Alabama Secedes from Empire
01-11-1861
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 manacing 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hereby withdrawn from the Union known as "the United States of America,"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of the United States of America, be and they are hereby withdrawn from said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.
Done by the people of the State of Alabama, in Convention assembled, at
Montgomery, on this the eleventh day of January, A.D. 1861.
Source: Official Records, Ser. IV, vol. 1, pp. 43-44.
