Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-03-05

| From the very beginning Of the pres
/ identiai camprign Of 1850 there seem
ed 10 be little or no doubt but that
| Lincoln and Hamlin would BE- elected
and this gave the people all over the
South much concern. so much SO that
! the best men of the South at once be-
gan to consult as to what measures
l should be adopted in the event that
| president aud vice president 50 deeid-
edIy opposed in principle to the vital
Interest of the south should assume
chefge of the affairs OF state.
& ie electi took place November
s, 1850. AS was expected, Lincoln and
HanlIln were elected by large major
ity.
In seventeen of the free States
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont,
New York, Pennsylvania, OHIO, In
diana. Illinois, Michigan Illinois,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, u flor
mia, Oregon, all the Lin coin electors
were chosen. In one of the free states
New Jersey the choice Resulted in
four electors for Lincoln, and three for
Douglas.
Tie VIII Of the people as expressed
in this popular vote was in due time
carried into execution. As the law
preseriDes, the presidential electors
met IN their several states on the 9TH
az December, and cast their Official
votes. And on the 18th of FEBRUARY,
1861, the congress Of the United States
in iontsession made the official count,
andldsclares that Abraham Lincoln,
having received a majority Of the votes
OF presidential electors, was duly
elected president of the United States
for four years, beginning Mar. A, 1851.
On the 9TH of October, Governor
Gist. of South Carolina, wrote con-
fidential letter which he dispatched
by secret agent to his colleagues, the
several governors of the cotton states,
WHOM, the bearer, General s. r. Gist,
visited in turn during that month OF
October, Governor Gist wrote that, In
view of the almost certain election OIL
Lincoln, it became important to have
a full End free interchange OF opiAien
between the Southern states, that con-
cert of action might be obtained.
Ii was the desire of South Carolina
that some other state should take the
load
Answers were received from Clover
nor Ellis, of North Carolina; Cover
nor Moore, of Alabama; Governor Pet
tus, Of Mississippi; Governor Moore,
Of , Louisiana; Governor Brown, OF
Georgia, and Governor Perry, OF Flor
ida Nearly all expressed, without
eouivocation, the opinion that their
state would join South Carolina IN
any move Hooking to the vlndica-
ton and maintenance Of TIE rights,
interests, Donor and safety OF the
SOUTH
Consequently upon the election OF
Lincoln and Hamlln, South Carolina,
in convention assembled, on the 20th
day Of December passed the ordi-
nance of secession. Mississippi was
the next to follow. she seeded Janu-
airy 9, 1861, and Alabama and FLORIDA
ON thes 18th of the same month.
Georgia followed in fourteen days
thereafter. Up'te the last hour there
were serious doubts as to what would
be the final step taken by Georgia, as
very respectable minority-led by
such good men as Hill, Stephens,
johnson and others-kept her fate in
balance to the very last hour,-R. }.
Massey, in,Uncle Remus's-The Home
Magazine for February.