Year: 1866

the principles of constitutional liberty,


than to the arena of arms 1t is my set


fled conviction that there is not any


idea cherished at all in.the public mind


of Georgia of ever resorting again to Sc


cession or to the exercise of the right of


secession that whole policy Of of the


maintenance of their rights, in my


opinion, is at this time totally alb


seconded


Question-But the opinion as 10 the
| rights as l understand, remains sub-


stantially the same7 Answer cannot


answer as to that, l have changed their


opinion in this respect 1t would be an


unusual thing as well as difficult mat
ter for whole people to change
| their convictions upon abstract truths


or principles. / have not heard this


view of the subject debated or discussed


recently, and l wish to be understood as


giving my opinion only on that branch


of the subject which is Of practical
character and Importance


Question-To what do you attribute
the change Of opinion as to the propriety
af attempting to maintoin their views
By force Answer-Well sir, my opin-
ion about that, that is. my individual
opinion, derived from observation, is
that the change of opinion is mainly
from the operation of the war among
themselves, and the results of the con-
flict from their own authorities, in their
individual rights of person and proper
ty, and from the general breaking down
of the constitutional barriers which
usually attend all protracted wars


Question-In 1861, when the ordinance
of secession. was adopted in your State,
to what extent was it supported by the
people2 Answer-After the proclama-
ton OF President Lincoln calling ont
10 900 militia, under the circumstances
it was issued, and blockading the Sonth.
ern ports and the suspension of the writ
of habeas corpus, the Southern cause, as
it was termed, received the almost
unanimous support Of the people Of
Georgia Before that they were very
much divided on the question of the
policy of secession, but afterwards they
supported the cause within the range of
|my knowledge with very few exceptions
There were some few exceptions, not ex-
ceedinG halfa dozen, | think The i'm
preston then prevailing was that public
liberty was in danger. They supported
the cause because of their zeal for con-
stitutional rights. They still differed
very much as TO the ultimate object to
be attained and the means to be used but
these ditierencesNyielded to the emer
,gency of the apprehended common dan
iger


i Question-Was not the ordinance of
secession adopted in Georgia earlier in
date than that proclamation on the sew
enty five thousand volunteers. Answer


Yes, sir. / stated that the people were
very much divided on the question Of
the ordinance of secession, but lust after
the proclamation the people became
almost unanimous in the support Of the
cause There were some few exceptions
IN the State thinE not more than a
half dozen among my acquaintance As
said while they were even then almost
unanimous in support OF the cause they
differed also as to the end to be attained
by sustaining It. Some looked to the
adjustment or settlement of the contro-
versy upon any basis that would secure |
their constitutional rights Voters look
ed to Southern separate nationality as
their only object and hope These defn.
ite views as to the ultimate objects did |
not interfere with the general active |
support of the cause


Question-Wa there a popular vote |
for the ordinance Of secession Answer |
Only SO far as in the election of dele |
gates to the Convention


Question-There was 40 subsequent |
action Answer sir The ordinance
of secession was not 7ubpittei to Gnal
vote afterwards


Question-Hay yOu any opinion a. 10
The vote il would have received as com.
posed with the whole if it had been
submitted to the free action Of the peo.
pie AnSBeT-Did von hear after it
wa adopted by the committee Mr.
Boutwell, Yes, after it was adopted by
the committee if it had beed submitted
forthwith Of within a reasonable time
as taking the true state of things into
south Carolina, Florida
or Mississippi think having seceeded,
my opinion is that majority OF the peo
pie wOnld have ratified it, and perhaps
by decided or large majority. If how
ever. South Carolina and the other States
hal not adopted their ordinance of seces-
sion, am very we'll satisfied that a ma
iOrity of the people would have been
against secession if her ordinance had |
been submitted to them, but as matters
stood at the time OF the ordinance it |
would have received the popular vote of |
the State aud would have been sustained, |
That is my judgement AMI opinion about
that matter


Question-What was the date of the |
Georg a ordinance Answer think
the 18th or 10Th OF January, l-Gi. am
not certain


Question-The question Of secession
was involved in the election Of del
egates to the National Convention, was
it not Auswer-Tes sir


Question-And was thereon the part
N the candidates a pretty general
avowal of opinions Answer-Yes sir


Queston-What was the result of the
election as far as the Contention eI-
pressed any opinion upon the question
of secession? Answer think the ma
iority in favor Of secession was about
forty / Dc rot remember the exact
vote.


Ouestioc-In q onTentIo1 cf how
many? Answer-Ir a convention |
based upon the members Of the Senate /
and the members Of the House, in the
general assembly Of the State. The ex-
act 'riumber l do not recollect'' but | |
-. /