The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-01-25

Walhalla, S. c., Col. Robert Thomp-
son, sole survivor of the 1853 men
who signed the secession ordinance
in Charleston fifty-one years ago,
daily attends to his still growing
law practice.
Col. Thompson is IS years old, but
one would not think it to look at
him. He has the appearance of a
soldier scarcely ripe for retirement.
Had the outcome of the war been
different his name might have been
blazoned in the memory of his coun-
trymen as gloriously as if he had
signed the Declaration of Independ-
ence. But Col. Thompson is glad
that the outcome was not different,
and his eyes fill with tears when he
tells how. glad he is. Yet he did his
duty as he saw it, has never regretted
it. and remembers with love the
great men of the Confederacy who
fought by his side and cast their lot
with his.
Walhalla lies snuggled among the
mountains and Col. Thompson has
assimilated somewhat of their rug
gedness. In his idle moments, which
are few, he swings his desk chair so
as to gaze at them through the Win
dow. and he is always looking at them
when he is talking in reminiscent
strain.
'The great convention" he said
not long ago, "of which I had the
honor to be a member, met at the
call of the State legislature, in the
Baptist church in Columbia, Decem-
ber 18th. 1860. There were no re-
strictions barring any citizen acting
as a delegate. There were more
white headed men in that convention
than in any gathering 1 have ever
witnessed. Seriousness pervaded the
yerv 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 the legislature, members
of congress, judges, and chancellors.
T was commissioner of equity for
Pickens district at the time, and
made my home at Walhalla.
when the convention was called
there was a rumor about Columbia
that smallpox was, rampant, and it
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 conven-
ton in Columbia we organized by
electing General D. F. Jamison, OF
Barnwell, president, and we elected
B. F. Arthur, of Columbia, clerk.
Upon his election, General Jami-
son made ringing speech urging
secession. On Thursday, December
26, 1860, the great ordinance was
read in the convention. No speeches
were made pro or con. There was
no cheer and no debate. Articles
were revised and amended, but none
objected to the proposed action. !. At
z O'Clock in the evening the conven-
ton met in the Institute hall. The
legislature was present, as was Gov
ernor Pickens and his staff. Hun
dreds crowded into the hall and the
streets for blocks were jammed with
those who could not gain admission.
Silence brooded over all, silence
which meant more than fireworks or
shouting or professions. I felt as ii
I must scream because of the strain.
Amidst an awful silence General
Pickens rose and merely called the
names of the different parishes and
districts represented in alphabetical
order. AS each district was named,
it's representative rose quietly, STEP
ped to a table in the centre of the
room, and affixed his signature to
the ordinance, which had been en-
blazoned on parchment.
"When all had done so, silently
General Jamison rose and without
preamble said:
1.-The ordinance of secession has
been signed and ratified, and pro-
claim the State of South Carolina
an independent sovereignty.
Applause, stamping and shouting
shook the very building. Hats and
canes were waved and broken. Out
side, fireworks doomed and cracked.
Scores of bonfres were kindled, and
professions wound through the
streets. The pent enthusiasm of a
people had burst the armor of dig
n;+v ond rocarve which thew had pre-