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EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Milledgeville, January 5, 1861.
Hon. JOHN GILL SHORTER,
Commissioner of the State of Alabama:
DEAR SIR: On my return from Savannah this day I find
your communication accompanying your commission from His
Excellency the Governor of Alabama, which you did me the honor to
send by express, but which was not received till after I had the
pleasure of a private interview with you. The gallant and noble
stand taken by your State in the passage of the resolutions
recited in your communication, for the protection of the rights
and the vindication of the honor of the State of Alabama and the
other Southern States, excited the just admiration of all her
Southern sisters. Alabama, in common with the other pro-slavery
States, had long endured the injustice and insults of the Black
Republican party of the North. That party is now triumphant, and
is about to seize the reins of the Federal Government. To this
the States of the South can never submit without degradation and
ultimate ruin. While Georgia may be said to be the mother of
Alabama, she is proud of the noble conduct of her daughter; and
will not claim to lead, but will be content to follow in the path
of glory in which her offspring leads. We feel well assured that
your State will not be intimidated nor driven from her high
position. While many of our most patriotic and intelligent
citizens in both States have doubted the propriety of immediate
secession, I feel quite confident that recent developments have
dispelled those doubts from the minds of most men who have, till
within the last few days, honestly entertained them.
Longer continuance in a union with those who use the
Government only as an engine of oppression and injustice cannot,
it seems to me, be desired by any party in the Southern States.
Conciliation and harmony among ourselves are of the most vital
importance. Let us, if we have differed in the past, meet each
other with just forbearance, and the path of duty will, I trust,
be plain to all. The Federal Government denies the right of a
sovereign State to secede from the Union, while it refuses to
make any concessions or to give any guaranties which will secure
our rights in future. If we yield this right we become the
subjects and the pro-slavery States the provinces of a great
centralized empire, consolidated and maintained by military
force. The sovereign State of South Carolina has resumed the
powers delegated by her to the Federal Government on account of
the violation of the compact by the other contracting parties.
Her right to declare herself independent is denied, and military
coercion is boldly threatened. Shall we yield the right of
secession and see her whipped back into the Union? Never! Since
she seceded her course has been moderate and dignified. She did
not occupy the most impregnable fort in her harbor, which she
could have seized without the loss of a single man, because she
had pledged her faith not to do so, in consideration that the
Government at Washington would make no change in the military
status of the forts, but would permit all to remain as it was at
the time she seceded. She kept her faith. What was the conduct of
the Federal Government? Its agent who commanded Fort Moultrie
violated the pledge given by his Government. The Government
disavows his conduct, but refuses to keep its faith by remanding
him to his original position. The result will probably be the
loss of much of the best blood in South Carolina before the fort
can be taken. In my opinion, other Southern States should not be
deceived by trusting to such a government in future.
In view of the threats of coercion which are made by
Northern Senators and Representatives, and the probabilities that
the like policy now meets with the sanction of a majority of the
Cabinet, the South can look in future only to her own strength,
the justice of her cause, and the protection of the Almighty
Ruler of the Universe for her safety and independence. Prompted
by these considerations, I have seized and occupied Fort Pulaski,
the stronghold in this State, with a sufficient number of troops
and other ample provision to secure it against successful
assault. Till the convention of this State has acted and decided
the question of Georgia's future dependence or independence, I
shall hold the fort at all hazards, and by force if necessary. I
am glad to learn by a telegram just received from His Excellency
the Governor of your State that he has taken the same precautions
for the protection of the people of Alabama against the assaults
of our common enemy, and I sincerely trust the Executive of each
and every Southern State in the Union will at once adopt the same
policy, and let us all co-operate in a common defense. So far as
the returns have been received at this office they indicate
beyond a doubt that the people of Georgia have determined by an
overwhelming majority to secede from the Union so soon as our
convention meets and has time to consummate this important step,
which can alone preserve the honor, the rights, and the dignity
of this State in the future. I trust that Alabama will not
hesitate, but will act promptly and independently, relying, as I
know she may, upon the cordial cooperation of Georgia in every
hour of trial. The people of the proslavery States have common
institutions, common interests, common sympathies, and a common
destiny. Let each State, as soon as its convention meets, secede
promptly from the Union, and let all then unite upon a common
platform, co-operate together, and "form a more perfect
union." Our cause is just, and I doubt not, should we be
attacked, that the God of Battles will protect the right and
drive far from us the scattered hosts of an invading foe. I
regret the necessity which compels me to prepare this response in
so short a period. I have no time to revise it. You will please
say to His Excellency Governor Moore that it will afford me much
pleasure to receive intelligence at the earliest moment after the
convention has placed Alabama in the high position which Georgia,
by a vote of her people, has determined to occupy so soon as her
convention has time to assemble and deliberate.
I am, very truly, your obedient, servant,
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
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