Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-08
Declaration OF Independence of Tennessee
AN ACT to submit to vote people Declaration Of In
dependence and for other purposes

to submit OF the Declaration OF In
dependence and for other purposes
SECTION l. Be enacted Jy the Genera! Assembly
of the State OF Tennessee. That Immediately after the
passage of this Act the Governor of this State
shall. by proclamation, direct the Sherlfs OF the
several counties in this State to open and hold an
election at the various voting precincts IN their re-
spective counties on the Sth day of June, 1861;
that said Sherifs in the absence of the Sheriff.
the Coroner of the county, shall Immediately ad-
vertse the election contemplated by this Act; that
said Sherifs appoint Deputy to hold said election
for each voting precinct and that said Deputy ap-
point three Judges and two Clerks for each pre-
cnct and if officer shall from any cause, attend
any voting precinct TO open and hold SAID election.
then any Justice of the Peace, or in the absence Of
a Justice of the Peace any respectable free holder
NAV appoint an officers Judges and Clerks to open
and hold said election. Said officers, Judges and
Clerks shall be sworn as now required by law, and
who after being sworn, shall open and hold an
election open and close at the time of day. and in
the manner now required by law IN elections Tor
members 10 the General Assembly.
SEC 2 Be Il further enacted, That at said election
the following declaration shall be submitted TO
vote of the qualified voters of the State of Ten
nessee, for their ratification or rejection
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND Ordinance DIS
SOLVING THE FEDERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN TIE
STATE OF TENNESSEE AND THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
lst. We the people of the State of Tennessee,
waving any expression of opinion, as to the alb
stract doctrine of secession but asserting the right
as free and independent people, TO alter. reform
or abolish our form of Government in such manner
as we think proper do ordain and declare that all
the laws and ordinances, by which the state OF
Tennessee became member of the Federal Union
of the United States of America, are hereby abrO-
gated and annuled, and that all Obligations on our
mart be withdrawn therefrOm and we do hereby
resume all the rights functions and powers, which
by any of said laws and ordinances were conveyed
TO the Government of the United States and alb
solved ourselves from all the obligations restraints
and duties incurred thereto; and do hereby hence
forth become free, sotereign and independent
State,
SECOND. We furthermore declare aud ord ain that
Article 10 Sections and of the Constitution of
the State of Tennessee. which requires members of
the General Assembly. and all officers, civil
and military, TO take an oath TO support the
Constitution Of the United States, be and the
same are hereby abrogated and annuled, and
all parts of the constitution of the State 4 Tennes
see making citizenship of the United States quail
fcstion for Office and recognizing the Constitution
of the United States as the supreme law Of this
State are in like manner abrogsted and annulled.
THIRD, We furthermore Ordain and declare that
aHr.ghts acquired and vested under the Constitution
of the United States, under any act of Congress
passed in pursuance thereof, or under any iaws OF
this State and not incompatible with this ordinance.
shall remain in force and have the same effect IS II
this ordinance had not been passed.
SEC g. Be Il further enacted, That said election
shall be by ballot that these voting Tor the Decara-
ton and Ordinance shall have written or printed on
their ballots Separation and those voting against
it shall have written or printed on their ballots mo
Separation" That the clerks holding said election
shall keep regular scrolls OF the voters as now re-
ouired by law in the election of members to the
General Assembly that the clerks and judges shall
certify the same with the number OF votes Tor
Separation" and the number Of votes M Separa-
ton" The officer holding the election, shall return
the same TO the Sheriff of the county, at the county
scat on the Monday after the election. The
Sheriff shall Immediately make cut, certify and
end n tho Governor the number of votes pOlled,
prJ the n6p,6er of votes for Separation, and the
Dunber NO Separation" aEd file one of the origi-
nal scrolls with the clerk OF the CoQnty Court;
tbatu comparing the vote by the Governor in the
oice of the Secretary of State, which shall be at
least bv the oath day of June, 1861, and may be
sooner if the returns are all received by the Gov
ernor If majority Of the votes polled shall be
for separation" the Governor shall by his Procla.
nation make it kno En and declare all connection
by the State of Tennessee, with the Federal Union
dissolved and that Tennessee is free, independent
Government free from all obligation TO, Or connec-
tion With the Federal Government. And that the
Governor shall cause the vote by counties to be
nublished. the number for Separation" and the
number No Separation" whether majority votes
Tor Separation or No Separation"
SEC. l. BE Il further enacted, That In the etec-
ton to be held under tins provisions OF tlis
act upon the Declaration submitted to the people,
all volunteers and other persons connected with me
service of this State, qualified to vote for members