Page images
PDF
EPUB

CHAPTER XIX.

Adoption of the Ordinance of Secession-Popular Enthusiasm-Union of all Classes of the People-Assembling of the Southern Congress at Montgomery-Arrival of President Davis-Ratification by the Alabama Convention of the Confederate Constitution-Conclusion.

"The effect of this [Lincoln's Proclamation of April 15, 1861.] upon the public mind of the Southern States cannot be described or even estimated. ** Up to this time a majority, I think, of those who had favored the policy of secession, had done so under the belief and conviction that it was the surest way of securing a redress of grievances and of bringing the Federal Government back to constitutional principles. Many of them indulged hopes that a Re-formation or Re-construction of the Union would soon take place upon the basis of the new Montgomery Constitution; and that the Union under this would be continued and strengthened, or made more perfect, as it had been in 1789 after the withdrawal of nine States from the first Union, and the adoption of the Constitution of 1787. This proclamation dispelled all such hopes. It showed that the party in power intended nothing short of complete centralization. There was no longer any divisions amongst the people of the Confederate States."-[A. H. Stephens.

On the morning of Jan. 10, 1861, the Alabama Convention met at the Capitol. The President laid before thein a despatch from the President of the Mississippi Convention announcing that they had adopted an ordinance of secession for their State by a vote approaching unanimity, and that Mississippi desires on the basis of the old Constitution a new Union with the seceding States. A despatch from Charleston was also read, announcing that a steamer with reinforcements for Fort Sumter was fired into by the forts, that she was disabled, had retreated and was lying at anchor. The despatch suggested, but did not

66

vouch for the truth of the statement, that the disabled vessel had hauled down her colors. Another despatch said: "Anderson, it is said and believed, intends firing upon our shipping and cutting off communication "with the fort." Another said: "Anderson writes to "the Governor he will fire into all ships. Governor replies and justifies what we did. Now Anderson replies his mind is changed, and refers the question "to Washington." All this was an exciting prelude to the grave business of the day.

66

66

Mr. YANCEY then, from the Committee of Thirteen, reported an ordinance of secession for Alabama, withdrawing "all the powers over the territory of said "State, and over the people thereof, heretofore delega"ted to the government of the United States of "America," and inviting the slave-holding States to meet the people of Alabama Feb. 4, 1861, at the city of Montgomery, for the purpose of consulting with each other as to the most effectual mode of securing concerted and harmonious action in whatever measures be deemed most desirable "for our common peace may "and security." Mr. JERE CLEMENS, from the minority of the same committee, made a report signed by six of the thirteen members. They said that they were unable to see in separate State secession the most effectual mode of guarding the honor and securing the rights of the State, but that it was becoming to make an effort to obtain the concurrence of all the States interested before deciding finally and conclusively upon a policy of their own. They contended that in so important a matter sound policy dictates that an ordinance of secession should be submitted for the ratification and approval of the people. The resolutions submitted

with this minority report recommended a Convention of all the Southern States to meet at Nashville on the 22d of February, to consider the wrongs of the South and to devise appropriate remedies. A basis of settlement was suggested by the resolutions, but not to be regarded as absolute and unalterable. If the proposition for a conference should be rejected by any or all of the States, then Alabama should adopt such a plan of resistance as might seem best calculated to maintain her honor and rights. In the meantime Alabama would resist, by all means at her command, any attempt on the part of the General Government to coerce a seceding State.

Mr. CLEMENS moved that the minority report be substituted for the majority report. The ayes and noes were called upon this motion and resulted-ayes 45, noes 54. A change of five votes from the noes to the ayes would perhaps have changed the fate of Alabama and of the entire South. The Huntsville Advocate had said that, "but for the unexpected loss of Autauga and "Mobile by bad management, the Co-operationists "would have had a majority in the Convention." Autauga had one representative and Mobile had four. These five votes had it in their power to defeat the ordinance. Autauga was the home of FITZPATRICK, who had steadily opposed secession. Mobile was the home of FORSYTH, who in his speech at Hibernia Hall, Charleston, at the time of the withdrawal of the Southern delegations, had said that the proceedings there would force him against his will to be a "Union man ;" that he despised Union shrieking, and had always thought that Unionism had gone far enough when a man was just and true to States Rights, but it was quite certain that the people of the South would meet Mr. YANCEY's attempt to "precipitate a revolution with a counter revolution to save the country-that there were twenty-five thousand good citizens in Alabama who had never been Democrats who would take

[ocr errors]

a hand to help prevent a dissolution of the Union. Writing to the journal of which, he was then editor, Mr. FORSYTH had also said: "The Democratic party has

66

now a double sectional fight in hand North and "South. The Union depends on the issue. Heaven "defend the right." Mobile county had voted in November previous for Mr. BELL, 1,629 votes; for Mr. DOUGLAS, 1,828 votes; and for Mr. BRECKINRIDGE, only 1,541 votes. There were 3,452 votes cast for Union candidates against 1,541 for the candidate supported by Mr. YANCEY. From these and other facts, it was believed by many that the minority report would have been ratified in preference to Mr. YANCEY's ordinance of secession, had the Convention actually represented the voice of the people.

After the refusal of the Convention to substitute the minority for the majority report, Mr. CLEMENS offered a resolution providing that the ordinance of secession should not go into operation unless ratified by the people. The vote being taken on this proposition, it was rejected by the same vote which rejected the minority report. Mr. YANCEY then moved the adoption of the ordinance of secession. The Convention adjourned until next day, the 11th, and then occurred one of the most interesting and painful scenes ever witnessed by a deliberative body sitting upon measures involving the life or death of States. The members of the minority, before casting their votes, protested against the act about to be committed, and each in turn raised his warning voice.

Mr. CLARKE, of Lawrence, said: "I will not state "what might produce disruption of the Union; but, "sir, I see as plainly as I see the sun in Heaven, what "that disruption itself must produce. I see it must "produce war, and such a war I will not describe in its "two-fold character. Once more, therefore, in the "name of Liberty, of Peace, of happy hours-of the "aged, of the poor, of our mothers, of our sisters-of

« PreviousContinue »