Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-03-07
The Southern Congress.

n correspondent OF tno DaltitDote h"se'
iean writes as follows in regard to the
Southern Congress in session at Montgom-
cry Ala,
At twenty minutes past twelve O'Clock
the Hon. Judge W. P. Chiffon, of Ala
bama assembled the rostrum, and after rap
ping three times with the gavel, nomina-
ted Hon. R. W. Barnwell, of South Caro-
lima, as temporary Chairman of the Con-
vention.
Mr.. Barnwell assumed the Chair and
called the meeting to order.
shall attempt to give you a descrip-
ton of the Congress as it appeared at this
moment.
As l have before said, the chamber in
which the assembly was gathered is after
the model of the old Uniled States Senate
Chamber at Washington. 1t only wanted
the huge American eagle, and the red can
opy over the Presidents Chair, to make
me fancy that was in the veritable cham
Der on some grand occasion, such as have
before witnessed. Tie people, who had
hitherto tbronged the aisle and space be-
fore the clerks desk, had respectfully fal-
len back on the floor of Congress. The
galleries, as have also stated, were pack
ed-and those spectators down stairs who
were not so fortunate as to secure an eleva-
ted stand front, were crowded in solid
wall of humanity, three or four deep. The
first row was ranged up in the regularity of
soldiers ION dress" They filled every
available foot of space possible for them to
occupy III the rear of the delegates.
The Chairman invited the venerable B.
NJ. Manley, Baptist clergyman of some
repule, to officiale in prayer. The entire
assembly, except the Goddess reporters,
(who pay more attention to such prayers
than anything else,) rose in their seats, and
maintained in the most profound silence.
Each seemed to set his heart and mind on
the eloquent words of the old fathers Pc
tition.
The petition to the Throne of Mercy is
finished, and from my position have a
fair opportunity to observe the appearance
of the Convention, and the appurtenances
belonging to the chamber in which the
first session is being held. l feel proud of
the privilege 1 enjoy, and am eager to
note everything that should employ the
pen of chronicler of these momentous
events. The temporary Chairman calls for
the credentials of the delegates occupying
seats upon the floor. In alphabetical or
der, the representatives of Alabama are
the first to produce their testimonials, Flor
ida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and
South Carolina follow in regular order and
produce their "papers." After having their
credentials read the delegates of each sign
the roll in this manner.
Alabama-R. w. Walker, R. H. Smith,
J. L. NJ. Curry, W. P. Chiffon, S. F. Hale
c. ]. McRae, J. G. Shorter, D. P. Lewis, L.
Fearn.
Florida-Jackson Morton, this men,
Der was not presently ]. A. Anderson, ]. P.
Owens.
Georgia-R. Toombs, H. Cobb, F. S.
Barlow, M. J. Crawford, E. A. Nishet,
B. H. Hill, A. R. Wright, Thomas R. R.
Cobb, Augustus H. Kenan, Alexander H.
Stephens.
Louisiana-John Perkins, Jr.. A. Dec
lonet, Charles M. Conrad, d. F. Kenner,
General Edward Sparrow, and Henry Mar
shall.
Mississippi-Willy P. Harris, Walter
Brooke N. S. Wilson, A. M. Clayton, w.
s. Barry, J. T. Harrison John A. P. Camp
bell.
South Carolina-R. B. Rhett, Sr., R.
W. Barnwell, L. NJ. Keitl, Jas. Chestnut,
Jr., C. G. Menminger, w. Porcher, Milee
I. J. Witbers, w. Boyce.
Hon. H Cobb of Georgia, ex-United
States Secretary of the Treasury under
Buchanan, is universally and by acclama-
tion chosen President of the Congress-
He is escorted to the Chair by commit
tee of Three-Messrs. Rhett, of South
Carolina who nominated him in the name
of Carolina; j. P. Anderson, of Florida,
and R. W. Walker of Alabama.
The furniture of the Chamber was of
the simplest character. The desks Of the
members are of an old pattern, mahogony,
CONcfou Will SIoIh, eAdSt SouhlC' td' -
of those in the old halls of the United
States Congress, before the construction of
the new and more flashy Chambers, which
have been the scenes of disorganization
and disruption.
On the clerks desk lies heavy Russia
leather bound volume, entitled the
JOURNAL CT THE PROVISIONAL CONGRESS
SOUTHERN CoNFEDERAcY,
Held al MONTGOMERY, Feb 4th, 1861"
Its pages are as yet blank. 1t is en-
phatically the Register prepared to record
the name of the new nationality, about tc
be born amonng the nations of the world.
To the left of the Presidents are seated
the South Carolina, Florida and Mississip
pi delegates. The right is occupied by
the Georgians, Louisianans and Mississip
plans. The formal, ceremonious South
Carolinian is easily recognized, the pale
sickly-looking Floridian, the bluff, hearty
men of Georgia and Alabama, the polite
Louisianian, and the muscular Mississippi
ans, are all distinguishable by nationa
characteristics.
The President addresses the Congress, re
turning thanks for the honor conferred up
on him, then with his gavel rapping upol
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