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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Saturday, February 23rd, 1861


To day I went with John Harwell to the polls, and while there had to act as one of the clerks to the election. The vote at precinct No. 7 stood for Secession 31, against Secession 5. I voted for it. weather cloudy & warm, until in the evening when the wind hauled around to the North & it became very cold with a heavy frost at night.

4 comments:

  1. On this date in 1861 . . . President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrives secretly in Washington, D.C. after an assassination attempt in Baltimore, Maryland . . .

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  2. AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE, 9 March 1861, p. 1, c. 8

    From Port Sullivan, Milam county, Texas, Feb. 24, 1861.

    [Correspondence of the Gazette.]

    Editor Gazette.

    Saturday, the 23d day of Feb., has passed, and, I hope, will be looked back to by future generations to come as one of the most glorious achievements that was ever won, either in the field or anywhere else, by Texans. It was quite a lively day in Port Sullivan. Our generous old farmers provided one of the best barbecues I have ever had the pleasure of partaking of. The ladies, too, were out in large numbers, and at 12M. the ladies and gentlemen convened at the old church to hear the speaking. On entering the church I was more impressed than ever with the firmness and patriotism of Texan ladies. Everything was fitted up in the most perfect manner, and on the right of the speaker's stand was a Lone Star flag, bearing the name of L. T. Wigfall; on the left one bearing the name of Jeff. Davis. Mr. Carmon was called on to address the assemblage, and came forward and for some thirty minutes held the audience spell-bound, reviewing the general topics of the day, &c., when he closed! amidst general applause and exultation. Mr. Could, of Cameron, was then called on, and spoke for some half hour, dwelling with great eloquence and pathos, on the topics of the day, and mingled, too, with his ready wit and criticism, caused an outburst of applause seldom witnessed in any assemblage. To test the sentiment of the ladies of Port Sullivan and surrounding country, Capt. Barton called on all the ladies in favor of secession to make it know by rising to their feet. To see who should be first on their feet was the greater struggle, for in an instant every lady, even down to the girls of 8 or 10 years, were up; not one kept her seat; they were all united. Singular, is it not, how they love to unite. . . .

    Very Respectfully,
    Henry Pendarvis.

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    Replies
    1. Above quote from . . . http://www.uttyler.edu/vbetts/austin_state_gazette.htm

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  3. On this day in 1861, the people of Texas went to the polls to vote on a referendum to secede from the Union. The vote was 46,153 for secession and 14,747 against. Of the 122 counties casting votes, only eighteen cast majorities against secession. Only eleven others cast as much as 40 percent against. The referendum was held pursuant to a decision in favor of secession in the state Secession Convention.

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