Letter from John Gill Shorter in Montgomery, Alabama, to Governor A. B. Moore.
Item
Identifier
RSG00248_f10_Q0000135002_Q0000134944
Title
Letter from John Gill Shorter in Montgomery, Alabama, to Governor A. B. Moore.
Rights
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Type
Text
Creator
Shorter, John Gill
Date
1861 February 4
Description
In the letter, Shorter reports on his work as Alabama's commissioner to Georgia and the Georgia Secession Convention. Enclosed is a printed broadside with writings relating to Shorter's report. (John Gill Shorter was the governor of Alabama from 1861-1863.)
Format
letter
Place
Montgomery (Ala.)
Publisher
Alabama Department of Archives and History. (electronic version)
Contributor
Spencer Hodge
transcription
Montgomery, Alabama.
February 4th 1861.
His Excellency
Andrew B. Moore
Governor of The State of Alabama.
Sir:
I had the honor to address your Excellency
on the 7th ultimo, in submitting the report of
my official visit as Commissioner from The
State of Alabama to His Excellency Joseph
E. Brown Governor of Georgia; and now I
have the honor further to report, that on
the 14th ultimo I received from the Hon. William
M. Brooks, President of the Convention of The
State of Alabama, the following communica-
tion.
Montgomery, Ala., January 14th 1861.
Hon. John Gill Shorter:
Dear Sir:
The following resolution
was passed by the Convention in session to day:
"Resolved by the people of the State of Alabama
in Convention assembled, That the Commission-
ers heretofore appointed by the Governor of this State
to the several slaveholding States, be and they are hereby
directed to present to the Conventions of said States,
the Preamble, Ordinance and Resolutions adopted by
the people of the State of Alabama, in Convention,
on the 11th day of January 1861, and to request the
consideration of and concurrence in the first res-
olution."
With the above resolution is transmitted to
you, by order of the Convention, certified copy of
the Preamble, Ordinance, and resolutions referred to.
Respectfully,
William M. Brooks
President of the Convention
In further discharge of the duties assigned to me
by your Excellency, and in obedience to the instruct-
ions of the Convention of the State of Alabama, I
repaired to Milledgeville Georgia, on the 16th ult-
imo, where and when the Convention of the State
of Georgia had assembled, and officially com-
municated to the Hon. George W. Crawford, Presi-
dent of the Convention, the fact of my presence,
together with my credentials and the nature of
my instructions. This correspondence having been
duly submitted, and five hundred copies ordered
to be printed for the use of the Convention, I enclose
your Excellency a printed copy of the same.
I was not ony officially but cordially received
by the Convention; and upon invitation of that
body addressed the Convention on the next day,
and in person had the honor to present the Pre-
amble and Ordinance of Secession, together with the
resolutions adopted by the Convention of the
State of Alabama.
And it is with the most heartfelt satisfaction
that I advise your Excellency that the Convention
of the Sovereign State of Georgia, by a majority of
one hundred and nineteen, on the 19th ultimo, adopted
a solemn ordinance dissolving her connection with
the United States of America; and on a subsequent
day by resolution accepted the invitation of Ala
bama to meet with the delegates of the slave-
holding states in the city of Montgomery, on
this day, for the purpose of consulting with each
other as to the most effectual mode of securing con-
certed and harmonious action in whatever measures
may be deemed most desirable for our common peace
and security.
With high regard I am
Your Excellency's
Obednt Servt - Jno Gill Shorter
Ordered 500 Copies for the Convention.
LETTER
OF JOHN GILL SHORTER, COMMISSIONER OF AL-
ABAA, TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE GEORGIA
CONVENTION.
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA
January 16th, 1861.
Hon. George W. Crawford, President of the Convention of the
State of Georgia:
SIR--I have the honor herewith to transmit the certificate
of my appointment as Commissioner from the State of Ala-
bama to the Convention of the State of Georgia, and also a
duly authenticated copy of the Ordinance of Secession, and
accompanying Resolutions adopted by the Convention of Al-
abama, on the 11th inst.; together with a resolution of the
Convention covering my instructions, in which I am particu-
larly directed to request of the Convention of the State of
Georgia, the consideration of, and concurrence in the first
resolution adopted by the Convention of the State of Ala-
bama, inviting the people of Georgia, and of the other slave-
holding States, to meet the people of Alabama, by their
Delegates, in Convention, on the 4th day of February,
1861, at the city of Montgomery, in the State of Alabama,
for the purpose of consulting with each other, as to the most
effectual mode of securing concerted and harmonious action
in whatever measures may be deemed most desirable for our
common peace and security--it being the desire and pur-
pose of the people of Alabama to meet the slaveholding
States, who may approve such purpose, in order to frame a
provisional as well as permanent Government, upon the
principles of the Constitution of the United States.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration,
Your obedient servant,
JNO. GILL SHORTER.
COMMISSION OF JNO. GILL SHORTER AS STATE
COMMISSIONER FROM ALABAMA
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MONTGOMERY, ALA., Dec. 21st, 1860.
WHEREAS, the election of Abraham Lincoln, a Black
Republican to the Presidency of the United States, by a
purely sectional vote, and by a party whose leading and
publicly avowed object is, the destruction of the institu-
tion of slavery, as it exists in the slaveholding States; And,
WHEREAS, the success of said party and the power which
it now has and soon will acquire, greatly endanger the
peace, interests, security and honor of the slaveholding
States, and make it necessary that prompt and effective
measures should be adopted to avoid the evils which must
result from a Republican administration of the Federal Gov-
ernment: And as the interests and destiny of the slave-
holding STates are the same, they must naturally sympa-
thise with each other; they, therefore, so far as may be
practicable should consult and advise together as to what
is best to be done to protect their mutual interests and
honor.
Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises, I, AN-
DREW B. MOORE, Governor of the State of Alabaa, by
virtue of the general powers in me vested, do hereby con-
stitute and appoint Hon. JOHN GILL SHORTER, a cit-
izen of said State, a Commissioner to the sovereign State
of Georgia to consult and advise with His Excellency, Gov-
ernor JOSEPH E. BROWN, and the members of the Conven-
tion to be assembled in said State, as to what is best to be
done to protect the rights, interests and honor of the slave-
holding States, and to report the result of such consulta-
tion in time to enable me to communicate the same to the
Convention of the State of Alabama, to be held on Monday
the 7th day of January next, if practicable.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand
and caused the Great Seal of the State to be
affixed in the City of Montgomery, this 21st
day of December, A. D. 1860.
A. B. MOORE.
To Dissolve the Union between the State of Alabama and other
States united under the Compact styled "The Constitution of the
United States of America."
WHEREAS, the election of Abraha Lincoln and Hannibal
Hamlin to the offices of President and Vice President of the
United States of America, by a sectional party, avowedly
hostile to the domestic institutions and to the peace and se-
curity of the people of the State of Alabaa, preceded by
many and dangerous infractions of the Constitution of the
United States by many of the States and people of the
Northern section, is a political wrong of so insulting and
menacing a character as to justify the people of the State
of Alabama in the adoption of prompt and decided measures
for their future peace and security, therefore,
Be it declared and ordained by the people of the State of Ala-
bama, in Convention assembled, That the State of Alabama
now withdraws, and is hereby withdrawn from the Union
known as "the United States of America," and henceforth
ceases to be one of said United States, and is, and of right
ought to be a Sovereign and Independent State.
Sec. 2. Be it further declared and ordained by the people of the
State of Alabama, in convention assembled, That all the powers
over the Territory of said State, and over the people there-
of, heretofore delegated to the Government of the United
States of America, be and they are hereby withdrawn from
said Government and are hereby resumed and vested in the
people of the State of Alabama.
And as it is the desire and purpose of the people of Ala-
bana to meet the slaveholding States of the South, who
may approve such purpose, in order to frame a provisional
as well permanent Government upon the principles of
the Constitution of the United States,
Be it resolved by the people of Alabama, in convention assem-
bled, That the people of the States of Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Ken-
tucky and Missouri, be and are hereby invited to meet the
people of the State of Alabama, by their Delegates, in Con-
vention, on the 4th day of February, A. D. 1861, at the
city of Montgomery, in the State of Alabama, for the pur-
pose of consulting with each other as to the most effectual
mode of securing concerted and harmonious action in what-
ever measures may be deemed most desirable for our com-
mon peace and security.
And be it further resolved, That the President of this Con-
vention be and he is hereby instructured to transmit forthwith
a copy of the foregoing Preamble, Ordinance, and Resolu-
tions to the Governors of the several States named in said
resolutions.
Done by the people of the State of Alabaa, in Con-
vention assembled, at Montgomery, on this, the ele-
venth day of January, A. D. 1861.
WILLIAM M. BROOKS,
President of the Convention.
MONTGOMERY, ALA., January 14th, 1861.
Hon. John Gill Shorter:
DEAR SIR: The following resolution was passed by the
Convention in session to-day:
Resolved by the people of the State of Alabama in Convention
assembled, That the Commissioners heretofore appointed by
the Governor of this State to the several slaveholding States,
be and they are hereby directed to present to the Conven-
tions of said States, the Preamble, Ordinance and Resolu-
tions adopted by the people of the State of Alabama, in
Convention, on the 11th day of January, 1861, and to re-
quest the consideration of and concurrence in the first res-
olution."
With the above resolution is transmitted to you, by or-
der of the Convention, a certified copy of the Preamble,
Ordinance, and resolutions referred to.
Respectfully,
WILLIAM M. BROOKS,
President of the Convention.
February 4th 1861.
His Excellency
Andrew B. Moore
Governor of The State of Alabama.
Sir:
I had the honor to address your Excellency
on the 7th ultimo, in submitting the report of
my official visit as Commissioner from The
State of Alabama to His Excellency Joseph
E. Brown Governor of Georgia; and now I
have the honor further to report, that on
the 14th ultimo I received from the Hon. William
M. Brooks, President of the Convention of The
State of Alabama, the following communica-
tion.
Montgomery, Ala., January 14th 1861.
Hon. John Gill Shorter:
Dear Sir:
The following resolution
was passed by the Convention in session to day:
"Resolved by the people of the State of Alabama
in Convention assembled, That the Commission-
ers heretofore appointed by the Governor of this State
to the several slaveholding States, be and they are hereby
directed to present to the Conventions of said States,
the Preamble, Ordinance and Resolutions adopted by
the people of the State of Alabama, in Convention,
on the 11th day of January 1861, and to request the
consideration of and concurrence in the first res-
olution."
With the above resolution is transmitted to
you, by order of the Convention, certified copy of
the Preamble, Ordinance, and resolutions referred to.
Respectfully,
William M. Brooks
President of the Convention
In further discharge of the duties assigned to me
by your Excellency, and in obedience to the instruct-
ions of the Convention of the State of Alabama, I
repaired to Milledgeville Georgia, on the 16th ult-
imo, where and when the Convention of the State
of Georgia had assembled, and officially com-
municated to the Hon. George W. Crawford, Presi-
dent of the Convention, the fact of my presence,
together with my credentials and the nature of
my instructions. This correspondence having been
duly submitted, and five hundred copies ordered
to be printed for the use of the Convention, I enclose
your Excellency a printed copy of the same.
I was not ony officially but cordially received
by the Convention; and upon invitation of that
body addressed the Convention on the next day,
and in person had the honor to present the Pre-
amble and Ordinance of Secession, together with the
resolutions adopted by the Convention of the
State of Alabama.
And it is with the most heartfelt satisfaction
that I advise your Excellency that the Convention
of the Sovereign State of Georgia, by a majority of
one hundred and nineteen, on the 19th ultimo, adopted
a solemn ordinance dissolving her connection with
the United States of America; and on a subsequent
day by resolution accepted the invitation of Ala
bama to meet with the delegates of the slave-
holding states in the city of Montgomery, on
this day, for the purpose of consulting with each
other as to the most effectual mode of securing con-
certed and harmonious action in whatever measures
may be deemed most desirable for our common peace
and security.
With high regard I am
Your Excellency's
Obednt Servt - Jno Gill Shorter
Ordered 500 Copies for the Convention.
LETTER
OF JOHN GILL SHORTER, COMMISSIONER OF AL-
ABAA, TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE GEORGIA
CONVENTION.
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA
January 16th, 1861.
Hon. George W. Crawford, President of the Convention of the
State of Georgia:
SIR--I have the honor herewith to transmit the certificate
of my appointment as Commissioner from the State of Ala-
bama to the Convention of the State of Georgia, and also a
duly authenticated copy of the Ordinance of Secession, and
accompanying Resolutions adopted by the Convention of Al-
abama, on the 11th inst.; together with a resolution of the
Convention covering my instructions, in which I am particu-
larly directed to request of the Convention of the State of
Georgia, the consideration of, and concurrence in the first
resolution adopted by the Convention of the State of Ala-
bama, inviting the people of Georgia, and of the other slave-
holding States, to meet the people of Alabama, by their
Delegates, in Convention, on the 4th day of February,
1861, at the city of Montgomery, in the State of Alabama,
for the purpose of consulting with each other, as to the most
effectual mode of securing concerted and harmonious action
in whatever measures may be deemed most desirable for our
common peace and security--it being the desire and pur-
pose of the people of Alabama to meet the slaveholding
States, who may approve such purpose, in order to frame a
provisional as well as permanent Government, upon the
principles of the Constitution of the United States.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration,
Your obedient servant,
JNO. GILL SHORTER.
COMMISSION OF JNO. GILL SHORTER AS STATE
COMMISSIONER FROM ALABAMA
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MONTGOMERY, ALA., Dec. 21st, 1860.
WHEREAS, the election of Abraham Lincoln, a Black
Republican to the Presidency of the United States, by a
purely sectional vote, and by a party whose leading and
publicly avowed object is, the destruction of the institu-
tion of slavery, as it exists in the slaveholding States; And,
WHEREAS, the success of said party and the power which
it now has and soon will acquire, greatly endanger the
peace, interests, security and honor of the slaveholding
States, and make it necessary that prompt and effective
measures should be adopted to avoid the evils which must
result from a Republican administration of the Federal Gov-
ernment: And as the interests and destiny of the slave-
holding STates are the same, they must naturally sympa-
thise with each other; they, therefore, so far as may be
practicable should consult and advise together as to what
is best to be done to protect their mutual interests and
honor.
Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises, I, AN-
DREW B. MOORE, Governor of the State of Alabaa, by
virtue of the general powers in me vested, do hereby con-
stitute and appoint Hon. JOHN GILL SHORTER, a cit-
izen of said State, a Commissioner to the sovereign State
of Georgia to consult and advise with His Excellency, Gov-
ernor JOSEPH E. BROWN, and the members of the Conven-
tion to be assembled in said State, as to what is best to be
done to protect the rights, interests and honor of the slave-
holding States, and to report the result of such consulta-
tion in time to enable me to communicate the same to the
Convention of the State of Alabama, to be held on Monday
the 7th day of January next, if practicable.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand
and caused the Great Seal of the State to be
affixed in the City of Montgomery, this 21st
day of December, A. D. 1860.
A. B. MOORE.
To Dissolve the Union between the State of Alabama and other
States united under the Compact styled "The Constitution of the
United States of America."
WHEREAS, the election of Abraha Lincoln and Hannibal
Hamlin to the offices of President and Vice President of the
United States of America, by a sectional party, avowedly
hostile to the domestic institutions and to the peace and se-
curity of the people of the State of Alabaa, preceded by
many and dangerous infractions of the Constitution of the
United States by many of the States and people of the
Northern section, is a political wrong of so insulting and
menacing a character as to justify the people of the State
of Alabama in the adoption of prompt and decided measures
for their future peace and security, therefore,
Be it declared and ordained by the people of the State of Ala-
bama, in Convention assembled, That the State of Alabama
now withdraws, and is hereby withdrawn from the Union
known as "the United States of America," and henceforth
ceases to be one of said United States, and is, and of right
ought to be a Sovereign and Independent State.
Sec. 2. Be it further declared and ordained by the people of the
State of Alabama, in convention assembled, That all the powers
over the Territory of said State, and over the people there-
of, heretofore delegated to the Government of the United
States of America, be and they are hereby withdrawn from
said Government and are hereby resumed and vested in the
people of the State of Alabama.
And as it is the desire and purpose of the people of Ala-
bana to meet the slaveholding States of the South, who
may approve such purpose, in order to frame a provisional
as well permanent Government upon the principles of
the Constitution of the United States,
Be it resolved by the people of Alabama, in convention assem-
bled, That the people of the States of Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Ken-
tucky and Missouri, be and are hereby invited to meet the
people of the State of Alabama, by their Delegates, in Con-
vention, on the 4th day of February, A. D. 1861, at the
city of Montgomery, in the State of Alabama, for the pur-
pose of consulting with each other as to the most effectual
mode of securing concerted and harmonious action in what-
ever measures may be deemed most desirable for our com-
mon peace and security.
And be it further resolved, That the President of this Con-
vention be and he is hereby instructured to transmit forthwith
a copy of the foregoing Preamble, Ordinance, and Resolu-
tions to the Governors of the several States named in said
resolutions.
Done by the people of the State of Alabaa, in Con-
vention assembled, at Montgomery, on this, the ele-
venth day of January, A. D. 1861.
WILLIAM M. BROOKS,
President of the Convention.
MONTGOMERY, ALA., January 14th, 1861.
Hon. John Gill Shorter:
DEAR SIR: The following resolution was passed by the
Convention in session to-day:
Resolved by the people of the State of Alabama in Convention
assembled, That the Commissioners heretofore appointed by
the Governor of this State to the several slaveholding States,
be and they are hereby directed to present to the Conven-
tions of said States, the Preamble, Ordinance and Resolu-
tions adopted by the people of the State of Alabama, in
Convention, on the 11th day of January, 1861, and to re-
quest the consideration of and concurrence in the first res-
olution."
With the above resolution is transmitted to you, by or-
der of the Convention, a certified copy of the Preamble,
Ordinance, and resolutions referred to.
Respectfully,
WILLIAM M. BROOKS,
President of the Convention.
Subject
Moore, A. B. (Andrew Barry), 1807–1873; Alabama—Politics and government—To 1865; United States—History—Civil War, 1861–1865