LAURENS COUNTY, SC, DELEGATES TO THE
1860 SECESSION CONVENTION
Copyright © 2003 By Gene Brooks  Home 

November's General Election came and went, and the Republicans won on a minority vote. Accordingly, upon arrival of the news of the Republican victory, the General Assembly on November 10, 1860, called for a Convention of the People of South Carolina to draw up an Ordinance of Secession. On December 17, 1860, the Secession Convention convened in the Baptist Church in Columbia. The spirit of Nationalism, Sectionalism, and Secessionism filled the air! One observer said that restraining the spirit of the Convention was like restraining the wind. On this first day, the Convention passed a unanimous resolution to Secede from the union. 169-0.

Mary B. Chestnut wrote: "Nobody could live in the state unless he were a fire-eater. . . so I was a Seceder." Mrs. Chestnut continues, "Secession was delayed because the men who are all 'insensible to fear' are very sensible in case of smallpox. There being now an epidemic of smallpox in Columbia, they adjourned to Charleston." The next day, the Convention met in Charleston's Institute Hall and formed several committees including one to draft an Ordinance of Secession.

Then the heroic day of December 20, 1860, came. The Convention adopted the Ordinance of Secession on roll call vote 169-0. At 7:00pm, the delegates signed the Ordinance of Secession declaring their political withdrawal from the United States. The State of South Carolina became the Commonwealth of South Carolina--the Palmetto Republic. During the next days, the Convention passed laws and resolutions a new nation would pass--South Carolina was a new nation.

The delegates adopt several proposals including a law allowing anyone resigning from the United States Military to receive the same rank in the Commonwealth. They resolve that all previously federal-owned properties in the State were now South Carolina-owned properties, and the Convention calls on the federal government to restore South Carolina authority to Forts Moultrie and Sumter, the Charleston Arsenal, and Castle Pinckney.

On Christmas Eve, 1860, the Convention adopted a Declaration of the Immediate Causes of Secession which would be distributed to the other slave-holding states. Also on this day, Governor Francis W. Pickens proclaimed Independence, Freedom, and Sovereignty for South Carolina. South Carolina had, until the end, abided by the Constitution which the northern states had trodden underfoot, Abraham Lincoln would use similarly as a floormat. South Carolina went by the Tenth Amendment in Secession. South Carolinians have nothing to be ashamed of.

Laurens District (Laurens County, SC) produced several men who represented their areas in the Secession Convention. Following are the ones for which we have a record.

HENRY WILLIAM GARLINGTON (1811-1893) was born and died in Laurensville. Educated at Dr. Pyle's academy near Huntsville, Garlington became the first merchant in Laurensville. He acquired a large plantation in Laurens District, owning over 100 slaves. One time president of the Laurens Railroad, member of the Laurens Agricultural Society, 32nd degree Mason, faithful member of the Methodist Church, Garlington in 1860 was elected to the Secession Convention and signed the Ordinance of Secession. Eventually, he became a Colonel in the Confederate Army. The War was costly to Henry's family, killing Henry's two of his sons and two of his brothers. Garlington is buried in Laurens City Cemetery.

RICHARD F. SIMPSON He was a large cotton planter and manufacturer, a major of a regiment of militia in Florida's Seminole War in 1842, member of the 28th, 29th, and 30th US Congresses, delegate to the Secession Convention and Signer of the Ordinance of Secession. He died in Pendleton on October 28, 1882.

WILLIAM DENDY WATTS (1800-1861) was born in the southwest section of Laurens County, receiving a common education and becoming a merchant in Milton. In 1825 he became tax collector for Laurens District, and after his marriage to Susan Young in 1828 he moved to the Belfast house on the county line where he was a planter and merchant. It seemed he had acquired a comfortable, successful life. Then in 1834, his wife and three children died, and a year later he moved to Laurens Courthouse. In 1840, he became ordinary for Laurens District, holding the office for 20 years. He was elected to the Secession Convention and signed the Ordinance of Secession. While still a member, he died July 10, 1861, and is buried in Laurens Cemetery.

DR. THOMAS WEIR (1800-1880) Dr. Weir studied medical education under Robert Long who operated an academy on Duncan's Creek. After working his way through the Medical College of South Carolina, he began practicing medicine in what was to become Clinton. He was a large planter, owning 67 slaves in 1860. He was a delegate to the Secession Convention and his name stands proudly upon the Ordinance of Secession. All four of his sons were in the Confederate Army, three died. The family was for 150 years closely associated with Duncan's Creek Presbyterian Church where Dr. Weir was an elder and is buried.

JOHN DRAYTON WILLIAMS (1798-1870) Everyone called him Colonel, so he must have been in the State militia. Here is another man who was a merchant turned planter. He was one of the largest planters in the District, owning 225 slaves in 1860. He was a delegate to the Southern Rights Convention (1852), and a delegate to the Secession Convention, becoming a Signer. He was a member of the Little River Presbyterian Church, owned plantations called "White Plains" (after the cotton fields), and "Spring Grove." Williams died June 25, 1870, in Laurens, and is buried in Laurens City Cemetery.

HENRY CLINTON YOUNG (1794-1875) The town of Clinton was named after him when it was incorporated! Born in Iredell, NC, he moved to Laurens District while still a boy. He served Laurens District well: Lawyer for over 30 years, Major in the State militia, member of the State House of Representatives (1830-1838), State senator (1842-1846), delegate to the Free Trade Convention in Philadelphia (1831) during the Nullification Crisis, Presidential elector (1844), delegate to Southern Convention in Nashville (1850), Southern Rights Convention (1852), and to the Secession Convention (1860), Confederate Presidential elector (1861), Director of the Laurens Railroad, Commissioner of Laurens Bank of South Carolina. He is buried in Laurens City Cemetery.

This article was written when I was in high school about 1988.
This page was created October 2, 1999.
Updated November 12, 2003.
Copyright 1999-2003 Gene Brooks.  All Rights Reserved.