Colonel Watts, I presume
The following excerpted article from The New-York Times mentions a Colonel Watts along with the famous fire-eater William L. Yancey. I’m assuming Watts is Thomas H. Watts, who became Alabama’s governor in 1863. This article was written by The Times’ BRECK correspondent.
Excerpts from The New-York Times December 7, 1860:
FROM ALABAMA.; A FAST INSTEAD OF A THANKSGIVING THE FEELING GENERAL FOR SECESSION, & C.
MONTGOMERY, Thursday, Nov. 29, 1860.
A few weeks since, in accordance with the usual custom, our Governor announced a day of public thanksgiving for the mercies of the year. A prudent reconsideration seems to have convinced him that the present position of the country did not call for any such expression, and to-day the State is observing a fast. The demand for this change, together with the unusual respect paid to the day show the really serious spirit with which the coming crisis is regarded by the entire community. …
A person coming from the North, and passing through the five States now holding this question under consideration, would find no other feeling than that for secession. …
Still as the movement progresses — and there is progress — there is no difficulty in discovering three classes in the ranks of the Secessionists. First, the young men, who are all in favor of disunion, and would not object to just enough war to show the Yankees how easily they could whip them if occasion required; second, the politicians, together with those whose old political sympathies or natural temperament make them extremists; lastly, the large class who feel aggrieved by the action of the North — who respect the Union, but, looking upon disunion as inevitable, are only anxious that it should be undertaken calmly and with the cooperation of the other Southern States. …
From the first two classes there is nothing to be expected; they wish nothing but secession, and fear nothing but that the concessions of the North or the compromises of the border States will satisfy the cooperationists — as the third class are called. …
Whatever is to be the action of the coming Convention — and I do not doubt that it will be for secession — it is now certain that it will represent the finest talent of the State. All admit that no such body of men has ever been collected in the State of Alabama as will assemble in January to take into consideration — as we Breckinridge men like to phrase it — the best means of secession. It may be a satisfaction to some to know that Mr. YANCEY will meet there several of his most able and bitter opponents in the politics of the State. You have seen, I presume, the theological aspect of this question — how the Baptist State Convention offered, through a suitable set of resolutions, the services of their denomination to the Governor in the case of a war, and how he, in a neat letter, accepted these services? You will understand me as acting the part of a friend when I advise the pseudo-Baptists of the North to take advantage of this timely announcement and secure their safety by a suitable reconsideration of denominational tenets, or a hasty flight from the sword of the faithful.
While speaking of war, let me say that report announces the arrival of five thousand stand of arms from the North, for the purchase of which a gentleman was sent a few weeks ago. The excitement that for a time swayed the public mind has now sunk into the quiet of on-going, matter-fact life. Even the harmless little romance of the cockade, seems growing a little passe. Still I do not think there has been any positive change in public feeling. The fact is, every one here is in favor of secession. An association has just been formed in this city, calling itself the “Central Committee of Safety,” enrolling among its members Mr. YANCEY, Col. WATTS, and other prominent men of the city. You will find below the preamble of their Constitution, which will sufficiently explain its character. …
1) You can read the entire article, including the text of the preamble for the committee at The New York Times Archives
2) Allen from Seven Score and Ten made a good comment here about the enthusiasm of youth for war. Here the young men of Alabama are looking for “just enough war” to whip the Yankees. From the perspective of 150 years, they obviously got much more than “just enough war”
3) Not to get too far ahead of the story, but the Wikipedia article (linked to above) about Watts was very interesting, especially his challenges governing Alabama during the last couple years of the war.
