George W. Ashburn (1814 – March 30, 1868) was a Radical Republican assassinated by the Ku Klux Klan in Columbus, Georgia for his pro-African-American sentiments. He was the first murder victim of the Klan in Georgia.[1]
George W. Ashburn
"The Ku Klux Klan At Work -- The Assassination Of The Hon. G.W. Ashburn, In Columbus, Georgia."
After President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865, Ashburn wrote a letter to Andrew Johnson stating "the hand of God is in the assassination" on the grounds that Lincoln was not properly prepared to punish ex-Confederates for their deeds.[2] He married Georgia Ryley in 1843. They had one daughter.
Postwar
At the end of the war, Ashburn returned to Columbus, Georgia and was appointed a judge by the military Governor, George G. Meade. In this capacity he worked to remove the political disabilities of all disenfranchised Georgians.[3] Ashburn called to order the Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1867, held in Atlanta, which also aimed at removing the obstructions placed on African Americans rights after the end of slavery.[4] Ashburn was the author of the provisions in the new Constitution that assured civil rights to blacks.[5] At the Convention, Ashburn suggested that the new Constitution should be implemented even if the people of Georgia don't concur.[6]
Considered a scalawag by his white Columbus neighbors, he worked with the Freedmens Bureau and alongside African American leaders such as Henry McNeal Turner. His actions quickly created several enemies across the South. Ashburn lived amongst the African American population and garnered attention from the Ku Klux Klan, which established their Columbus chapter on March 21, 1868 after a visit from Nathan Bedford Forrest.[7]
Assassination
"In 1868, Ashburn assembled an organization to support his election to the U.S. Senate after Georgia has been readmitted to the Union."[8] On the night of March 30, 1868, Ashburn participated at a huge gathering of blacks and Republicans at Temperance Hall in Columbus, Georgia. One of the featured speakers was Henry McNeal Turner.[9] Just after midnight, Ashburn was murdered at a house on the corner of 13th Avenue and 2st Street by a group of five well-dressed men wearing masks.[10][11]
Political exoneration
During the time of Ashburn’s murder, Georgia was still under the military governorship of General George Meade (the victor of Gettysburg), of the Third Military District. As soon as he heard of the murder, Meade implemented martial law in Columbus, removing the mayor from office, and ordering the immediate arrest of all suspects.[12] The trial, beginning on June 29, gained national attention as over twenty persons were arrested and held at Fort McPherson. The prisoners consisted mostly of prominent white residents of Columbus. General Henry L. Benning and former Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens agreed to represent the accused.
The Federal government was pushing for Georgia to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment, while the Georgia legislature was resisting it.[13] The defenders of the Klan saw an opportunity for a bargain. On July 21, as the trial progressed, Georgia agreed to ratify the 14th Amendment in exchange for General Meade's termination of the prosecution of the murderers. All prisoners made bail and returned to Columbus. No one was ever prosecuted.[14]
National attention
Newspapers across the United States covered the assassination and subsequent trial. The pro-Klan forces in the South capitalized upon the events, publishing a full-length book on the trial titled Radical Rule: Military Outrage in Georgia.
^Link, William A. (2013-05-06). Atlanta, Cradle of the New South: Race and Remembering in the Civil War's Aftermath. UNC Press Books. ISBN978-1-4696-0777-1.
^. Archived from the original on 2007-02-11. Retrieved 2011-09-06.
External links
Radical Rule: Military Outrage In Georgia. Arrest Of Columbus Prisoners: With Facts Connected With Their Imprisonment And Release, Printed By John P. Morton and Company, 150 Main Street, Louisville, KY: 1868.]
George W. Ashburn murder
"The Ashburn Murder Case," Georgia Historical Quarterly.
Telfair, Nancy. A History of Columbus, Georgia, 1828-1928 (Columbus, Georgia, centenary). Higginson Book Company (1998), 155.
Radical Rule: Ashburn murder trial
Carpetbaggers and Scalawags: Georgia Encyclopedia 2007-02-11 at the Wayback Machine
Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1867
January 21, 2023
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George W Ashburn 1814 March 30 1868 was a Radical Republican assassinated by the Ku Klux Klan in Columbus Georgia for his pro African American sentiments He was the first murder victim of the Klan in Georgia 1 George W Ashburn The Ku Klux Klan At Work The Assassination Of The Hon G W Ashburn In Columbus Georgia Born1814North Carolina United StatesDiedMarch 31 1868 aged 53 54 Columbus Georgia United StatesOccupation s Union Army colonel judgePolitical partyRadical Republican Contents 1 Early life 2 Postwar 3 Assassination 4 Political exoneration 5 National attention 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditAshburn was born in North Carolina in 1814 He moved to Georgia around 1830 He opposed the Secession of Georgia During the American Civil War he was commissioned a Colonel in the Union army After President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865 Ashburn wrote a letter to Andrew Johnson stating the hand of God is in the assassination on the grounds that Lincoln was not properly prepared to punish ex Confederates for their deeds 2 He married Georgia Ryley in 1843 They had one daughter Postwar EditAt the end of the war Ashburn returned to Columbus Georgia and was appointed a judge by the military Governor George G Meade In this capacity he worked to remove the political disabilities of all disenfranchised Georgians 3 Ashburn called to order the Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1867 held in Atlanta which also aimed at removing the obstructions placed on African Americans rights after the end of slavery 4 Ashburn was the author of the provisions in the new Constitution that assured civil rights to blacks 5 At the Convention Ashburn suggested that the new Constitution should be implemented even if the people of Georgia don t concur 6 Considered a scalawag by his white Columbus neighbors he worked with the Freedmens Bureau and alongside African American leaders such as Henry McNeal Turner His actions quickly created several enemies across the South Ashburn lived amongst the African American population and garnered attention from the Ku Klux Klan which established their Columbus chapter on March 21 1868 after a visit from Nathan Bedford Forrest 7 Assassination Edit In 1868 Ashburn assembled an organization to support his election to the U S Senate after Georgia has been readmitted to the Union 8 On the night of March 30 1868 Ashburn participated at a huge gathering of blacks and Republicans at Temperance Hall in Columbus Georgia One of the featured speakers was Henry McNeal Turner 9 Just after midnight Ashburn was murdered at a house on the corner of 13th Avenue and 2st Street by a group of five well dressed men wearing masks 10 11 Political exoneration EditDuring the time of Ashburn s murder Georgia was still under the military governorship of General George Meade the victor of Gettysburg of the Third Military District As soon as he heard of the murder Meade implemented martial law in Columbus removing the mayor from office and ordering the immediate arrest of all suspects 12 The trial beginning on June 29 gained national attention as over twenty persons were arrested and held at Fort McPherson The prisoners consisted mostly of prominent white residents of Columbus General Henry L Benning and former Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens agreed to represent the accused The Federal government was pushing for Georgia to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment while the Georgia legislature was resisting it 13 The defenders of the Klan saw an opportunity for a bargain On July 21 as the trial progressed Georgia agreed to ratify the 14th Amendment in exchange for General Meade s termination of the prosecution of the murderers All prisoners made bail and returned to Columbus No one was ever prosecuted 14 National attention EditNewspapers across the United States covered the assassination and subsequent trial The pro Klan forces in the South capitalized upon the events publishing a full length book on the trial titled Radical Rule Military Outrage in Georgia See also EditReconstruction Era Battle of Columbus 1865 CarpetbaggerReferences Edit Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes Atlanta Cradle of the New South Rose David The Big Eddy Club THE STOCKING STRANGLINGS AND SOUTHERN JUSTICE New York The New Press 2007 65 72 Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1867 Atlanta Cradle of the New South New York Times January 24 1868 Radical Rule Military Outrage in Georgia 1868 Link William A 2013 05 06 Atlanta Cradle of the New South Race and Remembering in the Civil War s Aftermath UNC Press Books ISBN 978 1 4696 0777 1 Atlanta Cradle of the New South J Riley Case Unpredictable Gospel The Murder of George W Ashburn ofGeorgia Published April 6 1868 Copyright c The New York Times Papers of Ulysses Grant Georgia declines the 14th Amendment Carpetbaggers and Scalawags Georgia Encyclopedia Archived from the original on 2007 02 11 Retrieved 2011 09 06 External links EditRadical Rule Military Outrage In Georgia Arrest Of Columbus Prisoners With Facts Connected With Their Imprisonment And Release Printed By John P Morton and Company 150 Main Street Louisville KY 1868 George W Ashburn murder The Ashburn Murder Case Georgia Historical Quarterly Telfair Nancy A History of Columbus Georgia 1828 1928 Columbus Georgia centenary Higginson Book Company 1998 155 Radical Rule Ashburn murder trial Carpetbaggers and Scalawags Georgia Encyclopedia Archived 2007 02 11 at the Wayback Machine Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1867 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George W Ashburn amp oldid 1117009006, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
