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A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 89/340

Events of the Civil War

Florida. At the state level the Democrats prevailed, and John
Milton, a Jackson County planter, was elected governor.
Although the platform and Lincoln pledged that the party
favored no interference with slavery in the South and no extension
of slavery in the territories, the Republicans were regarded as
abolitionists. Lincoln’s victory accordingly was viewed as an
abolitionist triumph and talk of secession followed the election.
Although Governor Perry favored secession, he did not have to call a
special session of the legislature to consider it. The legislature
convened in regular session on November 26, 1860, and in his
opening message on November 27, the governor told the group that
immediate secession offered the only solution. Delay, he argued,
would only encourage slave uprisings.7
The legislature responded to Perry’s plea and called for a state
convention on January 3, 1861, to consider secession. An ap­
propriation of $100,000 was approved for the purchase of arms.
Each county held a special election on December 22,1860, to select
delegates to the special convention. Representing Columbia County
were Green A. Hunter, A. J. T. Wright, and John W. Jones. Hunter
was a 35-year-old merchant who was born in Georgia. Hunter
owned only one slave, and his personal property was valued at
$10,000 while his real estate holdings were valued at $2,000. A. J. T.
Wright, age 33, also a Georgia-born merchant, was Columbia’s
second delegate. He owned nine slaves and had personal property
valued at $20,000 and real estate valued at $10,000. Columbia’s
third delegate, John W. Jones, a 50-year old Georgia-born farmer,
owned forty-two slaves. Jones’ personal property (including the
slaves) was valued at $26,000, while his plantation was valued at
$ll,500.8
The secession convention assembled at Tallahassee on January

’’Ibid., p. 12.
8Ralph A. Wooster, “The Florida Secession Convention,” Florida Historical
Quarterly 36 (April, 1958), p. 383.
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