Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-31
THIRTY.sIxTH INsTALLMENT

THlRTY-SIxTH INSTALLMENT
Thursday morning, May II, 1861
The Scene at the Secession.-A letter
in the Washington Constitution gives
a description of the scene at the Sc
cession of the cotton states from the
national convention. 1t says:
When the final vote on the last
clause Of the minority report was an
nounced, and the chair announced that
it was carried the dropping Of pin
might have been heard in the conven-
tion-every man, woman and child
within the vast hall in which the
delegates assembled seemed aware
that a great crisis had arrived, and
that events were abouG to occur
in which the dearest interests OF
American citizens were involved. From
seat Immediately behind the chair
man, I commanded full view Of the
hall and galleries. That great and
hitherto tumultuous assemblage SEEM
ed awed into silence and intense sus-
Mr. Walker of Alabama In few terst
and eloquent remarks he had given
his reasons why he and his colleagues
could not accept the platform just
adopted, in behalf OF the people of his
state, and why under these circum-
stances the Alabama delegates deem
ed it their imperative duty to with
draw from the convention. No sooner
having discharged his solemn task
than Mr.. Barry of Mississippi, rose tC
his feet and read paper setting forth
the reasons why the delegates Of his
state had also resolved to withdraw
When the reading of this grave act OF
secession was finished, the gallant and
eloquent Col. Glenn Of Mississippi, in
terms Of simple eloquence, intense
feeling and conscious dignity, which
touched the heart of every one Of the
thousands who had heard him, eX-
planned why the Mississippi delegation
had reluctantly taken so serious a step
Then arose the venerable Governor
that he and his co-delegates had re-
Mouton, Of Louisiana, who declared
solved to withdraw from a convention
which had refused to acknowledge the
great fundamental principles Of the
Democratic party, the equality Of the
states. The respective chairmen OF
the delegations from South Carolina
Florida, Arkansas and Texas then an
nounced that they too, would withdraw
and caused to be inserted in the min
utes Of the convention their several
protocols, containing the reasons which
compelled them to do so. There was
no swagger, no bluster. There was nc
threats, no denunciations. The langu-
age employed by the representatives OF
these seven Independent sovereigns
was as dignified as 1t was feeling, and
as courteous as it was either
AS one followed the other in quick
succession, one could see the entire
crowd culver as under heavy blow
Every man seemed to look anxiously al
ing to happen next. Down many and
mar" a cheek did ! see flow tears OF
hea felt sorrow. A pause Of a few
moments ensued after Arkansas had
withdrawn, and people were beginning
to resume their composure, when the
pure and true hearted senator from
Delaware, Mr.. Bayard, was observed to
enter the hall and proceed rapidly up
the aisle to the platform. When he
uttered the words, Mr.. Chairman,
in voice not devoid Of agitation, al
though resolute in Tone and when the
chairman responded, The gentleman
from Delaware. Mr.. Bayard," the con-
vention again held it's breath, not
knowing what course the high minded
statesman was going to pursue in so
great a crisis. He spoke but a few
minutes. His language betrayed the
deep emotion thai filled his patriotic
heart. He represented what were the
views and sentiments Of his constitu-
ents; stated that they accorded with
those of the delegations that had with
drawn: that he had been sent by his
people to represent them in n great
national Democratic convention, where
in delegates from all the states in the
Union could sit in harmony and equal
ity; and that the convention no longer
possessed that character, he and his
colleague Mr.. Whitley would withdraw,
confident that their action would be
sustained at home. | have seldom lis
tened to a more impressive speech.
When all the secedin" delegations
had retired, it was impossible to por-
tray the dismay of those by whose in
sOlent and factious conduct that grave
event had been occasioned, and when
a motion to adjourn was made, it was
readily assented to.
H,rd-Thn lapiSla nf or ia