The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-12-17
CIVILIAN LEADERS OF THE CONFEDERACY
ROBERT TOOMBS
By JOHN GOODE

4firabeau declared h q three things
are necessary for the Eucc*ssful con-
duct - a evolution "Auda ctty. au-
dactty. aueacity II IL certain that
Robert Teombs acted upon this rrtn-
ciple When the Confederate states
seeded from the American Union. he
espoused their cause with ali the en-
eFgy and enthusiasU1 ~ his manly ma
ture. Although a WING IN politics he
belonged To the STATES rights wing
He loved his native south. and oeliev-
ed that the highest energies Of hhT ma
ture and the best affections OF his heart
We're due TO her lie would have freely
offered IT any time ia her defense his
fortunes and is sacred honor
When Georgia was aanally embar-
raised = needed money ne loaned
the state from his own funds 4 large
sum lie was an earnest disciple u
the States rights school. Of which JET
ferson. Madison and Mason we're the
great ~exefnplars. He fully believed
that he Constitution was not made BY
any man or any set OF men, but that
il vas made b. the states. as states.
and that entering into the compact
or union. had not surrendered their
sovereignty as free and Independent
CONFERENCE.-The.
His statement OF Rights.
At the first session Of the Provision
al Congress at Montgomery he was APP
pointed Secretary OF state for the CON
federate states. In his diplomatic cor
r~espondence with william l.. Yancey.
Pierre a. Bost and A. w. Mann. in
which he sent their commissions To
Great Britain, France, Russia and Bel
GUM, ~accrediting them to represent the
Confederate States near the govern
ments of those countries, he took ad-
vantage OF the opportunity to inform
the governments of the world that the
several COmmonW ealthS comprising
the Confederate states OF America had
by act of their people. in convention
assembled, severed their connection
with the United states: had resumed
the powers which they delegated to the
Federal government for certain speci-
fed and had formed an in
dependent government. perfect in all
its branches. and endowed with every
attribute of sovereignty and power
necessary to entitle them to assume a
place among the nations Of the world.
Mr.. Toombs was born In Wilkes
county, Ga, July ,, 1910 His grand
father was q soldier in B~raddock's dis
astrous campaign. His father. Major
Robert Toombs. commanded a Virginia
regiment during the revolutionary
war, rendering conspicuous service IN
that capacity. Robert TOombs entered
the University Of Georgia in 1924, but
not being willing to submit to the Sc
we're discipline to which the students
were subjected, he was granted a dis
charge. He then entered Union Col
lege, New York, from which he grad
uated in 1928. He studied law al the
University OF Virginia in 1829-'3o, ana
although he had not attained TO the
requisite age, he was by act OF the
Legislature Of Georgia, admltte1 70
the bar on the 18th of March. 1884.
In November, 1888, he was marrled 70
Julia Dubose and in 1880 celebrated
his golden wedding with his chllareh
around him to wish him JOY ana eN-
tend their Fluctuations.
Fought Indians.
He commanded a company In the
Creek War, represented his county IN
the Legislature in 1837-40 and is41-
IA, at which time he served as chalr-
man of the Committee of the Judi
ciary. He was the Wing candidate Tor
speaker of the House in 1912, delegate
to the Democratic National ConVen-
ton in 1914, member of the House OF
Representatives from the twenty
ninth &c the Th~irty-second Congress
and United States Senator from 1893
to 1861. when he retired.
On January Z. 1851. he made his
last speech in the United States Sen
ate and announced his retirement from
that body. He was a of the
State convention that passed the or
dinance of secession, and on the lith
of ADril, 1861, voted with 2O7 other
delegates in favor of secession. He
was unanimously elected as the first
delegate at large to the PROVISIONAL
Congress at montgomery. His name
was presented to the Congress as the
first choice for President, but four
states having agreed on Mr.. Davis as
the candidate, he was unanimously
chosen.
He Took to the Field.
Mr.. Toombs was made chairman OF
the Finance mi of the Pr
= nnnnS ~
proposed attack on the United States
forts at Charleston harbOr as a move
ment fatal to the ~ConfeOeracy, and
thereby demonstrated his far-seelng
craftsmanship. on July 21, 1861, he
1oined the Confederate army as Brig
adier-General. and commanded the
First Brigade of the First Division of
the Army of Northern Virginia.
IN January, 1852. the Genera AS
sembly of Georgia elected him to the
Senate of the Confederate states, with
BENJAMIN H. Hill as his colleague.
hit he continued to command his bril-
gade during the peninsular campaign
and during the seige at yorktown.
At the battle of Malvern Hill his
brigade lost one-third of its entire
lumber After a controversy with d.
II. Hill. and his arrest by order of
president DAVIS, he joined his brigade
| during the fight at the second battle
Of Manassas, in August. 1852. He re-
ceived ~the highest commentator for
his gallantrs and courage in guarding
the bridge over -Anteitam with 401
men. He was severely wounded in that
engagement and was sent home to re
cover from his wound. but ~reJolned
his command in the spring of 1852.
In the following March, however, he
resigned his commission in the army
After his return to Georgia he offered
hts service to Governor Brown, ana
was made ~adjutant and inspector-gen-
eral of the Georgia militia, taking part
in the battles before Atlanta the seige
of Savannah and in the battle of Poe
otaligo, S. c.
Never Reconstructed.
When the COnfederacy finally col
lapSed he escaped to Europe, but never
asked for pardon. and always insisted
that he was an "unreconstructed and
u~nrepentant rebel" After the val he
practiced law and anlassed a consider
able fortune.
He was q delegate to the State con-
vention in 1877, was made chairman of
the committee on legislation and final
revision. When he convention was
embarrassed for want of funds he in
sisted on advancing the money from
his own pocket. one of the last acts
Of his life was to pronounce a great
eulogy on the life and character of his
intimate, bosom friend, Alexander H.
liz . xix n11n ~