The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-04-16
THE SECESSION CONVENTION OF 1861.

vivors of the Louisiana Legislature, elected
November I. 1859, which, in special ses-
sion held in December, 1860, ordered the
election on January Z, 1861, which elected
delegates to the Secession Convention
which convened at Baton Rouge January
%, 1861, and passed the Ordinance of Sc
cesson on Saturday, January 18th. The
last survivor of the convention-Sidney S.
Conner of st. Tammany Parish-died
about seven years ago.
We venture the assertion that no ADLER
or more patriotic body of men than those
who composed that convention as a whole,
have ever assembled in the council cham
bers of Louisiana. They we're not the un-
thinking hot heads that untruthful North
ern writer's have taken great pleasure in
terming the prominent and leading men of
the South. But they were men with the
courage of their convictions-who knew
their rights, ''and knowing, dared main
tain Them" and many of them backed
their votes with their swords when war was
declared against their State, some of them
giving up their lives on the battlefield,
none more heroically than Leon D. Marks,
Delegate from Caddo Parish, who, as col
onel of the Twenty-seventh Louisiana In
fantry, fell MORALLY wounded during the
Siege of Vicksburg.
The venerable and universally respected
Ex-Governor Alexander Mouton was Pres
ident and J. T. Wheat Secretary of the
Convention-names afterwards famous in
the military histoy of the Confederate
States.
Richard Taylor, later, the hero of Mans
field. was Delegate from st. Charles Par
ish; Zebulon York and William R. Peck,
Delegates from Concordia and Madison
Parishes, rose to the rank of brigader gem
raj under Robert E. Lee. Henry Marshall
of peSoto and B. l.. Hodge of Caddo were
Delegates from that Senatorial District.
The former was elected to the first Confed-
crate Congress and the latter became the
first colonel Of the Nineteenth Louisiana
Regiment and member of Congress on
the death of Marshall.
Edward Sparrow from Carroll, was elect
ed to the Confederate States Senate. John
Perkins, Jr., from Madison, and Thomas j.
Semmes, Attorney General of the State,
became members Of the Confederate Con-
gress.
Among the Delegates were many others
who afterwards were honored with i'm
portant positions, showing the confidence
of the people in their ability and fidelity,
notably Thomas CORTLAND Manning, of
Rapides, who was Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court during 1868 and 1864, and
Chief Justice from 1877 to 1880; also Min
lister to Mexico under Cleveland; and j. B.
Elan of DeSoto, for many years an in
fluential member of the Legislature, and
a Member of Congress from this district
from March 4, 1877, to March 4, 1881.
Among the able delegation from New
Orleans was Alexander Walker of "The
Delta" one of the ablest editorial writer's
in the United States.
Indeed, the Secession Convention was a
splendid galaxy of statesmen and patriots
worthy representatives of a great and
prosperous people, proud of the land oil
their birth, and ever ready to die, if need
be, in defence of their honor and their
God-given rights.
The first Constitution of Louisiana was
adopted in New Orleans, January %, 1872
j. Poydras was President of the Cenven
ton and Eligius Fromentin Secretary. The
State was divided into twelve counties
Bossier was then part of Natchitoches
County P. Bossier and j. Prudhomme
were the Delegates from the county.
The Constitution of 1916 followed. Il
was adopted in New Orleans, May IA, 1845
Joseph Walker, who was elected Governor
in 1850, was President of the Convention
and Horatio Davis was Secretary Bossiel
Parish having been incorporated in 1913
was allowed one member in the House oil
Representatives, and the Senatorial Dis.
trict of Bossier and Claiborne was allowed
one State Senator. The General Assembly
elected under this Constitution-the frs
Monday in November, 1845-convened il
New Orleans on the second Monday ir
February. Isaac Johnson was inauguratec
Governor; Trasimond Landry Lieutenant
Governor, and David A. Randall was elect.
ed Speaker of the House of Representatives
The next, and third Constitution, was
adopted at Baton Rouge, July 81, 1852
Duncan F. Kenner was President of the
Convention and j. B. Walton Secretary
The Constitution of 1852 was submitted te
the voters of the State for adoption or re.
lection on the first Tuesday of November
Bossier was represented by John M. San.
didge and Robert Hodges. Sandidge serv.
ed as Speaker of the House of Represen.
tatives during 1854 and 1855. and served
as Congressman from this district from
March 4, 1855to March 4, 1859. Sandidee
succeeded Roland Jones of Shreveporj
1who served two years) and was himself
succeeded by John NJ. Landrum of Shreve.