TOO SMALL FOR A REPUBLIC, TOO LARGE FOR AN INSANE ASYLUM

SOUTH CAROLINA SECEDES 

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 left 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..."

Here is the last verse of a poem written in 1865 titled simply 'Petigru':

"Thus he died:  unnerved, unshaken
By opinion's subtle art;
Now the stricken city weepeth
And the nation holds his heart.

'Tis for this we render honor
That he ranks among the few,
Who, amid a reign of Error
Dared sublimely to be true."

*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.

Mr. Pettigru's home on Broad Street was burned in the fire of 1861 and his residence on Sullivan's Island was confiscated by the Confederate army to build a fort. JLP then moved to Summerville and died in 1863.

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

Bust of James Louis Petigru

City Council Chamber

Charleston, SC

Photo by John White (2015)

SOUTH CAROLINA LEAVES THE UNION

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2164

TOO SMALL FOR A REPUBLIC, TOO LARGE FOR AN INSANE ASYLUM

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) 156 years ago today, December 20, 1860, the State of South Carolina ratified an Ordinance of Secession here in Charleston and thus formally seceeded from the United States.

When he heard the news about his state's leaving the Union, Attorney General James L. Petigru said...

"South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum."

Mr. Petigru was said to be the only unionist left 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..."

Here is the last verse of a poem written in 1865 titled simply 'Petigru':

"Thus he died:  unnerved, unshaken
By opinion's subtle art;
Now the stricken city weepeth
And the nation holds his heart.

'Tis for this we render honor
That he ranks among the few,
Who, amid a reign of Error
Dared sublimely to be true."

According to The Americans, Reconstruction to the 21st Century...

"Lincoln's (1860) victory convinced Southerners--who had viewed the struggle over slavery partly as a conflict between the states' rights of self-determination and federal government control--that they had lost their political voice in the national government."

And the authors of The American Pageant argue that...

"Southern leaders regarded secession as a golden opportunity to cast aside their generations of 'vassalage' to the North."

Delegates were elected on December 6, 1860.  The convention convened the following day.  The Ordinance of Secession was presented to the body just before 1 p.m. and the vote was completed in 15 minutes. The vote was taken behind closed doors, but once completed...

"loud shouts of joy rent the air" and "the enthusiasm was unsurpassed.  Old men went shouting down the streets. Cannon were fired and bright triumph was depicted on every countenance."

The news of South Carolina's secession was not so well received in the North. William Tecumseh Sherman said...

"This country will be drenched in blood...The people of the North (will) not let this country be destroyed without a mighty effort to save it."

*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.

Mr. Pettigru's home on Broad Street was burned in the fire of 1861 and his residence on Sullivan's Island was confiscated by the Confederate army to build a fort. JLP then moved to Summerville and died in 1863.

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

"The Americans, Reconstruction to the 21st Century," Tennessee Edition, by Gerald A. Danzer, J. Jorge Klor de Alva, Larry S. Krieger, Louis E. Wilson and Nancy Woloch, McDougal Littell, 2008.

"The American Pageant," by David Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey, 13th Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 2006.

Bust of James Louis Petigru

City Council Chamber

Charleston, SC

Photo by John White (2015)

SOUTH CAROLINA SECEDES

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1803

TOO SMALL FOR A REPUBLIC, TOO LARGE FOR AN INSANE ASYLUM

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) One century and fifty-five years ago today, December 20, 1860, the State of South Carolina seceded from the United States of America by ratifying an Ordinance of Session here in Charleston.

When he heard the news about his state's leaving the Union, Attorney General James L. Petigru said...

"South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum."

Mr. Petigru is said to be the only unionist left 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..."

Here is the last verse of a poem written in 1865 titled simply 'Petigru':

"Thus he died:  unnerved, unshaken
By opinion's subtle art;
Now the stricken city weepeth
And the nation holds his heart.

'Tis for this we render honor
That he ranks among the few,
Who, amid a reign of Error
Dared sublimely to be true."

The bust of Petigru seen below is displayed in the Charleston City Council chamber.  The plaque below reads...

"James Louis Petigru.  
 Jurist, Orator, Heroic Man."

Bust of James Louis Petigru

City Council Chamber

Charleston, SC

Photo by John White (2015)

City Council Chamber

Charleston, SC

Photo by John White (2015)

According to The Americans, Reconstruction to the 21st Century...

"Lincoln's (1860) victory convinced Southerners--who had viewed the struggle over slavery partly as a conflict between the states' rights of self-determination and federal government control--that they had lost their political voice in the national government."

And the authors of The American Pageant argue that..."Southern leaders regarded secession as a golden opportunity to cast aside their generations of 'vassalage' to the North."

Delegates were elected on December 6, 1860.  The convention convened the following day.  The Ordinance of Secession was presented to the body just before 1 p.m. and the vote was completed in 15 minutes time. The vote was taken behind closed doors, but once completed...

"loud shouts of joy rent the air" and "the enthusiasm was unsurpassed.  Old men went shouting down the streets. Cannon were fired and bright triumph was depicted on every countenance."

The news of South Carolina's secession was not so well received in the North. William Tecumseh Sherman said..."This country will be drenched in blood...The people of the North (will) not let this country be destroyed without a mighty effort to save it."

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

"The Americans, Reconstruction to the 21st Century," Tennessee Edition, by Gerald A. Danzer, J. Jorge Klor de Alva, Larry S. Krieger, Louis E. Wilson and Nancy Woloch, McDougal Littell, 2008.

"The American Pageant," by David Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey, 13th Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 2006.

*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.

Mr. Pettigru's home on Broad Street was burned in the fire of 1861 and his residence on Sullivan's Island was confiscated by the Confederate army to build a fort. JLP then moved to Summerville and died in 1863.

THE LONE UNIONIST OF SOUTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA TOO LARGE FOR AN INSANE ASYLUM

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) 154 years ago today, December 20, 1860, the State of South Carolina seceded from the United States of America and upon hearing the news of the adoption of the Ordinance of Secession, Attorney General James L. Petigru said...

"South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum."

Mr. Petigru was apparently the only unionist left in a state that was no longer a part of the union.  According to the University of South Carolina School of Law, James Petigru 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..."

James L. Petigru

www.law.sc.edu

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..."

Here is the last verse of a poem written in 1865 titled simply 'Petigru':

"Thus he died:  unnerved, unshaken
By opinion's subtle art;
Now the stricken city weepeth
And the nation holds his heart.

'Tis for this we render honor
That he ranks among the few,
Who, amid a reign of Error
Dared sublimely to be true."

There is a bust of Petigru displayed in the Charleston City Council chamber today which reads:

"James Louis Petigru.  
 Jurist, Orator, Heroic Man."**

According to The Americans, Reconstruction to the 21st Century...

"Lincoln's (1860) victory convinced Southerners--who had viewed the struggle over slavery partly as a conflict between the states' rights of self-determination and federal government control--that they had lost their political voice in the national government."

And the authors of The American Pageant argue that...

"Southern leaders regarded secession as a golden opportunity to cast aside their generations of 'vassalage' to the North."

Delegates were elected on December 6, 1860.  The convention convened the following day.  The Ordinance of Secession was presented to the body just before 1 p.m. and the vote was completed in 15 minutes time. 

The vote was taken behind closed doors, but once completed...

"loud shouts of joy rent the air" and "the enthusiasm was unsurpassed.  Old men went shouting down the streets. Cannon were fired and bright triumph was depicted on every countenance."

The news of South Carolina's secession was not so well received in the North. William Tecumseh Sherman said...

"This country will be drenched in blood...The people of the North (will) not let this country be destroyed without a mighty effort to save it."

SOURCES

Charleston Mercury, December 21, 1860.

"Memory Hold the Door, James Louis Petigru," University of South Carolina School of Law, www.law.sc.edu

"The Americans, Reconstruction to the 21st Century," Tennessee Edition, by Gerald A. Danzer, J. Jorge Klor de Alva, Larry S. Krieger, Louis E. Wilson and Nancy Woloch, McDougal Littell, 2008.

"The American Pageant," by David Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey, 13th Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 2006.

*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.

His home on Broad Street was burned in the fire of 1861 and his residence on Sullivan's Island was confiscated by the Confederate army to build a fort. JLP then moved to Summerville and died in 1863.

**"Charleston's Last Union Soul," by Greg Hambrick, Charleston City Paper, April 6, 2011.  www.charlestoncitypaper.com

Charleston SC City Hall

80 Broad Street

Photo by Billy Hathorn (2012)

THE UNION IS DISSOLVED

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) So read the headline of the Charleston Mercury on this day, December 20, 1860, as a convention meeting here in Charleston passed unanimously an ORDINANCE OF SECESSION which...

 "dissolve(d) the union between the State of South Carolina and other States united with her under the compact entitled 'The Constitution of the United States of America.'"

Charleston Historic Marker

Meeting Street

Photo by John White (2012)

ORDINANCE OF SECESSION

We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in convention assembled, do declare and ordain...that the ordinance adopted by us in convention on the 23rd of May (1788), where by the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified, and also all acts...of the General Assembly of this State ratifying amendments of the said Constitution, are hereby repealed; and that the union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of the "United States of America," is hereby dissolved.

Done at Charleston the 20th day of December in the year of our Lord, 1860.
 
EDWARD McGRADY HOUSE

Charleston, SC (JFK+50) Although opposed to nullification during the crisis in 1832, Charleston's Edward McGrady resigned his federal post as District Attorney and signed the Ordinance of Secession in 1860.

Edward McCrady's House

Charleston, SC

Photo by John White (2013)

Plaque by the Preservation Society of Charleston

Photo by John White (2013)

          

"THE UNION IS DISSOLVED"

"THE UNION IS DISSOLVED" IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) 153 years ago today, December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States of America.

A "secession convention" passed unanimously an ORDINANCE OF SECESSION which...

 "dissolve(d) the union between the State of South Carolina and other States united with her under the compact entitled 'The Constitution of the United States of America.'"

          Charleston Historic Marker
                       Meeting Street
           Photo by John White (2012)

According to "The Americans, Reconstruction to the 21st Century,"...

"Lincoln's (1860) victory convinced Southerners--who had viewed the struggle over slavery partly as a conflict between the states' rights of self-determination and federal government control--that they had lost their political voice in the national government."

And the authors of "The American Pageant" argue that...

"Southern leaders regarded secession as a golden opportunity to cast aside their generations of 'vassalage' to the North."

Several Southern states would take action, but South Carolina was the first. 

Delegates were elected on the 6th of December and the convention convened here in Charleston on the 17th.

The SECESSION ORDINANCE was presented to the body just before 1 p.m. and the vote was completed in 15 minutes time.

The vote was taken behind closed doors, but once completed...

"loud shouts of joy rent the air" and "the enthusiasm was unsurpassed.

Old men went shouting down the streets. Cannon were fired and bright triumph was depicted on every countenance."

The news of South Carolina's secession was not so well received in the North. William Tecumseh Sherman said...

"This country will be drenched in blood...The people of the North (will) not let this country be destroyed without a mighty effort to save it."


SOURCES

Charleston Mercury, December 21, 1860.

"The Americans, Reconstruction to the 21st Century," Tennessee Edition, by Gerald A. Danzer, J. Jorge Klor de Alva, Larry S. Krieger, Louis E. Wilson and Nancy Woloch, McDougal Littell, 2008.

"The American Pageant," by David Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey, 13th Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 2006.


ORDINANCE OF SECESSION

We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in convention assembled, do declare and ordain...that the ordinance adopted by us in convention on the 23rd of May (1788), where by the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified, and also all acts...of the General Assembly of this State ratifying amendments of the said Constitution, are hereby repealed; and that the union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of the "United States of America," is hereby dissolved.

Done at Charleston the 20th day of December in the year of our Lord, 1860.


EDWARD McGRADY

Although opposed to nullification during the crisis in 1832, Charleston's Edward McGrady resigned his federal post as District Attorney and signed the Ordinance of Secession in 1860.

Edward McCrady's House

Charleston, SC

Photo by John White (2013)

LONE UNIONIST REMAINS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) Reportedly upon hearing the news of the adoption of the Ordinance of Secession here in the city, Attorney General James L. Petigru* remarked...

"South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum."

Mr. Petigru was apparently the only unionist left in a state that was no longer a part of the union.

James L. Petigru was born in 1789 and graduated from South Carolina College (University of SC) in 1809.  He was admitted to the bar in 1812 and came to Charleston to practice law in 1819.

Petigru served in the State Legislature and later became Attorney General.

*James L. Petigru was a slaveholder but recognized the humanity of slaves and  defended the right of freedmen in court.

His home on Broad Street was burned in the fire of 1861 and his residence on Sullivan's Island was confiscated by the Confederate army to build a fort. 

Petigru moved to Summerville.  He died in 1863.

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..."

Here is the last verse of a poem written in 1865 titled simply 'Petigru':

"Thus he died:  unnerved, unshaken
By opinion's subtle art;
Now the stricken city weepeth
And the nation holds his heart.

'Tis for this we render honor
That he ranks among the few,
Who, amid a reign of Error
Dared sublimely to be true."

There is a bust of Petigru displayed in the Charleston City Council chamber today which reads:

"James Louis Petigru.  
 Jurist, Orator, Heroic Man."

James L. Petigru Bust

Charleston City Council Chamber

Charleston SC City Hall

Photo by John White (2015)

SOURCES:  "Charleston's Last Union Soul," by Greg Hambrick, Charleston City Paper, April 6, 2011.  www.charlestoncitypaper.com

"Tour of the Council Chamber of the City of Charleston," conducted by Docent Lindsay M.P. Barrios, 80 Broad Street, Charleston, SC. January 8, 2015.

                Charleston City Hall
              "Four Corners of  Law"
                    80 Broad Street
                     Charleston, SC
      Photo by Billy Hathorn (2012)

                

SOUTH CAROLINA PASSES ORDINANCE OF SECESSION

DECEMBER 20, 1860

SOUTH CAROLINA PASSES ORDINANCE OF SECESSION

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) The South Carolina secession convention passed unanimously today an ORDINANCE OF SECESSION which "dissolves the union between the State of South Carolina & other States united with her under the compact entitled 'The Constitution of the United States of America.'"

          Charleston Historic Marker
                       Meeting Street
           Photo by John White (2012)

The secession convention had been called by the governor & legislature once the election of Republican Abraham Lincoln was finalized.

Delegates were elected on the 6th of December & the convention convened here in Charleston on the 17th.

The SECESSION ORDINANCE was presented to the body just before 1 p.m. & the vote was completed in 15 minutes time.

The vote was taken behind closed doors, but once completed "loud shouts of joy rent the air" & "the enthusiasm was unsurpassed.  Old men went shouting down the streets. Cannon were fired & bright triumph was depicted on every countenance."

*SOURCE:  Charleston Mercury, December 21, 1860.


ORDINANCE OF SECESSION

We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in convention assembled, do declare & ordain...that the ordinance adopted by us in convention on the 23rd of May (1788), where by the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified, & also all acts...of the General Assembly of this State ratifying amendments of the said Constitution, are hereby repealed; & that the union now subsisting between South Carolina & other States, under the name of the "United States of America," is hereby dissolved.

Done at Charleston the 20th day of December in the year of our Lord, 1860.

                    Patriotic Envelope
            United States Post Office
                       Charleston, SC
           Photo by John White (2012)
ONE LONE UNIONIST REMAINS IN THE PALMETTO STATE

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) Reportedly upon hearing today's news of the adoption of the Ordinance of Secession here in the city, Attorney General James L. Petigru remarked...

"South Carolina is too small for a republic & too large for an insane asylum."

Mr. Petigru seems to be the only unionist left in a state that is no longer a part of the union.

James L. Petigru was born in 1789 & graduated from South Carolina College (University of SC) in 1809.  He was admitted to the bar in 1812 & came to Charleston to practice law in 1819.

Petigru served in the State Legislature & later became Attorney General.**

**James L. Petigru was a slaveholder but recognized the humanity of slaves & defended the right of freedmen in court.  His home on Broad Street was burned in the fire of 1861 & his residence on Sullivan's Island was confiscated by the Confederate army to build a fort.  Petigru moved to Summerville.  He died in 1863.

Stephen Hurlbut wrote President Lincoln in March 1861:

"At this day, Fort Sumter is the only spot where the United States have jurisdiction & James L. Petigru the only citizen loyal to the Union..."

Here is the last verse of a poem written in 1865 titled simply 'Petigru':

"Thus he died:  unnerved, unshaken
By opinion's subtle art;
Now the stricken city weepeth
And the nation holds his heart.

'Tis for this we render honor
That he ranks among the few,
Who, amid a reign of Error
Dared sublimely to be true."

There is a bust of Petigru displayed in the Charleston City Council chamber today which reads:

"James Louis Petigru.  
 Jurist, Orator, Heroic Man."***

***SOURCE:  "Charleston's Last Union Soul," by Greg Hambrick, Charleston City Paper, April 6, 2011.  www.charlestoncitypaper.com

                Charleston City Hall
              "Four Corners of  Law"
                    80 Broad Street
                     Charleston, SC
      Photo by Billy Hathorn (2012)