Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-06-16
THE SECESSION CONVENTION
Col. Robt. A. Thompson, of Walhal1a One of the
Two Survivors of the Notable Assemb1age
that Passed Famous Ordinance.
Life Sketch r.
the Courtc


youth has the spirit OF indomitable
perseverance. His was self-culture
acquired through the arduous read
ing of good books and the perform
ance OF the daily tasks of the work
shop. Especially helpful to him was
the study of the life Of Franklin,
and also his proximity to Fort Hill,
the home of Carolina's greatest
statesman. In those days the very
atmosphere of Fort Hill and Pendle-
ton was stimulating and inspiring to
ambitious youth. 1t was inhaled un-
der the shade of the trees, and 1t
sparkled from every ripping stream.
Appointed Commissioner OF Equity.
In 1858 he was appointed by the
Governor as Commissioner in Equity
for Pickens District, which position
he held for twenty years. In those
days the Commissioners were elected
by the Legislature for terms of four
years. The conduct of those cleo
tions, and the visits to Columbia in
cident thereto, kept him constantly
in touch with the leading men of the
State. Thus he kept fully abreast of
the times and knew the sentiment of
his people. AS such Commissioner
he was required to give bond each
term in the sum of twenty thousand
dollars. During the twenty years of
n, n iSt ra nf
bonds were made continuously by
five men, who were among the lead
ing citizens Of his district. Their
names deserve to be perTetuated.
They were: Andrew f. Lewis. Will
liam Hunter, William S. Grisham,
James T.. Hagood and Elihu II. Grif-
fin. The merited confidence thus be-
slowed was duly appreciated Such
mark OF friendship and confidence
is rarely seen. But it was character
istic of those days when mans
word was his bond, and honor and
integrity was the current coin,
During this period he was also
elected by the Legislature for seve-
raj years as member of the board
of free schools, and also one of the
commissioners of public buildings.
These were offices of honor. without
emolument, but the proper discharge
OF their functions was of vital i'm
portance to the public good
Politics of the Sixties.
The decade prior to 1860 was one
Of fierce political strife with its
cleavage along sectional lines. The
institution Of slavery was the casus
bclli. In the North the Abolitionists
had grown in favor, and the ascend
ancy was theirs. In the South were
the most Of the slaves, and here the
institution found its advocates. The
storm cloud, which had been hover
ing over the nation for q score of
years, burst in all It's fury during the
Presidential campaign Of 1860, in
which Lincoln and Douglas were the
standard-bearers of the two great
parties. The election OF Lincoln be-
States it appeared to the people of
the South that the hostility Of the
non-slave-holding States toward the
South led to the continued disregard
Of their obligations, and the laws OF
the General Government had ceased
to effect the objects of the cOnstitu-
ton. In most of the Northern States
the fugitive from any of the South
ern States was discharged from ser
vice. and thus was the constitutional
compact between the States broken.
Hence, the political opinion of the
South held that the State was releas-
ed from her obligations. because the
ends for which the Govern mcnt was
instituted had been defeated Such
was the prevailing sentiment Of the
people Of the South. and South Caro-
lima took the lead in giving it force
ful expression as embodied in the his
toric Ordinance Of Secession
On November 1.3, 1860, the LegiS-
laturo passed an act calling a conyen-
tion OF tn" people to assemble on
December II, and providing for the
election Of its members on December
Is, SEQ. Note how short the time
and how rapidly these days follow
tn" one the other. and yet what
mighty issues were involved therein.
The election, though, passed off
quietly, because the people were
ready and sentiment ripe. Scarcely
any canvass was made, as II was