New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-05
MR.. GREELEY AND THE UNION SENTIMENT
OF THE SOUTH.

T.. s. s. Huntington, Mass), asks for facts
sustaining Mr. Greeleys assertion at Pittsburgh that
the voice Of the Southern people in the Winter Of 1850
was for Secession but for cnging TO the Union"
Mr. Greeeys statement is borne out by several acts in
dcating the majority Of the Southern people we're
against Secession although system of terrorism
listed which thousands favorable TO the Union TO
conceal their opinions. We cite the following acts or
events which took place about that time in the then
Slave States:
In Kentucky the open secessionists were
but handful and were unable to make any show Of
strength in the legislature In Maryland the Governor
Ohomas Ii. Hicks) declared, in reply to u memorial to
call special session OF the Legislature, that he
" nothing in the bare election OF Mr. Lincoln which
would justify tho South in taking any steps toward
separation of States" The Tennessee Legislature
although the Governor thoroughly with the Dis
unionsts refused 10 call convention TO consider Seces
sion Missouri the State Convention decidedly and
inhexbly Union. In Virginia the people returned an
overwhelming Union majority to her State Convention
which April 1861 by 50 TO 49, decided inot to
pass an Ordinance of Secession. The people OF North
Carolina elected strong majority Of Union delegates TO
Convention, aud voted further, for fear OF what might
happen that the Convention should not meet at all The
popular in Arkansas showed Union majority. The
vote Union and that for Secession delegates to the
state Convention just about equal, and the Con-
venou refused, to 45 to submit the Secession ord
nance to vote of the people, In Florida several dele
gates elected expressly Unonsts voted for Secession
In Alabama the delegates who voted against Secession
represented reemen than did those who voted for
it. Neither Georgia, South Carolina, in any Of the
States which passed Ordinances OF Secession the
dinance submitted TO the people for ratification.
The significance Of the foregoing proofs OF attachment
to the Union confirmed by the tardiness exhibited in
Joining the Confederacy that when Convention Of
assembled Montgomery. Feb. A. 1861, from
all the States which had seeded only the following were
represented thereat South Carolina, Georgia. Alabama
Mississippi Louisiana, Florida Summing the political
situation as it was at that time, Mr.. Greeley
said: $50 that after the conspiracy had had
complete possession Of the Southern mind for
three months with the Southern members OF the
Cabinet nearly all the Federal officers, and seven
eghths Of the prominent and active politicians pushing
on and no force exerted against IN any manner
threatening resist it, majority Of the Slave States,
with twohrds of the free population Of the entire slave
holding region openly and positively adverse to it,
either because they regarded the alleged grievances OF
the South as exaggerated not unreal because they
believed that those wrongs would rather be aggravated
than cured by disunOn." (The American Conflict vol l.
page 351)
Els also inquiries why II is that 20 900 voters are dis
franchised in Arkansas These citizens not allowed
to vote because the Grant Republican State officials in
sist that they dsfranchsed by the State Constu
ton for alleged completely in the Rebellion and uphold
this assertion by main force defiance OF the opinion
of eminent lawyers such Reverdy Johnson declaring
that they are entitled to vote.