North Carolina Civil War Secession History

North Carolina Civil War Secession History

On January 29, 1861, the North Carolina General Assembly decided to put the issue of a secession convention to a vote of the people on February 28, 1861. By the date of the convention vote, seven southern states already had seceded and formed the Confederate States of America.

Unionists defined the issue of a convention as a question of “Union or Disunion.” Secessionist attempts to redefine the campaign in terms of self-defense were not successful. The unionists defeated the secessionists by a vote of 47,323 to 46,672, carrying the northeastern counties and most of the piedmont and western counties. Caswell County's NC Senator Bedford Brown was opposed to a convention.

Civil War: State Secession Dates

1. South Carolina: December 20, 1860

2. Mississippi: January 9, 1861

3. Florida: January 10, 1861

4. Alabama: January 11, 1861

5. Georgia: January 19, 1861

6. Louisiana: January 26, 1861

7. Texas: February 1, 1861

Confederate States of America Established: February 4, 1861

North Carolina Secession Convention Not Authorized: February 28, 1861

Civil War Began: April 12, 1861

8. Virginia: April 17, 1861

9. Arkansas: May 6, 1861

10. North Carolina: May 20, 1861 (Secession Convention)

11. Tennessee: June 8, 1861

__________

While North Carolina voters had rejected a secession convention in a vote held February 28, 1861, by May sentiment had changed, and a secession convention was convened May 20, 1861.

Proceedings of the North Carolina State Convention

Day 1 (May 20, 1861): Elected Weldon N. Edwards (1788-1873), a Democratic planter from Warren County, as president; voted to secede from the United States of America (by repealing the state’s ratification of the U.S. Constitution); voted to join Confederate States of America.

Day 2 (May 21, 1861):

Day 3 (May 22, 1861):

Day 4 (May 23, 1861): Mr. Brown, of Caswell, presented a letter from his colleague, John A. Graves, Esq., resigning his seat in the Convention and the same being read and accepted, Mr. Brown offered a resolution requiring the President of the Convention to issue a writ to the Sheriff of Caswell County, authorizing him to hold an election for a delegate to supply the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Graves. Adopted.

The convention had not been restricted and met three more times before finally adjourning on May 13, 1862, almost a year after first convening.

_____

The above reports John Azariah Graves (1822-1864) resigned his seat at the NC Secession Convention. He did so to accept a commission as captain in one of the Caswell County regiments being formed to fight the Civil War (Company A -- Yanceyville Grays). A lawyer in civilian life, he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, was captured, and died at Johnson's Island Prison, Lake Erie, Ohio.

When John Azariah Graves resigned his seat at the NC Secession Convention May 23, 1861, he was replaced by Dr. James Edward Williamson, M.D. (1799-1867). The new delegate took his seat June 10, 1861, a couple of weeks after the secession decision had been made.