| AN
ORDINANCE to dissolve the Union between the State of Texas and the other
States united under the Compact styled "the Constitution of the
United States of America."
WHEREAS, The Federal Government has
failed to accomplish the purposes of the compact of union between these
States, in giving protection either to the persons of our people upon an
exposed frontier, or to the property of our citizens, and
WHEREAS, the action of the Northern
States of the Union is violative of the compact between the States and
the guarantees of the Constitution; and,
WHEREAS, The recent developments in
Federal affairs make it evident that the power of the Federal Government
is sought to be made a weapon with which to strike down the interests
and property of the people of Texas, and her sister slave-holding
States, instead of permitting it to be, as was intended, our shield
against outrage and aggression; THEREFORE,
SECTION 1. We, the people of the State of
Texas, by delegates in convention assembled, do declare and ordain that
the ordinance adopted by our convention of delegates on the 4th day of
July, A.D. 1845, and afterwards ratified by us, under which the Republic
of Texas was admitted into the Union with other States, and became a
party to the compact styled "The Constitution of the United States
of America," be, and is hereby, repealed and annulled; that all the
powers which, by the said compact, were delegated by Texas to the
Federal Government are revoked and resumed; that Texas is of right
absolved from all restraints and obligations incurred by said compact,
and is a separate sovereign State, and that her citizens and people are
absolved from all allegiance to the United States or the government
thereof.
SEC. 2. This ordinance shall be submitted
to the people of Texas for their ratification or rejection, by the
qualified voters, on the 23rd day of February, 1861, and unless rejected
by a majority of the votes cast, shall take effect and be in force on
and after the 2d day of March, A.D. 1861.
PROVIDED, that in the Representative
District of El Paso said election may be held on the 18th day of
February, 1861.
Done by the people of the State of Texas,
in convention assembled, at Austin, this 1st day of February, A.D. 1861.
[ratified 23 Feb 1861 by a vote of 46,153
for and 14,747 against] |
