CHAPTER IX. PROGRESS OF THE REVOLUTION. THE SECESSION OF MISSISSIPPI, FLORIDA, ALABAMA, GEORGIA AND TEXAS. THE ORDINANCES. CONCURRENT PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTIONS. SEIZURES OF FORTS, ARSENALS, REVENUE CUTTERS, CUSTOM-HOUSES, MINT, ETC., ETC. DEFECTION OF SOUTHERN OFFICERS IN THE ARMY AND NAVY. Mississippi. States. THE Mississippi State | eral Union, and shall henceforth be a free, sovereign, Convention assembled at and independent State." Jackson, Monday, January The scond section abrogates the Article in 7th. Prior to organization a majority of the the State Constitution requiring all public delegates assembled in caucus, and adopted officers to swear to support the Constitution & resolution requesting the President of the of the United States. The third section conConvention, when elected, to appoint a com- tinues in force all State and Federal laws not mittee to draft the Ordinance of Secession. inconsistent with the ordinance. The fourth This early expression indicated the senti-section relates to the formation of a Southern ments of the Convention. The Convention Confederacy, to be composed of the Seceded assembled at noon, and, after a brief ballotting, organized permanently by electing A. J. Barry, of Lowndes, President. A resolution soon passed that a Committee of Fifteen be appointed by the President with instructions to prepare and report, as speedily as possible, an Ordinance of Secession, providing for the immediate withdrawal of Mississippi from the Federal Union, with a view of establishing a new Confederacy, to be composed of the Seceding States. This Committee, chosen Tuesday, reported Wednesday, in secret session, the Ordinance of Secession, which was adopted, on that day, by a vote of 84 to 15. It was as follows: "The people of Mississippi, in Convention assembled, do ordain and declare, and it is hereby ordained and declared, as follows, to wit: The Commissioner from South Carolina addressed the Convention, Friday. The Governor issued, on Friday, a call to the military of the State to be in readiness at a moment's warning. The Convention formally recognized (January 11th) South Carolina as sovereign and independent. The action of the Convention created great enthusiasm among the people. There were those, however, who viewed the act as revolutionary and unconstitutional under the organic law of the State. The Convention assumed supreme authority in the matteradopting the ordinance, and instituting a new order of things without any reference to the people. This most undemocratic proceeding awakened much determined opposition; but, this opposition had to give way before the violent tone and imperative spirit of the unconditional secessionists. The Natchez Cou illegality of the Convention's proceedings: "That all the laws and ordinances by which the said State of Mississippi became a member of the Federal Union of the United States of America be, and the same are hereby repealed; and that all obli-rier, of January 10th, thus adverted to the gations on the part of said State or the people thereof to observe the same be withdrawn, and that "The Constitution of the State is what we are the said State shall hereby resume the rights, func- sworn to obey. It prescribes the method of its own tions, and powers which by any of said laws and ordi- alteration. That method has not been followed, and nances were conveyed to the Government of the said yet the Constitution will be essentially altered. UnUnited States, and is dissolved from all the obliga- questionably the people of the State can revolution. tions, restraints, and duties incurred to the said Fed-ize. A majority of them can call a Convention to provide a new Constitution. But the question of Convention or no Convention' has never been submitted to them. It is also possible that a Convention can be called by the Legislature without the assent of the people, though in our opinion a very questionable proceeding; but its acts, in that case, can be valid only when they have received the affirmative vote of the people. Of the 70,000 voters of Mississippi, not 45,000 voted for members of the Convention; and of these only a lean majority, or one falling far below the expectations of the disunion leaders, voted for immediate Secession candidates." We, the people of the State of Florida in Cot vention assembled, do solemnly ordain, publish, and declare that the State of Florida hereby withdraws herself from the Confederacy of States existing under the name of the United States of America, and from the existing Government of the said States; and that all political connection between her and the Government of said States ought to be, and the same is hereby totally annulled, and said Union of States dissolved; and the State of Florida is hereby Not the least remarkable facts of all that wild, irrational revolution, were the overriding of the State Constitutions and of a total repudiation of the voice of the people. Not one of the Gulf States, first in revolution, declared a Sovereign and independent nation; and that all ordinances heretofore adopted, in so far as they create or recognize said Union, are rescinded; and all laws, or part of laws, in force in this State, in so far as they recognize or assent to said Union, be and they are hereby repealed." submitted the ordinances of secession to a vote of the people! Not a single State of those which first organized the new "Confederacy" allowed the people one particle of authority or voice in the matter! The Conventions decreed as summarily, as This was engrossed and signed on the arbitrarily, as relentlessly as the French Cham- 11th. It was followed by great popular debers of Deputies, obeying the behests of Na-monstrations of approval in the way of gunpoleon. Napoleon's usurpations received firing, displays of flags, illuminations, popthe sanction of the French people just as ular meetings, &c. completely as the usurpations of the State Conventions and the "Confederate Congress" received the sanction of the people of the Slave States.* Florida. Although the Florida State Convention assembled January 3d, it was not until January 11th that the Ordinance of Secession passed. On the 7th, as preliminary to the act, Judge McIntosh introduced the following: "Whereas, All hope of preserving the Union upon terms consistent with the safety and honor of the On the 12th, the Pensacola Navy-yard, Dry-dock, Store - houses, and, afterwards, Forts Barrancas and McRae, were seized by order of the Governor of Florida. About one hundred armed men from Alabama and Florida appeared at the Yard on the morning of the 12th, and demanded of Commander Armstrong the peaceable surrender of the posts. This was complied with, and the troops with their arms and baggage were transferred to a United States vessel of war for transportation North. The entire property of the Government at Pensacola thus passed into the possession of the revolutionists the fort on Santa Rosa Island al ne excepted. This surrender was justified by officer Armstrong, at his Court Martial trial a few weeks subsequently, by the fact of his leading officers, Capt. Renshaw and Com Slaveholding States has been finally dissipated by the recent indications of the strength of the AntiSlavery sentiment of the Free States; therefore, "Be it resolved by the people of Florida, in Convention assembled, That it is undoubtedly the right of the several States of the Union to withdraw from the said Union at such time and for such cause as in the opinion of the people of such State, acting in their sov-mander Farrand, cooperating with the revoereign capacity, may be just and proper; and, in the lutionists. They were Mr. Floyd's chosen opinion of this Convention, the existing causes are agents for the act. such as to compel Florida to proceed to exercise that right." *See Chap. X. "The People Overruled." [The Court, we may here say, dismissed the officer for the surrender. Beyond question he could have held possession until, at least, ALABAMA'S ORDINANCE OF SECESSION. 195 Therefore, be it declared and ordained by the people of the State of Alabama, in Convention assembled, that the State of Alabama now withdraws itself from the Union known as the United States of America, and henceforth ceases to be one of the said United States, and is, and of right ought to be, a sovereign, independent State. "SEC. 2. And be it further declared by the people of the State of Alabama, in Convention assembled, that all powers over the Territories of said State, and over the people thereof, heretofore delegated to a portion of the property in the yard and | United States by many of the States and people of forts had been secured. Lieut. Slemmer, a the Northern section, is a political wrong of so inNorthern man, in temporary command at sulting and menacing a character as to justify the Fort McRae, discovering the treachery, repeople in the State of Alabama in the adoption of prompt and decided measures for their future solved not to surrender. He hurriedly arpeace and security: ranged to evacuate McRae, and proceeded, with his company of eighty men, to Fort Pickens, on Santa Rosa Island, a very heavy fortification, with a double tier of casemates. Aided by the marines from the Sloop of War Wyandotte, he immediately began to prepare for an expected assault on the land side of the fort, where it was comparatively defenseless. His reply to the demand to deliver up the fort was:-"I have orders from my Government to defend this fort, and I shall do so to the last extremity." Slemmer soon obtained most of the artillerymen from Fort Barrancas, and secured a few of the loyal men from the Navy-yard, who disdained to accede to the infamous "parole" given by their officers. Working night and day, he was soon able to keep at bay the "combined" forces sent by the revolutionists to take the fort. Flag officer, Capt. Renshaw, and Commander Farrand, were both deeply implicated in the surrender. They both were in league with the conspirators, and really betrayed the post into their hands. Their names are embalmed in the "black roll" of the Government, whose honor they betrayed.] Alabama. The Alabama State Convention assembled at Montgomery, Monday, January 7th. On the 8th, the South Carolina Commissioners addressed the Convention. A Committee of Thirteen was appointed on that day, to consider the action proper for the State. Secret sessions were resolved upon. The Ordinance was reported, January 11th, and passed by a vote of 61 to 39. The instrument, as engrossed, read: An Ordinance to dissolve the Union between the State af Alabama and other States united under the compact and style of the United States of America. Whereas, The election of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin to the offices of President and VicePresident of the United States of America, by a sectional party, avowedly hostile to the domestic institutions, and peace and security of the people of the State of Alabama, following upon the heels of many and dangerous infractions of the Constitution of the the Government of the United States of America, be, and they are hereby withdrawn from the said Government and are hereby resumed and vested in the people of the State of Alabama. "And as it is the desire and purpose of the people of Alabama to meet the Slaveholding States of the South who approve of such a purpose, in order to frame a provisional or a permanent government upon the principles of the Government of the United States; be it also resolved by the people of Alabaina, in Convention assembled, that the people of the States of Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Missis sippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri, be, and they are hereby invited to meet the people of the State of Alabama by their Delegates in Convention, on the 4th day of February next, in Montgomery, in the State of Alabama, for the purpose of consultation with each other, as to the most effectual mode of securing connected, harmonious action in whatever measures may be deemed most desirable for the common peace and security. "And be it further Resolved, That the President of this Convention be and he is hereby instructed to transmit forthwith, a copy of the foregoing pream ble, ordinance and resolutions to the Governors of the several States named in the said resolutions. "Done by the people of Alabama, in Convention assembled at Montgomery, this eleventh day of Janary, eighteen hundred and sixty-one." Prior to the assembling of the Convention, the Arsenal below Mobile, and Fort Morgan, commanding the channel to Mobile bay, were seized (January 4th) by order of Governor Moore. In the arsenal were 20,000 stand of arms, 1,500 barrels of powder, and a large stock of munitions, equipments, body arms, &c., all very providently transferred by Mr. 64 the Compact of Government entitled the Constitution of the United States. We, the people of the State of Georgia in Convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, that the Ordinances adopted by the people of the State of Georgia in Floyd, from the manufacturing depots in the North, to be ready for seizure. Fort Morgan, a fine fortification, costing the Government, in its construction, over one and a quarter millions of dollars, was held by a mere guard, which surrendered, upon demand, to a force of two hundred men. It was very fully mounted with new and superior guns, and well stocked with all the matériel of war, in Assembly ratifying and adopting amendments to the the way of munitions and stores. Georgia. Convention in 1788, whereby the Constitution of the United States was assented to, ratified and adopted, and also all acts and parts of acts of the General said Constitution, are hereby repealed, rescinded and abrogated. "And we do further declare and ordain that the union now subsisting between the State of Georgia and other States, under the name of the United States, is hereby dissolved, and that the State of Georgia is in full possession and exercise of all those rights of sovereignty which belong and appertain to a free and independent State." A motion to postpone the operation of the Ordinance to the 3d of March was lost by about thirty majority. A resolution was further adopted continuing in force the Federal laws of revenue, and the postal system— Georgia, like South Carolina, being quite willing to "suffer" the General Government's "tyranny" as far as to allow it to lose money in carrying its revolutionary mails. Previous to the passage of the Secession Ordinance, a resolution was introduced by a Mr. Martin, a "Co-operationist," calling on the Governor for information concerning the nature and circumstances of the popular vote for delegates. It was represented by Mr. Martin that the vote was accompanied by extraordinary and unusual impediments to a popular and unrestricted expression of opinion-that [Although somewhat anticipating the chronological allotment of this chapter, we shall, in order to group the "original seven" seceded States, in a consecutive narrative of their action, here advert to the proceedings of the Conventions of Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.] The Georgia Convention assembled at Milledgeville Wednesday, January 16th. George W. Crawford was elected permanent President. After organization a Committee was named, to wait upon Mr. Orr, Commissioner from South Carolina, and Mr. Shorter, Commissioner from Alabama, to request them to communicate their mission. These gentlemen delivered addresses before the Convention, Thursday, in advocacy of immediate secession and the formation of a Southern Confederacy. Friday, the session was in secret. A test vote was had by the introduction of a resolution, declaring the right and necessity for secession from the Federal Union, which was carried by a majority of thirty-five. Herschel V. Johnson introduced, as a substitute for this resolution, others, looking to cooperation and a Convention of Southern States at Atlanta, in February. This sub-numbers of Unionists and Co-operationists stitute was rejected by a stronger vote than were both infamously and illegally treated. was given for the original resolution. During The resolution, of course, raised a storm. It the very anxious and exciting debate which was scarcely to be expected that men elected followed, Mr. A. H. Stephens, seeing how by violence and "stuffed" boxes, would subfully determined the Convention was on se-mit to an exposition of their own infamy, or cession, advised that it be immediate. This advice really gave his "conservative" influence to the immediate action party, led by Messrs. Toombs and Howell Cobb. The Ordinance of Secession was introduced Satur day morning, and passed at two p. m., by a would acknowledge the arbitrary course being pursued to place the State at the entire disposition of Mr. Toombs and his violent coadjutors. A substitute for the Ordinance, in a series of resolutions drawn up by Herschel V. Johnson, was offered by Benjamin Hill, Esq., a leading and influential “Conservative." The purport of the resolutions was; "Declaring the State of Georgia in danger-first, from the aggressions of the North, and secondly, GEORGIA'S ORDINANCE OF SECESSION. 197 "Resolved, unanimously, As a response to the resolutions of the Legislature of the State of New-York, that this Convention highly approves of the ener from the withdrawal of other States, whereby the Republicans have a majority in Congress, it is proposed to hold a Congress of Slave States at Atlanta, near the middle of Feb-getic and patriotic conduct of the Governor of Georruary; at this Congress, certain amendments to the Constitution of the United States would be insisted on; these were, chiefly, to prevent the abolition of Slavery in the Territories, to provide for the sure return of, or payment for fugitive slaves, to punish those who seek to entice away slaves, to protect the internal Slave trade, to protect Slave owners from loss if they carry their slaves into a Free State, to take from all negroes the right of suffrage. This Congress would not ask the Northern States to repeal their Personal Liberty bills—they would only swear not to stay in the Union unless they were repealed; it was also proposed to adjourn the Convention till after this Congress had held its session." A correspondent present wrote of the proceedings, at this point: "After a strong, even violent, discussion, this substitute was rejected by a majority of 31, four less than that which passed the test vote of Friday. Then an attempt was made to have a motion put providing that the Ordinance should be submitted to the people for ratification, but the previous question was sprung, and the final vote on the Secession Ordinance was taken, after some sharp debate; during the calling of the yeas and nays, several members changed their votes, so as to be on the side of the majority, thus bringing the Convention somewhat nearer unanimity. Judge Linton Stephens, of Hancock, very warmly declared that he saw no sufficient cause for a withdrawal from the Union, and that he would neither vote for nor sign the Ordinance. This declaration provoked much warm comment and gia, in taking possession of Fort Pulaski, by the Georgia troops; that this Convention request him to hold possession of said fort until the relations of Georgia with the Federal Government shall be determined, and that a copy of this resolution be trans mitted to the Governor of the State of New-York." The Ordinance of Secession was signed, Monday, by most of the members, including A. H. Stephens, Judge Linton Stephens, Benj. Hill, and ex-Governor Johnson. These gentlemen had prepared, and introduced, Monday afternoon, the following, which was adopted, almost unanimously: this Convention, on the passage of the Ordinance of Secession, indicates a difference of opinion existing among the members of this Convention, which is owing not so much to the rights which Georgia "Whereas, The lack of unanimity in the action of ter, virtually declared war; and Whereas, the forts, and property of the United States Government in Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana, have been unlaw. fully seized with hostile intentions; and Whereas, further Senators in Congress avow and maintain their treasonable acts, Therefore Resolved, If the Senate concur, that the Legisla ture of New-York profoundly impressed with the va lue of the Union, and determined to preserve it unim paired, hail with joy the recent firm, dignified and patriotic special message of the President of the United States, and that we tender to him through the Chief Magistrate of our State whatever aid in men and money he may require to enable him to enforce the laws and uphold the authority of the Federal Government; and that, in defense of "the more many savage wishes from the outsiders when it be- perfect Union" which has conferred prosperity and happiness upon the American people, renewing the pledge given and redeemed by our fathers, we are ready to devote "our fortunes, our lives and our sacred honor in upholding the Union and the Constitution. "Resolved, That the Union-loving Representatives and citizens of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee, who labor with devoted courage and patriotism to withhold their States from the vortex of Secession, are entitled to the gratitude and admiration of the whole people. |