The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-12
RECALLS SCENES
 OF FORMER DAYS
Yesterday Forty-third Anniver-
 sary of States Secession
INFER VISITS THE CAPITAL
Only Six signers of the Original Doeu- ment Are Now Alive, Two of Whom Live in Bir-
 mingham.

Montgomery. January 11.-(Specia1.)- Alabama's secession from the union The anniversary was emphasized here by the presence at the capitol today of Judge John A. Inzer of St. Clair, who sat as a member of the convention. Judge Inzer came to the capital to attend a session of the supreme court, and it had pos- sibly not occurred to him that this was the anniversary of that most exciting scene in the hall of the house of repre- sentatixes until he was strolling through the long hallway that leads by the house chamber.
 Turning his head toward the chamber. Judge Inzer noticed the door ajar and walking over and peeping in upon the empty chairs, he was thrilled by the con- trast of the scene today and that most memorable scene forty three years ago. Memories of those scenes came thick and fast to the distinguished Alabamian, and before he realized his steps he had reached the seat that he had occupied during the convention, and there he sat and unused for several minutes. He re- called the places where many of the more prominent members sat during the ses- sion, and then the great speeches that had been made on the seeding resolution, A debate that lasted through the better part of four days. No one can know the great emotions that passed through his breast for the few moments that Judge 1rzer sat in silence in that chamber.
 Made Some Mention to All.
 To almost every person he met Judge Inzer made some mention of his visit to the house chamber, and from time to time during the day groups of visitors about the capitol were discussing events of the convention.
 In the chapter on War Annals" Pickett gives this reference to the con- vening of the conventions:
 After the meeting of the electoral col lege Governor Moore, carrying out the in- structions of the joint resolutions of Feb ruary 24, 1860, issued his proclamation calling for the election, December 24 1860, of delegates to a convention of the state to consider, determine and to do what ever In the opinion of said convention the rights interests and honor of the state of Alabama require to be done for their protection "
 The convention met in the city of Mont gomers January T. 1S61 and under the leadership of William l.. Yancey, but only after an earnest struggle" on Janu- ary Il, 1861, 1t adopted by vote of 61 to 39,F "an ordinance to dissolve the union between the state of Alabaam and other states under the compact the constitu- tion of the United States of America
 Troops Were Dispatched.
 Governor Moore Immediately dispatched 300 troops to aid the state of Florida in taking charge of the forts at the mouth Pensacola harbor On March 13 the con vention ratified the constitution of the Confederate states. It also provided for annual instead of biennial sessions of the legislature and on March 21 adjourned.
 The secession proclamation was signed by seventy-eight of the members. twenty two refusing to sign. Of those signing all are dead but six. The living are Dr. George A Ketchum of Mobile, Judge A. A. Coleman of Birmingham, Senator John T. Morgan. Dr. John r. Rails of Gadsden, Judge John w. Inzer of Ash vile and R. D. Johnson of Birmingham.
 Of those who declined to sign the procla- nation only two are living-Henry c. Jones of Florence and c. c. Sheets of Decatur.