About two years after the secession of South Carolina from the United States the Palmetto state changed governors: Milledge Luke Bonham replaced Francis Wilkinson Pickens. It certainly wasn’t an election in the current American sense. According to Wikipedia, “On December 17, 1862, the South Carolina General Assembly elected Bonham as governor by secret ballot.”
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 29, 1862:
Inauguration of the Governor of South Carolina.
Gen. Bonham, the Governor elect of South Carolina, was inaugurated at Columbia, on the 18th inst. Governor [P]ickens, in his retiring address said:
… I hand the State over to my [dis]tinguished successor, and here proudly say that, through her whole career up to this day, [n]o stain [r]ests upon a single feather in the plum[e] that waves over her brow.
Amid the great [ev]ents around us, my acts now pass into history. I have done what I have done I court scrutiny into those acts, and ask no favor from any earthly tribunal save my country and posterity. I now pass the insignia of office into your hands, and may God, in His mercy, bless you and my beloved State.
The Governor elect, thus introduced, spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: To be the chief Magistrate of South Carolina is, at any time, a flattering distinction; but especially is it so when the Confederacy is in the throne of a mighty revolution inaugurated by that State herself.
With much distrust of my own abilities I assumes this responsibility, but with the aid of the patriotic citizens composing your bodies, and with a firm reliance upon the great Ruler of events, I shall devote myself to the duties assigned me, discharging them fairly and impartially and leave it to posterity to judge of their attitude of my conduct.
A fearful war has for near two years been waged against us by a fierce and unrelenting foe. Already has it cost the State many of her noblest sons. The friend of my youth — my comrade in arms — has just yielded up his life a willing scarifies for our Independence. Our entire state is now paying homage to his memory and his Roman virtues. The success of our cause will much depend upon the harmony of the Confederate States and State Governments, and whilst we must never loss sight of the rights of the State, wisdom and patriotism alike dictate that in every legitimate way we should sustain the Confederate authorities to whom the conduct of the war has been manly confided.
Upon my humble efforts to carry the State successfully through the trails that await her during my term of office, I invoke the blessing of Almighty God. And now, sir, I am prepared to take the oath of office.
The Hon. A. P. Aldrich, Speaker, then administered the oath to Gov. Ronham, and to Lieut. Gov. Western. The President of the Senate then requested the Senators to return to their Chamber where he would deliver commissions to the Governor and Lieut-Governor. This having been done the Sheriff proclaimed, the eastern porch, the fact that Gov. M. L. Bonham had been inaugurated as Commander in Chief of South Carolina.
Bonham’s comrade in arms, South Carolina General Maxcy Gregg was mortally wounded at the December 13, 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg.
State House in Columbia, South Carolina
