Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-01-03

In an unpretentious law office in
Walhalla, s. c., Col Robert Ander-
son Thompson, sole survivor Of the
16S men who signed the secession or
dinance in Charleston fifty-one years
ago, daily attends to his still growing
practice.
Col. Thompson Is eighty-flve years
old, but one would not think it to
look at him. He has the appearance
Of soldier scarcely ripe for retire.
ment. Had the outcome of the great
war In which he fought been different
his name might have been blazoned
in the memory Of his countrymen as
gloriously as If he had signed the
Declaration Of Independence. But
Col. Thompson Is glad that the out
come was not different. and his eyes
fill with tears when he tells how glad
he Is. Yet he did his duty as he saw
1t, has never regretted 1t and re-
members with love the great men OF
the Confederacy who fought by his
side and cast their lot with his.
w dIhdlld llCS SHuSSlou
mountains, and Col. Thompson thus
assimilated somewhat Of their rug
gedness. In his idle moments, which
are few, he swings his desk chair so
he can gaze at them through the
window, and he is always looking at
them when he talks in a reminiscent
strain.
"The great convention" he said
not long ago, 'of which I had the
honor Of being a member, met at tn.
call Of the State Legislature in the
Baptist church In Columbia, Decem-
ber II, 1860. There were no restric-
tions barring any citizen from acting
as a delegate. There were more
whlte-headed mon in that convention
than in any gathering I have ever
witnessed. Seriousness pervaded the
very air. There was no disturbance.
no violence, no haste. Every man
knew what was certain to take place.
Secession had practically been agreed
upon before the convention met.
every profession was represent
ed. There were ministers, lawyers,
members Of Legislature, members Of
Congress, judges and chancellors.
was Commissioner in Equity for
Pickens District at the time and
made my home In Walhalla.
"When the convention was called
there was n rumor about Columbia
that smallpox was rampant, and 1t
was decided to hold the convention In
Charleston. We met there on the
second day in st. Andrews Hall.
During the first day of the convention
in Columbia we organized by electins
Gen. d. f. Jamison, OF Barnwell,
president, and we elected B. F. Ar
thur, Of Columbia, clerk.
'Upon his election Gen. Jamison
made ringing speech urging seces-
sion. On Thursday. December 26th,
1860, the great ordinance was read
in the convention. No speeches were
made pro or con. There was no
cheering and no debate. Articles
we're revised and amended, but none
objected to the proposed action. At
o'clock in the evening the conven-
ton met in Institute Hall. The Leg
!slature was present, as was Cover
nor Pickens and his staff. Hundreds
crowded into the halls, and thu
streets for blocks were jammed with
those who could not gain admission
"Sllence brooded over 1t all, al.
lence which meant more than fire
works or shouting or professions.
felt as though must scream because
Of the strain.
"Amld an awful silence Gen. Pick
ems rose and merely called the names
Of the different parishes and dis
tricts represented In alphabetical or
der. AS each district was named lta
delegate arose quietly, stepped to
table In the center Of the hall and
affixed his signature to the ordinance
which had been emblazoned on
parchment.
"When all had done so, silently
Gen. Jamison rose and without pre-
amble said
"'The Ordinance of Secession has
been signed and ratified and l pro-