Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1902-04-12
The Old Capitol and Some Of It's Memorie:

with her under the compact entitled
rhe Constitution of the United States
Of America In less than an hour
the ordinance was adopted by q vote
Of 81 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; l 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.. G. r. Dickson
entered the hall bearing beautiful
silk flag with a 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 $50 p. m.
1t may be interesting here to note
that the popular war song, "The Bons
ME Blue Flag, That Bears a Single
STAR" was the product of this episode.
Harry Mccarthy, 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. 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. ]. Thornton.
In connection with the ordinance
the convention adopted can 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
war footing and elected the follow
ing delegates to the Montgomery con-
vention, to assist in framing a consti-
tuition for the new Gonfederacy: w.
P. Harris, A. M. Clayton, w. S. Barry,
James T. Harrison, ]. A. P. Camp
bell
Jefferson Davis received SS Of the
80 votes cast for majorgeneral and
the following were elected brigadier-
generals: Earl VanDorn, Charles
Clark, James L. Alcorn and G. H. Mott.
After being in session seventeen
days the convention adjourned sub
ject to the call of the president. Re
assembled March %, and by a vote of
78 to Z ratified "The Constitution OF
the Confederate States"
Several substitutes for the ordi-
nance to ratify were offered and
promptly voted down. There was also
much discussion and many able
speeches for and against the PROPOSE
tion to refer the question of ratifca-
tion or rejection to the people.
Your speaker was admitted to all
the secret sessions of the convention,
and have in my possession the most
important speeches. which are still un-
published.
The sole survivors of the conven-
tion of 1861 are: Judge S. H. Terral,
Judge Thomas H. Woods of Meridian,
Hon. ]. A. Orr Of Columbus, DR.. T. D.
Isom Of Oxford, Col. NJ. D. L. Stephens
of Water Valley and James M. Nelson
of Pike, now residing in Texas.
This old Capitol had rough expe-
rience during war times. On two oc-
casions the Confederate flag was
hauled down and the Stars and Stripes
foated from its DOME Many Of its
most valuable books were mutilated or
carried off and the tramp of Federal
soldiers resouIded through these
chambers and passages.
In June, 1862, the public archives
were removed to Columbus and the
Legislature met there in February,
1865, and at Macon in August, 1864
l witnessed the assembling Of the
Legislature on May 20, 1866, as called |
by Gov. Clarke. 1t was in session only !
a few hours, the members having re-
ceived friendly hint from the officer |
in charge of the garrison here that
instructions for their arrest were eX- |
pected from Washington. They ad
journed sine die, and in short order, |
and took the dirt roads homeward. |
The walking was good, under the cir |
cumstances. A few days thereafter l |
saw a squad Of soldiers enter Gov. |
Clarkes Office, heard the officer in |
charge demand possession, and heard |
the Governor express his opinion of |
the whole business. In few weeks
thereafter he was hurried off to the
Fort Pulaski and confined in case
mate.
Judge William L. Sharkey wac ap-
pointed by President Johnson Pro
visional Governor of Mississippi. He |
called delegate convention in August
to so change the Constitution and |
statutes as to adapt 1t to the new |
ordar ~ thfnoc I1nn cha1I Varoror |