THE UNION IS DISSOLVED
Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) On December 20, 1860, the state of South Carolina ratified an Ordinance of Secession here in Charleston and formally seceeded from the United States of America.
Upon hearing the news of his state's leaving the Union, South Carolina Attorney General James L. Petigru* said..."South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum."
Mr. Petigru was the only unionist remaining in a state that was no longer a part of the union. According to the University of South Carolina School of Law, he was recognized as "one of the state's great lawyers" and, despite his stand against secession "never lost the respect and admiration of his fellow South Carolinians..."
Stephen Hurlbut wrote President Lincoln in March 1861..."At this day, Fort Sumter is the only spot where the United States have jurisdiction and James L. Petigru the only citizen loyal to the Union..."
"Charleston's Last Union Soul," by Greg Hambrick, Charleston City Paper, April 6, 2011. www.charlestoncitypaper.com
"Memory Hold the Door, James Louis Petigru," University of South Carolina School of Law, www.law.sc.edu
Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) On December 20, 1860, the state of South Carolina ratified an Ordinance of Secession here in Charleston and formally seceeded from the United States of America.
Four days later, a "Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union" was issued. The document states that the right of secession is implicit in the United States Constitution and that this action was justified because several states refused to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act and that President-elect Abraham Lincoln was planning to end slavery.
Upon hearing the news of his state's leaving the Union, South Carolina Attorney General James L. Petigru* said..."South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum."
Mr. Petigru was the only unionist remaining in a state that was no longer a part of the union. According to the University of South Carolina School of Law, he was recognized as "one of the state's great lawyers" and, despite his stand against secession "never lost the respect and admiration of his fellow South Carolinians..."
Stephen Hurlbut wrote President Lincoln in March 1861..."At this day, Fort Sumter is the only spot where the United States have jurisdiction and James L. Petigru the only citizen loyal to the Union..."
*James L. Petigru (1789-1863) was born in the Abbeville District and graduated from South Carolina College. He was admitted to the bar in 1812 and came to the Holy City to practice law in 1819. Although a slaveholder, Mr. Petigru recognized the humanity of slaves and defended the right of freedmen in court.
SOURCES
"Charleston's Last Union Soul," by Greg Hambrick, Charleston City Paper, April 6, 2011. www.charlestoncitypaper.com
Charleston Mercury, December 21, 1860.
"Memory Hold the Door, James Louis Petigru," University of South Carolina School of Law, www.law.sc.edu
Charleston Mercury Broadside
20 December 1860
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