But like most leaders in the nationalist scene, not least his successors in the republican scene, he knew little of Ulster or the intensity of Unionist sentiment against home rule.
By contrast the reaction in the Southern states not part of the Confederacy destroyed pro Unionist sentiment.
He however did not arrive to take his seat, and was subsequently expelled by a unanimous vote for his avowed Unionist sentiments.
He went to the South to rally Unionist sentiment.
Its patriotic history as the center of Unionist sentiment in Civil War Alabama is woven like a silver thread through Judge Johnson's interpretations of the Constitution.
However, Unionist sentiment waned once the war began.
The Confederates continued to hold East Tennessee despite the strength of Unionist sentiment there, with the exception of pro-Confederate Sullivan County.
Confederates held East Tennessee despite the strength of Unionist sentiment there, with the exception of extremely pro-Confederate Sullivan County.
According to a biographical sketch of Gen. Rust, near the end of the war he became quite outspoken and bold critic of the Confederate government, regularly expressing Unionist sentiments.
Second, he overestimated the strength of Unionist sentiment in the South and border states; he assumed he could call the bluff of the insurrectionists and they would fade away.
