The times., 1899-04-24
THE COUNTY OF ABBEv1LLE.
The Fountain source of Secession in
south Carolina.


South Carolina has always been an in
terestiEg figure in the galaxy of States
erratie in her course she may sometimes
have appeared to the outside observer. but
notable always, and shining with a dis
tinguishing light among her sisters. Fields
rich with material for the historian and the
novelist are everywhere to be found within
her borders. and the fancy of the poet will
some day delight TO east the giamor or
romance about scenes and incidents worthy
of the pen OF any writer
In the history OF the Palmetto State 1t
mas fallen 10 the county OF Abbeyiile to
be conspicuous and important actor and
many of the most interesting chapters in
the story have that county as a back
ground II was in the county OF Abbeville
the birthplace and home of John C. Cal
houn, 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 Confederacy was adopted In
county convention at Abbeville Court
House; and there. too. within a stones
throw OF Secession Hill, the last formal
meeting OF the Confederate Cabinet was
neid. Jefferson Davis being then on the re-
treat into Georgia. where be was captured
a few days afterward
Not only was Abbeville county the birth
place OF the Secessionists of the South but
1t is today. and has been for nearly three
quarters OF a century. the educational
stronghold of the seceders Of the South
the name applied to the Scotch or psalm
singing Presbyterians OF the Southern
country. stock which largely settled the
Meckien5urg section of North Carolina and
asserted Independence OF the mother coun-
try in the famous Mecklenburg declaration
nearly thirteen months before the Declara-
ton OF Independence at Philadelphia in
l7I6. For the last fifty years fully 80 per
cent or the ministers OF that denomination
in the South have received both their col
iesiate and theological training at Due
West. little college town in Abbeyyille
county. devoted peculiarly to education
and pervaded in its private life by strict
ness very similar to that which Is said to
nave characterized the covenanters of a
former day, of whom the seceders are the
religious descendants in this country.
The constituency OF the county, early
impressed with the qualities of both the
Scotch Irish and the Huguenot. by whom
the county was originally settled. has ever
been noted for its intelligence and high
morality. In 1874 Benjamin F. Perry. of
Greenville, S. c., afterwards Governor of
the State, in an address before the stu
dents of Erskine College at Due West
| spoke by name OF four men then living.
sons OF Abbeville county. any one of whom
he said. would shed luster on the annals
OF any State. namely. John C. Calhoun.
1 Langdon Cheves. George McDufie, and
| James L. Petigru
! when we see such a cluster OF great
men, said Mr.. Perry. all springing from
| one county. well may that county claim
| TO be the Athens of South Carolina"
The Due West commencements, like the
great annual feasts of the o!den time which
| drew from all parts of the kingdom to the
temple at Jerusalem, are periods when
/ the gates of the little town are wide open
and men and women from all parts of
Secederdom in the South gather within its
| walls and mingle in its walks and render
tribute at the temples built there to letters
and TO religion, for the two colleges at
| Due West supplement each other. enc
| educating young men. the other young
women; and thus it happens that mem
bers of the same family household, sisters
as well as brothers. wife and mother. as
| well 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
Abbeyille for the last fifty years, says in
reference to these annual gatherings" The
| commencements in the colleges at Due
| West ara always notable events in ths his
tory OF Abbeville county. They draw grea-
eoncorrses of people from ali tho walks OK
| life. fIom the highest and most rehnsd cir
cles tc the humblest planes of scoi citiset-
sup; and coed feeling and love FOR uieir
feilow-meR characterize the conduct of
those who assemble in the classic grove.