The South Carolina Convention on secession met for the first time in Columbia, South Carolina on the morning of December 17, 1860 in the Baptist Church.  David F. Jamison was elected to the chair.  Delegates, it was observed, were mostly elderly and distinguished men, including five former governors of the state, four former U.S. senators, a former speaker of the U.S. House, leading clergy, and many federal and state judges, including John Inglis, a native of Maryland, class of 1829 at Dickinson College.  (By John Osborne) 

Seventy-eight year old Secretary of State Lewis Cass had tendered some days before a written recommendation to the Cabinet that the federal installations around Charleston be safeguarded and reinforced.  When President Buchanan took no action, Cass set in motion his resignation which became effective on December 14, 1860.  Jeremiah Black, the sitting Attorney-General, immediately replaced him. (By John Osborne) 

President Buchanan left a Cabinet meeting to talk with five members of the South Carolina congressional delegation. The South Carolinians carried away what they thought was the President's promise that the status quo would be maintained and that the federal forts around Charleston would not be reinforced.  In turn, they would not be seized or attacked by state authorities.  This continued perception of a "pledge" caused a significant escalation of tensions when Major Anderson consolidated his forces on December 26, 1860 on Fort Sumter.  (By John Osborne)