Message from Governor A. B. Moore concerning the appointment of commissioners to slaveholding states.
Item
Identifier
RSG00248_f09_Q0000134712_Q0000134714
Title
Message from Governor A. B. Moore concerning the appointment of commissioners to slaveholding states.
Rights
This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though ADAH has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.
Type
Text
Creator
Moore, Andrew B. (Andrew Barry), 1807-1874
Date
December 1860
Description
Letter written by A B Moore in regards to commissioner appointments. A B Moore emphasizes that a convention needs to be called to ensure all slaveholding state commissioners are equal in their views of slavery. Moore highlights the appointed commissioners names and emphasises their patriotism for America.
Format
letter
Place
Montgomery (Ala.)
Publisher
Alabama Department of Archives and History. (electronic version)
Contributor
Anna Arnwine
transcription
The general assembly at its last session passed unanamously with two exceptions [?] requiring the Governor in the event of the election of a BlackRepublican, to order elections to be held for delegates to a Con= vention of the state. The contin= gency contemplated having oc= curred making it necessary for me to call a convention writs of election were issued imme= diately after the votes of the electo= ral college were cast. It was my opinion that under the peculiar phraseology of the resolutions I was not authorized to order elec tions upon the casting of the popular vote - I therefore ^determined conclu= ded not to do so.
As the slaveholding states have a common interest in the insti tution of slavery and [cannot?] be common sufferers in its overthrow, I deemed it proper, and it appeared to be the general sentiment of the people, that Alabama should consult and advise with the other slaveholding states so far as practicable as to what is best to be done to pro= tect their interest and honor in the impending crisis. And seeing that the Conventions of South Carolina and Floridawould probably act before the Convention of Alabama assembled and that the legislatures of some of the states would meet and might adjourn without calling conventions prior to the meeting of our Con= vention and thus the opportunity of conferring with them ^when before the great and vital question ^on upon which you are ^called to act - I determined to appoint Commissioners to all the slaveholding states. After appointing them to those states whose Conventions and legislatures were to meet in advance of the Alabama Convention it was suggested by wise Counsellors that if I did not make similar appointments to the other southern states it might seem to be making an insidious distincion which was not intended. Being convinced that it might so be considered, I ^then at once deter= mined to appoint Commissioners to al the slaveholding states and made the following appointments. A F Hopkins and F M Gilmer Com missioners to Virginia, John A Elmore Commissioner to South Carolina, J W Garrett and Robt H Smith Com missioners to North Carolina, J L M Curry to Maryland, David Clapton Commissioner to Delaware, S F Keale Commissioner to Kentucky, Wm Cooper Commissioner to Missouri L P WalkerCommissioner to Tennessee, David Hub= bard Commissioner to Arkansas, J A Winston, Commissioner to Louisiana, J M Calhoun Commissioner to Texas E C Bullock Commissioner to Florida, J G Shorter Commissioner to Georgia and E W Pettus Commissioner to Mississippi.
All these gentlemen are well known to the people of Alabama and are distinguished for their ability integrity and patriotism. The following is a copy of the com mission to each of them in substance
As the slaveholding states have a common interest in the insti tution of slavery and [cannot?] be common sufferers in its overthrow, I deemed it proper, and it appeared to be the general sentiment of the people, that Alabama should consult and advise with the other slaveholding states so far as practicable as to what is best to be done to pro= tect their interest and honor in the impending crisis. And seeing that the Conventions of South Carolina and Floridawould probably act before the Convention of Alabama assembled and that the legislatures of some of the states would meet and might adjourn without calling conventions prior to the meeting of our Con= vention and thus the opportunity of conferring with them ^when before the great and vital question ^on upon which you are ^called to act - I determined to appoint Commissioners to all the slaveholding states. After appointing them to those states whose Conventions and legislatures were to meet in advance of the Alabama Convention it was suggested by wise Counsellors that if I did not make similar appointments to the other southern states it might seem to be making an insidious distincion which was not intended. Being convinced that it might so be considered, I ^then at once deter= mined to appoint Commissioners to al the slaveholding states and made the following appointments. A F Hopkins and F M Gilmer Com missioners to Virginia, John A Elmore Commissioner to South Carolina, J W Garrett and Robt H Smith Com missioners to North Carolina, J L M Curry to Maryland, David Clapton Commissioner to Delaware, S F Keale Commissioner to Kentucky, Wm Cooper Commissioner to Missouri L P WalkerCommissioner to Tennessee, David Hub= bard Commissioner to Arkansas, J A Winston, Commissioner to Louisiana, J M Calhoun Commissioner to Texas E C Bullock Commissioner to Florida, J G Shorter Commissioner to Georgia and E W Pettus Commissioner to Mississippi.
All these gentlemen are well known to the people of Alabama and are distinguished for their ability integrity and patriotism. The following is a copy of the com mission to each of them in substance
Subject
Moore, A. B. (Andrew Barry), 1807-1873;
African Americans--Alabama;
Governors--Alabama;
Alabama--Politics and government--To 1865;
Secession--Alabama;
Slavery--Alabama;
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
African Americans--Alabama;
Governors--Alabama;
Alabama--Politics and government--To 1865;
Secession--Alabama;
Slavery--Alabama;
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865