WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1861
263
PROCLAMATION SUBMITTING THE ORDINANCE OF SECESSION, FEBRUARY 9, 1861 1 Whereas, By the several acts of the Legislature of the State of Texas, hereto appended, it is declared that an Ordinance dis- solving the conr.ecticn of Texas with the Federal Union, shall be submitted to the people of Texas, for their ratification or re- jection; and whereas, it is also declared, that an election shall be held on the 23rd day of February, A. D. 1861, at which the qualified electors of the State shall vote upon the same, and it is made the duty of the Governor to issue Proclamation for the same. Now, therefore, I, Sam Houston, Governor of the State of Texas, in obedience to law, do issue this my proclamation, direct- ing the Chief Justices of the various counties of the State, (or in the case of vacancy in the office of Chief Justice, or the failure, or inability of that officer to act, then, any two of the County commissioners) to give due notice and cause polls to be opened at the several precincts of their respective counties, on the said 23rd day of February, A. D., 1861, at which the qualified electors will signify their approval or disapproval of said Ordinance, by the use of the words, "For Secession" or "Against Secession." And the Chief Justices or County Commissioners, as the case may be, shall cause returns to be made to them of the said elec- tion, on or before the 26th day of February, A. D. ·1861, and they shall on that day make duplicate returns of the same, as provided for in the two acts of the Legislature hereto appended. Sam Houston. 1 Proclamations of the Govenw,·s of Texas; Executive Records, 1859-1861, p. 187, Texas State Library. So1,thern Intelligencer, February 20, 1861. The document to be found among the Proclamations of the Governors is in Houston's own handwi·iting. It is identical with the copy printed in the Southern Intelligencer. EXTRACT FROM A HOUSTON LETTER, [FEBRUARY 20, 1861] 1 We have been permitted to extract from a letter written by General Houston to an old friend. "You say that it is reported that I am for secession. Ask those who say so to point to a single word of .mine authorizing the statement. I have declared myself in favor of peace, of harmony, of compromise, in order to obtain a fair expression of the will
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