Baptists and the American Civil War: March 7, 1861

Joseph Brown, Governor of Georgia, and a Southern BaptistGeorgia’s Secession Convention continues, reconvening in Savannah (having previously convened in Milledgeville). The following resolution is offered:

Whereas, It will become necessary for the Confederate States of America to select a location for a National Capitol. Be it, therefore,

Resolved, That the Governor of this State be, and he is hereby authorized to furnish, free of charge, any such location that might be made in this State.

The resolution directed at (Baptist) governor Joseph Brown (illustration), however, does not pass.

Meanwhile, in Washington, the presence of President Abraham Lincoln‘s barber leads to certain tensions. William Johnson, who has been working for Lincoln for the past year, is black. Described by Lincoln as “honest, faithful, sober, industrious and handy as a servant,” Johnson, now a part of the White House staff, is nonetheless not well received by many other White House staff because of (in the words of Lincoln) “the difference of color between him & other servants.”

Source: Georgia Secession Convention Minutes (link); Lincoln’s letter to Gideon Welles regarding William Johnson (link)