An Ordinance to dissolve the union between the State
of Alabama and the other States united under the compact styled "The
Constitution of the United States of America"
Whereas, the election of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin to the
offices of president and vice-president of the United States of America, by a
sectional party, avowedly hostile to the domestic institutions and to the peace
and security of the people of the State of Alabama, preceded by many and
dangerous infractions of the constitution of the United States by many of the
States and people of the Northern section, is a political wrong of so insulting
and menacing a character as to justify the people of the State of Alabama in the
adoption of prompt and decided measures for their future peace and security,
therefore:
Be it declared and ordained by the people of the State
of Alabama, in Convention assembled, That the State of Alabama now withdraws,
and is hereby withdrawn from the Union known as "the United States of
America," and henceforth ceases to be one of said United States, and is,
and of right ought to be a Sovereign and Independent State.
Sec 2. Be it further declared and ordained by the people of the State of
Alabama in Convention assembled, That all powers over the Territory of said
State, and over the people thereof, heretofore delegated to the Government of
the United States of America, be and they are hereby withdrawn from said
Government, and are hereby resumed and vested in the people of the State of
Alabama.
And as it is the desire and purpose of the people of
Alabama to meet the slaveholding States of the South, who may approve such
purpose, in order to frame a provisional as well as permanent Government upon
the principles of the Constitution of the United States,
Be it resolved by the people of Alabama in Convention assembled, That the
people of the States of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee,
Kentucky and Missouri, be and are hereby invited to meet the people of the State
of Alabama, by their Delegates, in Convention, on the 4th day of February, A.D.,
1861, at the city of Montgomery, in the State of Alabama, for the purpose of
consulting with each other as to the most effectual mode of securing concerted
and harmonious action in whatever measures may be deemed most desirable for our
common peace and security.
And be it further resolved,
That the President of this Convention, be and is hereby instructed to transmit
forthwith a copy of the foregoing Preamble, Ordinance, and Resolutions to the
Governors of the several States named in said resolutions.