The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-03

the country who would pour into Savan-
nan TO aid us? We would have an army
w'tnlh week and secession would then
o ~ a. omplished fact. It4g.siatur-s
ana conventions would but confirm what
! we had precipitated"
But will you do this? Will you lead
these one hundred menu" 1 asked.
Most assuredly," he replied
very Wen, then" I said, >laughlngly
II Lincoln is elected you will probably
be called upon to redeem your promise
ana SO on that September day in 1860
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. L walked up the street with Barlow
and asked him what he thought of Jack
sons plan.
de said he didn't approve of 1t, while
ne recognized IL as the very thing to
prlnS on a conflict. With his conserva-
1--WE nature he preferred to await the
regular action of authorized government
He did not know that the Generals plan
| had been conceived in Washington and
mat 1t was just what Mr.. Buchanan was
praying that The South might do. Fur
tnermere 1t had the Endorsement of at
least two members of his cabinet 1t was
the hope of Mr. Buchanan nd his friends
tnat II the South Intended TO secede,
| 1t should be prompt to show it's earnest
ness. He could then say to those of the
North who wished him to increase the
garrisons in the South, so as to fcresta,l
| any overt act, You see, gentlemen, that
these people are terribly in earnest This
! is not a fasco, but determined effort
on their part to leave the Union have
no warrant in the constitution to coerce
them nor has the government the means
at It's command to accomplish their sub
version. They have been brought to this
conoition by the success of a party pledg-
n faTf Fer x.rttl L.
| and what they believe 20 be their consti-
| tutional rights. / shall rot imbrue my
hands in their blood. Let those who kin
died the flame put it out" He well knew
that at that time the Northcrn people
were not only not ready for war, but
were averse to it. Mr.. Lincoln and his
| friends only wished him to hold the
fUnicn together until they got control of
| the government but 1t is doubtful if at
that time, even they were unwilling to see
blood shed on either SIDE. All these facts
were unknown to us en- that day when.
! on the sidewalk in-front of the Custom
| House, Gen. Jackson promised to lead the
! party of one hundred who essayed ''to
make treason respectable" but the truth
all came out the night after Lincoln's
| election.
Some Views of Citizens.
Events passed quickly in those times
| The political cauldron boiled fiercely, and
mems passions were aroused until con-
| sentative opinions seemed to have no
place Why" sa Hamilton Copper, af-
ter conve sation with a prominent Bay
street merchant, II could make that man
black my bcots or perform any mental
work / 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 conf1ded
| them to a few friends of like tendencies.
Rut the AfaptiOp hot
night the office of the Morning News, the
organ of the South, standing up for her
| rights and her interests as she does to-
day and always has done, was
| crowded with every class of peo-
pie. Politicians, business men, lawyers
workmen, 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
York city. What majority would the
Fusion ticket cross Harlem bridge with.
On that hung the future of the South.
About midnight the news was made pub
aic, the figures were large enough to over
come any Republican vote ever given in
New York 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 at least
the necessity of making the mcmentous de-
cislon of war and peace, and as the former
condition doomed UP 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
and privileges. So great had been the
! tension, the nervous excitement that when
| ii was relaxed or removed, men dropped
asleep in their chairs. 1 know that I
went home happy in the thought that
war had been postponed at least four
I flr. II
danger is the hardest. toughest, most
relentless and exacting work. There is no
let up in 1t. One never has an hour, a min
ute, in which he can feel or say, II have
earned a rest and 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 of
! The next morning. after an early break
| fast, started for my office where al
| ways got the news. AS l came out OF my
| door, whom should meet but Gen. jack
| son.
"Ah," I said what q glorious relief 1t
| is to feel that our troubles have been ad-
vanced for four years"
Haven't you read the morning paper?"
/ he asked.
mo" l said IT get my paper at my
office. Tell me what is the news?"
| why, Lincoln Is elected"
IT'S it possible? Can there be no doubt?"
None whatever. He carried New York
state after ALL"
For about 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
| lest September"
Perfectly"
Are you ready to carry 1t out, os you
! said you would?'
81 am"
"Whcn?"
LAS soon as 1 can get the men,"
Call for Public Meeting.
We'll" / said, 'let us go down to the
Morning News Office at once and issue