the Union by the wave of his hand." When the convention finally, on January 11th, came to a vote, the scene was a solemn and impressive one. Mr. Yancey, as chairman of the committee to draw up the ordinance of secession, rose to close the debate. The majority of the committee, he said, preferred that the ordinance should state simply that the State resumed its original sovereignty by its own act, without adding anything that might seem an apology; but for harmony they had yielded to the desire of the minority and agreed to a preamble and certain resolutions. The question was put and the vote stood 61 to 39. Alabama had declared her independence.
The scenes that followed are best described in the next day's newspaper:
"THE RUBICON IS CROSSED.
"Yesterday will form a memorable epoch in the history
of Alabama. On that day our gallant little State
resumed her sovereignty, and became free and independent.
So soon as it was announced that the ordinance
of secession had passed, the rejoicing commenced and
the people seemed wild with excitement. At the moment
the beautiful flag presented by the ladies to the
convention was run up on the capitol, . . . the cannon
reverberated through the city, the various church
