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justify the people of the
State of Alabama in the adoption of prompt and decided measures for their future peace and security.
Therefore, be it declared and ordained, by the people of the
State of Alabama, in convention assembled, that the
State of Alabama now withdraws from the
Union, known as the
United States of America, and henceforth ceases to be one of the said
United States, and is and of right ought to be a sovereign independent State.
Sec. 2. And be it further declared and ordained by the people of the
State of Alabama in convention assembled, that all powers over the territories of said State, and over the people thereof, heretofore delegated to the
Government of the
United States of America, be, and they are hereby, withdrawn from the said Government, and are hereby resumed and vested in the people of the
State of Alabama.
And as it is the desire and purpose of the people of
Alabama, to meet the slaveholding States of the
South who approve of such a purpose, in order to frame a revisional as a permanent Government, upon the principles of the
Government of the
United States, be it also resolved by the people of
Alabama, in convention assembled, that the people of the States of
Delaware,
Maryland,
Virginia,
North Carolina,
South Carolina,
Florida,
Georgia,
Mississippi,
Louisiana,
Texas,
Arkansas,
Tennessee,
Kentucky and
Missouri, be and they are hereby invited to meet the people of the
State of Alabama, by their delegates in convention, on the 4th day of February next in
Montgomery, in the
State of Alabama, for the purpose of consultation with each other.
as to the most effectual mode of securing concerted, harmonious action in whatever measures may be deemed most desirable for the common peace and security.
And be it further resolved, That the
President of this convention be and he is hereby instructed to transmit forthwith a copy of the foregoing preamble, ordinance and resolutions to the
Governors of the several States named in the said resolutions.
Done by the people of
Alabama, in convention assembled, at
Montgomery, this 11th day of January, 1861.
The preamble, ordinance and resolutions were adopted by Ayes 61, Nays 39.
Celebration in Mobile.
Yesterday was the wildest day of excitement in the annals of
Mobile.
The whole people seemed to be at the top point of enthusiasm from the time that the telegraphic announcement of the passage of the secession ordinance in the convention was received, until the hour when honest men should be abed.
To add, if possible, to the excitement, the news of the secession of our sister
State of Florida was received simultaneously with that of the withdrawal of
Alabama.
Immediately on the receipt of the news, an immense crowd assembled at the “secession pole,” at the foot of Government-street, to witness the spreading of the
Southern flag, and it was run up amid the shouts of the multitude and the thunders of cannon.
One hundred and one guns for
Alabama and fifteen for
Florida were fired, and after remarks from
Dr. Woodcock,
Mr. Lude, and other gentlemen, the crowd repaired to the
Custom House, walking in procession with a band of music at the head, braying the warlike notes of the “Southern Marseillaise.”
Arrived at the
Custom House, a lone star flag was waved from its walls amid enthusiastic shouts.
The balcony of the
Battle House, opposite, was thronged with ladies and gentlemen, and the street was crowded with excited citizens.
Standing upon the steps of the
Custom House, brief and stirring addresses were delivered by
Dr. Woodcock,
Gen. Niel Robinson,
Gen. Lawler,
Gen. Butler,
Dr. Lyle,
Robert H. Smith,
Mayor Withers, and
Hon. George N. Stewart.
It was announced that a despatch had been received from the
Governor, to the effect that he expected that
Mobile would raise a hundred thousand dollars for the defence of the city.
Gen. Robinson and
Gen. Lawler immediately put down their names for a thousand dollars each,
Dr. Lyle, of
Mississippi, for two hundred and fifty, and other gentlemen for other sums.
A committee was appointed to canvass the city and obtain subscriptions.
The military paraded the streets.
The Cadets were out in force, bearing the splendid flag which was presented them the day previous, and is a most gorgeous banner, and, with the Independent Rifles, marched to Bienville Square, where they fired continuous salvos of musketry.
The demonstration at night was worthy the magnitude of the event celebrated.
The display was of the most brilliant description.
During the whole day the “busy sound of hammers” on all sides gave note of preparation for illumination; and when night fell, the city emerged from darkness into a blaze of such glory as could only be achieved by the most recklessly extravagant consumption of tar and tallow.
The broad boulevard of Government-street was an avenue of light, bonfires of tar-barrels being kindled at intervals of a square's distance along its length, and many residences upon it were illuminated.
The
Court House and other buildings at the intersection of Royal-street shone with a plenitude of candles.
Royal street was a gorgeous gush of light, the great front of the
Battle House and other buildings being a perfect conflagration of illumination.
All the newspaper offices were, of course, numbered among the
illuminati of the occasion.
Dauphin-street, for many squares, was a. continuous blaze of light, and the buildings around Bienville Square rivalled each other in taste and magnificence of display.
With a choice epicureanism of triumph and rejoicing, the
Custom House was illuminated by a fair show of patriotic candles-Ossas of insult being thus piled on Pelions of injury to Uncle Sam.
In the remote, unfrequented streets of the city, as well as in the more prominent avenues of business or residence, frequent illuminated buildings could be seen dispersing the gloom of night from about them.
Rockets blazed and crackers popped, and the people hurrahed and shouted as they never did before.
The streets, as light as day, were overflowed with crowds of ladies who had turned out to see the display.
Many of the designs of illuminatory work were exceedingly tasteful and beautiful.
The “Southern cross” was a favored emblematic pattern, and gleaming in lines of fire, competed with the oft-repeated “
Lone Star” for admiration and applause from the multitude.
In short, the occasion seemed several Fourth of Julys, a number of New Year's eves, various Christmases, and a sprinkling of other holidays all rolled into one big event.
While we write, at a late hour, some enthusiastic orator is haranguing a shouting multitude from the steps of the
Custom House, and all the juvenile fireworks of
China and the other
Indies seem to be on a grand burst of combined
