The Canton times., 1902-04-11
|, Old Capitol and Some of It's Memories

e..
Wiley p. Harris, l.. @. c. Lamar
Henry T. Elicit, Thomas H. Woods. s.
H. Terral, J. Shall Yerger, Daniel B.
Wright, j. w. Clapp, Samuel Benton,
Harvey w. Walter, T. A. Marshall.
Walker Brooke and other great and
good men of the day. Rev. c. X. Mar
shall offered prayer.
No body of men ever assembled for
more serious business, and none ever
gave more faithful expression to the
feelings and sentiments that prevailed
among the constituency they repre-
sented. To Mr.. T.. @. c. Lamar was
conceded, by general consent, the po-
sition of leader. He was then in the
very prime of his physical and mental
powers-in his 37th year.
have vivid recollection of him as
he arose in his place Immediately after
the organization of the convention and
read resolution providing for com
mittee Of fifteen with instructions to
prepare and report as speedily as pos
sible an ordinance providing for the
withdrawal of the State of Mississippi
from the Federal Union, with a view
to the establishment of new Confed-
eracy, to be composed of the seeding
States" The committee was appoint
ed on the second day-Mr. Lamar as
chairman. On the third day the COM
mittee reported ian ordinance to dis
solve the union between the State of
Mississippi and other States united
with her under the compact entitled
The Constitution of the United States
of America" In less than an hour
the ordinance was adopted by vote
of "a to Is. Mr.. Lamar never re-
gretted that action, but he did more
perhaps than any other member of
that body to restore the ties thus tenn
porarily severed. His memorable ex-
preston at Summers bier, "If we knew
each other better, we would love each
other more" was the oil that after
ward helped to smooth the troubled
waters between the sections.
The roll of delegates was then called
in alphabetical order, the first name
being James l.. Alcorn (afterward Re-
publican Governor and United States
Senator), at the time an ardent CO.
operationist His vote was awaited
with intense interest, and when he
arose he said: "Mr. President, the die
is cast, the Rubicon is crossed; fol
low the army that goes to Rome;
vote for the ordnance"
Ninety and nine votes were cast
one delegate absent. The vote having
been announced, the president called
on Rev. Mr.. Harrington to offer
prayer
At this point Mr. c. r. Dickson
entered the hall bearing beautiful
silk flag with single white star in
the center (made that morning by Mrs.
H. H. Smythe) which he handed to
President Barry, who, after brief
pause, waved it and with tears in his
eyes and a tremor in his voice, re-
marked that it was the first flag un-
furled in the young republic. The
members saluted it by rising, the vast
audience uniting in shouts of applause.
Illuminations and artillery salutes In
Jackson and elsewhere throughout
the State expressed the popular ap-
proval of this drama in the history of
our State.
On the day that the ordinance was
passed, January 9, the convention met
at 10 a. M, went into secret session at
1880 a. M, and continued therein un-
til 4:30. Action upon the ordinance
occupied one hour so that the vote
was taken at $3.50 p. m.
1t may be interesting here to note
that the popular war song, THE Bon
ME Blue Flag, That Bears Single
Star" was the product of this episode.
harry Mccarthy, a comic actor, was
then holding forth in the old theater
on Spengler's corner. He wrote this
song Immediately after the scene at
the Capitol; the next day my fingers
put it in type, and that night it was
sung for the first time by its author.
The ordinance, after being hand
somely engrossed on parchment, was
signed on the 18th of January-the
Governor and the members of the
Legislature being invited to be pres
ent. The counties were called in al
phabetical order. DR.. J. ]. Thornton
of Rankin positively refused to sign,
but he was among the first to enroll
his name to fight for it. The Southern
Confederacy had no more gallant de-
fender than Col. j. j. Thornton.
In connection with the ordinance,
the convention adopted AN address
setting forth the declaration OF the
immediate causes which induced and
justified the secession of Mississippi
from the Federal Union.
The convention placed the State on
a war footing and elected the follow
ing delegates to the Montgomery con-
yention, to assist in framing constl-
tuition for the new Confederacy; w.
p Harris. A. M, Clayton, w. S. Barry
lanes T. Harrison, ]. A. P. Camp
bell
Jefferson Davis received SS of the
90 votes cast for major-general and
the following were elected brigadier-
generals: Earl VanDorn. Charles