SECESSION MOVEMENT DEVELOPED.

IMMEDIATELY thereupon, and clearly by concert of action previously arranged, various disunion Governors hastily took steps to procure the passage of ordinances of secession by Conventions of their States, artfully using the unsettled excitements of the Presidential canvass to that end.

These proceedings in brief were as follows:

SOUTH CAROLINA.

November 6th, 1860. Legislature met to choose Presidential electors, who voted for Breckinridge and Lane for President and Vice President. Gov. WILLIAM H. GIST recommended in his message that in the event of ABRAHAM LINCOLN's election to the Presidency, a convention of the people of the State be immediately called to consider and determine for themselves the mode and measure of redress. He expressed the opinion that the only alternative left is the "secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union."

nouncing the repeal, Dec. 20th, 1860, by the good people of South Carolina," of the Ordinance of May 23d, 1788, and "the dissolution of the union between the State of South Carolina and other States under the name of the United States of America," and proclaiming to the world "that the State of South Carolina is, as she has a right to be, a separate, sovereign, free and independent State, and, as such, has a right to levy war, conclude peace, negotiate treaties, leagues, or covenants, and to do all acts whatsoever that rightfully appertain to a free and independent State.

"Done in the eighty-fifth year of the sovereignty and independence of South Carolina."

Jan. 3d, 1861. South Carolina Commissioners left Washington.

4th. Convention appointed T. J. Withers, L. M. Keitt, W.W. Boyce, Jas. Chesnut, Jr., R. B. Rhett, Jr., R. W. Barnwell, and C. G. Memminger, delegates to Southern Con

7th. United States officials resigned at gress. Charleston.

10th. U. S. Senators JAMES H. HAMMOND and JAMES CHESNUT, Jr., resigned their seats in the Senate. Convention called to meet Dec. 17th. Delegates to be elected Dec. 6th. 13th. Collection of debts due to citizens of non-slaveholding States stayed. FRANCIS W. PICKENS elected Governor, who appointed a cabinet consisting of A. G. MAGRATH Secretary of State, DAVID F. JAMISON Secretary of War, C. G. MEMMINGER Secretary of Treasury, W. W. HARLLEE P. M. General, ALBERT C. GARLINGTON Secretary of Interior.

17th. Ordinance of Secession adopted unanimously.

21st. Commissioners appointed (BARNWELL, ADAMS, and ОRR) to proceed to Washington to treat for the possession of U. S. Government property within the limits of South Carolina. Commissioners appointed to the other Slaveholding States. Southern Congress proposed.

24th. Representatives in Congress drew.

Gov. PICKENS issued a proclamation

with

an

5th. Convention adjourned, subject to the call of the Governor.

14th. Legislature declared that any attempt to reinforce Fort Sumter would be considered an open act of hostility and a declaration of war. Approved the Governor's action in firing on the Star of the West. Accepted the services of the Catawba Indians.

27th. Received Judge Robertson, Commissioner from Virginia, but rejected the proposition for a conference and co-operative action.*

The resolutions are:

Resolved unanimously, That the General Assembly of South Carolina tenders to the Legislature of Virginia their

acknowledgment of the friendly motives which inspired the mission entrusted to Hon. Judge Robertson, her Com

missioner.

Resolved unanimously, That candor, which is due to

the long-continued sympathy and respect which has subsisted between Virginia and South Carolina, induces the

Assembly to declare with frankness that they do not deem it advisable to initiate negotiations, when they have no

desire or intention to promote the ultimate object in view. That object is declared, in the resolution of the Virginia Legislature, to be the procurement of amendments to, or new guarantees in, the Constitution of the United States.

2

November 8th, 1860. Legislature met puration in effecting measures for their common suant to previous arrangement.

"Hear them, if you please; treat them with civility; feed them, and drench them in champagne-and let them go! Let us act as if they had never come, as if they had not spoken, as if they did not exist; and let them seek to preserve their Treasury pap through some more supple agency than ours. The time has gone by when the voice of a Virginia politician, though he coo like a dove, should be heard in the land of a patriotic people.", southern States.

January 23d, 1861. Convention met and yeas 87, nays 6. Transferred control of forts. organized. Received and heard Commis- arsenals, etc., to "Confederate" Government sioners from South Carolina and Alabama.

The statement in the first edition that this action was re-considered, and the Ordinance submitted, is incorrect. It was not voted upon by the people.

Feb. 5th. Senators withdrew from Congress, also the Representatives, except John E. Bouligny. State flag adopted. Pilots at the Balize prohibited from bringing over the bar any United States vessels of war.

March 7th. Ordinance adopted in secret session transferring to "Confederate" States government $536,000, being the amount of bullion in the U. S. mint and customs seized by the State.*

16th. An ordinance voted down, submitting the "Confederate" Constitution to the people-yeas 26, nays 74.

21st. Ratified the "Confederate" Constitution-yeas 101, nays 7. Governor authorized to transfer the arms and property captured from the United States to the "Confederate" Government.

27th. Convention adjourned sine die.

ALABAMA.

January 7th, 1861. Convention met. 8th. Received and heard the Commissioner from South Carolina.

11th. Ordinance of Secession passed in secret session-yeas 61, nays 39. Proposition to submit ordinance to the people lost -yeas 47, nays 53.

14th. Legislature met pursuant to previous action.

19th. Delegates elected to the Southern Congress.

21st. Representatives and Senators in Congress withdrew.

26th. Commissioners appointed to treat with United States Government relative to the United States forts, arsenals, etc., within the State.

The Convention requested the people of the States of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri to meet the people of Alabama by their delegates in Convention, February 4th, 1861, at Montgomery, for the purpose of consulting as to the most effectual mode of securing concerted or harmonious action in whatever measures may be deemed most desirable for their common peace and security. Military Bill passed. Commissioners pointed to other Slaveholding States.

March 4th. Convention re-assembled.

ap

13th. Ratified "Confederate" Constitution,

* March 14th, 1861. The "Confederate" Congress passed a resolution accepting these funds, with "a high sense of the patriotic liberality of the State of Louisiana."

ARKANSAS.

January 16th, 1861. Legislature passed
Convention Bill. Vote of the people on the
Convention was 27,412 for it, and 15,826
against it.

February 18th. Delegates elected.
March 4th. Convention met.

18th. The Ordinance of Secession de feated-yeas 35, nays 39. The Convention effected a compromise by agreeing to submit the question of co-operation or secession to the people on the 1st Monday in August.

May 6th. Passed Secession Ordinanceyeas 69, nays 1. Authorized her delegates to the Provisional Congress, to transfer the arsenal at Little Rock and hospital at Napoleon to the "Confederate" Government. TEXAS.

January 21st, 1861. Legislature met. 28th. People's State Convention met. 29th. Legislature passed a resolution declaring that the Federal Government has no power to coerce a Sovereign State after she has pronounced her separation from the Federal Union.

February 1st. Ordinance of Secession passed in Convention-yeas 166, nays 7. Military Bill passed.

7th. Ordinance passed, forming the foundation of a Southern Confederacy. Delegates to the Southern Congress elected. Also an act passed submitting the Ordinance of Secession to a vote of the people.

23d. Secession Ordinance voted on by the people; adopted by a vote of 34,794 in favor, and 11,235 against it.

March 4th. Convention declared the State out of the Union. Gov. Houston issued a proclamation to that effect.

16th. Convention by a vote of 127 to 4 deposed Gov. Houston, declaring his seat vacant. Gov. Houston issued a proclamation to the people protesting against this action of the Convention. |_ 20th. Legislature confirmed the action of the Convention in deposing Gov. Houston by a vote of 53 to 11. Transferred forts, etc., to Confederate" Government.

23d. Ratified the "Confederate" Constitution-yeas 68, nays 2.

NORTH CAROLINA.

November 20th, 1860. Legislature met. Gov. Ellis recommended that the Legislature invite a conference of the Southern States, or failing in that, send one or more delegates to the neighboring States so as to secure He recommended a concert of action. thorough reorganization of the militia, and the enrolment of all persons between 18 and 45 years, and the organization of a corps of ten thousand men; also, a Convention, to assemble immediately after the proposed consultation with other Southern States shall have terminated.

December 9th. Joint Committee on Federal | Passed the Senate, yeas 14, nays 6, absent Relations agreed to report a Convention Bill. 17th. Bill appropriating $300,000 to arm the State, debated.

18th. Senate passed above bill-yeas 41, nays 3.

20th. Commissioners from Alabama and Mississippi received and heard—the latter, J. Thompson, by letter.

22d. Senate Bill to arm the State failed to pass the House.

22d. Adjourned till January 7th.

January 8th, 1861. Senate Bill arming the State passed the House, yeas 73, nays 26. 30th. Passed Convention Bill-election to take place February 28th. No Secession Ordinance to be valid without being ratified by a majority of the qualified voters of the State. 31st. Elected Thos. L. Clingman United States Senator.

February 13th. Commissioners from Georgia publicly received.

20th. Mr. Hoke elected Adjutant General of the State. Military Bill passed.

28th. Election of Delegates to Convention took place.

and not voting 5; the House, yeas 42, nays 15, absent and not voting, 18.* Also a Declaration of Independence and Ordinance dissolving the Federal relations between Tennessee and the United States, and an ordinance adopting and ratifying the Confeder ate Constitution, these two latter to be voted on by the people on June 8th, were passed.

June 24th. Gov, Isham G. Harris declared Tennessee out of the Union, the vote for Separation being 104,019 against 47,238.

VIRGINIA.

January 7th, 1861. Legislature convened. 8th. Anti-coercion resolution passed. 9th. Resolution passed, asking that the status quo be maintained.

10th. The Governor transmitted a despatch from the Mississippi Convention, announcing its unconditional secession from the Union, and desiring on the basis of the old Constitution to form a new union with the seceding States. The House adoptedyeas 77, nays 61,-an amendment submitting to a vote of the people the question of

28th. The vote for a Convention was 46,671; | referring for their decision any action of against 47,333-majority against a Convention 661.

May 1st. Extra session of the Legislature met at the call of Gov. Ellis. The same day they passed a Convention Bill, ordering the election of delegates on the 13th.

2d. Legislature adjourned.

13th. Election of delegates to the Convention took place.

20th. Convention met at Raleigh. 21st. Ordinance of Secession passed; also the "Confederate" Constitution ratified.

June 5th. Ordinance passed, ceded the arsenal at Fayetteville, and transferred magazines, etc., to the "Confederate" Go

vernment.

TENNESSEE.

January 6th, 1861. Legislature met. 12th. Passed Convention Bill. 30th. Commissioners to Washington appointed.

February 8th. People voted no Convention: 67,360 to 54,156.

the Convention dissolving Virginia's connection with the Union, or changing its organic law. The Richmond Enquirer denounced "the emasculation of the Convention Bill as imperilling all that Virginians hold most sacred and dear."

16th. Commissioners Hopkins and Gilmer of Alabama received in the Legislature.

17th. Resolutions passed proposing the Crittenden resolutions as a basis for adjustment, and requesting General Government to avoid collision with Southern States. Gov. Letcher communicated the Resolutions of the Legislature of New York, expressing the utmost disdain, and saying that "the threat conveyed can inspire no terror in freemen." The resolutions were directed to be returned to the Governor of New York. 18th. $1,000,000 appropriated for the defence of the State.

19th. Passed resolve that if all efforts to reconcile the differences of the country

The following is the vote in the Senate on the adoption of the league:

May 1st. Legislature passed a joint resolution authorizing the Governor to appoint YEAS.-Messrs. Allen, Horn, Hunter, Johnson, Lane, Commissioners to enter into a military Minnis, McClellan, McNeilley, Payne, Peters, Stanton, league with the authorities of the "Confed-Thompson, Wood, and Speaker Stovall. NAYS-Messrs. Boyd, Bradford, Hildreth, Nash, Richardson and Stokes. erate" States. Absent and not voting -Messrs. Bumpass, Mickley, Newman, Stokely, and Trimble.

The following is the vote in the House:

YEAS.-Messrs. Baker of Perry, Baker of Weakley,

7th. Legislature in secret session ratified the league entered into by A. O. W. Totten, Gustavus A. Henry, Washington Barrow, Bayless, Bicknell, Bledsoe, Cheatham, Cowden, Davidson, Commissioners for Tennessee, and Henry Gantt, Guy, Havron, Hart, Ingram, Jones, Kenner, Davis, Dudley, Ewing, Farley, Farrelly, Ford, Frazie, W. Hilliard, Commissioner for "Confed- McCabe, Morphies, Nall, Hickett, Porter, Richardson, erate" States, stipulating that Tennessee Roberts, Shield, Smith, Sewel, Trevitt, Vaughn, Whitmore, Woods, and Speaker Whitthorne. NAYS.-Messrs. until she became a member of the Con- Armstrong, Brazelton, Butler, Caldwell, Gorman, Greene, federacy placed the whole military force of Morris, Norman, Russell, Senter, Strewsbury, White of the State under the control of the President Absent and not voting-Messrs. Barksdale, Beaty, BenDavidson, Williams of Knox, Wisener, and Woodard. of the Confederate" States, and turned over nett, Britton, Critz, Doak, East, Gillespie, Harris, Hebb, to the "Confederate" States all the public Johnson, Kincaid of Anderson, Kincaid of Claiborne, property, naval stores and munitions of war.liams of Hickman, and Williamson.

Trewhitt, White of Dickson, Williams of Franklin, Wil

fail, every consideration of honor and in- been perverted to her injury, and as the terest demands that Virginia shall unite her Crittenden propositions as a basis of adjustdestinies with her sister slaveholding States.ment had been rejected by their Northern Also that no reconstruction of the Union confederates, therefore every consideration can be permanent or satisfactory, which will of duty, interest, honor and patriotism renot secure to each section self-protecting quires that Virginia should declare her conpower against any invasion of the Federal nection with the Government to be dissolved. Union upon the reserved rights of either. (See Hunter's proposition of adjustment.) 21st. Replied to Commissioners Hopkins and Gilmer, expressing inability to make a definite response until after the meeting of the State Convention.

22d. The Governor transmitted the resolutions of the Legislature of Ohio, with unfavorable comment. His message was tabled by a small majority.

30th. The House of Delegates to-day tabled the resolutions of the Pennsylvania Legislature, but referred those of Tennessee to the Committee on Federal Relations. February 20th. The resolutions of the Legislature of Michigan were returned with

out comment.

28th. Ex-President Tyler and James A. Seddon, Commissioners to the Peace Congress, presented their report, and denounced the recommendation of that body as a delusion and a sham, and as an insult and an offense to the South.

Proceedings of Virginia Convention. February 4th. Election of delegates to the Convention.

13th. Convention met.

14th. Credentials of John S. Preston, Commissioner from South Carolina, Fulton Anderson from Mississippi, and Henry L. Benning from Georgia, were received.

18th. Commissioners from Mississippi and Georgia heard; both pictured the danger of Virginia remaining with the North; neither contemplated such an event as re

union.

19th. The Commissioner from South Carolina was heard. He said his people believed the Union unnatural and monstrous, and declared that there was no human force -no sanctity of human touch,-that could re-unite the people of the North with the people of the South-that it could never be done unless the economy of God were changed.

20th. A committee reported that in all but sixteen counties, the majority for submitting the action of the Convention to a vote of the people was 52,857. Numerous resolutions on Federal Relations introduced, generally expressing attachment to the Union, but denouncing coercion.

26th. Mr. Goggin of Bedford, in his speech, denied the right of secession, but admitted a revolutionary remedy for wrongs committed upon a State or section, and said wherever Virginia went he was with her.

March 2d. Mr. Goode of Bedford offered a resolution that, as the powers delegated to the General Government by Virginia had

5th. The thanks of the State were voted to Hon. John J. Crittenden, by yeas 107, nays 16, for his efforts to bring about an honorable adjustment of the national difficulties. Mr. Harvie of Amelia offered a resolution, requesting Legislature to make needful appropriations to resist any attempt of the Federal authorities to hold, occupy or possess the property and places claimed by the United States in any of the seceded States, or those that may withdraw or collect duties or imposts in the same.

9th. Three reports were made from the Committee on Federal Relations. The majority proposed to submit to the other States certain amendments to the Constitution, awaiting the response of non-slaveholding States before determining whether "she will resume the powers granted by her under the Constitution of the United States, and throw herself upon her reserved rights; meanwhile insisting that no coercion be attempted, the Federal forts in seceded States be not reinforced, duties be not collected, etc.," and proposing a Convention at Frankfort, Kentucky, the last Monday in May, of the States of Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas. Henry A. Wise differed in details, and went further in the same direction. Messrs. Lewis E. Harvie, Robert L. Montague and Samuel C. Williams recommended the immediate passage of an Ordinance of Secession. Mr. Barbour of Culpeper insisted upon the immediate adoption by the non-slaveholding States of needed guarantees of safety, and provided for the appointment of three Coinmissioners to confer with the Confederate authorities at Montgomery.

19th. Committee on Federal Relations 1eported proposed amendments to the Constitution, which were the substitute of Mr. Franklin of Pa, in "Peace Conference," changed by using the expression "involuntary servitude" in place of "persons held to service." The right of owners of slaves is not to be impaired by congressional or territorial law, or any pre-existing law in territory hereafter acquired.

Involuntary servitude, except for crime, to be prohibited north of 36°30′, but shall not be prohibited by Congress or any Territorial legislature south of that line. The third section has some verbal alterations, providing somewhat better security for property in transit. The fifth section prohibits the importation of slaves from places beyond the limits of the United States. The sixth makes some verbal changes in relation to remuneration for fugitives by Congress, and erases the clause relative to the securing