The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1902-04-12
The Old Capitol and Some Of Its Memories

Of America" In less than an hour
the ordinance was adopted by d vote
of "a to Is. Mr.. Lamar never re-
GREETED 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 WI 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
II 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 a 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 a 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.
Examinations and artillery salutes in
Jackson and elsewhere throughout
the Stale expressed the popular ap-
prevail 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 Bon
ME Blue Flag, That Bears a 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 a,
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 Of 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 enrol
his name to fight for it. The Southern
/ Confederacy had nc more gallant de
) fender than Col. j.. J.. Thornton.
In connection with the ordinance
the convention adopted AN address.
, setting forth the declaration of tn,
immediate causes which induced ant
, justified the secession of Mississippi
f from the Federal Union.
\ The convention placed the State Of
a war footing and elected the follow
ing delegates to the Montgomery cor
v~ention, to assist in framing a const
:. tuition for the new ~Confederacy: "
q P. Harris, A. NJ. Clayton. w. S. Barry
; James 7. Harrison, ]. A. P. Camp
a bell.
Jefferson Davis received So OF tn
80 votes cast for major-general an,
the following were elected brigadiel
generals: Earl VanDorn, Charlie
Clark. James L. Alcorn and C. H. Mot
. After being in session seventeen
days the convention adjourned sui
a ject to the call of the president. Re
assembled March %, and by a vote o
IS to I ratified "The Constitution o
the Confederate States"
-- zIs.- g. -
=, nance to ratify were offered an
promptly voted down. There was ais
4 much discussion and many abb
G speeches for and against the propost
ton to refer the question of ratiica
ton or rejection to the people.
Your speaker was admitted to al
a the secret sessions OF the convention
and l nave in my possession the mos
4 important speeches, which are still III
4 published.
The sole survivors of the conve
ton Of 1861 are: Judge S. II. Terra
Judge Thomas Fl. Woods of Meridian
q Hon. ]. A. Orr of Columbus. DR.. T. l
= Isom of Oxford. Col. NJ. d. L. Stephen
y Of Water Valley and James NJ. Nelso
h of Pike, now residing in Texas.
This old Capitol had a rough exp'
" IltlNt Qul ms wal llAAtS. OA WV W
casions the Confederate flag wa
hauled down and the Stars and Stripe
I floated from its dome. Many Of il
most valuable books We're mutilated G
carried off and the tramp of Feders
II soldiers %resouIded through thes
chambers and passages.
In June. 1862, the public archive
IS were removed to Columbus and tn
n Legislature met there in Februar,
1865. and at Macon in August, 1864.
| witnessed the assembling OF tn
2 Legislature on May 20, 1865, as Gale
by Gov. Clarke. 1t vas in session onl
a few hours, the members having r
}. ceived a friendly hint from the office
in charge of the garrison here tn,
l. instructions for their arrest were e
d pected from Washington. They a
r. journed sine die, and in short orde
and took the dirt roads homewar
" The walking was good, under the CT
IT cumstances. A few days thereafter
saw a squad of soldiers enter Go
ID Clarke's office, heard the officer
charge demand possession, and hear
Is the Governor express his opinion
o. the whole business. In a few weel
le thereafter he was hurried off to Il