The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-05-24
THE COUNTY OF ABBEVILLE.
The Birthplace of Secession In South
CarOlina.-The Stronghold OF the
Seceder's OF the South-Fame Of
nuo Waaf ronn nm fa

South Carolina has always been an inter.
esting galaxy OF States, erratic In her course
she may sometimes have appeared to the out
ing with distinguishing light among her
sisters. Fields rich with material for the
historian and the novelist are everywhere to
the poet will some day delight to cast the
glamor of romance about scenes and incidents
worthy of the pen Of any writer.
In the history of the Palmetto State 1t has
spicuous and important actor, and many OF
the most interesting chapters In her history
have that county as background. II was In
the county of Abbeville, the birthplace and
home of John Q. Calhoun, that the Southern
Confederacy had both its cradle and Its grave.
The first ordinance looking to the secession OF
the State from the Union and the formation
Of the Southern Con federacy was adopted in
county convention at Abbeville Cou~t House;
and there. too, within stones throw OF
Secession Hill, the last formal meeting fthe
Confederate Cabinet was held, Jefferson Davis
being then on the retreat into Georgia, where
Not only was Abbeville county the birth
place of the Secessioniste of the South IL is to.
day, and has been for nearly threequarters of
century, the educational stronghold of the
Seceders Of the the South, the name applied
to the Scotch or Psalmsinging Presby terians
of the Southern country, stock which large.
ly settled the Mecklen burg section Of North
Carolina and asserted Independence of the
mother country IN the famous Mecklenburg
declaration. nearly thirteen months before
the Declaration of 1ndepence at Philadelphia
In S op the last {y years TIs 80
the South have received both their collegiate
and theological training at Due West, q little
town In Abbeville county, devoted pecu.
vate lie by a strictness very similar TO that
which is said to have characterized the
Covenanter OF a former day, OF whom the
Seceders are the religious descendants In this
country.
The constituency of the county. early i'm.
pressed with the qualities OF both the Scotch.
Irish and the Huguenot, by whom the county
was originally settled, has ever been noted
1914 Benjamin F. Perry, of Greenville. 8. C.,
afterwards Governor OF the State, in an ad-
dress before the students OF Erskine College
at Due West spoke by name OF four men
one of whom, he said, would shed luster on
the annals OF any State, namely, John C..
Calhoun, Langdon Cheves, George McDufle,
and James l.. Petigru.
said Mr.. Perry, .all springing from one coun-
ty. we'll may that county claim TO be the
Athens OF South Carolina
The Due West commencements, like the
great annuaLfeasts OF the olden time which
drew from all parts of the kingdom TO the
temple at Jerus.lum. are periods when the
gates OF the little town are wide open and
dom In the South gather within its walls and
mingle in / ts walks and render tribute at the
temples built there TO letters and 10 religion.
for the two colleges at Due West supplement
each other one educating young men, the
other young women and thus 1t happens
that mem bers of the same family household,
sisters as well as brothers, wife and mother,
as we'll as husband and father. often reas-
semble on these festival occasions In the
little town to do honor TO alma mater, the
two colleges being always intertwined In the
proceedings OF commencement week.
The "Press and Banner" published at Alb
bevile for the last fifty years, says in refer
ence 10 these annual gatherings: "The COM
mencements In the colleges at Due West are
willie county. They draw great concourses of
people from all the walks OF life, from the
highest and most refined circles to the humb-
lest planes OF good citizenship; and good
feeling and love for their fellow-men
characterize the conduct of those who assem-
BILE in the classic roves."-From The
Washington Post.