The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-01-29
ASHES OF GLORY.


was passed at 1:30 p. m. on Saturday.
January 26, 1861-ffty- three years ago
last Monday.
The General Assembly of Louisiana,
convened in extra and special session at
Baton Rouge on December 10, 1850, by
proclamation of Gov. Thomas Overton
Moore, passed an act on December l2th
providing for an election to be held through
out the State on Monday, January 7, 1861,
for an election of delegates to convention
to convene on Wednesday, January 23d.
The Delegates representing Bossler were
Thomas J. Caldwell and DR.. Henderson
Mcfarland, who were the nominees OF the
Secession party. Major Robert Hodges,
nominee of the Secession party, was the
Delegate from the Senatorial District OF
Bosser and Bienville. They were elected
over their opponents, who were IN favor OF
a convention and conference or all the
Southern States before seeding, by the
following vote: Caldwell 1913, Mcfarland
1893: Col. J. M. Sandidge 1923. Edmund W.
Hodges $685. Senatorial District-MaJor
Robert Hodges (Bossier) 800, (Bienville)
546; Leary (Bossier) 326, (Bienville) 1873:
In accordance with the provisions of said
act, the convention met in the hall OF hep.
resentatives in the State Capitol on Janu-
airy 23d, and was called to order by Hon.
John Perkins, Jr., of Tensas, temporary
chairman. Hon. Oscar Arroyo, of Plaque
mines, was temporary secretary. Perma-
nent organization was effected on the same
date by the election of the Hon. Alexander
Mouton President and J. T. Wheat Sec.
rotary. The vote for President was eighty
e.,
Garrett.
The President, in pursuance of resolu-
ton adopted by the Convention, appointed
the following Committee of Fifteen, who
were directed to draw an ordinance provid-
ing for the withdrawal of the State of Lou
isiana from the Federal Union: John
Perkins, chairman, Tensae; A. DeClouet,
ST. Martin; A. B. Roman, st. james; I'D.
q Dupre, ST. Landry; Edward Sparrow,
Carroll; Isaiah Garrett, Ouachita; w. r.
Miles, Orleans: Thomas j. Semmes, Or
leans; A. Provosty, Pointe Coupee; j. L.
Lewis, Claiborne; A. Talbot, Iberville;
w. r. Barrow, West Feliciana; John K.
Elgee, Rapides; Christian Roselius, Jeffer-
son; George Williamson, Caddo.
The Ordinance of Secession, as reported
by the Committee of Fifteen, was adopted
by vote of 113 yeas to II nays-the whole
number of votes cast being 100.
The writer of this article, who was Sec
rotary of the Finance Committee of the
State Senate at the time, occupied a seat
in the hall of the House of Representatives
near the President and on the south side of
the ball, recorded the votes of the Dele
gates as their names were called. 1t was
scene never to be forgotten. 1t was a
solemn occasion. No words of levity or
rejoicing over their opponents were uttered
by the successful Delegates who were
largely in the majority. With anxious
faces, but earnest mien, the Delegates re-
sponded to the roll call by the Secretary.
Tears streamed down the cheeks of few
of the venerable, gray-haired Delegates,
as they announced their votes.
When the Secretary announced the re-
suit of the vote President Mouton proclaim
ed "the connection between the State of
Louisiana dissolved, and that she is free,
sovereign, and independent power" The
proclamation was greeted with salute of
artillery fired as the Pelican flag was run
up on the State Capitol.
The Convention, after the adoption and
signing of the Ordinance of Secession and
adopting the State Constitution of 1852.
making such changes as were requisite and
necessary to conform to the Constitution
of the Confederate States-on account of
the House of Representatives being in reg
ular session and needing their hall-im-
mediately adjourned to meet in New Or
leans on Tuesday, January 10Th, and their
proceedings were held thereafter in that
city.
No truer or ADLER body of men, as a
whole, ever assembled in the council cham
bers of the State, than the delegates who
composed the Convention of 1861. Many
of them filled other positions in the State
and Confederate Governments ON the
tented field and elsewhere. Whatever the
duty and wherever they were called, they
discharged that trust with acknowledged
ability and unquestioned fidelity.
We have space only to mention few
Richard Taylor. who won his spurs as a
brigadier and major general under Stone
wall jackson, and was promoted lieutenant
general for his victory at Mansfield.
Henry Watkins Allen, of the House OF
Representatives from West Baton Rouge,
elected colonel of the Fourth Regiment,
and for gallantry at the battle of Baton
Rouge was promoted brigadier general,
and in 1864 elected Governor of the State.
Henry Gray of the House, from Bien-
vile, colonel of the twenty eighth regi-
ment, promoted brigadier general for gall
lantry at Mansfield. Senatorial delegate,
B. l.. Hodge of Caddo, promoted colonel
of the nineteenth regiment, and elected to
the Confederate Congress from this dis
trict. Leon D. Marks, delegate from
Cadao nromoted colonel Of the twenty :