Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-17
UNCLE BILLY BOWERS.
One of the Two Georgia Men who Voted
for Lincoln.
From the Atlanta Constitution.

From the Atlanta Constitution.
But two Georgians voted for Lincoln in
1860, and only one is left to tell the story.
That one came to the Consultation office the
other day-Uncle Billy Bowers-who was
hung and burned in efigy, and passed
through it all with the same serenity that
now invests him.
He was picture of the old time and the
old fashion-a dome-like head, 4 broad,
benevolent face, covered with white
beard, firm mouth, a strong chin and a
massive Jaw that showed strength of will.
He wore soft hat with broad brim, and
his body of comfortable rotundity was clad
Aunt Chrissy."
His voice was strong and deep, but soft
and well modulated, his firm lips cutting
of each syllable distinctly and slowly, as
you might cut off taper with pair of
shears. He is minister, Baptist-no,
he left that church in 1854, and with his
followers organized what they call the
Church of Christ, which now has hun
dred or so members in several congrega-
tions in Northeast Georgia.
And you voted for Lincoln ?" l said, by
way of beginning"
"Yes," he said, in the same deep, soft
voice and slow, measured words. Il was
taught from my boyhood that human
slavery was wrong. My father was a
Wing, and in my young DAYS | committed
to memory the speeches of Clay and Web
ster. | committed that famous speech
Daniel Webster delivered in reply to CAL
houn in 1882; it was speech in defense
of the Constitution. In my earliest boy
hood | memorized the Declaration of In
dependence, and l was thrilled by the
opening words of that great instrument.
All men are by nature free and equal
81 favored Fremont, and when Lincoln
was nominated it was upon platform
that agreed with what. | had always be-
lieved. As McCollum and / rode along
said to him, Cyrus, think l shall vote
for Mr.. Lincoln and after we had talked
it over he decided he would vote the same
way.
when the election day came we went
to our voting precinct and deposited our
ballots. The managers knew how we voted,
but very little was said. We were not
molested, but We had to be prudent Nc
Collum was conscripted and went to the
war, where he lost his life Being min
lister and opposed to warfare, I was exempt.
when the first company left my neigh
borhood for the war they sent for me to
make them talk. | didn't say anything
unkind or imprudent, but could not say
anything encouraging. | was not like the
bloody preachers who told them to go
anead. | told them on the contrary that
war was great calamity, and they would
find it very different from what they ex-
pected.
Nothing was said, but when / got
through relative came to me and said
You had better get away as quick as you
can
"'What is the matter% said |.
"'Well, you had better get away
81 did not run, but | did not loiter.
That night they erected gallows. They
thought would return to preach the next
day, and the idea was that they would
hand me to the gallows. Instead of going
there | went to the branches and filed
my regular Saturday appointment.
Cyrus McCollum went to GAINESVILLE
a few weeks after be voted for Lincoln
and the boys got him up and rode him on
a rail. l never suffered any violence, but
they hung me and burned me in efiigv
| once in 1884.
II was an elector on the Blaine ticket,
and made several speeches in my district.
| had been down to GAINESVILLE and made
speech there; l had spoken at Athens
| and Hartwell and other places, and there
was no trouble, but when | got down to
the next appointment it was different. As
| went in | saw great ingathering at the
Courthouse, and pretty soon / was
waited on by committee who told me it
was the sense of the people that / should
not speak there.
Squire" said l, is that the senti-
ment of the whole people, or is it the wish
Of only faction?'
"He said the sentiment was pretty gen.
eral.
every well,' said I, Il have no desire
to force myself on community and
left without making speech. The night
after that, was informed, they had an
effigy which they hung and burned.
81 don't look upon the thinking people
of that place as being responsible, because
they expressed their sincere regret to me
afterwards. 1 had the names of good
Democrats on my petition for appointment
this year asSupervisor of the Census for the
Second District"