Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-08
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDESCE.


DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
ASAcr to submit to a vote of the people a
Declaration of Independence, and Tor other
purposes:
SECTION l. Be Il enacted be- The General Assem-
BIZ of the STATE of Tennessee That Immediately
AFTER the passage of this Act the Governor
of this State shall, by proclamation. direct
the Sheriffs of the several counties IN this
State to open aud hold an election at the va
rious voting precincts In their respective
counties on the sth day of June, 1861; that
said Sheriffs, or in the absence OF the Sher-
ifs, the Coroner of the county shall lnme-
diately advertise the election contemplated
by this Act; that said SheIifis appoint Dep
uty to hold said election for each voting pre-
einct, and that said Deputy appoint three
Judges and two Clerks for each precinct, and
If no officer shall, from any cause, attend any
voting precinct to open and hold said cleo
ton. then any Justice of the Peace, or in the
absence of Justice of the Peace, any re-
spectacle free holder may appoint an oiilcer,
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 so sworn, shall open and
hold an election, open and close at the time
of day, and in the manner now required by
law in election for members to the General
Assembly.
SEC. z. BE Il further enacted, That at said
election the following declaration shall be
submitted to q vote OF the qualified voters OF
the State of Tennessee, for their ratification
or rejection.
d1nance dissolyin& the Federal re-
IaIiOns between the state of Fem
nessee and the United States Of
Ist. We The people of the State of Ten
nessee, waving any expression OF opinion, as
to the abstract doctrine OF secession, but as
serting the right as free and independent
people to alter reform or abolish our form
of Government in such manner as We think
proper, do oTdain 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 abrogated and annulled, and that all
obligations on our part be Withdrawn there
from; 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, re-
straints and duties incurred thereto; and do
hereby henceforth, become free. sovereign
and independent State.
SECOND. We Furthermore declare and OF
dain 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 Uni
ted States, (be and the same are hereby alb
rogated and annulled and all parts OF the
constitution of the State of Tennessee, making
citizenship of the United States qualifica-
zion for Office, and recognizing the Constitu-
tIoa of the United States) as the su preme law
of this State, are in like manner a6rOgated
and aIauiled.
THIRp. We furthermore ordain and declare,
that all rights acquired and vested under the
Constitution of the United States, or under
any act of Congress passed in pursuance
thereof, or nnder any laws OF this State and
not incompatible with this ordnance. shall
remain in force aud have the same effect as if
this ordnance had not been passed.
SEC. 3. Be Il further eaaeted, That said cleo
ton shall he by ballot, that those voting for
the Declaration and Ordinance shall have
written or printed on their ballots ''Separa.
tiou,n and those voting against it have writ
ten or printed on their ballots mo Separa-
ton" That the clerks holding said election.
shall keep regular scrolls OF the voters as
now required by law in the election OF MEN,
bers to the General Assembly, that the clerks
and Judges shall certify the same with the
number of votes for Separation" and the
number of votes mo Separation" The of
icer holding the election, shall return the
same to the Sheriff of the county, at the coun-
ty seat on the Monday next alter the election
The Sheriff shall Immediately make out. GER
tify and send TO the Governor the number of
votes polled, and the number of votes for
..Separation,n and the number No Separa-
tion.u and file one of the original scrolls,
with tho clark of the Ennnty Court; that
upon comparing the vote by the Governor in
the Office of the Secretary of State which
shall be at least by the oath day of June,
1861, aud may be sooner If the returns
are all received by the Governor. If
a majority of the votes pofled shall be
for .Sepafation,, the Governor shall by his
Proclamation make il known, and declare
all connection by the Stale of Tennessee
with the Federal Union dissolved, and that
Tennessee is a free, independent Government,
free from all obligations ID, or connection
with the Federal Government. And that the
Governor shall cause the vote by counties
to be published, the number for .Separa-
tion,v and the number mo Separation"
whether a majority votes for separation" or
"No Separation"
SEC. 4. Be IL further enacted, That In the
election TO be held under the provisions of
this act upon the Declaration submitted to
the people all volunteers and other persons
connected with the service OF this State,
qualified to vote for members OF the Legisla-
ture in the counties where they reside, shall
be entitled to vote III any county In the State
where they may be In actiSe service OF un,
der orders, or on parole al the time oil SAID
election; and all other voters shall vote III
the county where they reside, as now requir-
ed by law in voting for members of the Gen
eral Assembly.
SEC. 5. Be Il further enacted, That at the
same time and under the rules and regula-
tons prescribed for the election herein be-
fore ordered; the following ordinance shall
be submitted 10 the popular vote. To-wit:
An Ordinance for the adoption OF the Con-
stifution OF the Provisional Government OF
the Confederate States OF America:
We, the people OF Tennessee, solemnly i'm
dressed by the perils which surround US. do
hereby adopt and rafify the Constitution OF
the Provisional Government of the Confede-
rate States OF America, ordained and estab-
lished at Montgomery, Alabama, on the slh
day of February, 1861, to be 10 force during
he existepce thereof, or until such time Is