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spoken of by the
Georgia journalist.
It was also presented by
Mr. Davis to the
Committee of Thirty-three, with the expectation, no doubt, that it would frighten the
Northern men into acquiescence with the demands of those of the
South.
It failed to do so; and on the 22d,
Toombs, who had lately arrived in
Washington, telegraphed an address to the people of
Georgia, half true and half untrue, in which he said:--“I came here to secure your constitutional rights, or to demonstrate to you that you can get no guaranties for these rights from your Northern confederates.”
He then informed them that the Republicans in the Senate Committee of Thirteen were, to a man, against making any concessions to the
South.
“That Committee is controlled,” he said, “by Black Republicans — your enemies — who only seek to amuse you with delusive hopes until your election, in order that you may defeat the friends of secession. . . . I now tell you, upon the faith of a true man, that all further looking to the
North, for security for your constitutional rights in the
Union, ought to be instantly abandoned.
It is fraught with nothing but ruin to yourselves and your posterity.
Secession by the 4th of March next, should be thundered from the ballot-box by the unanimous voice of
Georgia on the 2d day of January next.
Such a voice will be your best guaranty for Liberty, security, Tranquillity, and glory.”
This dispatch produced, as it was intended to, a profound sensation in
Georgia. “It has unsettled conservatives here,” telegraphed
a number of citizens of
Atlanta,
1 to
Messrs. Douglas and
Crittenden. “Is there any hope for Southern rights in the
Union?”
they inquired.
“We are for the
Union of our fathers,” they said, “if Southern rights can be preserved in it. If not, we are for secession.
Can we yet hope the
Union will be preserved on this principle?
You are looked to in this emergency.
Give us your views by dispatch.”
“ We have hopes,” said
Douglas and
Crittenden, in reply,
“that the rights of the
South, and of every State and section, may be protected within the
Union.
Don't give up the ship.
Don't despair of the
Union.”
To counteract this assurance,
Toombs and others sent numerous “sensation dispatches” to
Georgia.
On the first of January,
the day before the election was to be held,
Toombs telegraphed to an Augusta journal,
2 saying:--“The Cabinet is broken up;
Mr. Floyd,
Secretary of War, and
Mr. Thompson,
Secretary of the Interior, having resigned.
3 A coercive policy has been adopted by the Administration.
Mr. Holt, of
Kentucky, our bitter foe, has been made
Secretary of War.
Fort Pulaski ”