obtain
more signatures to-day than you will to
morrow.”
“All right,” he said, ” we will begin ds
soon as we reach the office of the Morn
ing News, and if you meet any friends
invite them to join us, so that we may
begin with a number of signatures to the
call before we post it up.”
On the way we met Dick* Guerard and
Robert Grant, who Joined us, and were
enthusiastic over the opportunity ottered
them. Calling for pen, ink and paper,
Gen. Jackson wrote as follows:
"Ail those who are opposed to the elec
tion of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal
Hamlin to the presidency and vice presi
dency of the United States are requested
to meet at Masonic Hail on Thursday
evening, the Bth of November, at S
o'clock.”
He then signed his name In full and
handing the pen to R. D. Guerard, he
signed it, to be followed by me and Rob-
Grant.
The deed was done, and secession had
begun, for weal or woe, we knew not.
The tiny pebble had started down the
mountain’s tide and the avalanche had Its
first impulse. How rapidly seme things
are known is a mystery, but the ink had
not dried on the pen before a score of
men had discovered what was going on
within the Morning News office and had
rushed in to affix their signatures. Then
began a day the like of Which had never
before been witnessed In this si aid, con
servative city—the like of which no one
will probably ever see. All day lone
there surged a crowd of men, estimate !
at limes to run Into the thousands,
around .the doors of that Jour
nal, regarded as ■ the bulwark
of our cause. Business was almost
suspended throughout the town. The
merchant forsook his shop, the lawyer hit
brief, the mechanic left his bench, the
physician his patients. Even the elergv
stlove with the laity, all anxinis to add
their names to the rapidly Increasing sig
natures. Sheet upon sheet of paper was
filled up. The call was duplicated find
quadruplicated, and still the signers Jos
tled each other In their efToits to show lo
their fellow-citizep.s .that they, too, were to
stand shoulder to shoulder with them in
any emergency which might come. It was
estimated that at noondwo thousand men
of every degree ond calling had put their
names upon thfe ro.l of honor, which was
to make treason respectable, and still
denser became the. crowd. Women by
scores came down in the afternoon ta wit
ness the strange spectacle of an entire
population giving their time to politics.
Amid all this throng, which changed In
personnel every hour, not a rude Word was
spoken. That could not have occurred be
cause every man was of tne same opinion,
and so there cou'd be no came of argu
ment or of quarrel. Night came on and at
last the crowd, hungry and tired, began to
dissolve, only to reappear the next day. It
looked as chough live enthusiasm would
not die out. At the end of the week.s,ooo
names had been’ signed to the call. There
could be no more, because every man who
wished to identify himself with the move
ment had done so. Of cour.e
the Union men and the co-opera
tionists (a corporal's guard) held aloof.
I remember seeing a prominent lawyer
standing in his office door regarding this
seething mass of humanity with a look
something between a defiant Scowl and a
clocking leer. “Look at John,” said Jack
son, “Do you know what he Is thinking
of?”
“No,” said a fricr.d.
"Well, he is thinking that in this move
ment he may lyse his slaves and rice
fields, ond therefore ho Is a Unionist. I
wonder if he remembers that live oaks
stlil flourish around Savannah from the
limbs of which Tories were hung during
the Revolutionary W^r.”
Some Amusing Incidents.
Of course there were amusing Incidents
connected with the tragedy we were
placing upon the world’s stage, some men
were too feeble or too much engrossed to
come down Into that crowd to place their
names on the call, so lists were prepared
and copies of the call were carried around
to various offices and houses whose In
mates were only too glad to sign with
their fellow-citizens. One such list was In
the hands cf a committee headed by Capt.
John P.,W. Read. They took It over to the
Bank of the State of Georgia. where they
encountered Mr. I. K. Teft. of all men the
epitome of conservatism. Who will ever
fotget Papa Teft, with his Pickwickian
personality—Dickens’ immortal Imperson
ation was fulfilled in him, even down to
his gaiters and up to his glasses. Taking
the paper in his hand he began
In his purring voice ond gentle
manner to read It, and at the
same time to carry on a running conver
sation. “All those who’ are opposed—a
hem—yes—how much you remind me of
your grandfather.” he went on. “Dear
me, I remember his brlrglng me Just such
a paper to sign in 18.18—opposed to the
election of Abraham Lincoln—let me are—
was it, ’36 or ’33? Oh, yes, It was 35. Well,
he brought me, as I said, just such a pa
per to sign—and Hannibal Hamlin to
tha presidency and vice—God bless me!
when I ccmr to think of It, ’twas ’36, st
least I think so—no—lt must have been
35—but. Will you permit me to consult
the Majch?” MaJ. Porter was president
of the bank, and almost worshipped by
that singular combination of men who,
by some cccult law of animal chemistry,
had crystallized around the State Bank.
It was the stronghold of old fozeyism,
and I knew when Papa Teft, and the
Major consulted, their signatures io the
paper were lost. Sure enough, he returnel
within five mlntitrs. He did not come out
Into the vestibule where he had been
standing, but opening the little window
under the sign "discount arid exchange,"
the window from which so many a mer
chant had heard his doom In the words
“The board declines your paper,” he ptered
out and said ”Capr. Read, the Major is
opposed to It. I shall sign no such paper.”
Rapidly slamming the little window he
disappeared and his name was not on the
call to'protect his country’s rights, as
we all fervently believed we were doing.
I*lnn to Seize the Forts.
The seernd day ended as I have said,
wi h a total signature of some 5,000 names
and the next thing in order was the plan
to seize the forts. I was sent around to
Interview certain prominent men and get
them to .jo n ue In the expedition. We got
the 100 names and could have taken 1.000
had It been necessary. Mr. Hiram Roberts
subscribed the money (ilOO) to pay for the
tug which was to take us first to Fort
Pulaski, and then return to Fort Jack
s n. Wo assembled at about 9 o'clock In
front cf the VMorning News office, and
we expected to embark by 10 o'clock. Sev
eral prominent men who were going with
us could not leave ihetr offices until that
time, so we stood on the sidewalk Impa
tiently awaiting their appearance. I can
not recall the names cf all who were
present. Of course,Gen. Jackscn as loader,
SAVANNAH, GA„ SUNDAY, JUNE 3. 1900.
was on hand. Col. W. T. Thompson,
Hiram Roberts. J. H. Estlil, John and
Richard Gue.ad, John L Branch. Col.
R. D. Walker, Berrien Milieu, Spaulding
Mclntosh, Geprge Nichois, Capt. John
Retd, Robert Grant and many others
made up as respectable a personnel as
ever made trnson respectable. It was
well known that the fort was garrisoned
by an old segeant and his wife, and that
there was no ear,lily chance of opposition
to us, but in such times rumor increases
the number of her longues, and the Imagi
nation rlols in foreseeing danger. For
example, someone reported that a man
Just arrived from Tybee said that the
Harriet Lane had come into the roads
about sundown and anchored off tho fort.
If any one had considered for a moment
the fact that the Lane was at Washing
ton the day before, It would have con
vinced the most timid that -he could not
have come into Cockspur Ronds, within
twenty-four hours, but no one stopped to
think. Jackson was receiving a tele
gram about every half hour from Wash
ington and sending one in epigrammatic
reply. He had just read one delivered to
him. when Berrien Mlllen came up.
“Gen. Jackson," said Millen, “have you
learned that the Harriet Lane is at Cock
spur Island?"
“No,” said Jnekson. "It is Impossible.
Besides, if she Is. we will meet with no
resistance, and the forts must be taken
to-night."
• “Have you any powder on board our
boat?” asked Millen.
"No. What do we want with powder?
•There Is no one at the fort, except an
old sergeant and his wife, and so far
from needing powder, I will take the fort
with my penknife. I tell you, Mlllen,
the hope of a successful Issue for onr
cause rests in taking the forts to-night,
powder or no powder. Why, If there were
no boat, I would go tluro on n thought
and T would attack if with my penknife.”
“Very Well, Gan. Jackson,” said Mlllen.
"If you choose to go dowh on that boat
without powder or any means of attack
or defense, all right; but I and my
friends must decline "to follow you until
some precautionary steps are taken.”
Jiicknen's Iclt-as.
A tim'd old gentleman, a little deaf,
caught me by the arm, and
into the shadow of a tree, tlpioed until
he could get his mouth Into my ear, when
he whispered, "Don’t you think Gen.
Jackson's ideas air a leetle fur-fetched?”
I saw that the game was up. Jackson
was furious. He entreated and implored.
He offered to c'imb into on embrasure
nnd open the gates to us if we would
only go ‘down to the forts’ wharf. He
cajoled, ridiculed, did all he could to urge
them to follow him, but their heads were
set. They refused to go without powder
and it was too late to provide it that
night. At 11 o'clock the tug let off steam
and we went each of us home. I stopped
with Jackson at the telegraph office, ar.d
he sent another long dispatch to Wash
ington. I said to him: "Never mind! On
to-morrow morning I will see that we
have guns and ammunition from the
Chatham Artillefg and on to-morrow
night we can go down and take* the
forts.”
"Too late,” he said, "too late. If we
took every fort and arsenal In the South
to-morrow it would not accomplish
what the work arranged for to-night
wotdd have dene.”
"No, we hive mined our chance. The
only one we lad, and we can never ac
c mpl sh what would have bern so easily
done to-night, but,” he sad "I could not
in honor, giv- my reas ns to Millen and
his friends. Had there been 100 Land In
Tybe Reads, (hey would not have mo
lrgied us, and then our i ion having been
ea: ri-d out successful, every Southern
state would have done tho same thing.”
All these ravings were enigmas to me
then, but I found out afte-wards that we
should have a lowed nolhlrg to prevent
ovr acti g that n ghl, and then I learned
who In Washrgton sent the many tele
grams he received and answered.
“No," he said, “when the ferts are lo
be taken again, let it be by constituted
authority. I shan’t undertake the move
ment again.” He thrn proceeded to tell
me what he thought the effect of our
prompt action that night would have
been on the North, and particularly on
the out-going administrate n In Washing
ton, which was just what the Southern
members of Mr. Buchanan's cabinet be
lieved, and laid their plans to carry out;
nay. just what iMr. Buchanan desired, ae I
have elsewhere said.
Without this exilanatlon It appears that
we were afraid to trust to the cooler
Judgment of our state and people, but
those who directed the movement being
aware of the wishes and plans of Sonilt
em men In Washington, bflleved they
we e taking sips to prevent any war be
tween the North and South. I have often
heard Gen. Jacks n say that had we
seized the forts that night, every other
Southern state would have done likewise
and war would hove rlth r been averted
or Its ending would have been vrry differ
ent The reasons for believing this, how
ever, have no place In these reminiscences.
Asa rrat’er of history, the forts were
net occupied for h me we ks more.
I’reimrlnfc foe n Meeting.
The oignlng of the call being completed,
the next step was to prepare for the
meeting on 'he following Tuesday; so a
number of pr-mlnint gentlemen who had
Identified themselves with the movement
were invited to m>ot at the office of Gen.
Jackscn on tho Saturday following the
ilectlon, s6 that resolutions might be pre
pared. p gilding chairman ard secretary
selected, and the usual committees agreed
upon; in a word to see that the machin
ery was all mir e ready for this most Im
portant event. At 10 o’clock on tho day
appointed some 15 or 20 gentlemen, duly
assembled, each one with a set of reso
lutions In his pocket, and a speech in
his head. They were all read In turn, ad
vocated by their authors, and voted down
promptly. Some were too tadicaJ, som
too ponderous, some too verbose. It look
ed as though we could not find th# proper
expressions to convey our wishes ar.d de
signs.
Solne one said "If we only had Frank Bar
tow here with us.” It may, perhaps,
seem strange to some who care to read
this narrative, that Bartow, whose name
was a synonym for Secession, and who
was Its gallant and gifted defender does
not appear among the leaders, but tho
truth Is that not being familiar with the
motives and plans of those who were mar
shalling the people and endeavoring to
precipitate action. Bartow was not In sym
pathy with us. He was then what was
known as a Co-operationlst. He thought
wo, should act ns a body at states, call n
convention of all the Southern slates and
abide by the decision of that convention.
It was the belief of a large number of our
public men such was our wisest plan,
so while they were as ardent believers in
Sccossion ns we were,they did not npprove
of our plan and, therefore, had not signed
the call. While resenting the election of
Mr. Lincoln as much as any one did, Bar
tow, to his regret, was absent from our
counsels and a stranger to our plans.
When the wish lor his presence was ex
pressed, I was asked to go over and see lf
I could IndikJe him to Join us. I found him
at his office with his partner, Judge Wm.
Law, an ardent Unionist. I told him of
our meeting, the difficulty we had In fram
ing proper resolutions, and asked him as
a favor to come over and aid us. "I don't
ask you,” I said "to identify yourself with
us nor to accept our views, hut come over
and help us do some literary work. You
can then retire if you choose." Reflecting
for a moment, he said, "All right: I will
go with you,” and we went over to the
room where the others were awaiting us.
Leaving him in conversation with Major
Wm. S. Basinger, I took Jackson aside
and suggested to him that It would be a
good stroke to let Bartow have as much to
do ond say in framing the resolutions as
possible, to accept every suggestion he
made w hich did not endanger our plans,
because it was natural for a man to sup
port Ills own work and his own resolu
tions. He asked that a copy of those res
olutions which seemed lo us nearest our
ideas be read to him. Calling for paper
he made notes and when we had finished
reading them ho asked Major Basslnger
lo hand him the Morning News.
llartow Write* Resolution*.
“There is an expression in the message
of Gov. Gist to the South Carolina Leg
islature which I read this morning,” he
said, “and It struck me as a very happy
one, viz.: ‘to determine the mode and man
ner of redress.’ Now, it appears to me
that this is all you need say.”
With that he read over what he had
written:
“Resolved, First, That the election of
Abraham Lincoln nnd Hannibal Hamlin
to the Presidency and the Vice Presidency
of the United States ought not to be sub
mitted to.”
"Resolved, second, That the Legislature
now In session be requested to call a
Convention at ns early a day as practica
ble to determine the mole and manner
of redress.”
Those two resolutions covered every
thing and they were the work of his mind.
There were two other resolutions calling
upon the people of the state to hold meet
ings and adopt simi'nr resolutions, etc.,
but the first and second were the main
portion of our work. Just ns scon as he
mad them, they were put to vote and
adopted unanimously.
"Don’t let him go,” "Keep him with
its," was whispered around, and some
one with a view of detaining him and
identifying him with us. asked, "Bartow,
whom ought we to select as chairman?"
"If ho can serve, I would appoint Mr.
George B. Camming," he said, “and It
he fflllr. let us take Capt. John W. An
derson.”.
Itls suggestions were adopted at once.
He had framed onr resolutions and nam
ed our chairman. From that moment he
was wllh us, and seemed to enjoy 14. It
was natural. All of his best friends were
in onr party, nnd he didn’t want to he
cut off from them politically. Tlefore we
broke up he wns laughing nnd Joking
with ns nnrl had promised to speak at
the meeting, indorsing the resolutions.
Mr. Cummlng acknowledged the great
honor tendered him, but he was too fee
ble to risk tho physical and mental
strain, so Capt. Anderson was chosen
chairman, and the Rev. Dr. I. S. K. Ax
son was reques ed to open the meeting
with prayer. Everything was prepared
and ready for that memorable Tuesday
night.
Some Unionist*.
It must not be thought that wc were
all of one mind. We had a small but
highly respectable body of Unionists,, who
declared that they would go to the meet
ing and oppose the resolutions. They
were led by Hon. Judge William Law,
Col. J. R. Sneed, ed'tor Savannah Re
publican; “ Wytiy Woodhridge, Col.
Hardwick and my father, Hon. William
J. Way. They tr'ed to Increase their
following, but recruits for their cause
were few and far between. How they
resented our capture of Frank Bartow!
Judge Law wo* hts partner, and they
determined that he should follow Bartow’s
speech by one denouncing the resolutions.
We didn’t like this, because we wanted
to present an unbroken sfront at the out
set, Hdwever, we walled ns patiently ns
we could the action of that meeting.
The meeting was called for 8 o’clock.
I have seen many public meet'ngs, quiet
end respectable, rowdy and uncon
trollable. I have seen men at
them aroused to passion at times
nnd moved to tears, but never
never has It been the fortune of any one
not present that night to conceive of or
to Imagine any such assemblage of men
acting with more dignity, enthusiasm.
I wish I had preserved a copy
or' my official report, which took me three
days to prepare for the Journals of the
day, hut when fiherman entered Savannah
lie confiscated ihe files of the newspapers
containing it, so that the North might
have written and printed testimony when
they began to make treason odious.
A droll t Meeting.
About two hour? before the time set
foi opening the hnll crowds of men from
,iit parts of llie city began to gnlher In
front of the doors, corner Bull ard
Broughton streets. They Increased In
numbers until it was estimated that by 8
o'clock some 4.0C0 or 5.0C0 people
were grouped within one hundred
yards’ radius, taking, the hall as o cen
tre. Finally the doors swung open and
there ensued a rush, a scramble, a wild
effort upon the Dart of every one to get
in front. A tightly wedged, struggling
mass squeezed themselves up the stair
way slowly. Within a few moments every
gquura foot Of surface—every aisle, every
window and all the balconks were filled.
Men had loft hats, hod their garments
nearly torn from them, but were glad
enough to have reached the Inside. But If
the hall was tilled what shall I say of the
thousands that filled Bull and BrougAton
streets. Despite the site and the enthu
siasm of the crowd, when the nomination;!
for officers were mode you could have
heard a whisper. Capt. John W. Ander
son took the choir and' requested the Hev.
Dr. Axson to open the meeting
with prayer. Every' man stood up with
head uncovered and bowed while the ven
erable man Implored the Divine blessing
and direction upon the mevtlng. The regu
lar business routine went on smoothlv com
mittee retired and brought In their reports,
the hands ployed “Dixie" and the "Mar
sellalse” until the resolution* reported
above were handed me In due time to read.
You could have heard a pebble drop as the
secretary stepped to the edge of the plat
form. Never before nor since has one seen
such face# with their various and changing
expressions as fronted that platform, and
listened to the reading of a little papeT
which was to start a movement Involving
tn lives of hundreds of thousends of ihe
best and truest manhood In the land, and
the dissipations of billions of property and
money. A movement which was
this world like a erodle and to bring forth
men then unknown, but whose example*
would light the path of human progress
us king as the English language Is spoken.
The contrast between the quiet demeanor
of the crowd and the exp~esstons upon
Ihe different faces was s riklng. Their
eyes looked like stars of fire as
with half opened lips they leaned tor-
ward to catch ev ry word. Then came
the. words “All who are In favor of these
re olmlons will signify the same by say
ing aye " Tit-re seamed to be a fi tsh
somewhere—a rosr of ocean In a storm—
the crash of a thund-rholt—tho sweep of
on avalanche—the shock of an> e auhquske,
as eve y man rose to hs h.gh>Bt station
and shouted “Aye.” with a veherr-enc ■
wlvch shook the hall to Us foundations.
The entire s.a of faces seemed suddenly
to have lort every feature except the dls
l. tided mouth. 1 had no Idea that tho
mouth efould be opened to that size. The
fac*s of the audience suddenly presented
the fantastic picture of beleg all mouth.
A Scene of fuel tome 11 1,
Men cheered and shook hands. They
threw their arms around eeeh other's
necks and shouted "At last, atlas.” Tcey
south (1 to dance forgery Joy. One very
much excited Individual rushed up to the
platform where I was sluing, and bring
ing down li s fist upon it so as to shake
the ntire fabric shouted out: "I move
that the doors b- locked and every man
be made to sign or e ject those resolu
tions. Don’t let us have any secret trai
tors.” I was then re quis ed to read the
ic oluticns to the oulside meeting of the
thousands which stretched from the mon
ument to Htate street, and up and down
the better half of two blocks on Brough
ten. It was a repetltiTn of the proceedings
l.i the ball save cn a g.under scale. The
dnrkneas half-l!lumine<l by the torchll hts,
ihe transparencies, beginning with that of
t:,e ruttesrake on the (ire ne monument
seen now in old engravings of those
scenes, the sea of upturned eager faces,
the yells and cl e rs, all together made as
weird a picture as Savannah ever wit
nessed. Then b ran the : peaking.
The first nnn to step forward on the
platform was Judge Lew. Col. Bartow
(bis law partner) rushed forward and put
li g his arms a ound h‘m, tried to press
him l ock. "Jndke, ' he cried, "for God's
sake don’t attempt to oppose those reso
lutions, ti ls crowd will te~r you to pieces
|f yon do. ’ To the surprise of all of us
ih • Judge rep fed: ”1 am nut going to op
pose them sir; 1 am going to support
them." Ah.” said Bartow afterwards,
in v furring to the incident, “I think the
Judge saw lhat (he train w'as In motion,
and was about to leave him, so he boarded
tho cow- a cher.” It Is impossible to rei
late the hundredth part of the Incidents
o! that stoimy eventful night, not to re
call (he speak is and their themes. It
hav ng be<n found that tbe r al meeting
was outside and only a fragment of It
Inside tho hail, we adjourned across
the street, anl it was from the balcony
of the Savannah Club, Just over Living
ston’s present drug store,that the speak
ers addressed the cud ti l udo, Bartow,
Jackson, Hawkins ahd twi nty others wore
called for by that crowd while they cheered
and shouted nnd let off fireworks, the
bonds playing the patriotic refrains. Every
man wished to put himself on record and
any kind of oratory was reeflved. Said
Judge Hawkins: “I see they have elected
to the. Vicc-Preiddcncy a nlggah. His name
Is Hannibal. Now. dl.l you ever hear of a
white man called ’Hannibal?’ No, sir, he la
a niggur beyond doubt.”
I was standing on the Screven House
corner about midnight talking to Alexan
der and Clark from'Rome. I asked them
how a meeting of this character would suit
their up-country people. “Why,” they said
"a meeting of this kind wou'd scare them
to death. They would think every one of
us were clear, clean ‘crazy.” ' go Intense
was the excitement and so unusual win It
for our staid old cit y that every member of
Ihe Legislature left Mllledgeville and came
down to team for themselves if Ihe tales
of that week were true or exaggerated.
They learned that the half had not been
told them.
For days after the meeting I was be
sieged by letters from our fellow-citizens
usklng me to publisn the minutes, I was
preparing n line to the effect, viz: "Our
esteemed fellow-citizen, the Hon. ,
was unfortunately out of the city, but
had he been, here he would have endorsed
our action most heartily.” Or this, "The
Hon. Y. J. A. endeavored to get through
with his case at Jefferson Court so us to
be prepared nnd to speak at the meeting,
but the verdict dt the Jury came in after
the train left."
Of all the principal actors and speak
ers at that meeting Bartow wu easily
first. His impulsive chlvulrlc nature made
him n born lender for such times ond ftom
the time he amended our resolutions un
til he went to his heroic death in Virginia
he was Ihe fiery star which went ahead
guiding our feet and illuminating our
path. "You rascals," snlr he in his play
ful manner, “have gotten me into this
thing, and now I sha.l never rest until I
see Georgia free and Independent of the
Federal government,”
Call for n Rope,
The most remarkable fact about these
days was the total absence ef anything
like violence. Although the passions of
men were at the boiling point and every
nerve stretched to Its highest tension, we
argued and differed, but there was no
rudeness, no brawling.
About midnight after the meeting (he
crowd becan to thin out, unable to keep
up the physical and mental strain. Sud
denly some lad In the crowd, more in mis
chief than malice, called out in front of
the balcony, "Hurrah for Lincoln.” That
playfulness nearly cost him his life. In
an instant a dozen pair of arms had
seized him, a dense crowd gathered
around him and bruised and choking,
rushed him to the lamppost at fhe cor
ner of Bull and Broughton, with the erles,
"To the lamppost!” "Lynch him!” “Hang
him!” “Get a rope!” I tried to stop them,
but aeeing how useless my efforts were, I
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PAGES 17 TO 24.
Goss Farthest in tits Kitchen
LiEBiO
COMPANY'S EXTRACT
OF BEKF
adet* nonri?hnv*n‘ nnd flavor
to noun*. and licli
a* entrr.vd and provide*
n (*.iinty dinner out. of ma
tori.ils which would other
wise b© insipid ami uaelwui.
rushed up-stairs Into the club room ane*
called to Bartow, "Come quickly; they
ore going to hang a man for cheating foil
Lincoln.” He rushed down stairs, two
nnd three steps at a time, and rapidly
running to tho corner, reached the crowd
as they were about to swing the poor
fellow up. “Men,” he called out, hta
voice ringing like a clnrion note. "wet
have had n glorious night. We are proud
of our city nnd proud of ourselves. Now,
T pray you, in God’s name, don’t sully
the record of this night's work with a
crime. Let the silly fellow go. We cone
afford to let a thousand like him cheep
themselves hoarse for Lincoln. It has
been too grand a meeting to end In blood*
shed.” ,
"All right, Captain, if you say so,” wad
the reply, nnd they released the trem*
tiling fellow. Hu got awny without any
one learning his name, and I mention
the circumstance to show Bartow's won
derful mastery of men. By midnight thl
meeting wns over, our work ended, and
Recession had begun.
i
WELL WORSHIP.
A Raw Well Sear Newcastle, Eng*
land, Is Visited for Cures.
At least n dozen wells in various part*
of Scotland are worshipped by the peas*
nnls. The cure of children Is a special
virtue of many of these wells. Anxious
mothers make long Journeys to some wells
of fame, bathe the little invalid In Its
waters, drop an offering Into them, and at*
tach a bit of the child’s dress to a busli
or a tree growing by the side of the well.
Pins and nulls and bits of ragymay oon*
stamly be seen In all parts of the High*
lands at these hallowed springs. In Eng*
land, too, this custom, is not unknown.
There Is a rag well near Newcastle, so*
called from the number of shreds of cloth
ing that adorn the bushes at Its side.
On Holy Thursday the maidens of Corn*
wall visit St. Roche’s well and throw
crooked, pins or pebbles into the water and
by the bubbles that rise to the surface,
seek to ascertain whether their sweet*
hearts will be true or false.
At "wishing wells” If you follow the
prescribed course, any wish you make will
be fulfilled during the twelve months, if
the efficacy of the rite be not frustrated
by the Incredulity of the suppliant. In
order to attain the desired end. the votary
must kneel on a bare stone beside the well,
plunge to the wrist each hand In water,
thinking earnestly all Ihe while of tha
wish. Ujion withdrawng the hands aa
much water as can be held In the hand*
must be swallowed.
Well Dressing,
Well dressing corresponds with the an
cient Roman Fori trial in, or annual flows*
festival of tile spirits of the stream# and
fountains. Derbyshire, with the adjacent
counties, Is the hpme of well
and .Tune 34 the date of the festivity.
Elaborate preparations are made for It*
approach. Flowers are arrange! in pat
terns to form mottoes and texi of scrip
ture, and also devices, such u* crosretU
crowns and anchors, while green bough*
are added to complete the picture.
A recent visitor at one of these fun®*
(lons says that the name "well” hardly
gives the proper Idea; It Is rather a foun
tain or cascade which Is chosen, the wa
ter descending from above, and not rising
as in a well. The bight varies from teal
to twelve feet and the stone frontage la,
on this day, hidden*bv a wooden erection
In the form of an 1 arch. Over thin a lave*
of plaster of pails is spread, and while it
Is wet flowers without leaves are stuck
In it. yellow flowers are perhaps
arranged lo form a verse of scripture o®
a hymn; or a white door is sculptured ia
the plaster and set In a groundwork ot
volets. With red and white flowers, m
diaper-work Is formed. Coral berries ea*
the mountain ash are used effectively am)
arranged In garlands, wreathes and da*
vices of every hue. The sparkling watc*
completes the enchantment, and make*
this feast of the well-flowertng one of tha
most beautiful of all customs. Hongs anj
hymns nre sung. In some places clergy
and choir walk slowly around the spoil
pinging “Rook of Ages" or "A Llvlny
Stieam .* Crystal Clear.”
GAME l\ NORWAY.
The I, mid of flic Midnight Son sag
the Pnrndlae of Sportsmen.
Many Paris Exposition visitors (MB
summer will pass on to Norway, whlcK
Is becoming more popular fox' tourist*
year by year, and rightly so. The torn
peraturo there Is one of the numerous
charm* of that wonderful land of the
midnight sun. Even in Christiania, th
wannest part of the country, the ther
mometer never rises above 81 degrees cvew
In the month of July. The mountain*
and their beautiful stream* add to ill*
charming diversity of ihe landscape, nn<J
the tumbling waterfall* In the hundred*
of rivers make It the land of shining, cool
romance.
All Norway Is a paradise for the sporta
man, for it Is the most sparsely populat
ed country In nil Europe, with only a
couple of million persons scattered over
Its wide extent. The rivers and lako*
teem with fine gam- fish. Trout weigh
ing us much as thirty pounds are caugh*
in some of the deeper waters, and tha
mountain trout offer good sport for ih#
sklded fisherman. The Interior of South
ern Norway enjoys a winter iOf> days lorn*,
and the vast stretches of pine and fir
forests shelter hears, wolves and lynx#
ready for the rifle of (he hardy sports
man. On some of the larger Islands the
red deer Is to be found, and in soma
parts the reindeer and glutton ottpr foo*
for (he hunter's weapon. There Hr*
grouse, woodcock, ptarmigan and the
strange “rype” tor those In search ol
small game. Notwithstanding the small
number of the Inhabitants, the schools
for children are the best on the world,
serving as a model for many educator*
from other lands.
—The Chicago city architect has tnd
plans for a mansion for stray dogs, and if
the designs shall be approved the edltlo*
will be erected at duee. ,