greater part went to England. A London paper of this decade said:

"The lives of nearly two million of our country are dependent upon the
cotton crops of the States. Should any dire calamity befall the land of
cotton, a thousand of our merchant ships would rot idly in dock; ten
thousand mills must stop their busy looms; two thousand mouths would
starve for lack of food to feed them."


In 1860, a Southern Senator said in congress;

"There are 5,000,000 of people in Great Britain who live upon cotton.
Exhaust the supply one week, and all England is starving. I tell you
COTTON IS KING."


But the die was cast. The ordinance of secession of South Carolina
unanimously passed December 20, at a quarter past one o'clock. Great
crowds were outside the hall of conference awaiting results. The
_Charleston Mercury_ issued an extra, of which six thousand copies
were sold. The chimes of St. Michaels pealed exultant notes; bells of
all other churches simultaneously rang. The gun by the post-office
christened "Old Secession" belched forth in thundering celebration.
Cannons in the citadel echoed the glad tidings; houses and shops emptied
their people into the streets; cares of business and family were
forgotten; all faces wore smiles--joy prevailed. Old men ran shouting
down the streets--friend met friend in hearty hand clasp--the sun shone
brilliantly after three days of rain--volunteers donned their uniforms
and hastened to their armories. New palmetto flags appeared everywhere.
Everyone wore a blue cockade in his hat. Great enthusiasm was shown at