Through Some Eventful Years by Susan Bradford Eppes

January 11th, 1861. We did not try to be early this morning, as the big event of the day did not take place until one o’clock. Capitol Square was so crowded you could see nothing but heads and the Capitol itself was full of people looking from the windows, which looked out on the east portico. Somehow Father and I had seats on the portico itself, close up to the wall where we were not in the way and yet we could both see and hear.

There was a table already there with a large inkstand and several pens, nothing more. A subdued murmur came from the assembled citizens but there was none of the noise and excitement which had prevailed on other days; all seemed impressed with the solemnity of the occasion for oh, it is solemn! I did not realize how solemn until Mr. Sanderson read the Constitution and I understood just why it was necessary for Florida to secede.

As the old town clock struck one, the Convention, headed by President McGehee, walked out on the portico. In a few moments they were grouped about the table on which some one had spread the parchment on which the Ordinance of Secession was written. It was impossible for me to tell in what order it was signed, the heads were clustered so closely around the table, but presently I heard Col. Ward’s familiar voice. There was a little break in the crowd and I saw him quite plainly. He dipped his pen in the ink and, holding it aloft he said, in the saddest of tones, “When I die I want it inscribed upon my tombstone that I was the last man to give up the ship.” Then he wrote slowly across the sheet before him, “George T. Ward.”

The stillness could almost ‘be felt. One by one they came forward and after a while Col. Owens, a Baptist minister, who is lame, came up to sign and in a loud voice he said: “Unlike my friend, Colonel Ward, I want it inscribed on MY tombstone that I was the FIRST man to quit the rotten old hulk.”A very faint applause greeted this, but it died away before it hardly began. This was no time for jesting; it meant too much.

When at length the names were all affixed, cheer after cheer rent the air; it was deafening. Our world seemed to have gone wild.

General Call is an old man now; and he is a strong Union man. Chancing to look toward him I saw that the tears were streaming down his face. Everybody cannot be suited and we are fairly launched on these new waters; may the voyage be a prosperous one.

Nearly everybody seems to be happy and satisfied. The Supreme Court Judges, into whose hands the document just signed, has been placed, have carried it to Miss Elizabeth Eppes to engross or adorn it with blue ribbon; the judges selected Miss Bettie because she is a granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. I hope President Jefferson likes our Ordinance—I believe those who are gone know all we are doing here below.

Father says the rest of the proceedings of this convention will be confined to business matters and though he is planning to attend, he will leave me at home and let me go on with my studies. I wonder if I can collect my wits enough to learn my lessons. I will have Saturday to rest up in and Lulu will make us some candy.

January 10th, 1861.—It is night and I am very tired but there is much to tell. The Ordinance of Secession was voted on today. Bishop Rutledge made the opening prayer and it was very impressive. He pleaded so earnestly for God’s guidance for these members, in whose hands lay the future of Florida. These men feel their responsibility I am sure, their faces are so serious and yet so alert. Not one word escapes them and when an amendment is needed they are so careful to make it plain to all. I heard something today about a flag which had been presented to Florida but I have not seen it as yet.

After the committees were disposed of the Ordinance of Secession was voted on. The vote was 62 for and 7 against. The ordinance was declared adopted at 22 minutes after 12 o’clock. It was resolved that at one o’clock on the next day, January 11th, the Ordinance of Secession should be signed on the east portico of the Capitol. The convention then adjourned until the afternoon session.

Mississippi seceded last night and it seems we will have plenty of company. The Union men in the hall looked very sad. They have worked hard for their side, but they had only a few followers.

January 9th, 1861.—There has been a hot time in the convention today; the nearer they get to a final decision the hotter it gets. Colonel Ward made a most eloquent address to the convention. He told them that he was a Union man but it was in this way: in his opinion the South had done more to establish that Union than any other section; it was a Southern man who wrote the Declaration of Independence, it was a Southern man who led the American army, it was Southern men who framed the Constitution, a Southern man wrote our National Anthem and, in so doing had immortalized the Star-spangled Banner and he proposed to hold on to that which we had done so much to bring about. He was willing to fight, if fight we must, but he wanted to fight in the Union and under that flag which was doubly ours. The heartiest applause greeted him as he sat down. It was plain to see that his audience was tremendously affected but the next speaker tore his fine argument to shreds. So it went on all day, some committee business would interrupt now and then but the most of the time was spent in debate for or against secession.

Our old friend, Mr. Burgess says: “If Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe had died before she wrote ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin,’ this would never have happened.” He says, “she has kindled a fire which all the waters of the earth cannot extinguish.” Isn’t it strange how much harm a pack of lies can do?

January 8th, 1861.—We are at home again after a day filled to overflowing with excitement and interest. We were in such a hurry to get to town that the convention had not assembled when we reached the Capitol. There were groups of men talking earnestly and there were other men running hither and thither with papers in their hands. Father has a great many friends and I stood quietly beside him while he and they discussed the situation. The ambassador from South Carolina had evidently made an impression on his audience of yesterday and somebody had been busy last night, for in every direction could be seen Palmetto cockades, fastened with a blue ribbon; there were hundreds of them. When at last the hall of representatives was opened and Father and I took our seats, Judge Gwynn came in and pinned a cockade on Father and one on me. Oh, I was so proud.

Judge McGeehee is Father’s friend and he shook hands with us as he entered the hall.

The members of the convention took their seats and Mr. Blake, our dear Mr. Blake, whom we love so well, opened the day’s session with prayer; such a beautiful prayer. I had never seen a convention until Father brought me here and it is strange to me. I wish I could tell all I heard today but the language the members used is not familiar to me and some of the things they talk about are just as new. Then, too, I am just a little girl. A message was read on the floor of the convention, from Governor Brown of Georgia, to Governor Milton. As near as I can remember it was this way: “Georgia will certainly secede. Has Florida occupied the fort?”

Mr. Sanderson was very interesting. He recounted the rights which the states retained when they delegated other rights to the general government in the Constitution. He made it so perfectly clear that all and every state had the right to withdraw from the Union, if her rights and liberty were threatened. He said the Committee on Ordinances had carefully examined into the question and they could find no reason why Florida should not exercise her right to withdraw from a compact, which now threatened her with such dire disaster. I cannot understand all the work assigned to the different committees; perhaps I am not old enough; people grow wiser as they grow older; so aunt Robinson says. I am going again tomorrow. My palmetto cockade lies on the table beside me.

January 7th, 1861.—I am so glad it is not raining today. I am really going and, little diary, I will tell you all about the day when we get home.

8:30 p. m. We have just finished supper. Mother would not let me write until we had eaten, now she says I can only have one hour because I am going again tomorrow and must have a good sleep.

The convention was assembling in the hall of representatives when we entered the Capitol, and soon everybody was in place and Dr. DuBose made a very fine prayer. I like Dr. DuBose and perhaps I ought not to write this about him, but nobody will see my diary and really I do not mean any harm, but he has such a convincing way of praying; like he was determined the Lord should grant all he asks. It is very comforting.

After the preliminaries were disposed of a communication from the Governor was read and the first thing I knew Aunt Mary, who was sitting next caught me by the hand and said, “Look, there is the ambassador from South Carolina.” A small man very erect and slender was being introduced by Mr. Villepigue as Mr. Leonidas Spratt of South Carolina. Mr. Spratt bowed gravely and looking around upon the audience with a pair of brilliant, beautiful eyes, he began somewhat in this manner, though I probably will not get it quite right.

He said he felt some delicacy in appearing before this convention, coming as he did from a foreign power, but the heart of South Carolina was filled with love and sympathy for Florida, who now was standing where Carolina had so lately stood. Then he read aloud a communication from his state, recounting the grievances, which had led her to sever the ties which bound her to the Union. You never heard such cheers and shouts as rent the air, and it lasted so long. When quiet was restored Mr. Villepigue introduced Colonel Bulloch, of Alabama, and I found that he was the same Col. Bulloch who had taken part in the mock trial in the ball room at Montvale Springs. He made a fine address but a short one. Said his own state was now deliberating as to what course she should pursue and had sent him to assure Florida of her cordial good-will. He sat down amid cheers for “Bulloch and Alabama.”

Mr. Edmund Ruffin, of Virginia, was introduced and said he came to tell us that Virginia was with her Southern sisters in feeling and, if the worse came to the worst, she would be with them, heart and soul. He is a splendid looking man, quite old and yet he is perfectly erect and only his snow-white hair shows his age. He reminds me very much of dear Grandpa, who is taking such a warm interest in these proceedings, though he is so far away. I believe it will break his heart if North Carolina does not secede.

When the speaking was over and a few resolutions had been passed the convention adjourned and we came home. We left a noisy crowd behind us. As far as we could hear there were cheers for South Carolina; cheers for Mississippi; cheers for Alabama and for Florida. Never before have I seen such excitement. It even throws the horse races in the shade. What will tomorrow bring?

January 6th, 1861.—This morning we went to Mount Zion to hear Mr. Blake preach. It is a treat to listen to his sermons, he uses such beautiful language and he explains the passages of Scripture he reads, so clearly that it really stays in our minds and we remember. All ministers do not do this. Today he spoke so earnestly of the representatives of the people of Florida, now in convention assembled in Tallahassee. He spoke of the heavy responsibility resting on them; of the high compliment paid them by the people of Florida, in trusting them with an issue of such paramount importance. He said we, none of us knew which way was best; we must trust in God and do good. We must remember that our strength cometh from on high and the way to gain that strength is to pray to the Lord, for He has said “knock and it shall be opened unto you. Ask and ye shall receive.” Of course I cannot tell it as he spoke it, but it made every one feel solemn and as if some share of the responsibility rested on each one of us.

Mr. Blake took dinner with us and Eddie came with him. He is just the shyest little boy. When the company were all gone Father told me to ask Lulu to get me ready to go with him to town next morning. He said he was going to show me what a convention was like. I was so happy at the thought of going and my heart fell when Mother said: “Surely, Dr. Bradford, you are not going to take the child away from school?” (Mother does not like us to miss any time) but Father said, “Yes, I am going to take her with me in the morning, this is history in the making, she will learn more than she can get out of books and what she hears in this way she will never forget.” I am so glad. I am so excited I cannot hold my pencil steady but I must write this down.