Texas
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; HEREFORE,
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repealed and annulled; that all the powers which, by the said compact, were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]
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