The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-03-12
TOOMBS AND STEPHENS,
How the Latter Was Influenced BY
the Former for Secesslou.

An interesting soutberner who has
been spending some weeks In WASH
ington says the Washington Star, and
renewing many old Ocpuaintances Is
Judge J. j. Martin Of East Point, Ga,
who was sixth auditor Of the TREASURY
during six years of President Grants
admiration from 1869 and relinquished
that position to become postmaster OF
Montgomery. Judge Martin was born
in South Carolina, being = member Of
the family Of that name, aud Is one Oi
the republican party In the south. He
was u member Of the famous Palmetto
regiment In the Mexican war, which
went in LOO strong, aud after fighting
lts way over the walls 0f the City Of
Mexico entered the captured capital
under COMMAND uf sergeant, all the
com nlissiOned officers having been
killed or wounded. AS q survivor Of
that valiant band he IL an heir pos.i.
bic to historic relic. When Andrew
Jackson died he willed to South Caro-
Ina silver urn which had been pre-
srnted 10 him by the ladies Of that
State in honor Of his victory at New
Orleans, providing that II should be
given To the brsvest South Carolina
soldier developed by the next foreign
war. No one could choose between
the 800 survivors of the Palmetto regi-
ment who returned from Mexico, and
y choice being Impossible the legisla-
ture provided that the urn should be
given TO the last survivor. About u
score of the veterans remain, and
should Judge Martin outlive them he
will receive the treasure. He Is O man
of most interesting personality and has
a rare fund Of "reminiscences OF the
public men who made the south fam.
Gus.
REASON GEORGIA sEDED.
Judge Martin was present in Mi .
ledgeville when the question Of the se-
cessiOn of Georgia was about 10 be con-
sidered by the convention.
1.-The potential influence which Rob
ert TOombs exerted over Alexander II.
stephens was the main reason which
! led Georgia's withdrawing from the
| Union,' said Judge Martin 10 the Star
Reporter. "Stephens up to the eve
of the convention was In line with
Herschel V. Johnson aud other wise
Georgians against secession. South
Carolina Oh one side aud Alabama OH
the other had seeded, but Georgia
would nave withstOod the storm had
it not been for Toombs.
The night before the convention
Stephens, johnson, Ben Hill and sew
crui others we're conferring in caucus
behind locked doors IN q Milledgeville
hotel, when TOoiIibs knocked At the
door. There was no answer. Again
Toonibs knocked, and again none al.
,wer.d. The third time he raped,
saying sharply. is Mr.. Stephens
there. The majority Of the group
argued and pleaded against secession,
but Toombs " as imniovable,
DO ~ you please in the convention
tomorrow, he said warningly, but |
tell you IL Georgia does not secedr revo-
luton will begin right here at Mil.
ledgevilir.' Anerward Toombs i'm
pressed most Of the other with his own
views about the attitude Of the north.
He believed-indced, was convinced
that the north would not go TO war
TO keep the south in the Union. Ter
rible event, were needed 10 wake him
up to II proper realization "f his error,
but he was awaken at last"
Judge Martin believes that the sub
stautlal d-roriment of the south now
inrrea ing with such prosperous strides
will eventually lead Ia the reclamation
of his section In II political sense.
"Independence in worldly affairs"
iir remarked, 'is sure To brget indie
pcudrnce in though, and action, and
To iii>rilc nieu To throw of the tram
nieIs al caste or prejudice that environ.
ell them when they were more or less
dependent. Business Interests will
have more attention paid To them in
the future political south than mere
party polenlcs or played out preced-
ents. Ii will need time of course, to
bring about the changes l speak OF,
hut they are, in my opinion, inevita-
ble."