University of South Carolina Libraries
THE SECESSION Col. Robt. A. Thompson, Two Survivors of thc that Passed Fan: I lie Sketch Written hy lt. T. Jayne? Reproduced Here Our Stnte hus been blessed with a long list of stalwart characters. From the colonial days until the present time, on every page of its history, may be written some name worthy of honor and emulation. If, nearly a half a century ago, the cause of States' rights had prevailed, the names of all the one hundred and seventy members of the Secession Convention of South Carolina would have been handed down to posterity with as much veneration as those of the signers of the Declaration of In dependence of 1776. Certain lt 1B that the convention embraced the flower of every profession and avo cation in the State, and its members were peers In true nobility, of any assemblage of like numbers, of any time and in any country. It was written of lt hy Dr. Thomwell, the noted divine, in a faithful tribute: "lt embraced tho wisdom ami mod eration of tho bench, thc learning and prudence of the Bar, and tho eloquence and learning of the pulpit. + * * That convention, in thc char acter of its members, deserves every syllable of the glowing panegyric which Milton pronounced upon the Immortal Parliament of Great Bri tain, which taught the nations of the earth that resistance to tyrants was obedience to God." lt is sad to contemplate that of the one hundred and seventy still wart men who mei in this convention, in December, I860, only two survive, namely: Dr. James H. Carlisle, of Spartanburg, and Col. Robert A. Thompson, of Walhalla. ..Venerable men. You have come down to us from the former generation." You stand alone ?is the connecting link between the generation Of your com rades and ours. In the stirring Keenes through which .von have pass ed it was yours "to ('.are. and again to dare, and without end to dare." Monuments of granit'- may crumble Into dust, bul the Influence ol your lives and works shall abide until li? las! generation, until time Itali be no more. You shall live in the hearts of your countrymen. May the voung men of our State learn well the lesson of your lives and works. As the writer has been closely a. sociated with Col. Thompson, in pro fessional and other affairs, tor the past twenty-live years.he has thought it appropriate to pul in written form some of the more prominent Incidents of his life. His L.uly late. Rober! Anderson Thompson was born .lune 13, 1NL\S, in Pickens Dis trict, about eight miles north of Pen dleton, on Twelve-Mile river. His father was Charles Thompson; his mother, Mahala Gaines Thompson. His grandfather, William Thompson, was a native of Union county. His great-grandfather. James Thompson, was a native of Ireland, as was also his great-grandmother. They came to America in 1 7 71'., and after land ing at New York they came to Un ion county, South Carolina, where they made their home. They at once heartily espoused the Whig or Patriot can-.-. His maternal ances tors belonged to two prominent Vir ginia families. Gaines and Pendle ton. His means of obtaining an educa tion were limited, as school facilities In the days of bis boyhood were few. Tko "old Held school." and then the printing office sufficed for him, as lt bas for many another struggling youth. While only a small boy he entered upon an apprenticeship to the printer's trade In the office of the Pendleton Messenger, with .Messrs. Symmes and Itrldwell as owner-; and editors. He served Ihn tull period, and, after completing his appren ticeship, worked for some time <>u the Laurensville Herald, at Laurens. S. C. In 18111 he .ame associated with thc Hon. Frank Hurt as editor and publisher of ibo Pendleton Mes senger. After spending three years in this relation he moved lo Pickens Court House, where he purchased thc Keowee Courier in ls.",;:. For forty five years he was one of the owners and editors of tho Keowee Courier, first nt Pickens, and afterwards nt Walhalla. The simple recital of these facts makes manifest Iiis op portunity for wielding a potent in fluence for good. I nder his super vision and direction the Keowee Cou rier soon took rank as one of thc foremost weekly journals of the State. As a terse and ready writer ho had few equals In the field. In this sphere be spent and was spent In the service of his county and State. His success demonstrates CONVENTION of Walhalla, One of the "Notable Assemblage lous Ordinance. for Thc Charleston Sunday News anti i>y their Courtesy. that the disadvantages supposed to arise from the want of a liberal edu cation can be overcome where the youth has the spirit of Indomitable perseverance. His wa? self-culture acquired through the arduous read ing of good books and the perform ance of the dally tasks of the work shop. Especially helpful to him was the study of the life of Franklin, and also his proximity to Kort Hill, the home of Carolina's greatest statesman. In those days the very atmosphere of Kort Hill and Pendle ton was stimulating and inspiring to ambitious youth, lt was Inhaled un der the shnde of the trees, and lt sparkled from every rippling stream. Appointed Commissioner of Equity. lu IS.".:' be was appointed by the Governor ?is Commissioner in Equity for Picketts District, which position he held for twenty years. In those days the Commissioners were elected by the Legislature for terms of four years. The conduct of those elec tions, and the visits to Columbia In cident thereto, kept bini constantly in touch with the leading men of the State. Thus he kept fully abreast of the Hines and knew the sentiment of lils people. As such Commissioner he was required to give bond each terni in the sum of twenty thousand dollars. During the twenty years of his administration of this olTlce his bonds were made continuously by live men, who were among the lead ing citizens of his district. Their names deserve to be perpetuated. They were: Andrew F. Lewis. Wil liam Hunter, William S. Grisham, James E. Hagood and Killin H. Grif fin. The merited confidence thus be stowed was duly appreciated. Such ?i nuuk of friendship and confidence is rarely seen. Hut it was character istic of those days when a man's word was his bond, and honor ?ind integrity was the curren) coin. During this period he was also elected by the Legislature lor seve ral years as a member ol Hie board of free schools, ?ind also one of the commissioners of public buildings. These were offices of honor, wit bout emolument, but the proper discharge of their functions was of vital Im portance io the public good. Politics of thc Sixties. The decade prior to I860 was one of tierce po 11 ticii 1 strife with its cleavage along sectional lines. The institution of slavery was the casus belli. In the North I lie Abolitionists had grown in favor, and the ascend ancy was theirs. In thc South were tin- most of the slaves, and here the institution found its advocates. The storm idoud, which luid been hover ing over the nation for <>. score of years, burst in all ?is fury during the Presidential campaign of 18(50, in which Lincoln and DOUKIUS were the standard-bearers of the two great parties. The election of Lincoln be ing carried by the non-slave-holding States it appeared to the people of the South that the hostility of the non-slave-holdlng States toward i he South led to the continued disregard of their obligations, and the laws of the General Government bad ceased to effect the objects of the Constitu tion. In most of the Northern States the fugitive from any of the South ern Slates was discharged from ser vite, ?un? thus was the constitutional compact between the Stales broken. Heme, the political opinion of the South held thal the State was releas ed from her obligations, because the ends tor which the Government was instituted had been defeated. Such was ihf prevailing sentiment of the people of the South, and South Caro lina took Hie lead in giving it force ful expression as embodied in the his toric Ordinance of Secession. On November 1-3, I860, the Legis la! ure passed an nd calling a conven tion of the people to assemble on December IT. and providing for the election of its members on December <'.. 1 Stitt. Note how short the time and bow rapidly these days follow the om' tin- uther. and vet what might > Issue* were involved therein. Tlie election, though, passed off quietly, because the people were ready and sentiment ripe. Scarcely any canvass was made, as ii was wholly unnecessary. There was Vlr tuallv no opposition to secession. Among the leaders of thought there stand out to-day as the exponents of such opposition principally the ninnes of I!. F, Perry, J. L. Petti gr U and .lodge J. B. O'Neall, bul they were in a hopeless minority, however cor rect may have been their views, and the ponderous wave of secession swept the Southern country as a prai rie lire, consuming everything within its path. Th? Secession Convention. Such waB the ?tate of the public mind when the day for the election of delegates arrived and the conven tion met. Flckens District was then composed of the territory new em* ! braced in Oe once and Pickano coun ties*. This District was entitled to live members in the convention, ami they were elected in the following order: Andrew F. Lewis, William Hunter, Robert A. Thompson, Wil liam s. Qrisham and .lohn Nf ax well, Only eleven days after the election . they answered roll call In the Baptist I church In Columbia as five of the , one hundred and seventy members j assembled in convention. The con- I ventloil was organized with Gen. D. ! F. Jamison, or Orangeburg, as presi dent, and IL F. Arthur, of Columbia, as secretary A resolution was unan imously adopted declaring for seces sion at the very earliest moment. On account of a rumor of smallpox in the city the convention ndjourned to meet on the following day in Char leston, Accordingly Its session was resumed on December 18, nt 8 p. m., in St. Andrew's Hall on Rroad street. Two days sufficed for discussion and deliberation, for on Thursday, De cember 20. the Ordinance was unani mously adopted by a yea and nay vote, and the signature of every member of the convention attached. As the names were signed one by one, in Agricultural Hall, on Meet ing street, whence it adjourned for this purpose at S p. m., the applause was great, but when the announce ment was made that all had signed, the wildest enthusiasm prevailed. There were shouts of jr? clapping of hands, thunders of applause and the wildest enthusiasm within the hall. Without tile walting thousands took up the cry and hailed lt as the second Declaration of Independence of the State. Ron fl res were kindled in every street; fireworks blazed on all sides and gratification rested on every face. December 20, 1 Still, long to be remembered, was then written in ink; but for four years Ps work was to be baptized in blood The ?lays were swiftly passing, and Hie war cloud was in the sky. Col. Thompson as a Soldier. The conflict of arms was regarded as inevitable, and military compa nies, regiments and brigades were immediately formed. As soon as til?, convention ndjourned Col. .Thompson raised a company of infantry. His company formed a part of the 2d Regiment of Rifles, Col. .lohn V. V ? of his country. In his paper and | on the hustings he advocated the re demption o? his State from the reign of the allen and the demagogue udtll the cause was triumphant with Hampton tn 187G. Admitted to the Har. In 1870 he was admitted to the Har by Judge Jas. I* Orr, presiding in Hie Circuit Coure at Walhalla. He immediately entered upon the active practice of lils profession. At dif ferent times lie has been associated in partnership with Cien. Samuel McGowan, afterwards Associate Jus tice of the Supreme Court; Jas. L. Orr, Jr., Solicitor, and Jos. H. Harle, afterwards Judge and United States Senator. While these eminent law yers, each in turn, have laid aside their briefs and appeared at the Bar of impartial justice, yet Col. Thomp son, now eighty-one years of age, continues to give dally attention to lils professional business. In IHOO he was elected a member of the House of Representatives from Oconee county and served one full term of two years. H?> has repeatedly been elected County chairman of the Democratic P'ny, and often sent as a delegate to the State Democratic Convention. In the memorable campaign of 18715 he rendered valiant service for the cause of good government and re joiced in the election of Wade Hamp ton as Governor. Ile has been a member of the Pres byterian church for many years, and has niven liberally of bbs time and means towards the support of thc (burch of his choice. As an eldei he bas repeatedly represented bb ( burch in sessions ol' the Presbytery Synod and twice in the General As sembly. In the service ol' both church ant Stale lie bas been found faithful ant true. He has ever labored to pro mole the highest welfare of his peo pie. In all the exacting scenet through which he has passed he hat taken a leading part and been recog nixed as on?? whom it was safe t< follow. Ills Masonic Activity. His Masonic life also extends ove a long term of years and service While a resident of Pendleton he wa raised to the sublime degree of i Master Mason in Pendleton Lodge A. V. M.. by Major George Sealion as Worshipful Master. He was alter wards a member of Keowee Lodge at Picketts, and of Blue Ridge Lodge at Walhalla, serving successive term * * * * * * ?I? * * -h * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * .i* ?i* .i* * * .I* .I* .i" .I* * (Of,. ROI1KHT A. THOMPSON * 4- * * * * * Moore commanding, and was attach ed to Jenkins's Rrigade, Longstreet's Corps. After the second hattie of Manassa? he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel of Ins reg iment, in which capacity he contin ued to serve until, on account of .ail inn health in the latter part ot the war, he was compelled to retire from active service. Ile continued, how ever, lo serve the cause for which he had enlisted in various other capaci ties Until till' close of the war. Thus were given four of the best years of his lite to lin- service of his country on the tented field. Hut the god of battles decreed against us. and tho sword was sheathed, lt may he said though that the victories of peace are greater than those of war. The South had suffered defeat in arms, and though broken In fortune, it was yet Indomitable in spirit. For tin long, weary years it fought tin- hat ties of reconstruction until the vic tory was won. During this time Col. Thompson continued to give the best of his thought anti effort in the ser * I? .!? ?I- -I* * ?!? ?I* -I- ?I* ;\> Worshipful Master. Ile was also one ol' i he ( 'nai ler members ()f Wal halla Chaiiler. ol' which he was High Priest for several years. At this place he also found "more light in Masonry" by advancement to the counsel degrees. As a craftsman he has ever been faithful and zealous, and !,is labors in the temple promo tive of the good and welfare of this nncienl :nul honorable institution. Hi- Domestic Lite. In 1858 he was happily married to Miss V. Pose Sarritt. of Ciarkesville, tia. Cor more than a half ccu tu ry the) have pursued together the jour ney of life, rejoicing in its sunshine and sorrowing in its shadows. She is still his helpmeet, and the queen of his home. Hight children were born unto them, namely: Robert S. Thompson, Lizzie R. Keys, nee Thompson, Mahala Thompson. Chas. ?I. 'I'll o m pso n, I ssa la i'o Row la tul, nee Thompson, Plckens R. Thompson, William ll. Thompson, and one child, which died in Infancy. His domos tice life has been peculiarly happy, *kj?mk - >-"-r.: 1I??|| S^w ?ff/ wSS^L. COLUMBIA DOUBLE-DISC RECORDS A different selection on each side They fit any machine T That tells the whole story except that at 65 cents for the Columbia Double-Disc you get a better record, on each side, than you ever bought be fore at $ 1.20 for the same two selec tions. Get a catalog! C. W. WICKLIFFE, WEST UWIQW? H. C. ' and the lund parents have been hless Froni the foregoing it is apparent that Col. Thompson has led a stren uous life and occupied a pi unineut place during the stormy tit tes in tullich ?tis lines have heen eas . New. in the (ptiet evening of a lt lg ami useful life, he can look hack upon thc rugged way with an approving conscience ?md lind sweet rest in Un consciousness of duty well perform : ed. .Many years of his youth and early manhood were spent in the discharge of the exacting tasks of ?he printing office. Four years of his mature manhood were given to the service of his country on the tented held, and ten years more to his State during the horrors of reconstruction, even worse than war. Surely no man could do more. His sacrifice has been great; his allegiance to truth and fidelity un failing, and his reward sure. Ills name and place in the history of mr State is permanently fixed. lt \ 111 grow brighter with the passing years, and when the things of time and sense .shall fall from his mortal vis ion, ti rich inheritance will he be queathed to his State and country. In peace and war, "Duty, that weightiest word in ?ill our language.'' was his watchword. And now, after more than four-score years of labor. In simple, child-like faith, he awaits i the call to service in that other and better country, where inhabitants never grow old and love is the law of life. To avoid serious results take Fo ley's Kidney Remedy at the first sign ol' kidney or bladder disorder such as backache, urinary irregularities, ex haustion, and you will soon be well. Commence taking Roley's Kidney lt.-.dy to-day. .1. W. Roll. Walhal la; Sionecypher Pharmacy, Westmin ster. Her Value was $100 a Pound. New York, .lune ll. Weighing linn pounds. Miss Kittie l'lunkette, who gives lier home as X w York, 1 fell off an electric car in Elizabeth, ' X. J., on October s, 1908, and, so she ! asserts in a suit against the public service corporation, has since lost Jim pounds as thc result of the acci dent, lo the great detriment of her value as an attraction at. county fairs. Miss l'lunkette has sued for $20,000 damages, setting forth as her main claim the loss of weight. Thus, lt appears, fdic sets the value of her lost adipose at $100 a pound. Ours? Ooldsi Prevents Pneumonia d in their i li i ld i ?n. THE NKW EDISON Hors) Titos. A. Edison's Plan lur lionizing Construction of Houses. i Trenton, N. J., Times. ) Thomas A. Kklison, ii is announc ed, lias about completed Iiis plans for the cheap concrete houses which he promised a year ago, and if the statements made are true, he will more than keep bis promise, lt will be possible to build of concrete for $1,2 00 each, houses that would cost at least $10.000 if stone were used in the construction; but they must be built in blocks. The Edison plan calls for a house 20 by SO feet, with an eight-foot front porch and three-foot back stoops. Each house will contain six rooms and bath, with cellar under ) entire building, to contain boiler, ?. wash tubs and coal bin. Walls, roof, ' porches, bath tiib and laundry tubs will all be of re-inforced concrete. Only the doors, windows and frames will be of wood. There will be no plasUr finish. M.. Edison says il will be possible for every workingman to own his home or occupy a separate house; that it will take four days to set np the moulds, six hours to pour in the concrete, four days more for the con crete to harden and foul days more to remove the moulds less than a fortnight to finish the house The cast Iron moulds to be used lo begin extensive building will cost $2:",,000 and the concrete plant w ill cost $15, more, so that it will be necessary to interest capitalists in the work. The "wizard" has done much for tho betterment of the world by his many inventions, but If his t heap homes plan is successful it will ho the crowning work of his life, for it will benefit the hundreds of thou sands of families in modest circum stances, anti go far toward relieving the congestion in the rides. How's This ? We offer one hundred dollars re ward for any case of catarrh that cannot be cured by Hall's Catarrh Cure. F .1. Cheney & Co.. Toledo, O. We. the undersigned, have known P. .1. Cheney for the hist Hf teen years, and believe him perfectly honorable In all business transactions and finan cially able to carry out any obliga tions made by his firm. Wabling. Kilman & Marvin. Wholesale Druggists. Toledo. O. Hall's Catarrh Cure ls taken Inter, nally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. Test Inion luis sent free. Price 75c. per bottle. Kohl bv all druggists. Take Hall s Family Pills for Con stipation.