dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə dᵻbˈeɪt ˌɔn sɛsˈɛʃən, kˈʌləm stˈʌmpt tˌɛnəsˈiː ɪn fˈeɪvɚɹ ʌv ɹᵻmˈeɪnɪŋ ɪnðə jˈuːniən bˌʌt wɛn tˌɛnəsˈiː fˈaɪnəli sɛsˈiːdᵻd, hiː ɡɹˈʌdʒɪŋli səpˈoːɹɾᵻd ðə dᵻsˈɪʒən bˌʌt ɹᵻtˈaɪɚd tə hɪz hˈoʊm æt kˈɑːɹθɪdʒ ænd dɪdnˌɑːt tˈeɪk ɐ pɹˈɑːmɪnənt ɹˈoʊl səpˈoːɹɾɪŋ ˈiːðɚ sˈaɪd.
During the debate on secession, Cullom stumped Tennessee in favor of remaining in the Union but when Tennessee finally seceded, he grudgingly supported the decision but retired to his home at Carthage and did not take a prominent role supporting either side.