Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
In the years leading up to the Civil War, Fire-Eater, William L. Yancey argued his belief in Popular Sovereignty, or "Squatter Sovereignty" as he termed it, for the people of the South to legitimately split from the North. Quite simply, "Squatter Sovereignty" was his belief that the citizens had the right to chose the form of government which worked best for them. In 1860, during that year's presidential campaign, Yancey was invited to speak to the citizens of Knoxville, Tennessee by James G. M. Ramsey, another outspoken supporter of Southern Rights. Ramsey sends his request through Alabama delegate to the Democratic National Convention, of Perry County, William Malone Brooks, 1 1/2pp. 4to., on Branch Bank of Tennessee stationery, Knoxville, Tenn. Sept. 1, 1860, reading, in part: "…I mentioned you & W. Yancey to our club soon after I saw you on the cars. They have instructed me to write you to meet & address our fellow citizens of Knox County on the grave subject involved in the Presidential election now pending at such time…least inconvenient…the real Democracy are at work & hopeful-not withstanding the efforts of the Douglas faction to divide & destroy the South. Their partizans can effect little…[in] Nov. we hope to present an (almost) undivided front. Bell will fall below Filmore's vote & would be much below it but for the hope inspired by the squatter sovereignty defection. I will address Mr. Yancey in a few days…J. G. M. Ramsey, Pres't. B. & E. [Bell & Everett] Club…". JAMES GETTYS McGREADY RAMSEY (1797-1884), educated Washington College, East Tennessee businessman, slave owner, planter and historian who, a staunch supporter of Southern Rights, advocated for establishing Deep South planter lifestyle for all of Tennessee. During the war he served as a Confederate Treasury agent and advocated that Tennessee join the South. He maintained a deep hatred for all things Northern and, any and all, pro-Union Tennesseans including Parsons Brownlow. By the end of the war he was an unreconstructed rebel. One son died in battle. Two other son had been captured and imprisoned by the Yankees. Both his daughters died during the war and to add to his misery he was financially ruined by the war. After a long and protracted fight with government officials secured a pardon from President Andrew Johnson in 1865 and he began to rebuild his life. Overall VG to near fine.
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