 McGehee stated "At the South and with our people, of course, slavery is the element of all value, and a destruction of that destroys all that is property.This party, now soon to take possession of the powers of government, is sectional, irresponsible to us, and, driven on by an infuriated, fanatical madness that defies all opposition, must inevitably destroy every vestige of right growing out of property in slaves.”

Those opposed to secession included Conservative plantation owner, former Seminole War military commander Richard Keith Call who advocated for restraint and judiciousness.His daughter Ellen Call Long wrote that upon being told of the vote outcome by its supporters, Call raised his cane above his head and told the delegates who came to his house, "And what have you done?