Page:Texas Constitution and Secession.djvu/59

 PASSED BY THE

No. 1—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.

, 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 developements 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 interest and prosperity 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,

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 fourth day of July, A. D. 1845, and afterwards ratified by us, under which the Republic of Texas was admitted into union with other States and became a party to the compact styled "The