but six weeks after the election, south carolina is the first to secede, and six more states soon follow. [ cheers and applause ] >> the confederate states of america comes into existence with jefferson davis as its president. an army officer, veteran of the mexican war. >> the time for compromise has now passed. >> it's very hard for a southern politician to resist the force of secession, especially if jefferson davis was. this is a guy who thought he was gonna be president of the united states. >> the south is determined to maintain her position and make all who oppose her smell southern powder and feel southern steel. [ crowd cheering ]