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military I-enjjnc beiwern ilie State of
Xeninesseea.ua llio Conftderate Slates.
By virtue of a. joint resolution of the General
Assembly. lion's G. A. Henry, A.O. W. Totten an I
Washington Harrow, were appointed by the Gov¬
ernor to confer with the Hon. 11. W. Hit.Li.uu), Com¬
missioner from the Confederate States, relative to
the foimationof a Military League between the
State of Tennessee and the Confederate Sates. Be¬
low we give the Governor's Message, announcing the
formation of the league, together with the league
itself. an«l the vote of the House of Representatives
ratifying it:
message of t1ie oovkrnok.
Executive Department. |
Nashville, May 7, 1861. )
Gentlemen of the Senate
and House of Representatives:
By virtue of the authority of your joint resolu¬
tion. adopted on the l«t day of May, inst , I ap¬
pointed Gustavus A. Henry, of the county of Mont
gomery, Archibald 0. W. rotten, of the county of
Madison, and Washington Barrow, of the county of
Davidson. "Commissioners, on the part ot Tennessee,
toenter in o a Military League with the authorities
of the Confederate States, and with the authorities
of such other slaveholdirig Siates as may wish to
enter into it; having in view the protection and de¬
fence of the entire South against the war that is
now being carried on against it."
The said Commissioners met the Hon nenry \V.
ndliatd, the accredited representative of the Con¬
federate States, at Nashville on this day, and have
agreed upon and executed a Military League be¬
tween the State of Tennessee and the Confederate
States of America, subject, however, to the ratifica¬
tion cf the two Governments, one of the duplicate
originals of which 1 herewith transmit for your rat¬
ification or rejection. For many cog nt and obvi¬
ous reasons, unnecessary to be rehearsed to you. £
respectfully recommend the ratification of this
League at the earliest practicable moment. /
Very respectful y,
Isham G. Harris.
Convention between the State of Tennessee, and
the Confederate States of America.
The State of Tennessee, looking to a speedy ad¬
mission into the Confederacy established by the Con¬
federate States of America, in accordance with the
Constitution for the provisional Government of said
States, enters into the following temporary Conven¬
tion, Agreement and Military League, with the
Confederate States, for the purpose of meeting
pressing exigencies affecting the common rights,
interests, and safety of said States, and said Con¬
federacy.
First.—Until the said State shall become a mem¬
ber of said Confederacy according to the Constitu¬
tion of both powers, the whole military force, and
military operations, offensive and defensive of said
State, in ibe impending coriflh.t with the United
States. shall he under the chief control and direc¬
tion of the President of the Confederate States upon
the same basis, principles and footing, as if said
State were now, and during the interval a member
of said Confederacy, said force, together with that
of the Confederate States, to be employed for the
commnn defence.
Second—The State of Tennessee will, upon be¬
coming a member of said Confederacy under the
permanent Constitution of 8"id Confederate Siates.
if the same shall occur, turn over to said Confeder¬
ate States, all the puplic property acquired from
the United States, on the same terms, and in the
same manner as the other states of said Confederacy,
have d one in like cases,
Third—Whatever expenditures, of money, if any,
the said state of Tennessee shall make before she
becomes a member of said Confederacy, shall be
met and provided for, by the Confederate States.
This Convention entered into and agreed in the City
of Nashville, Tennessee, on the Seventh day of M ty,
A. D., 1861.by Henry W. Billiard, the daly author¬
ized commissioner to act in the matter or the Con¬
federate States, and Gustavus A. Henry, Archibald
O. W. Totten, and Washington Barrow, commission¬
ers duly authorized to actiu like manner for the
state of Tennessee—the whole subject to the approv¬
al and ratification of the proper authorities of both
Governments respectively.
In testimony whereof the parties aforesaid have
herewith set heir hands and seals, the day and year
aforesaid, in duplicate originals.
Henry W. Milliard, [seal."]
Commissioner for the Confederate States of America.
Gustavus A Henry, [seal ]
A 0. W. Totten, [seal J
Washington Barrow, [seal.]
Commissioners on the part of Tennessee.
jotnt resoi.tction ratifying the i.eaoue.
Whereas. A military league, offensive and defen¬
sive, was formed on this the 7tli < f May, 18(11, by
and between A. 0. W. Totten, Gustavus A. ilenry,
and Washington Barrow, Commissioners on the
part of the State of Tennessee, and II. W. Milliard,
Commissioner on the part ot the Confederate States
of America, subject to the confirmation of the two
Govf rnfaent";
Be il therefore resolved by the General Assembly of
the State of Tennessee, That said league be in all re¬
spects ratifi. d and confirmed; and the said General
Assembly hereby pledges the faith and honor of the
State ot Tennessee to the faitbfLl observance of the
terms and conditions of said league.
Declaration of Independence of Tennessee.
AN ACT to submit to a vo<t of tbe people a Declaration of In¬
dependence and for other purp tea
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of the State of Tennessee, That immediately after the
passage of this Act the Governor of this State
Bhall, by proclamation, direct the Sheriff* of the
several counties in this State to open and hold an
election a* the various voting precincts in their re¬
spective counties on the 8th day of June, 1861;
that said Sheriffs, or in the absence of the Sheriffs,
/he Coroner of' the county, shall immediately ad¬
vertise the election contemplated by this Act; that
said Sheriffs appoint a Deputy to hold said election
for each voting precinct, and that said Deputy ap¬
point three Judges and two Cletks for each pre¬
cinct, and if no 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 fre.e holder
may appoint an officers, J ulges and Clerks to open
and hold said election. Said officers. Judges and
Glei ks shall be sworn as now required by law, and
who after being so swo. n. shall open and hold an
election, open and close at the time of day. and in
the manner now required by law in elections for
members to the General Assembly.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, Tint at said election
the following declaration shall be submitted to a
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 Relatio s between the
State of Tennessee and the United States op
America.
1st. We the people of the State of Tennessee,
waiving any expression of opinion, at to the ab¬
stract doctrine of secession, but asserting the right
as a free and independent people ;o alter, reform
or abolish our form of Government in such maimer
as we think proper, do ordain an I declare that all
the laws and ordinances, by which the State of
Tennessee became a member of toe Federal Uniou
of the United States of America, arc hereby abro¬
gated and annu'lcd, and that all obligations on our
part be withdrawn therefrom ; and we do hereby
resume all the rights, functions an I powers, which
by any of said laws and ordinances were conveyed
to the Government of the United States, and ab¬
solved ourselves from all the ohligat.ons, restraints
and duties incurred thereto ; anil do hereby henoe-
foi th become a free, sovereign and independent
State.
Second. We furthermore declare and ordain that
Article 10 Sections 1 and 2 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 ard annulled, and
all parts of tbe constitution of the State '1 Tennes¬
see. making citizenship of the United States a quali¬
fication for office, and recognizing the Constitution
of the United States as tiie supreme law of this
State, are in like in inner abrogated and annulled.
Third, We furthermore ordain and declare, that
aT rights acquired aud vested under the Constitution
ol the LTmteil States, or under any act of Congress
passed in pursuance thereof, or under any laws of
this State and not incompatible with this ordinance,
shall remain in force and have the same effect as if
this ordinance had not been passed.
Sec. 3. Be it farther enacted, That said election
shall be by ballot, tkat these voting for the Declara¬
tion and Ordinance shall have written or printed oa
their ballots "Separation," and those voting against
it shall have written or printed on their ballots "No
Separation." That the clerks holding said election
shall keep regular scrolls of the voters as now re¬
quired 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 for
"Separation," and the number of votes "No Separa¬
tion." The officer holding the election, shall return
the same to the Sheriff of the county, at the county
seat, on the Monday next after the election. The
Sheriff shall immediately make out, certify and
send to the Governor the number of votes polled,
and the number of votes for "Separation," and the
number "No Separation," and file one of the Origi¬
nal scrolls, with the clerk of the County Court;
that upon comparing the vote by the Governor in the
office of the Secretary of State, which shall be at
least by the 24th day of June, 1861, and may be
sooner if the returns are all received by the Gov¬
ernor. If a majority of the votes polled shall be
for "Separation," the Governor shall by his Procla¬
mation make it known, and declare all connection
by the State of Tennessee, with the Federal Union
dissolved, and that Tennessee is a free, independant
Government, free from all obliguion to, or connec¬
tion with the Federal Government. And that tho
Governor shall cause'the vote by counties' to bo
published, tbe number for "Separation," and the
number ' No Separation," whether a majority votes
for "Separation," or "No Separation."
Sec. 4. Be it farther, enacted, That in the elec¬
tion to he 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 v^te for members
of the Legislature in the counties where they re¬
side, shall be entitled to vote in any county in the
State where they may be in active service, or un¬
der orders, or on parole at the time of said election;
and all other voters shall vote in the county where
they reside, as now required by law in voting for
members to the General Assembly.
Sec 5. Be it farther enacted, That at tbe same
time and under the rules and regulations prescrib¬
ed for the election herein before ordered, tha fol¬
lowing ordinance shall he submitted to the popular
vote. To wit:
An Ordinance for the adoption of the Constitu¬
tion of the Provisional Government of the Confed¬
erate States of America.
We the people of Tennessee, solemnly impressed
by the periis which surround us, do hereby adopt
and ratify the Constitution of the Provisional Gov
eminent of the Confederate States of America, or¬
dained and established at Montgomery, Alabama,
on the 8th day of February, 1861, to be in force
during the existence thereof, or until such time as
we utay supersede it, by the adoption of a perman¬
ent Constitution.
Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That those in faver
of the adoption of said Provisional Constitution and
thereby securing to Tennessee equal representation
in the deliberations and Councils of the Confeder¬
ate States, shall have written or printed on their
ballots the word Representation," those opposed,
the words "No Representation."
Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That in the event tho
people shall adopt the Constitution of the Provision,
al Government of the Confederate States at the elec
tion herein ordered, it shall be the duty of the Gov¬
ernor forthwith to issue writs of election for
delegates to represent the State of Tennessee in tho
said Provisional Government. That the State shall
be represented by aa many delegates as it was en¬
titled to members of Congress to the recent Con¬
gress of the United States ot America, who shall bo
elected from the several Congressional districts as
now established by law, in the mode and manner
now prescribed for the election of members of the
Congress of the United States.
Sec. 8. Re il further enacted, That this Act take ef¬
fect from and after its passage.
W. C. Whitthorne,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
B. L. Stovall,
Speaker of the Senate.
Passed May Cth, 1861.
Secretakt of State's Office, J
Nashville, May 6,1861. J
I, J. E. R. Ray, Secretary of State, hereby certify
that the foregoing are true copies of the originals
now on file in my office. J. E. R. Ray,
Secretary of State.