The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-04-26

y
up all idea of maintenance OF their
| opinions by a resort TO force. They
have come To the conclusion that it is
better to appeal to the forums Of reason
aud justice, to tho halls Of legislation
and the courts for the preservation OF
the principles Of constitutional liberty
than to the arena OF arms tits my set
tied conviction that there is not any idea
cherished at all in the public mind OF
Georgia fever resprting again to seces.
| zion or to the exercise OF the right OF
secession by force That whole policy
Of the maintenance of their right, ia my
opinion, is at this time totally abandoned.
q. But the opinion as to the right, as
] understand, remains substantially the
same A. | cannot answer rs TO that.
Some may have changed their opinion
in this respect IL would be an unusual
thing rs well rs a difficult matter for o
whole people TO change their convictions
upon abstract truths or principles. !
have not heard this view Of the subject
debated or discussed recently, and /
wish TO be understood rs giving my opin-
ion only on that branch of the subject
which Is Of practical character and i'm
portance.
Q 10 what do you attribute the
change Of opinion as to the propriety Of
attempting 10 maintaiu their views by
force 4 Well. sir my opinion about
that-my individual opinion derived
from observation that this change Of
opinion arose mainly from the operation
Of the war amongst themselves, and the
results Of the conflict, from their own
authorities. on their Individual rights Of
person and property the general break
ing down Of constitutional barriers.
which usualy attends all protmctcd
wars
Q IN 1861. when the ordinance Of
secession was adopted in your State, to
what extent was li supported by the pco-
plcy A AMER the proclamation Of
president Lincoln calling out 10000
militia. undaf the circumstances it was
issued aud blocka@ing the Southern
ports. aud the susp eHsi1u Of Che writ Of
hui~,t fo5ym tbs Southern cause, ~ Il
wa. term i received the almost uuani-
mons aupport Of the people q Georgia.
Before thai they were very much divi.
dri on tho question Of tbs policy 81 So
crs.tiuu, bot afterwards thcy supported
the cause within the range Of my knowl.
edge. With very few exceptions there
were some few exceptions, not exceed
ing halra dozen, think The nopfcs-
sion thcu prevailing was ihsi public lib
cTty was endangered abi they supported
,hr raus, becanac III fhoir zeal Tor Con
aituiioni righh They siill differed
very much u.s. "a the ultimate object 10
be- attained aul the means 60 be- used
but these differences yielded 20 the
emergency 'he sppfsheudei common
danger
q. Was up, the ordinance of occasion
adopted 10 Georgia cafiipr ia date than
the proclamation for tho - 600 yoluu-
tocrs A. Yes sir stated that tho
people were very much divided ou tho
question Of the ordinance Of recg loo,
but after the proclamation the people
became almost unanimous in their sup.
port of the cause Thcsg were some few
exceptions ia che State. ! think not
more thau bali a dozen among my ac-
qua.ntauccs. A. ! said. while they
wcrg thus almost unanimous ~ support
Of the cause. they differed also az 20 the
end a. be attained bg sustaining it,
Some looked TO 80 adjustment Or settle.
mcut ofthr controversy upon any basis
that would secure their constitutional
rights. Others looked 10 a Southern
separate nationality as their only object
and hope. These different views bs 10
the ultimate objects did not interfere
with the general active support Of the
cause
q Was Jhfre a popular vote upon
the ordinance OF secession A. Only
so far as in the election OF delegates to
the Convention.
O. There was no susoqucnt action
I 4. No sir. The ordinance Of secession
was not submitted to popular vote af-
forwards
@ Have you any opinion as 10 the
vote il would have received as compared
with the whole, if It had been submitted
to the free action Of the people!
Wmcss-Do you mean after It was
adopted by the Convention
Mr.. Boutwcll.-Yes, after it was a
doptcd by the Convention, if it had been
submitted forthwith, or within a reason,
able time? A. Taking the then state
of things, South Carolina, Florida, and
Mississippi, think, having seeded
my opinion is that a majority Of the
people would have ratified it, and per
haps decided or large majority. IT.
however, South Carolina aud the other
States had not adopted their ordinance
of secession, | am very well satisfied
that a majority Of the people of Georgia
and perhaps very decided majority
would have been against secession if hen
ordinance had been submitted to them
But as matters stood at the time, if the
ordinance had been submitted to popu
lar vote of the State, it would have been
sustained That is my Judgment and
opinion about that matter.
Q. Was there any difference, in diff,
ferent parts of the State, in the strength
| - ITninn continent nj that timp