Rome, Georgia - History (part 4 of 17)

Dear Cobb : - I was with McDonald*** a good deal while he was here, and he was in fine health and most excellent spirits. In fact, I have never seen him when he was on better terms with himself and the most of the world. He has not much fancy for our friend, Col. Underwood, and I think he has not a great deal of respect for Dr. Singleton. I had no conversation with him in regard to the position of United States Senator, nor did he give me any intimation that he expected to go into Mr. Pierce's cabinet. But William Fort, of this place, a nephew of Dr. Fort, and who is the intimate friend and supporter of Gov. McDonald, informs me that Jefferson Davis is in correspondence with Mc- Donald, and that McDonald informed him confidentially that he would go to Milledgeville immediately this week, and if he could control some three or four of his friends and induce them to go into your support for United States Senator, that he would then tender back to the party the nomination and go in publicly for your election; and if this was successful, he had no doubt of your election to the United States Senate,**** and that he would be appointed Secretary of War in the place of Jefferson Davis, would would also go into the Senate from the State of Mississippi. He further informed me that Brown was an applicant for the Senate from Mississippi, and that this difficulty would have to be accommodated by providing for Brown in some other way. I feel confident that this arrangement will be carried out, and if so, the party

****The election was held Jan. 23, 1854. Wm. C. Dawson, Whig incumbent, McDonald and Cobb were beaten by a Southern Rights Democrat, Alfred Iverson, of Columbus.

Locally, politics was active, but it was not confined to local offices or questions. The newspaper editors saw to it that their readers were well posted on national matters and characters. To inspire Georgians and Romans there stood the examples of Wm. H. Crawford, United States Senator and minister to France, who might have occupied the Presidential chair except for an unfortunate stroke of paralysis ;***** Howell Cobb, Georgia Governor, speaker of the National House, and Secretary of the Treasury ; John Forsyth, Governor of Georgia, United States Senator and Secretary of State ; Wm. H. Stiles, minister to Austria; Benj. C. Yancey, minister to Argentine ; John E. Ward, minister to China; Herschel V. Johnson, United States Senator and candidate for vice-president on the ticket of Stephen A. Douglas jvgainst Abraham Lincoln in 1860; and a number of others who bore Georgia's banner in the front of the procession. Georgia did not play "second fiddle" to any state or the village of Rome to any city.

Few of Rome's early records were kept, and apparently no newspaper files before 1850 are in existence. Several copies of the Rome Weekly Courier of 1850-51-52 were made available through the courtesy of H. H. Wimpee, of South Rome, and from these we get the best view of the political conditions up to that time, and looking jihead into the dark days of 1861-5.

By 1850 we find the old Whig party beginning to disintegrate, but its adherents fighting grimly. In that year its last President, Millard Fillmore, was inaugurated. Democrats were holding their own ; after Fillmore they elected Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. The Republican party was rising in power. The American Party sprang up at the expense of the Whigs ; they were the "middle of the road" host, or "Know Nothings." The States Rights Democrats, often called "Fire-Eaters," were a wing of the Democratic party, in the main. The Constitutional Unionists were formidable, North and South. Smaller factions likewise existed.

An idea of the intense heat issuing from the political pot may be gained fr'om the statement that meetings at this time were attended ^by 10,000 to 20,000 people. The slavery and states' rights issues were fast coming to a head. Elections held in Georgia showed a large majority of people favorable to maintaining the Union. On Oct. 24, 1850, Jos. Watters and Edward Ware received 882 and 809 votes, respectively, and Dr. Alvin Dean 121 votes, in a Floyd County election for two delegates t(^ the state convention Dec. 10, 1850, at Milledgeville. Dr. Dean represented the disunionist element, or "fire-eaters." The vote of the delegates on secession measures was heavily in favor of preserving the status quo. The eyes of the nation were focused on Georgia, and a different result, it is believed, would have hastened the Civil War by a decade.

Gentlemen: Your letter of the 10th inst., notifying me that at a very large meeting of the citizens of Floyd County, held in Rome on the 10th, I was unanimously nominated as one of the candidates to represent the county in the convention which is to assemble in Milledgeville, Dec. 10, has been received. You enclose a copy of the resolutions adopted by the meetr /<\,

I have carefully examined the resolutions and do approve of them as adopted by the meeting. As such, I accept the nomination received, and should I be elected by the voters of the county, I will oppose any measure leading to a dissolution of the Union.

Should Congress at any time exhibit its purpose to v^^ar upon our property or withhold our just constitutional rights, I as a Southern man stand ready to vindicate those rights in the Union as long as possible and out of the Union when we are left no other alternative.

Joseph Watters

Gentlemen: I received your polite note of the 10th inst. yesterday evening, informing me of my unanimous nomination by a large and respectable meeting of the citizens of Floyd County as one of the two candidates to represent them at Milledgeville Dec. 10. I consent to represent them if I should be elected.

I am requested by your honorable committee to give a pledge to support the resolutions submitted to me for my consideration. I pledge myself to suoport no measure leading to a violation of the Constitution of the United States or dissolution of the Union.

Edward Ware

Editor Eddleman was a staunch Union man himself, and his views were shared by many, as the following- editorial item from the same issue of his paper will show :

Kingston Mass Meeting. - Let no one forget the gathering of the friends of the Union at Kingston on Nov. 8. Ample accommodation will be provided for 20,000 persons, and we hope to see at least that number in attendance. The noblest fabric of government ever purchased by the blood of patriotism or formed by the wisdom of man is threatened with destruction. Is there public virtue enough in the hearts of the people to save it? If the assault were made by a foreign foe, 100,000 bayonets in Georgia would bristle in its defense. Shall the enthusiasm be less warm, the determination less firm, to hazard all in its protection, because the enemy is in our midst?

Come out, then, to the meeting at Kingston, and let us mingle our voices in loud and long huzzas for the glorious old government of our ancestors, endeared to us as it is by the reminiscences of the past, the incalculable blessings of the present and the bright anticipations of the future - spreading before the imagination a career of prosperity, of greatness and grandeur, to which all history affords no parallel. Let us meet and firmly resolve at any cost to maintain it pure and inviolate, as we received it. Come, people of Cherokee Georgia, and partake of the hospitality of your fellow citizens of Cass and Floyd. Come and listen to the eloquence of Stephens, and Cobb, and Toombs, and Andrews, and Pettigrew, and a host of others who are to be there to address you. Come and enjoy a "feast of reason and a flow of soul." Let the wisdom of age be there to moderate and control the fire and impetuosity of youth. Let the presence and the smile of woman, as in every contest of patriotism the world over, be ready to cheer and encourage the hardier sex in the performance of its duty.

Let no one stay away because of the supposed weakness of our adversaries. They are more numerous than many suppose. They have talents, courage, cunning and money, and evince a determination to spend them freely in the desperate cause in which they have embarked. Come and show by your spirit and numbers your resolution to permit no sacrilegious hand to render asunder the Glorious Flag of your Country. It has formed the winding sheet of many of your patriot ancestors. It has been to Americans in every land and on every sea, as far as human foot has trod, the Aegis of Safety. Proudly has it waved over a thousand bloody but victorious battlefields, and it is for you to say whether it shall be transmitted unsullied to your posterity. Let there be for centuries no stain upon it, no erasure; but on its bright field let every STAR and every STRIPE forever shine resplendently in glorious equality!

in thought and to a considerable extent at its close preparation in arms and munitions of war. Some years before this, statesmen and military leaders saw the prospect clearly. In 1844 Lieut. Wm. T. Sherman, just out of West Point, was ordered to go by horseback from Charleston to Marietta to assist in hearing claims of Georgia volunteers in the Seminole War for lest horses and equipment. After finishing at Marietta, he passed through Cass (now Bartow) County, and examined the Tumlin Indian mound near Cartersville with Col. Lewis Tumlin ; then proceeded to Bellefonte, Jackson Co., Ala., to continue his duties. He made a thorough study of the country from the military standpoint, especially Kennesaw^ Mountain, AUatoona Pass and the Etowah river.* After spending two months at Bellefonte, he returned to Ft. Moultrie, Charleston Harbor, on horsel)ack via Rome, AUatoona, Marietta (and Kennesaw), Atlanta, Macon and Augusta, following closely parts of the route he took 20 years later on his "March to the Sea."**

Another distinguished guest of Rome who came on a different mission was Jeft'erson Davis;*** and still another, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1850, was Col. Albert J. Pickett, of Alabama, concerning Avhose mission the Rome Weekly Courier of Thursday, Oct. 31, 1850, printed the following" notice :

Col. Pickett On DeSoto's Route. - Col. Albert J. Pickett, of Montgomery, Ala., author of the History of Alabama and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, entertained a large number of our citizens for two hours Tuesday evening at the courthouse, giving an interesting account of the invasion of Georgia by DeSoto, more than three centuries ago. Col. Pickett is in possession of a more minute account of this remarkable adventure than any man we have ever seen. Upon the site of our city, he asserted, DeSoto encamped with 1,000 men for 30 days, during which time a battle was fought between the Spaniards under his command and the Indian tribes then inhabiting this country. Evidences of this battle still exist in the shape of human bones dug out of a mound near the junction of the Etowah and the Oostanaula.

From 1840 to 1861 Rome grew fast. In this period Wm. R. Smith (called "Long Bill" because he wore his hair in a cjueue down his back), Col. Wade S. Cothran and Col. Daniel S. Printup appeared. All engaged in railroad enterprises, and in addition. Col. Printup attended to a large law business, and Col. Cothran acquired an interest in the steamboat lines, for which Capt. F. M. Coulter had built a number of handsome and serviceable boats.

***Accordin!2: to Mrs. Hiram D. Hill, Mr. Davis visited her parents, Col. and Mrs. Danl. R. Mitchell. Mrs. Mitchell was a member of the Mann family, to whose members Mr. Davis was also related. Mr. Davis and Mrs. Mitchell were second cousins, according to Mrs. Hill.

The Rome Railroad (originally the Memphis Branch Railroad and Steamboat Company of Georgia) was chartered Dec. 21, 1839, and the whole town turned out several years later when the first train puffed in from Kingston, 16 miles and a good hour away.* In 1855 the Nobles came from Reading, Pa., to give Rome a decided boost in iron manufactures. The LeHardys arrived from Belgium to found their Belgian colony, an experiment which added much to the agricultural interest and the social, educational and cultural importance of Rome. Major Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp") moved over from Lawrenceville in 1851, and thus Rome acquired a literary expounder who could proclaim her glories abroad, a sweet-voiced singer who could put her wonders into type and an artist who could paint her rude characters in the colors of their native abode.

Rome soon acquired a case of "growing pains." The editors began to call for better things than what Rome had had. The flickering street lamps and the house lamps and candles were an abomination. An enterprising firm advertised "camphine" as better than any light except the sun ; ten years later, in 1860, a local firm started selling machines to make gas out of pine logs.

In 1850 a volunteer fire company was formed, with a reel that would carry buckets of water. Robt. Battey was president and David G. Love secretary. "Water, water" v/as everywhere, but there were no pipes to carry it in, and there was no pump to send it into a gravity tank. Luckily, the early fires were usually small, except one in 1858, which took most of the block on the west side of Broad Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues.

Soda water and ice cream appeared in 1850, and created a sensation. There was no great demand for them; the people needed such money as they had for more urgent necessities ; most of all, perhaps, they were new and untried. In 1860 the druggists attempted to make soda water go again, and gave away quantities to introduce it. The name of it at that time was soda pop. The two drug stores were conducted by Dr. J. D. Dickerson and Battey & Brother. The senior member of the latter was Dr. Geo. M. Battey, and the junior member Robt. Battey. Dr. Dickerson not only ran his drug store, but found time to act as the first mayor, which position he filled two terms, until December, 1850, when he retired in favor of Jas. P. Perkins. Mr. Perkins was followed by Nathan Yarbrough in 1852. Other early mayors, of uncertain date, were Wm. Cook Gautier Johnstone and Jas. M. Sumter. In 1857 Judge

Robt. D. Harvey was mayor, and in 1859-60 H. A. Gartrell, lawyer and uncle of Henry W. Grady.* Old newspapers state that Dr. Thos. Jefferson Word was elected mayor in 1861 and succeeded himself in 1862.

Mail Change. - We are informed by Thos. J. Perry, Esq., postmaster at this city, that he has received a communication from the Department at Washington giving assurance of a speedy and salutary change in the transportation of the mail and passengers between this place and Guntersville, Ala. A four-horse stage coach v^rill soon take the place of the spring wagon. Very well.

Rome, Its Prospects. - It is gratifying to watch the gradual but certain growth of our young and vigorous city. Buildings of various kinds are rapidly going up and valuable accessions are being made to our population. Since the completion of the "Rome Railroad," business has steadily increased, and under a wise and liberal policy will be largely augmented during the next few years. If we are not greatly deceived, Rome will double its population of more than 3,000 in the next four years, provided its resources are properly directed and its interests prudently fostered. Its population with the exception of some 20 or 30 very clever doctors and lawyers, (who, we are happy to say, have but little to do), is made up mostly of substantial business men who are permanently identified with the place and deeply interested in its prosperity and reputation.

Surrounded by a country of unsurpassed beauty and fertility, occupied by an unusually dense and valuable agricultural population - at the terminus of railroad and steamboat transportation - Rome is and must ever continue to be a place of considerable commercial importance.

We hope before the commencement of another business season we shall be able to record the establishment of a bank in our City.** Such an institution under proper regulations will greatly promote the convenience and prosperity of every class of our citizens. Our business men should take this matter under immediate consideration, or a large and profitable interior trade may be forever diverted from their control.

A person living in Middle or Lower Georgia, who has never visited the "Metropolis of Cherokee," has an idea that it is like all other up-country towns, composed of a courthouse in the center of a square, surrounded by two taverns, a variety store, a ten pin alley, a blacksmith shop and three groceries. He therefore expresses great surprise on coming to our City for the first time, to discover what an egregious mistake he has made. One eye is opened slightly when he arrives at the depot and beholds those city institutions, church steeples, and an omnibus, and by the time his baggage is seized and violently tugged at by zealous drummers, from our two large rival hotels, that eye is wide open. The lids of the other begin to part company, in order to give a better view of the long line of fine brick stores, stretching away up Broad Street, at the head of which, upon an eminence overlooking the city, is the handsome residence of our Ex-M. C.,*** and the imposing building of "Rome Female College."

If he be here on the Sabbath, and is not a "heathen or a publican," he attends one of our four churches, and finds it filled with an intelligent and attentive congregation, and hears a sermon that would be listened to with interest and profit by any similar assembly in the State. On Monday morning, his curiosity being aroused, he strolls down one side of Broad Street, and up the other to observe the style and extent of our business. While he stands wondering at the number of cotton and produce wagons "coming to town," and our energetic business men hurrying to and fro, if it be a pleasant day, and he an unmarried man, his heart leaps as he hears tiny heels, (bless their little soles), pattering on the pavement behind him. He turns, and his gaze is fixed upon a sweet and intelligent face, just as far in advance of "a dear love of a bonnet" as the most enthusiastic admirer of "beauty vi^hen unadorned" could Vv^ish.

If not transfixed, he, like one of Dame Nature's loyal subject:.-;, obeys her "supreme law," and immediately steps off the sideivalk, to make room for the widest circles of fashion that are "trundling" his way. Drawn irresistibly, he follows, and entering one of our many large dry goods houses, he sees several industrious and smiling clerks, energetically employed in pulling down and unrolling, and then rolling and putting up again, an extensive assortment of calicoes, bereges, silks, satins, muslins, delaines, etc.,, etc., to accommodate the fair customers, who throng the counters "only to see the latest spring styles." All doubts that may have been excited by the information that Rome has furnished the last three Congressmen from the Fifth District* are dispelled, and he is "convinced against his will" that we have reached the highest point of civilization.

But he has yet to learn the importance of Rome, in a business point of view; for although he has lobserved that we have a number of fashionable dry goods establishments, various clothing stores, large grocery houses, three livery stables, two extensive hardware and four drug stores, also one of jewelry, another of crockery and a third of "books and stationery," he is surprised to learn that besides the "college," we have a "Cherokee Institute" for boys and girls together, a high school for the former by themselves, and two or three others, where the younger ideas are just taking aim; that we have two "carriage repositories," where fine buggies and other vehicles are made, and that two cabinet shops, with steam motive power, giving employment to about 50 hands, are daily manufacturing on an extensive scale neat and durable furniture of the latest and best styles.**

Upon enquiring the cause of so much blowing and whistling of steam engines, some one of our obliging citizens takes his arm and conducts him down to the foundry*** and shows

He is informed that they built the first, and one of the best locomotives in the State, besides numerous engines for mines, mills, steamboats, etc. He is then taken to the "Nonpareil Mills," and sees meal and flour in large quantities, ground by machinery, set in motion by one of these same engines.

He is still unprepared for the most astounding discovery of all. When told that Rome, away up in the northwest corner of the State, surrounded by the mountains of Cherokee, is situated at the confluence of two streams, upon one of which, and upon the river which they form, four steamboats are constantly arriving and departing, he smiles and shakes his head incredulously. In order to convince him, it is only necessary to take him down to the wharves, and point with honest pride to the floating witnesses. Three of them, he is informed, make weekly trips down the Coosa river, to Greensport, Ala., and the fourth, three times a week, up the Oostanaula to Calhoun, Gordon County. Each leaves her wharf with a heavy cargo of merchandise, and returns laden with cotton, grain, lumber, etc., etc.

The "chief among us taking notes," walks thoughtfully away with the conviction that Rome is "no mean city," and if in the course of a year or two he returns and hears the "Iron Horse" snorting through Vann's Valley, bringing its living freight from Mobile and New Orleans, on their way to the Northern cities, he will find that it is making rapid strides to the position of influence and importance to which the hand of Nature points.

The Tri-Weekly Courier of Aug 8, 1860, stated that the population of Floyd County in 1840 was 4,441, and presented the folloAving census table comparisons :****

Chapter Vi

LTHOUGH Floyd had been overwhelmingly a "Union county," her citizens, almost to a man, were willing to go with the majority in any situation affecting the interests of the South. Thus we see the local sentiment gradually changing, until in 1860 the anti-secession forces had lost considerable ground. This was brought about in general by the drift of the times, in particular by the abductions of slaves, the propaganda of traveling emissaries, and the literary efforts of Northern leaders opposed to slavery. The writings of Wni. Lloyd Garrison, who edited an abolitionist paper, Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and Hinton Rowan Helper, author of "The Impending Crisis," greatly inflamed sentiment and tended to knit public opinion more closely.

The Rome Tri-Weekly Courier gives a good view of some of these influences and the incidents which were the outgrowth of them. Says Capt. Dwinell in The Courier of Jan. 10, 1860:

Look Out For Him. - The Knoxville Whig gives the following description of an abolition emissary who, it says, intends "spending the winter at the South." His ostensible business seems to be selling and putting up gas burners, and as Rome will very soon have need of such articles, he may honor us with a visit.

He is about 23 or 25 years of age, weighs about 135, has light hair, sort of gray or blue eyes; his height is about 5 feet, 6 inches; he is fond of music, is a scientific fiddler; goes about as an agent for gas burners; is an incessant talker; is well informed for a man of his age, talks up freely on all subjects. Has letters addressed to him at different points, sometimes John

The Whig says he spent some time in Jacksboro, Tenn., and on his return to his home, Brooklyn, N. Y., he wrote a long letter on the subject of slavery to a citizen of the former place. We subjoin an extract, and hope a strict watch may be kept for him:

"Depend upon it, when Brown* dies, the ghost will haunt many that may gloat upon the sight, or imaginary one of Brown and his party, as they see them dangling on the scaffold paying their desire of revenge ! And ere long there will be a howling in their ears, with thunder tones the snappings and crackings of those long-forged chains, until they awake as from a dream at last, in which they shall see their folly in having executed men for their feelings of benevolence.

"I see that the institution is getting very sick. It has the ague in its worst foriii in Virginia. It has the consumption, and almost a galloping one, in Missouri. So it has in portions of Kentucky and many parts of the South. The' seeds of discontent are being sowed broadcast, even to the most remote regions. Not through the influence of emissaries from the North particularly, but by the force of the power of emigration and civilization."

There are too many of these scoundrels prowling about through the Southern states. Their object is the same as is proclaimed in the "Impending Crisis," and attempted to be carried out by John Brown and his confederates - emancipation of our slaves - attended by murder, arson and all that is terrible and revolting in a servile war. We are no advocates of mob law, but we believe in the first law of nature, and in such instances as these, frequently our only safety is in summary proceedings.

We learn from the Atlanta papers that last week in that city one of these vile incendiaries, named Newcomb, a clerk in a dry goods house, drank a toast to the health of John Brown, and eulogized his character. He was _ allowed to escape without just punishment for his temerity. We are opposed to rashness and precipitancy in such cases, but when guilt is fully established, these fellows should be dealt with in such manner as will cause them to remember the lesson the balance of their days, and enable them to recite it with earnestness and eloquence to such of their friends as may seem inclined to embark on similar enterprises.

The Impendivg Crisis. - We find the subjoined extract from this notorious book in one of our exchanges. Southerners can infer from it the purpose and character of the work:

"So it seems that the total number of actual slave owners, including their entire crew of cringing lick-spittles, against whom we have to contend, is but 347,525. Against the army for the defense and propagation of slavery, we think it will be an easy matter - independent of the negroes, who in nine cases out of ten would be delighted with an opportunity to cut their masters' throats, and without accepting a single recruit from the free states, England, France or Germany - to muster one at least three times as large and far more respectable, for its utter extinction. We are determined to abolish slavery at all hazards - in defiance of all opposition of whatever nature, which it is possible for the slaveocrats to muster against us. Of this they

It is nothing more nor less than a declaration of war against the South and her institutions, in which we are warned to "take due notice" that our slaves will be given the opportunity of cutting our throats. And this treasonable document is recommended by 68 Northern men, including Congressmen, Governors and clergymen. It is endorsed by leaders of the Black Republican party, among them John Sherman, of Ohio, their speaker of the House of Representatives; Wm. H. Seward,* Senator from New York, says of it:

And Mr. Seward will in all probability be the candidate of his party for the presidency. These facts will do for Southerners to ponder well.

Somethivg, Something, Anything! - Now that the state convention of the dominant party has adjourned, the general hope is that the Legislature will do something - anything - by way of preparing to meet the requirements of the war that is almost upon us. Let no man accuse us of disunion purposes. The question is not, will not be, left to the South for decision. The forces of Abolition intend to leave us no option but to fight for our firesides, or do as cowards do. As they moved at Harper's Ferry, so they are preparing to move all over the South. Plots have already been detected and stifled in Missouri. "Irrepressible Conflict" means the knife at your throat and the torch at your house, reader, and both at the dead of night. Whenever you take up and drive off an Abolitionist from your neighborhood, he goes to the next county, and another takes his place. The dead ones cease to act.

A Page Dedicated To The Horse

Fearin? the horse, like his ill-fated predecessor, the ox, might become practically extinct as a resu?t of the onward rush of the automobile and the flying machme, we present these pLt^r^rhlrewith as°"our contribution to the perpetuation of his fame. J^^ d-b*^^--^""- living will in the dim future point out to their children some horse, with the remarK, once rode one of those!"

cured a large amount of Southern custom by sending- out their drummers dressed in homespun! The ruse pays, and as drummers are generally expected to be an accommodating set, perfectly free and perfectly persuasive, they never lose an opportunity to talk humorously conservative, as if the political hubbub now rampant was all a meaningless fudge, and the North and the South are as firmly linked as ever. But yet, when a serious discussion arises they are intensely Southern, and their homespun is proof positive ! - Petersburg Express.

The following is an extract from the speech of the Hon. John W. H. Underwood, of Rome, in the House of Representatives, Washington, on the 16th inst. It places John Sherman's relation to the Helper book in a new and strong light: "Mr. Clerk, when we assembled in this hall on the first Monday in December last, we found upon the floor of this House 40 members who had 'cordially endorsed' Helper's 'Impending Crisis of the South,' a book which proposes arson, murder, rapine, insurrection and servile war. Among the signers of that 'coidial endorsement' is the honorable gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Sherman, the candidate of the Black Republican party for speaker. . . . That man Helper, some months prior to this 'cordial endorsement,' was exposed by the honorable Senator from North Carolina in the Senate, and denounced as a thief, and this was put into the records of Congress; and not only that, this same Helper assaulted a member of this House (Mr. Craige, of North Carolina) in his seat, about this same work; and I respectfully submit, the honorable gentleman from Ohio was too careless, too unmindful of public events when he endorsed this author's work without knowing the contents of the book. Sir, if ever there was a clear case of criminal negligence, this is the one, if it were a crime to endorse cordially that Helper work!"

We find the following in the Atlanta Intelligencer and cheerfully transfer it to our columns as a merited compliment to our immediate representative and fellow townsman.

We commend the concluding paragraph to the consideration of the Floyd Cavalry, "quorum ille magna pars," and also to those interested in the organization of the new foot company:

"Hon. John W. H. Underwood, the representative of the Fifth Congressional District, passed through our city yesterday morning. He was looking in fine plight, and so far as looks are concerned, is an ornament to the Georgia delegation in CongTess. But he has mental ability as well as looks. Moreover, we find fi'om his conversation that he is fired up with a just sense of the perils impending over the South. He is in favor of arming the South, and advocates on the part of Georgia a preparation to meet the 'irrepressible conflict' which he says must sooner or later come upon us. We cordially respond to his recommendation. Let the State of Geotrgia arm her military forces, encourage volunteer companies, provide arms and ammunition, and in times of peace prepare for war. This is what prudence demands. We are for peace as long as we can preserve our rights by adherence to it, but when forbearance ceases to be a virtue, we say let the fight come on. We have no fears of the final result of such a conflict." - Courier, Feb. 9, 1860.

While the polemics of stump and printing press were raging, the boys were busy currying their mounts and polishing their old scjuirrel gims :

Floyd Cavalry - An Infantry Corps. - The Floyd Cavalry, under command of Capt. W. S. Cothran, paraded in our streets on Saturday. We are glad to see that notwithstanding the discouragements this company have met with, they have persevered in their determination to succeed. Their ranks were not very full, but we hope the election of Col. Cothran to the captaincy will excite additional zeal. We are rejoiced to learn that an infantry company is about being organized in this place.

We call the attention of all the citizens interested in the safety of the country to the fact. In the name of patriotism and in view of the exigencies of the times we entreat them to render all the aid they can. The spies sent out by the Abolition leaders of the North to pry into the conditions of our military system speak in the most contemptuous terms of them. They have doubtless thereby been emboldened in their attacks upon our rights. An ample preparation for the worst is the surest way to avert it. Let us not be behind the rest of the state in the work, but let us place these two companies in a position second to none. - Courier, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1860.

Failure to recognize the South as the "white man's country" caused keen embarrassment to a sojourner in Rome, as told tinder date of Feb. 9, 1860:

An Excitement. - An individual who claimed to be a drummer for a New York house arrived here from Marietta Tuesday afternoon. He was understood by passengers on the car to utter heretical sentiments on the subject of negro equality; and upon information being given to this effect to some of our citizens, he was waited upon and none too politely requested to leave. He seemed to be very earnestly desirous of complying immediately, but was left by the evening train and compelled to wait over until yesterday. At one time he was in immediate danger of being roughly treated, and was so badly scared that he was heard to express a preference for a climate usually considered much warmer than the tropics. He evidently thought Rome too hot for him!

It is a most astonishing thing to us that a Northern man at this juncture will permit an anti-slavery opinion to escape his lips in the South. They must be most stupid folks if they cannot learn under the experience of such teachings as they have had.

This incident suggested to the citizens of Rome a mass meeting two days later to pass resolutions outlawing Northern-made goods. The Courier account and its editorial comment of Saturday, Feb. 11, 1860, are herewith presented :

Non-Intercourse Meeting. - In another column we publish the proceedings of this meeting held in the City Hall on last Thursday. It is an important step in the onward march of the South to independence and greatness. Now the question arises, do we intend to abide by these resolutions? Or will the persons, comprising a large number of our wealthiest and most intelligent citizens, who adopted them with such unanimity, utterly disregard them, as was intimated in the meeting, whenever they can save a few dimes by giving the preference in the purchase of their! goods to those merchants who may bring them from the North? If so, the whole affair will be a most absurd failure, a ridiculous farce. We have greater confidence in the sincerity and the self-sacrificing patriotism of the people of Floyd County than to entertain such a thought for a moment.

Citizens' Non-Intercourse Meeting. - Pursuant to a call from a committee made up of W. S. Cothran, J. H. Lumpkin, J. R. Freeman, J. M. Spullock, W. A. Fort, C. H. Smith, J. B. Underwood, F. C. Shropshire, Alfred Shorter, Dr. J. King, T. W. Alexander, Dr. T. J. Word, Thos. G. Watters and J. H. Mc- Clung, a portion of the citizens of Floyd County met at 11 o'clock at the City Hall, and on motion. of Dr. Alvin Dean, his honor the mayor, Henry A. Gartrell, was called to the chair. The chairman then stated the object of the meeting to be to assert our Commercial Independence of the North. On motion of Hon. J. W. H. Underwood, Dr. Alvin Dean and Col. Jos. Watters were named vice-presidents, and J. W. Wofford and Geo. T. Stovall were re-

While the committee were out, Col. Underwood set forth in an able and eloquent speech the relations existing between the two sections of the country - the aggressive and unconstitutional policy of the North on the one hand and the degi-ading dependence of the South on the other, and eai'nestly urged upon those present the duty and importance of throwing off the financial shackles by which the South is bound.

"Resolved, first, That the merchants and mechanics of this city and county be requested to patronize Southern manufacturers. Southern markets and direct importations to Southern ports, to the exclusion of all others.

"Resolved, second. That in the purchase of our dry goods, groceries, hardware and other merchandise we will support and sustain those who comply with the foregoing resolutions.

"Resolved, third. That while we have an abiding confidence in the patriotism and fidelity of some of our Northern friends, yet duty to the South requires that we should stand to and abide by the foregoing resolutions until the Northern states demonstrate at the ballot box their fidelity to the Constitution and the laws, by driving from our national councils the leaders of that demoniac crew known as the Black Republican party, and by repealing all their local laws which militate against the common Constitution of our country.

"Reso/ved, fourth. That the people of the whole country, irrespective of party affiliation, are requested to meet at the City Hall on the first Tuesday in March, next, for the purpose of ratifying the foregoing resolutions."

There has, perhaps, been no time since the organization of our government when the public mind has been so completely in confusion as it now is throughout this section of the country. The great party that has for years claimed to be the only national one in existence is disrupted and thousands of its members now stand aghast, in confused amazement and know not what to do. A fearful struggle between love of party and patriotism is going on in their breasts, and cowardly demagogues with timid haste and pale-faced alarm are clambering up on the neutral fences and getting ready at the first safe moment to jump to the stronger side. The people should mark these misci-eant poltroons who now with cringing cowardice sneak behind; they will soon appear upon the side of the majority and ask to be made leaders of the victorious hosts.

A fearful responsibility now rests upon the shoulders of every citizen of the South. Political parties are to a great extent broken up and disorganized and every individual now has to advise himself without the aid of political leaders. Under these circumstances every man should be cautious and prudent, but unwaveringly determined to do right and perform his duty whatever that may be. Old party names and distinctions should be thrown to the dogs, and, actuated by pure patriotism, all men should buckle on their armour and volunteer to fight for our unmistakable constitutional rights and the permanent prosperity of our most sacred institutions.

In these times of political excitement there is danger that the people, being exasperated, may be carried to extremes; therefore be on your guard, and "let all the ends thou aimest at be thy country's, God's, and truth's." Bear in mind that you are now at least completely untrammelled, and it is your most imperative duty, with patriotic zeal, boldly to contend for justice and the rights of your section. Think not too much of "choosi7ig between evils," but rather make a determined choice between 7-ight and wrong. "If the Lord be God, serve Him, if Baal, serve him."

The election of President of the United States was to be held Tuesday, Nov. 6, 1860. The tickets in the field were Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, and Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, nominated by the Republicans, or "Black Republicans," as they were called at the South ; Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, and Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, put forward by the "Squatter Sovereignty"* hosts ; Jno. C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, and Jos. Lane, of Indiana (a native of Buncombe County, N. C), running on the American or "Know Nothing" platform ; and John Bell,** of Tennessee, and Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, representing the Constitutional Union party.***

The Courier supported Bell and Everett and carried Floyd County for them ; the rival newspaper, the Southern & Advertiser, backed Breckinridge and Lane and got them second place. Douglas and Johnson Avere a poor third; they split the Democratic vote of the United States with Breckinridge and Lane, else Lincoln might have been defeated.

On Monday, Apr. 23, 1860, the various factions held a national convention at Charleston, S. C. This proved to be a hot session for the delegates; the disunionists Withdrew, and it was voted to adjourn the convention to Baltimore Md., for June 18, 1860. Editor Dwniell attended the Charleston meetnig, and sent back to his readers some vivid accounts of the turmoil and strife.

The Romans, always ready with mass meetings and resolutions, met Tuesday, May 3, 1860, to adopt a policy. Here is an account of the proceedings, as presented in The Courier of two days later :

Democratic Meeting. - We publish in another column the resolutions adopted by the Democratic party of Floyd County on last Tuesday. They fully sustain the seceders from the

F. C. Shropshire, Esq., offered a substitute, according honesty and patriotic motives to the seceders, but refusing to say whether they acted right or wrong. Hon. J. H. Lumpkin reviewed the history of the party for four years past ; from the adoption of the Cincinnati platform to the desertion of Douglas; from the rise of Squatter Sovereignty to the adjournment of the Charleston Convention. He gave a succinct, clear and correct recital of the action of this body; the determination of Judge Douglas' friends, the enemies of the South, to force him upon us, and repudiate the Constitutional rights of the South so clearly defined by the Supreme Court, and presented in the majority platform by seventeen Democratic States - fifteen of which were slave states. He showed that no course was left for Southern men who respected the rights and equality of their section but to withdraw from the Squatters.

Mr. Shropshire followed in support of his resolutions. He exhorted Democrats to harmonize. He told them that the party had been pledged since 1847 to abide by the principles of nonintervention by Congress with slavery in any way, and they should be faithful to their pledge, and stand by their Northern friends who had stood by them. He wound up with a most affecting appeal. He assured them the party would be ruined unless there was a compromise; he begged his friends opposed to him to yield a little - just a little - and the great Democratic party would once more unfurl its proud banner, etc., etc.

W. B. Terhune, Esq., made a few pointed remarks in favor of the majority report; read the resolution adopted by the December convention; said the seceding delegates had acted in accordance with the principles therein laid down and they should be sustained by the party. He moved to lay Mr. Shropshire's substitute on the table, which was carried by an overwhelming vote.

*According to Avery's History of Georgia, p. 103, the "squatter sovereignty doctrine claimed the right of territorial legislatures to determine the question of slavery in the territories."

**As a member of Congress in 1835, Mr. Bell was requested by John Ross to call for an investigation of the arrest of Ross and John Howard Payne by the Georgia Guard.

We observed the same distinction between the speeches of Messrs. Lumpkin and Terhune on one side and Mr. Shropshire on the other, which characterized the debate in the Charleston convention and the letters of distinguished Democrats in reply to the Macon committee.

Resolutions Adopted. - First. That the protection of all the rights, both of person and property of all citizens, is the sole legitimate purpose for which Governments are instituted.

Second. That the Federal Government of the States of the Union is bound, to the full extent of the powers delegated to it by them, to protect all citizens of all the states, in all their rights of person and property, everywhere, and more especially upon the public domain, their common property.

Third. That a large and increasing majority of the people, under the name of Black Republicans, of the Eastern, Middle and Northwestern States, are striving to get control of the Federal Government, with the avowed purpose of withholding this protection from more than three thousand millions of Southern property, and of thus putting this property in a state of outlawry, in a government which derives from it more than two-thirds of all its revenues.

Fourth. That, therefore, the demand made by the Southern delegates to- the Chai'leston convention of a distinct recognition of the equal right of Southern citizens and property to protection by the Common Government, upofn common soil, was highly expedient, reasonable and just.

Fifth. That the obstinate refusal of the delegations from the sixteen States now under the control of the Black Republicans, to make this recognition, demanded by the seventeen Democratic States of the Union, and recognized as just by many individual delegates from all the States, gives painful evidence that a majority of those deleg^^- tions already sympathize with the Black Republicans in their unrelenting hostility to our Constitutional rights.

Sixth. That the withdrawal of a large portion of the Southern delegates from the convention upon this unequivocal manifestation of sectional hostility to our rights was wise, nnanly ayid patriotic, and entitles them to the thanks of the tvhole Southern people.

Seventh. That we will appear by our delegates in the convention, to be held at Milledgeville, on the 4th day of June next, to deliberate upon the course to be pursued by the Democratic party of Georgia, in the present condition of political affairs.

Eighth. That if a majority of that convention shall deem it expedient that Georgia should be represented at the adjourned meeting of the Charleston convention, to take place at Baltimore, on the 18th of June next, we will consent to it for the sake of harmony, but upon the express condition that we will not be bound by the action of that body unless it shall give its assent in sincerity of purpose and good faith to the principles contended for by the Democratic states at Charleston, and give us in addition a sound candidate.

The lightning-rod salesman was smother "gentleman from the North" for whom Floyd County citizens kept peeled an eager eye. The Courier of Aug. 30, 1860, stated that a correspondent of The Savannah News, writing inider date of Aug. 10 from the Steamship Montgomery, declared a man on board by the name of John Owens, of Erie County, N. Y., who had been putting up lightning rods in Georgia and West Florida, had asserted that John Brown died in a good cause, and he (Owens) would be willing to lay down his life for the same ; also that he announced his intention of returning to the South.

"Last year a man by the name of Owens, selling patent lightning rods, passed through this county and met with considerable success," continued The Courier. "He had much to say against abolitionists, which was a suspicious circumstance. Let us be on the watch for him, and when he returns, have an investigation. Will not The Savannah News obtain from its correspondent a description of John Owens, in order that he may be identified on his return?"

Dr. and Mrs. Jno. Wesley Connor, the parents of Prof. W. O. Connor, of Cave Spring. Mrs. Connor was Henrietta Mayson, of Ninety-Six, S. C. As a girl she met Gen. LaFayette, who pronounced her the prettiest young lady he had seen in America. She lies buried in the Cave Spring cemetery.

Lincoln's Defeat Certain. - Heretofore we had little hope that the Black Republican candidate could be defeated. With the opponents of that party divided and belligerent we saw no possible chance to avoid the disgi-ace of a Black Republican Administration. But our fears have vanished, for the defeat of Lincoln is now fixed.

The Rome Light Guards received their caps by July 4, 1860, and by Sept. 22, 1860, one of the brilliant sample uniforms appeared. This uniform was of blue cloth, scarlet trimmings and gold buttons, and made the boys of the other companies extremely envious of the wearers.

The desire of the political leaders for the Cherokee Georgia vote was emphasized in the autumn of 1860 by the appearance in Rome of some of the "biggest guns" in the state and section. No such an array of orators has ever declaimed against Rome's mountain slopes.

On Thursday, Sept. 20, I860, Wm. L. Yancey, of Alabama, whose speeches did as much as any other agency to stir the war spirit in the South, spoke at Kingston, and a large crowd of Romans went on a Rome Railroad excursion to hear him.

On Thursday, Sept. 27, 1860, Senator Alfred Iverson, of Columbus, addressed a crowd at the City Hall. Alexander H. Stephens sat on the platform at this meeting, but declined to make a speech. He spoke on the day following at a barbecue at Floyd Springs, after an introduction by Judge Augustus R. Wright.

On Saturday, Sept. 29, 1860, Benj. H. Hill spoke at Sloan, Berry & Company's warehouse. On Monday, Oct. 22, 1860, Mr. Hill spoke again. On this latter occasion he was proceeding to Cedartown to assist in the defence of Col. J. J. Morrison, charged before the Polk Superior Court with kilHng Thos. W. Chisohii on the day of the last general election.

On Monday, Oct. 29, 1860, Stephen A. Douglas ("The Little General"), spoke for his presidential ticket at Kingston, and was heard by many from Rome.

"Georgia's Only Hope of Safety Is in Secession." - A large portion of this paper is devoted to an extract from a letter with the above heading. We publish this instead of the speech of Judge Benning, believing that it presents a clearer and stronger argument in favor of secession than the speech alluded to. In the statement of our grievances the writer makes out a very, very strong case and proves very conclusively - what we believe most people are ready to admit - that Georgia ought to resist abolition encroachments.

Our Legislature in calling the convention state that fact and we have heard no man deny it; and the appropriation of a million of dollars, which everybody favors, confirms the purpose of a firm, determined resistance on the part of Georgia. Now, if we admit what the writer's argument seems to imply, viz: that the entire North is irredeemably demoralized and not at all worthy to be trusted, then how is it that separate State action is to be more effectual against them than the united strength of all the parties aggrieved by their hostility? We are as much in favor of resistance as this letter writer or any one else, but for our life we can see no sense in each one of the fifteen States that have been aggrieved, setting up a separate and independent mode of retaliation; nor any propriety in separately running belter skelter from the common enemy.

As the matter now stands, the entire South is arraigned in solid columns against the North. There are fifteen independent brigades on our side and eighteen of the enemy. The enemy have been practicing a garilla warfare upon us until "forbearance has ceased to be a virtue," and now along our entire lines there is such a state of consternation and excitement as was never before witnessed in trying to determine "what shall be done." Two or three brigades seem determined, regardless of the action of the others, to break ranks and retreat immediately. Nearly every brigade has called a council of war, while all are arming themselves for a fight.

What say you, men of the Georgia brigade? Will you retreat at once, and without even consulting the other brigades of this great army - those that have protected your right and left wings, that have been your "front guard and rear ward" during a campaign of 84 years? Most surely you will not. The generous bravery that swells the bosoms of Georgia's noble sons would not allow them to be treacherous to an ene^ny; then how much less to true and long tried friends.

This vexed slavery question must and will be speedily settled, in some way or another. But whatever is done, let us not have a divided South. "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

Resolved, That the time has arrived when it becomes the duty of every friend of Georgia to discard partizan feelings and purposes, and unite in an earnest effort to maintain her rights, secure her liberties, and vindicate her honor.

Resolved. That this Union of Southern heads and hearts being an indispensable pre-requisite to efficient action, we pledge ourselves to do everything in our power to promote, establish and maintain it.

Resolved. That we recognize the clearly expressed will of a majority of the people of Floyd county as the rule of action, binding upon their representatives, in any convention of the people of Georgia.

Resolved, That we hereby request our Senator and Representatives in the General Assembly of this State' to procure the following demands by said General Assembly to be made by joint resolutions or otherwise, upon the Northern States, viz:

Second. The enactment in lieu thereof of "efficient laws to facilitate such recovery in accordance with their plain constitutional obligations."

Southern citizens to settle with their negro property in any territory of the United States, and there hold it like all other property under the protection of just laws faithfully administered so long as the territorial condition shall last.

Sixth. The repeal of all laws giving to free negi'oes the privilege of voting for members of Congress or for Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States.

Seventh. The co-operation of the Senators and Representatives of said State in the Congress of the United States in procuring the repeal of a pretended law to prevent the slave trade in the District of Columbia.

Resolved. That in the event the states upon which these just and reasonable demands shall be made by the Legislative Assembly in the name, and on the behalf of the people of Georgia, shall give unmistakable evidence of a determination to accede to them, in good faith, by or before the 16th of January next, Georgia shall abide in the Union, otherwise secession is the only adequate remedy left her for the maintenance of her interests, rights, liberties and honor.

Resolved, That this Assembly will now proceed to select by general ballot three candidates to represent the people of Floyd County in a general convention of the people of Georgia to be convened at Milledgeville on Wednesday, the 16th of January next.*

The above resolutions, we are informed, were unanimously adopted. In accordance with the last, the following gentlemen were nominated, viz: Col. Simpson Fouche, Col. James Word and F. C. Shropshire, Esq.

Chapter Vii

HE following accounts from The Courier set forth eloquently the final act preceding the war drama of 1861-5. They were written partly by Mr. Dwinell, who had just returned to the editorial sanctum after a vacation at East Poultney, \''t., and partly by his brilliant associate, George Trippe Stovall ; and they are arranged chronologically as an aid to the reader. Mr. Lincoln was elected Tuesday, Nov. 6. 1860.

It has been suggested that the 11 o'clock service on Sunday, the 4th of November next be devoted to repentance, humihation, and prayer to Almighty God, in all the churches of the land - that the country may be delivered from the terrible crisis which threatens us, and that peace and harmony may be restored to all sections. - Oct.' 27, i860.

A Final Appeal.- - Before the next issue of The Weekly Courier w^ill be printed, the die virill be cast, and the fate of this Union, it may be, will be doomed forever. All our efforts for a fusion in Georgia have failed, and now there is no patriotic course left for Union men but to concentrate their strength, so far as they possibly can, upon the best Union candidate that is offered for their suffrages. Is there any doubt but that this man is John Bell of Tennessee?

Surely no candid and reasonable man will allow himself to be deceived by the numerous false and ridiculous charges as to Mr . Bell's soundness upon the slavery question. He is a Southern man, and a large slave holder, and a calm and impartial study of his true record, while it shows him to be a man of moderate and discreet counsel, it demonstrates that upon the question of slavery and Southern interests he is unquestionably safe, sound, firm and reliable.

We appeal to Democrats, why cannot you vote for John Bell? We ask you to support him not as a Whig, a know Nothing, nor as a representative of any of the old defunct parties, but as a Constitutional man and a patriot. ''The Union, the Constitution and the Enforcement of the Laivs," is the motto inscribed upon his banner. Apart from his record it is his only platform. And what more do you desire than this? We know that politicians try to ridicule and have sought to throw contempt upon this platform. But does it not contain all the South has ever asked or desired? Such were the principles on which the early Presidents of the Republic were elected. They had no long-winded platforms to gull and to deceive the people. Why should we want them? For 50 years the Government was administered without platforms, and all portions of the country were harmonious and happy. On the contrary, since the adoption of platforms by party conventions, sectional animosities have continually harrassed the people, thousands of demagogues have sprung up like mushrooms upon the body politic, the peace of the country is destroyed, and 30,- 000,000 of people stand today trembling in view of the impending crisis which hangs like a muttering storm cloud above them, threatening to pour out upon the country at any moment all the appalling horrors of civil war, bloodshed and ruin!

This is no false picture, but an alarming reality. Lincoln may, and probably will, be elected, and in three weeks from today, little as you now think it, we will probably witness the outburst of the smouldering flames of one of the most awful civil conflagrations which the world has ever seen!

Voters of Georgia, Look to Your Interest. - On next Tuesday, November 6th, by far the most important election since the organization of our government is to take place. In former strifes party success was the stake contended for; but noiv the vo-y existence of the government is in jeopardy. The question as to how a man shall vote, always important, is now freighted with fearful responsibility. Every man should bring the question seriously home to himself and vote from his own conscientious convictions of duty, just as if he knew the fate of this Republic depended on his individual action.

upon this fact, as it may - make a difference of at least 20 per cent in the value of all kinds of property throughout the country. A man then worth $1,000 has at stake a pecuniary interest of $200; if worth $10,000 he risks $2,000. If a man is largely in debt he will be utterly ruined; for, after the depression of property he cannot possibly pay out. A laboring man will find his wages reduced from a dollar and a half a day to one dollar, and the chances for getting work at all will be greatly reduced.

It may be said that pecuniary considerations ai'e beneath the notice of patriots. This may be true or it may not. Interest should not be weighed against prhiciple. But that is not the case now. We now have princifple, patriotis7n and interest all on one side of the scales and on the other side, party ism, sectional strifes and animosities, and it may be civil war itself. No reasonable man in his senses has a shadow of a doubt but that John Bell, if elected, would restore peace and harmony to the country by giving their constitutional rights to all sections; and this is all the South wants, or has ever asked for. It is almost certain that three-fourths of the Southern States will cast their votes for this noble patriot and pure statesman. Georgia can be carried the same way. Union men of Cherokee Georgia, what say you? In other sections of the State our friends are striving earnestly and hopefully. Let us faithfully perform our duty and all may yet be well.

Judge Douglas at Kingston. - On last Monday a large crowd, probably 3,000 men, assembled to hear the celebrated "Little Giant" upon the political issues of the day. The very crowded state of our columns today prohibits any extended notice of his speech. We believe all parties were well pleased with the entertainment as an exhibition of popular oratory, were deeply impressed with the greatness of the man, and delighted at the beauty of his wife, who accompanies him in his Southern tour.

The distinction between Squatter and Popular Sovereignty, the latter of which only he advocates, he made very clear. His whole argument sustaining his peculiar doctrines was, to say the least, very ingenious and plausible, and in many respects unanswerable. Douglas' speeches are everywhere essentially the same, and those who would know his position should read them in full. - Thursday, Nov. 1, 1860.

Let Not Rash Councils Prevail. - If the election that takes place today results in the choice of Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, for President for the next four years, there will then rest upon the shoulders of every individual citizen duties of fearful magnitude and vital importance, both to himself and the commonwealth. There will, in that event, doubtless be a diversity of opinion as to what the South ought to do.j and every good citizen should calmly and coolly investigate the whole subject and decide for himself the proper course of action. There will be no need for hairbrained demagogues to be attempting to "fire the Southern heart." The chivalrous and patriotic citizens of the South are not stupid dolts that have to be "fired" up to a realizing sense of their own rights, honor or interests. The people need the truth, the whole truth, aJid nothing but the truth, in order to arouse them to any reasonable course of conduct.

The people should beware of rash counsels, and not suff"er themselves to be inveigled into the support of impractical and foolish movements, or "precipitated" into a revolution. If revolution must come, let us go into it deliberately, with clear heads and steady nerves, and because we know it to be our patriotic duty to do so. But if Lincoln should be elected, he will not have so much power as some people suppose, and it is reported that he is already tremendously frightened lest he should be elected! - Now. 6, 1860.

For Tax Receiver. - We are requested to announce the name of H. P. Lumpkin as candidate for Tax Receiver of Floyd County at the ensuing January election.

For Solicitor General. - We are authorized to announce the name of M. Kendrick, of Newnan, Coweta county, as a candidate for the office of Solicitor General of the Tallapoosa circuit. Election first Wednesday in January next.

H. A. Gartrell, Esq. - Mv. Editor: Please allow us to announce the above named gentleman as a candidate for Solicitor General of the Tallapoosa Circuit. MANY VOTERS.

Unofficial Vote of Floyd Co. - The following statement, though not official, will probably not vary more than two or three votes from the exact result:

A Card. - Mr. Editor: I desire through the city papers to return my sincere thanks to the merchants for refusing to sell spirituous liquors on the day of the election, but more especially "to those gentlemen engaged in the retail business. They closed their doors and did no business whatever. It was asking a great deal of all, it being a public day and a good one for that trade, but they made the promise and adhered to it with fidelity. To them we are mainly indebted for the peace, quiet and good order that prevailed throughout the entire day. Respectfully. H. A. GARTRELL,

Polk County. - A gentleman who left Polk County on Wednesday morning informs us that all the precincts but two had been heard from, and Bell was 66 votes ahead of Breckinridge. Douglas' vote would probably be 100.

Chattooga County. - Sufficient returns have been received to make it certain that Bell will carry this county ' by a large plurality, probably 100 or more.

Delegates. - F. C. Shropshire, Z. B. Hargrove and M. Dwinell have been appointed to represent the Rome "Light Guards" in the Military Convention to be held in Milledgeville on next Monday.

The End. - The contest is over and it may be that the destiny of this government is sealed. It now becomes us to hope for the best, but at the same time be making preparations for the worst. We do not wish to intimate that it is necessary to be organizing military companies, or enrolling minute men in case Lincoln is elected, with the expectation of immediately fighting our Northern enemies; but our preparations should be constitutional and lawful in their character with a deep and unswerving determination to maintain our rights 7h the Union if possible, out of it if we must. The course pursued by the South should be firm and determined, but so clearly right and unavoidable for the maintenance of her honor and essential interests that there shall be no division among her own people, but that all as one great harmonious whole shall in thunder tones demand not only of the North but of the entire civilized world a recognition of her clearly defined and unmistakable rights.

While no spirit of base submission should be encouraged or even tolerated, yet at the same time any course of rash or precipitating conduct would be equally reprehensible and injurious to the prospects of our section. There are many men in the South who have for a long time believed that our sacred rights and untarnished honor cannot be maintained in the Union; and that it is both the interest and duty of the South to effect a separation as soon as possible. Many of these men are among our most wealthy, talented and most highly respected citizens, and they are as conscientious in their convictions of duty as any class of men in the country.

This class of persons, however, we believe is comparatively small and that the great mass of the people still cling to the Union, firmly believing that the Constitution will be enforced and the rights of the South maintained. This being the case and it being well known to all that these differences exist, it becomes the representatives of each of these classes of opinions to be courteous and kind to the other and studiously avoid anything like crimination or the impugning of their motives. No class can rightfully arrogate to themselves all the patriotism or chivalry or that they are more ready to make personal sacrifice upon the altar of our section than others who do not agree with them as to the best plan of securing the greatest permanent good of us all.

We have said this much to be, perhaps, of service in case that Lincoln is elected, because, if that is the case, we desire above all things to see a united South, and that the deliberations of our section should be characterized by high-toned statesmanship that may result in cool deliberations and harmonious action.*

*This editorial and others like it caused Geo. T. Stovall to resign as associate editor of The Courier and buy the Southerner and Advertiser.

ably and with as much good nature as possible. Every grocery was closed, and we did not hear of an angry quarrel or see a drunken man in Rome on that day. Many men were much excited but their deep interest was exhibited rather by their calm but firm determination than by noisy outbursts and senseless criminations of their opponents. The beautiful quiet that prevailed in our city was indeed a fact to be proud of, and we most sincerely hope that the same good sense and high appreciation of dignity and decorum will always prevail on similar occasions.

There were nine hundred and eightytwo votes polled at this precinct, which is nearly two hundred more than at any previous election. - Nov. 8, 1860.

Jones & Scott

The Presbyterian Sabbath School will hold its anniversary next Sabbath afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Presbyterian church. Exercises - short address and singing. All are respectfully invited to attend.

- Notice. - All men, vdthout distinction of party, who are opposed to Abolition domination, and in favor of resisting the same in such manner as the sovereignty of Georgia may order and direct, are requested to meet at the City Hall in Rome on Monday, the 12th inst., at 2 o'clock to consider what course interest, duty and patriotism require them to pursue as good citizens and true Southerners.

The Die Is Cast. - The great struggle is over and our worst fears are! realized. Abraham Lincoln, the sectional candidate, who was nominated and supported to a large extent because of his hostility to the institutions of the South, has been elected by a fair majority. The present indications are that he will surely get 158 votes, and possibly 169, whereas 152 would elect him.

And now this state of circumstances, for which the great mass of the people are almost entirely unprepared, suddenly bursts upon them, and demands at their hands an immediate solution of a most difficult political problem and one that will probably forever fix the destiny of all this fair land of ours. The idea of Lincoln's election has been frequently talked about, it is true, but it has always seemed to be at vague distance with its hideous deformities, and has rather existed as a creature of the imagination than as one that could possibly have a realization in the practical working of our Government.

But hard as it may be to appreciate the hateful truth, yet it is a fact, and with unmistakable sternness it stares us in the face. The issue is upon us and we have got to meet it. Every man in Georgia has got a solemn duty to perform and it is one that by its immense magnitude makes small all the other acts of his life. What shall be done? is now the question of awful import that hangs upon the mind of every thoughtful man. Various plans for relief have already been proposed and they each have their advocates who apply themselves with zeal and earnestness. Discussion is altogether right and proper, and is probably the most effectual method of bringing out the truth and correct principles. But there is one thing that should always actuate men in the discussion of any subject if they would be profited - that they should be as willing to receive truth as to impart it. Our relations to the general government are very complicated and few men can at a glance take in all its various bearings and dependencies and it may be that a course of conduct supposed to be admirably adapted to our present exigencies would be proved to be entirely impractical because of the want of some necessary element that had been overlooked. Let us then not be rash or inconsiderate, but calm, cool and deliberate and in a free and friendly manner counsel with one another in regard to these momentous questions.

The recommendation that has already been made, that a State Convention should be called immediately, we most fully approve and hope the Legislature will at once issue a call for delegates from every county. We would suggest the number of delegates be the same as the number of Senators and Representatives in the Legislature. Let such men as Joseph Henry Lumpkin, Chas. J. McDonald, Alex H. Stephens, Wm. Law, Robt. Toombs, Herschel V. Johnson, Hines Holt, Hiram Warner and others of experience and wisdom compose this Convention and the people will be almost sure to ratify their action, whatever it may be.

Things He Can't Do. - Bad as he may be to our institutions, there are many important things Lincoln cannot do. As the Congress now stands, there is a majority of eight against him in the Senate, and, if the recent telegraph reports are correct, 23 in the House. It will be remembered that all the appointments of Cabinet officers, Ministers to foreign courts. Consuls, Custom House officers, and all other offices of any considerable trust or profit in the United States have to be filled "by and with the advice of the Senate." The President recommends men for all these various places, but their appointment is not complete until confirmed by the Senate.

The Black Republicans will not be able, of their own strength, to carry a single bill through either House of the next Congress and it is thought by some that in less than a year, even if Lincoln should be allowed to go on with his administration, that his party would be torn to pieces by its own inherent fanaticism and corruptions. But yet it may be better to secede than to suffer the disgrace of a Black Republican rule. If Georgia so decides in her sovereign capacity we shall go with her, heart and soul. - Nov. 10, 1860.

(From the Rome Southerner.) Meeting of the Citizens of Floyd County. - Below we publish resolutions and preamble passed at the citizens' meeting held in Rome on Monday, the 12th inst.

The attendance was large and very general from all parts of the county. We believe every district in the county was represented. We never saw resolutions pass more unanimously or more enthusiastically. To some of the resolutions there was one or two dissenting voices. Most of them, however, passed unanimously. We were sorry to see even a single person in that large assembly who withheld his assent. If there ever was a time when the people of the South should be united, now is the time. If the Southern States, as one man, or even one or two of them, will show unanimity of sentiment in opposition to Black Republican rule, and even if they withdraw from the Union as the last alternative, no gun of coercion will ever be fired by any power upon the face of the earth. Horace Greeley has already said in his paper, the N. Y. Tribune, that if any of the Southern States leave the Union by a vote of her people, he is in favor of letting her alone!

Every man in the land, old and young, great and small, rich and poor, is interested in this question. Think of it. And if you can't go with your section, for Heaven's sake, and for the sake of your country, don't go against it!

Whereas, the abolition sentiment of the Northern. States, first openly manifested in 1820, has, for the last 40 years, steadily and rapidly increased in volume and in intensity of hostility to the form of society existing in the Southern States, and to the rights of these States as equal, independent and sovereign members of the Union; has led to long-continued and ever-increasing abuse and hatred of the Southern people; to ceaseless war upon their plainest Constitutional rights; to an open and shameless nullification of that provision of the Constitution intended to secure the rendition of fugitive slaves; and of the laws of Congress to give it effect; has led many of our people who sought to avail themselves of their rights under these provisions of the laws and the Constitution, to encounter fines, imprisonment and death; has prompted the armed invasion of Southern soil, by stealth, amidst the sacred repose of a Sabbath night, for the diabolical purpose of inaugurating a ruthless war of the blacks against the whites throughout the Southern States; has prompted large masses of Northern people openly to sympathize with the treacherous and traitorous invaders of our country, and elevate the leaders of a band of mid-night assassins and robbers, himself an assassin and a robber, to the rank of a hero and a martyr; has sent far and wide over our section of the Union its vile emissaries to instigate the slaves to destroy our property, burn our towns, devastate our country, and spread distrust, dismay and death by poison, among our people; has disrupted the churches, and destroyed all national parties, and has now fully organized a party confined to a hostile section, and composed even there of those only who have encouraged, sympathized with, instigated or perpetrated this long series of insults, outrages and wrongs, for the avowed purpose of making a common government, armed by us with power only for our protection, an instrument in the hands of enemies for our destruction.

Therefore, we, a portion of the people of Floyd County, regardless of all past differences, and looking above and beyond all mere party ends to the good of our native South, do hereby publish and declare:

Second. That she came into the Union with the other states as a sovereignty, and by virtue of that sovereignty, has the right to secede whenever, in her sovereign capacity, she shall judge such a step necessary.

Third. That in our opinion, she ought not to submit to the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin, as her President and Vice- President, but should leave them to rule over those by whom alone they were elected.

Fourth. That we request the Legislature to announce this opinion by resolution, at the earliest practicable moment, and to communicate it to our Senators and Representatives in Congress, and to co-operate with the Governor in calling a Convention of the people to determine on the mode and measure of redress.

Fifth. That we respectfully recommend to the Legislature to take into their immediate consideration the passage of such laws as will be likely to alleviate any unusual embarrassment of the commercial interests of the State consequent upon the present political emergency.

Seventh. That copies of the foregoing resolutions be sent without delay to our Senators and Representatives in the General Assembly of the State, who are hereby requested to lay them before the House of which they are respectively members.

Obstructions in the Streets. - If it is not the duty of the City Marshall, it onght to be, to see that the rubbish about new buildings, old boxes about the stores, and wood piles everywhere in the streets, should not be left to discommode the public, but should be removed in a reasonable time. There are a lot of old casks in front of Morrison & Logan's stable that ought to have been removed long ago, and there seems to be unnecessary delay in removing fragments and other obstructions on the sidewalks about several new buildings on Broad Street.

Good Guns. - The arms for the "Rome Light Guards" were received on last Saturday. The guns are the Minie Rifle, that has, we believe, the highest reputation as an efficient weapon in actual service of any gun that has been tried. Only fifty guns are received, and if there are men in this community who desire to join the company they will do well to make early application. The company now numbers 45, and is, in every way, in a prosperous condition. - Nov. 24, 1860.

On Jan. 16, 1861, the Georgia counties sent delegates to the famous secession convention at Milledgeville. On Jan. 18, Judge Eugenius A. Nisbet, of Macon, introduced a resolution calling for the appointment of a committee to report an ordinance of secession. This brought on a fight and a test of strength between the union and disunion factions. The resolution passed by a vote of 166 to 130.* At 2 p. m., Jan. 19, 1861, the secession ordinance was passed by a vote of 208 to 89, 44 anti-secessionists voting for the measure to give it force, and realizing that further resistance was useless. On this ballot Benj. H. Hill voted for secession, but Alexander H. Stephens and his brother. Judge Linton Stephens, Herschel V. Johnson, Gen. W. T. Wofford, Hiram Warner and other leaders opposed it.

Alabama and Florida Jan. 11, 1861. Consequently, it was felt that Georgia's action would either split or cement the South. The forensic giants were there - a galaxy never seen before or since. Col. Isaac W. Avery gives us in his History of Georgia (ps. 149-50) a correct picture of the scene, and incidentally, emphasizes the opposition to secession among the more conservative type of citizens :

The eyes of the whole Union were upon this most august body. There was an interest in its deliberations that was both profound and widespread. It was felt to be the turning point of the real commencement of the revolution. If staid, self-poised, deliberate, powerful Georgia held back from the work of disintegration, it would have been such a substantial check to the destructive movement as would have done much to stop it. Georgia''s co-operation rendered the revolution, sure. The Federal administration looked anxiously to our State as the crucial agency of the agitation. The people of the North focalized their attention upon this arbiter of an impending and incalculable convulsion.

It was known that a majority of the people favored secession, but the minority in favor of co-operation and delay was a very large and powerful body of public sentiment, ably and patriotically headed. The vote taken in the election for members of the convention showed an aggregate of 50,243 for secession and 37,123 against, giving a majority of only 13,120 for immediate disunion, out of 87,366. This was a much smaller majority than Gov. Brown had obtained in his last election.

In many counties the anti-secessionists had heavy majorities. Such strong counties as Baldwin, Floyd, DeKalb, Cass, Franklin, Gordon, Gwinnett, Lumpkin, Murray, Walker, Walton and others went some of them overwhelmingly against disunion. In many counties it was the closest sort of a shave, giving either way only a vote or two. The most one-sided secession county in the whole state was Cobb, which gave 1,035 votes for and only 7 against disunion. Chatham was also nearly unanimous for secession. In a very few counties no opposition candidate to secession was run. In Tal-

These figures will show how much the people were divided on this issue, and yet, in the crazy fever of the war excitement and the more noisy demonstrations of the secession champions, the opposition was almost unheard and absolutely impotent. A few brave spirits spoke out fearlessly, and courageously endeavored to stem the rushing and turbulent tide of disunion. But the generality of conservative men, feeling powerless to do anything, and unwilling to incur a certain odium that clung to men alleged to be lukewarm or opposed to Southern interests, went quietly along simply voting in the opposition.

The secession convention was the ablest body ever convened in Georgia. Its membership included nearly every leading public man in the State, the leaders of all parties and shades of political opinion.

It was an old custom in Georgia to illuminate houses brightly at night on the receipt of good news of a national or sectional nature. Consequently, the houses of Rome were lit up, guns discharged and the church bells rung merrily. A few Northern families compromised by lighting their candles, and Mrs. Robt. Battey was said to have been the only Southerner whose house was dark. Gen. Braxton Bragg soon passed through Rome on a tour of inspection, and meeting Mrs. Battey on Broad Street, said: "I understand Mrs. Battey is a Union woman."

"So I am, General," she replied promptly. "I believe in fighting this war under the United States flag. Southerners were largely instrumental in founding our Government, and if anybody must get out of it, I say let not the first occupants be the ones to go !"

There were many such incidents, and they showed the inherent independence of thought and action of Georgians and the State of Georgia - an independence that has always enabled Georgia to assume the initiative among her sister states, and to occupy a conspicuous and respectable position in the forum of the nation. Georgians can always be depended upon to fight among themselves (like Bill Arp's Romans - old man Laub and his wife and family), and to get together at a moment's notice to repel any foreign foe, such as Indians, Yankees, Spaniards, Germans or what not.

"Cherokee" or Northwest Georgia had not long before staged a miniature war with the Indians, and it is significant that the delegates from the 21 counties in the Cherokee nation voted 35 against secession to 14 in favor, or 2% votes to one :*

It will be noticed by the above table that Floyd and her neighboring counties of Cass, Chattooga; Gordon, Polk and Walker voted six for and ten against. The delegates and the way they voted are given below :

A lively glimpse of the inauguration of Jefferson Davis as president and Alexander H. Stephens a'j vice-president of the Confederacy was given by Judge Augustus R. Wright, one of the organizers of the Government, in a letter of F'^b. 21, 1861 from Montgomery, Ala., to his daughter, Mrs. Mary Wright Shropshire, of Rome :

My Dear Daughter: - We had a gay time at the President's inauguration. The President and Vice-President rode in a most superb carriage, glittering all over with silver and drav^Ti by six iron gray horses driven by two coachmen on the same seat. They** were fiery and impatient and beautifully caparisoned. The military companies with full bands preceded the several committees in fine carriages, and then followed the crowd.

The Zouaves performed most wonderfully their new military exercise of vaulting, lying down and firing, falling on their backs and loading, and divers other most wonderful gymnastics.

The oath taken by the President in the presence of that vast concourse was most solemn. When Mr. Cobb, who administered the oath, said, "So help me God," the President lifted his face to Heaven in the most solemn and energetic manner and said, "So help me God!" The band then played the Marseillaise hymn, after which the vast crowd gave three cheers for "Jeff Davis and Alexander Stephens," and began to disperse.

"Sic transit gloria mundi!" How the mind turns from those pageants and panoplies of war to that peaceful reign of our King "when the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest."

T IS manifestly impossible in a work of this size to present more than a glimpse here and there of the wartime activities of Floyd's military companies and life of the people at home. All that can be done is to hit the "high spots" and trust that a historian wnll come along- some day who will devote to the period an entire book.

The principal events of the 1861- 65 period herein treated are the First Battle of Manassas (Va.), July 21, 1861 ; the chase Apr. 12, 1862, after the Confederate engine General, in which a Rome locomotive was used" at Kingston ; the capture of Streight's Federal raiders Sunday, May 3, 1863, by an^inferior force under command of Gen. Forrest ; and the defense and occupation of Rome May 18, 1864, by Gen. Sherman.

Rome itsejf was a concentration point for recruits from Northwest Georgia. Broad Street was a drill and parade ground. The newspapers and the churches were used to inflame the war spirit, and we have it on the authority of Hilliard Horry Wimpee,* who was then a boy of ten, that stump speakers sought to dissipate the impression of small numbers in the South by the flamboyant declaration that one "Reb" could whip ten "Yanks." In some of these speeches the "Reb" could even suffer his left hand to be tied behind him.

**Co. G, First Ga. Cavalry. The name was undoubtedly taken from a company which operated under Gen. Jas. Hemphill and Maj. Chas. H. Nelson in 1835 and captured Chief Fosach FLxico. .

contingent from an adjoining county) went out to protect their homes during the period of 1861- 65. Including the home guard of ten companies (five of which were from Floyd) there was a total of 20 companies of an average of more than 100 men, including recruits and replacements. The companies went to the front in approximately the following order:

(Rome), Capt. J. h. Kerr; Booten and Harkins' Cavalry Company, Capt. Daniel F. Booten, Lieut. Jno. Harkins. The Rome Volunteers was a company in existence before the war.

When the fighting at Chattanooga in 1863 threatened Rome, five home-guard companies were formed, and they were commanded by Capt. J. H. Lawrence, Jackson Trout, S. D. Wragg, Marcellus L. Troutman and C. Oliver Stillwell.

Few survivors came back from any of the front line companies, and the valor in no war of history exceeded that of the Boys in Gray, who fought with extreme desperation against overwhelming odds in men and resources. The Floyd Sharpshooters surrendered ten men at Appomattox, whereas 110 had gone out. Of 24 Cherokee Artillery members imprisoned at Indianapolis, only eight answered the roll call at Rome just after the war, and most of the others are supposed to have died in prison. Jas. E. Mullen, late cemetery sexton, was one of this command.

The Rome Light Guard organizations kept going many years, and the Hill City Cadets sprang into existence and was active during the Spanish-American war disturbance.

The Floyd Cavalry was probably the first to offer its services to Gov. Jos. E. Bruwn. This was done Friday, Nov. 9, 1860, as soon as the members could hold a meeting after the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency. Three days before the First Battle of Manassas, the offer having gone by the board, the company met and passed resolutions as follows :

Resolved, That in view of active hostilities that the company renew their tender with the assurance that it holds itself in readiness to meet any emergencies whenever and wherever they may arise.

The officers at this time were Jno. R. Towers, captain ; E. W. Hull, first lieutenant ; Dunlap Scott, second lieutenant, and J. H. Walker, third lieutenant. Continued inactivity caused the three first named to transfer to the Miller Rifles in the same offices. Armistead R. Harper took the place of Lieut. Walker.

The Light Guards left Rome Monday morning, May 27, 1861, after having heard on the day before an inspiring speech at the First Presbyterian church by the pastor, the Rev. John Jones. They marched to North Rome and caught their train, and half the town marched with them, scattering flowers in their way and bidding them God-speed with fervent prayers from the women and lusty huzzas from the "home guard." Capt. Magruder, of this company, was the first man in Rome to don the blue cockade of secession. He was among the first to marry, choosing as his bride several days before the departure the beautiful Miss Florence Fouche, daughter of Col. Simpson Fouche. When the Guards left Rome, Mrs. Magruder marched with her husband at the head of the column, appropriately rigged out for the occasion - pistol and dagger in her belt, and a stride full of belligerency. Let Miss Bessie Moore (Mrs. Lawrence S Churchill) describe the wedding:

Prominent In Removal Of The Indians

At left is Brig. Gen. Jno. E. Wool, U, S. A., of Troy, N. Y., who had charge of carrying out government policies prior to the exodus. In the center is Lewis Cass, Secretary of War in Andrew Jackson's cabinet, who was thei storm center of the diplomatic negotia-i tions. Next is Gen. Winfield Scott, hero of the Mexican War and later adviser of the Union War Department, who gathered up the red-skins in stockades at New Echota and Sixes Town to facilitate removal.

white silk, brought from the Orient by his friend, Col. Chas. I. Graves, in a naval cruise. The blushing bride was dressed in snow white, including her veil. They rode up to the First Baptist church (which was located at the same site as today) in a carriage pulled by two spirited white horses.

Descending from their conveyance, they passed through an arch of uplifted sabres of 80 members of the Guards. As the couple reached the church door, they stood aside a moment; the Guards came in and formed a second column, through which the two again passed to the altar. Rev. Chas. H. Stillwell, pastor of the church, then made them man and wife.

Mrs. Magruder accompanied Capt. Magruder to Orange County, Va., the place of his birth, and took up her residence with his people at "Frescati" (the Italian for "Green Fields"), the ancestral home. This mansion was converted into a hospital for sick and wounded Light Guards and other Confederate soldiers.

Orderly Sergeant Jim Tom Moore, member of the Light Guards and grand- father of Mrs Churchill, was married shortly before the command left to Miss Letitia Hutchings. The ceremony was performed at the old Buena Vista, which for a time was Rome's leading hotel. Theie were numerous other military marriages, and some of the husbands came back to their wives, and some did not.