AN ORDINANCE TO DISSOLVE THE UNION
BETWEEN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE
OTHER STATES 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 citizenship and
WHEREAS, The action of the Northern States in 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 of the
people of Texas, and her sister Slaveholding States, instead of
permitting it to be, as was intended, our shield against outrage and
aggression,
THEREFORE, 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 fourth (4th) day of
July, A.D. 1845, and afterward 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United States of America' be, and is hereby, repealed and annulled.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 resumed. That Texas in of
right absolved from all restraints and obligations incurred by said
compact, and is a separate sovereigns State, and that her citizens
and people are absolved from all allegiance to the United States or
the government thereof.
SECTION 2. The 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 2nd 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, the last day of February, A.D. 1861.