The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-11-23
now LOUISIANA SECEDED..wHY NEW
ORLEANS FELL.


Preseryers Of old relics who chance
to have lithograph copy of the Lou
isiana ordinance Of secession rs en-
rolled and signed, are referred to that
relic for one Of the heaviest, largest
sienatureson the list % the name Of the
recent .appointse of the President for
Collector at New Orleans. AS two-line
great primer ornate would appear by
the side Of this type, 80 dues the sigma
ture Of Col. bingham Lawrence, the
delegate from Plaquemine, appear in
comparison with the signatures Of the
other signers Of the famous secession
ordinance. And it was the Colonel we
believe, who had each member sup
piled, at the States expense, with his
own gold pen with which to sign his
name and to be preserved as u unelnento
OF the patriotic act signalized by that
event. sttt..s' .s't.j 81 '''4:''i
We mind the day and hour when
this episode in the CoIonel's political
career transpired - when his portly
figure fairly sprung to its fullest stature
from his seat in the hall Of the house Of
Representatives in the old capitol at
Baton Rouge, and all was enthusiasm
and excitement, and the Colonel made
his famous gold-pen motion. How the
galleries and lobby cheered, and what
intense feeling prevailed! And the
central character in this grand drama
was Col. Effingham Lawrence, now the
genial Republican, then the fiercest Of
seceders. Roselius had, with sonorous
voice and ponderous logic, plead in
vain. Rozier had exhausted his study
of the crisis and spoken himself hoarse.
Garrett, modest. but firm, had elo-
quently and feelingly warned the con-
vention of the probable dangers. Tall
aferro had protested, and Pierson, the
youngest member of the con yentiOp,
had, with youthful modesty, signified
his unwillingness to approve the ordi-
nance. But up among the intellectual
throng rose the Presidents Collector of
Customs. He was fair to look upon, a
man of progressing manner, wealthy,
OF great weight and influence, Gas it
was said y and the fiery Southern heart
recognized its exponent and leader.
Lewis, Kidd, Polk and many other
leading co-operationists had W orked In
vain for time for .deIiberation and for
concert of action among the Southern
States. Their efforts did not pay ex-
penses. Col. Lawrence, conforming to
Mr.. Yancey's programme, saw that the
Southern heart was fired, and he was
not the man to prevent the ful6llment
OF the programme. He would precipi-
tate the country into the projected
revolution. 49, ~ I'- s-
And then, when he had arisen In the
convention, towering like Saul among
his brethren, filled With the ambitious
projects of Il Ghazi, he made his famous
gold-pen. motion which was to wipe
out the Union and free Louisiana of
the thraldom under which she was
then groaning. Col. Lawrence was not
a groaner then, it Is true, and has not
been since, but he could not bear the
Whether he announced his purpose to
shoulder his musket and whip a dozen
Yankees, or not, we forget, but he was
overpOwered with enthusiasm, and
exhibited that abandon which was
subsequently noticed on the battlefield
where shot and shell were frequent
mementoes and gold pens we've not
thought of. Col. Lawrence was not
there, we believe, and his name figures
in none of the war bulletins of the late
bloody conflict, but it stands out like a
bold promintory-or ex pands itself like
Il Sahara Of wasted ink and gold pens
ON tho ordinance Of secession.
The revolution and the long bloody
night of discord followed, despite the
power of gold pens. Farragut passed
the princely home of Col. Lawrence
below New Orleans, without shot or
challenge, and then New Orleans fell
Gen. Lowell and Mayor Monroe could
not hold out longer. Lawrence had
capitulated; New Orleans was ut the
mercy of the Yankees, and SO the gay
and happy metropolis, indifferent to
the capture of Forts jackson and st.