Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-17
Morning Edition.

for that object. They were divided upoI
the question of the policy of the measure
: Ihere was, however, but very little decision
ameng them upon the question of the righ
of it. It is now their belief, in my opinion
and give it merely as an opinion, that the
surest if not the only hope for their liberties
. is the restoration of the constitution of the
United States, and of the government of the
United States under the constitution
2. Has there been any change of opinion
as TO the right Of secession as a right in the
people or in tie States?
A. l think there has been a very decided
change Of opinion as to the policy of those
who favored it. think the people gener-
ally are satisfied sufficiently with the ex-
pertinent never to resort to the measure Of
redress again by force. Whatever may be
their own abstract ideas upon that subject,
they have given up all idea of a maintain
snce of these opinions by, or resort to,
force. They have come to the conclusion
that it is better to appeal to the forms of
reason and Justice, and to the halls OF legis-
lation and courts, for the preservation of
the principles Of constitutional liberty than
to the arena of arms 1t is my settled con-
viction that there is not any idea cherished
at all in the public mind of Georgia of ever
resorting again to secession, or to the exer-
else of the right OF secession. That whole
1 pO4Acf VI INC Lldlutcl1uGo Ol LuclT ElguNs is
in my opinion, at this time totally abandon
| ed.
Q. But the opinion as to the right, as un-
| derstand, remains substantially the same
A. / cannot answer to that. Some may
have changed their opinion in this respect.
1t would be an unusual thing, as well as a
difficult matter, for a whole people to change
| their conviction upon abstract principles. l
have not heard this view of the subject de-
bated or discussed recently, and I wish to be
understood as giving my opinion only on
that branch of the subject which is of
practical character and importance.
Q. To what do you attribute the change
| of opinion as to the propriety of attempting
to maintain their views by force?
A. Well, sir, my opinion about that-my
| individual opinion, derived from observa-
| tion-is that that change of opinion arose
| from the operation of the war amongst
themselves and the results of the conflict,
from their own authorities on their indi-
vidual rights of person and property, and
from the breaking down of constitutional
barriers which usually attend all protraeted
wars.
Y. In 1861 when the ordinance of seces-
sion was adopted in your State to what ex-
tent was it supported by the people?
A. After the proclamation of President
Lincoln calling out $4,000 militia under the
| circumstances it was issued, and the block
| aiding of Southern ports and the suspension
of the writ of habeas corpus, the Southern
cause, as it was termed, received almost
| the unanimous support of the people of
Georgia. Before that they were very much
| divided on the question of the policy of Sc
| cession, but afterwards they supported the
cause within the range of my knowledge,
| with very few exceptions there were some
| Eatu ,ofa ho1f
think the impression there prevailing was
that public liberty was endangered and
| they supported the cause because of their
zeal for constitutional rights. They still
| differed very much as to the ultimate OBJ
ject to be obtained and means to be used,
but these differences yielded to the emer-
gency of apprehended common danger.
Q.-Was not the ordinance of secession
adopted in Georgia at an earlier date than
the proclamation for 5000 volunteers?
A-Yes, sir. I stated that the people
were very much divided on the question of
the ordinance of secession, but after that
proclamation the people became almost
unanimous in support of the cause. There
were some few exceptions in the State-I
think not more than half dozen among my
acquaintance. As / said, while they were
thus almost unanimous in support of the
5ssssu7Sy INV diff'7s "a aa-1 - - ] \ L.
dLLalDeQ DY SUSTAINING II. OOulb lOJhtu W
the adjustment or settlement of the contro-
vesry upon any basis that would secure
their constitutional rights. Others looked
to a separate southern nationality as their
only object and hoped these different views
as to the ultimate objects did not interfere
with the general active support of the
cause.
Q.-Was there popular vote on the ordi-
nance of secession?
A-Only so far as in the election of dele
gates to the convention.
Q.-There was no subsequent aetisn
A.-No, sir. The ordinance of secession
was not submitted to a popular vote after
wards.
Q. Have you any opinion as to the vote it
would have received, as compared with the
whole, If it had been submitted to the free
action of the people
Witness-Do you mean after it was
adopted by the convention2
MIR. Boutwell-Yes, after it was adopted
by the convention, if it had been submitted
orthwith or within reasonable time.
A. Taking, then, this state of things into
consideration, that South Carolina, Florida
and Mississippi, I think, having seeded,
my opinion is that majority of the people
would have ratified, and perhaps by de-
cided or large majority. If, hewever, South
Carolina and the other States had not
adopted their ordinances of secession / am
am very well satisfied that majority ofthe
people Of Georgia, and perhaps very de-
cided majority, would have been against
secession if the ordinance had been submit
ted to them; but as matters stood at the
time, if the ordinance had been submitted to
a popular vote of the State it would have
been sustained. That is my judgment and
opinion about that matter.
What the data of the E1aorUia ordi-
nance2
A The 18th or 18th, think the 18th, of
January, 1861, though am not certain.
Q. The question of secession was involved
in the election of delegates to that conven-
tion, was it not?
A. Yes sir.
Q. And was there on the partof the can
didates a pretty general avowal of opin-
ions7
A. Very general.
O. What was the result of the election
far as the convention expressed any opinion
| upon the question of secession?
A. 1 think the majority was about 80 in
the convention in favor Of secession. l do
not recollect the exact vote.
Q. In a convention of how many2
A. In a convention based upon the mem
bers of the Senate and members of the
House in the General Assembly of the State.
| The exact number l do-1ot recollect, but
think it was near 300; perhaps few over or
under.
o. Was there any difference in different
parts of the State in the strength of the
| Union sentiment at that time?
A. In some of the mountain counties IN
| ion sentiments very generally prevailed.
| The cities, towns and villages were gener-
alIv for secession throughout the State. l
think, with some exceptions, that the anti
secession sentiment was more general in the
rural districts and in the mountain por
| tions of the State. The people of some OF
the upper counties were very active seces-
| sionists, There was nothing like
a sectional division of the State at all. For
instance, the delegate from Floyd county,
in which the city of Rome ia situated in
the upper portion OF the State, was an able
one and strong for secession, while the
county of Jefferson, down in the interior Of
the cotton belt, sent one OF the most pro-
minent delegations for the Union. could
designate other particular counties in that
! way throughout the State showing that
there was not what might be termed sec
tional or geographical division of the State
on the question.
Q. In what particular did the people be-
lieve their constitutional Liberties were en-
dangered or assailed from the Unionl
a Mainly, would say, in their internal
social policy and their apprehension from
the general consolidating tendencies of the
doctrines and principles of that political
party which had recently succeeded in the
L. r