Mississippi's Secession Convention appoints a committee to draw up an ordinance of secession

The Mississippi delegates elected less than three weeks ago on December 20, 1860 for the Secession Convention had assembled in Jackson the day before.  The election had produced a two third majority in favor of secession and the proceedings flowed smoothly towards the state leaving the Union.  On this second day a committee was named to produce an ordinance of secession and the following day this was voted on.  Mississippi thus became the second state to declare its independence from the United States.  (By John Osborne)