The enormous impact of the Civil War on our nation will
probably never be determined, but would never have been possible
without the stand of the Confederate States of America. 'The
independence of the Confederate States commenced by the withdrawal
of the State of South Carolina from the Union of the United States.
The ordinance of secession was passed on December 20, 1860 by a
unanimous vote. The withdrawal of South Carolina from the Union
was followed successively by the states of Florida, Mississippi,
Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana. A convention of delegates from
these six seceding states assembled in Congress at Montgomery,
Alabama, to organize a Provisional Government, on the 4th day of
February, 1861. The Hon. R. M. Barnwell, of South Carolina, was
appointed temporary chairman. Forty-three men of these six
southern states adopted the Constitution of the Confederate States
of America on Friday, February the 8th. The following day,
Congress proceeded to the election of President and Vice-President.
The Hon. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, President, and the Hon.
Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, Vice-President, were elected by
unanimous vote. They were sworn in on February 18th, 1861.'(Clarke
13,14)
Davis, who had been elected President, actually wanted to be
appointed General in the Confederate Army. He was a graduate of
West Point, fought as a Colonel of Mississippi Rifles in the
Mexican War, and was Secretary of War. He was pleased, however,
when he was informed that he would be the President of a fledgling
nation. When Davis had attended West Point, he had clearly read in
his textbooks, that any state had the right to secede. However,
before leaving his U.S. Senate seat, he wanted to compromise.
Davis knew that if the South declared independence, a war was
immanent. Davis pointed out that the South was not...