Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-01-03
From the Charleston Mercury, Dec. 81, 1860
THE 10Th OF DECEMBER, 1873

l.
Inscribed among the calends of the world
memorable in time to come-the Goth
day of December, in the year of our Lord
1860, has become an epoch in the history
of the human race. A great Confederated
Republic, overwrought with arrogant and
tyrannous expressions, has fallen from its
high estate amongst the nations of the earth
Conservative liberty bas been vindicated
Mobocratic license has been stricken down
Order has conquered, yet liberty has survi
ved Right has raised his banner aloft, and
bidden defiance to Might. The problem
of sell. lf.government under the check. balance
of slavery, has secured itself from threatened
destruction.
South Carolina has resumed her entire
sovereign power, and, unshackled, has be-
come one of the nations of the earth.
On yesterday, the 10th December, 1860
just before one o'clock, p. m, the Ordin
ance of Secession was presented by the Com
mittee on "the Ordinance" to the Conven
ton of the people of South Carolina. Pre-
cisely at seven minutes after one o'clock
the vote was taken upon the Ordinance
each mans name being called in order
As name by name fell upon the ear of the
silent assembly, the brief sound was echoed
back, without one solitary exception il
that whole grave body-Aye!
At lis o'clock, p. M, the last name
was called, the Ordinance of Secession
was announced to have been passed, anc
the last fetter had fallen from the limbs O.
brave, but too long oppressed people.
The Convention sat with closed doors
But upon the announcement outside, anc
upon the MERCURY bulletin board, tha
South Carolina was no longer member O.
the Federal Union, loud shouts of joy rem
the air The enthusiasm was unsurpassed
Old men went shouting down the streets
Cannon were fired, and bright triumph wa'
depicted on every eountenance.
But before the Great Seal of the State
was affixed to the Ordinance of Secession
and the names of the Delegates to the Con
ventiou were signed, it was proposed thai
this ceremony should be postponed until
o'clock that evening: when the Conven
tion should re-assemble and move in pro-
cession from the St. Andrews Hall, where
they then sat, to the great Secession Hall
and that there, before the assembled citi
zens of the State, the Great Seal of the
State should be set, and each signature
made. The proposition was favorably re-
ceived
At 64 o'clock p. M, the Convention re-
assembled at St. Andrews Hall. At 6z
O. clock p. NJ, they formed in procession
and moved forward in silence to Secession
Hall.
The building was filled to overfowing,
and they we're received by some three thou
sand people in the Hall.
The Convention was called to order. The
scene was one profoundly grand and i'm,
pressive. There were people assembled
through their highest representatives-men
most Of them upon whose heads the SHOWS
of sixty winters had been shed-patriarchs
in age-the dignitaries of the land-the
High Priests of the Church of Christ-rev'
erend statesmen-and the wise judges Of
the law. In the midst of deep silence, an
old man, with bowed form, and hair as
white as snow. the Rev. DR.. Bachman, ad'
vanced forward, with upraised hands, in
prayer to Almighty God, for His blessing
and favor in this great act Of his people,
about to be consummated. The whole as
sembly at once rose to its feet, and with
hats off, listened to the touching and eio'
quent appeal to the All-Wise dispenser OF
events. At the close of the prayer, the
President advanced with the consecrated
parchment upon which was inscribed the
decision of the State, with the Great Seal
attached. Slowly and solemnly it was read
unto the last word-'sdissolued-w when