1860---South Carolina secedes

DECEMBER 20, 1860:

South Carolina secedes from the Union by a Delegate vote of 169-0. The “Great Secession Winter of 1860-1861” begins.

The “Declaration of the Immediate Causes which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina,” adopted on December 24th, purports to end the Union with these words:

We, therefore, the People of South Carolina, by our delegates in Convention assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, have solemnly declared that the Union heretofore existing between this State and the other States of North America, is dissolved, and that the State of South Carolina has resumed her position among the nations of the world, as a separate and independent State; with full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent States may of right do.

By and large, the Secessionists represent only a small percentage of the South’s population, mainly the wealthy Planter class who have significant investments in land and slaves. Such men control the State Legislatures and the Governorships, and (except in South Carolina) do not really have mass popular support. Most of the seceding States do not hold referenda or plebiscites on the issue of secession because the architects of the movement know that the idea of leaving the Union is not popular. Their stated basis for refusing to address popular sentiment on the issue is that there is such popular support for secession that a vote would be redundant, or, alternatively, that the “emergency” (by which they mean Lincoln’s election) is so grave that there is no time for niceties like due process of law. In the States that do hold referenda, intimidation tactics, vote-counting fraud, voter exclusion, and naked threats ensure Secessionist victories. As one Southern Unionist says sadly, “I would scream with joy to see the old flag atop the statehouse . . . but I know it would be the last sound I would ever utter.”