of the Federal Union, the Congress of the United States of America should have and exercise the powers enumerated in the Federal Constitution, and that she would not exercise the powers therein prohibited to the States. The inducements which led Florida to become a member of the United States were those which actuate every people in the formation of a government, to secure to themselves and their posterity the enjoyment of all the rights of life, liberty and property, and the pursuit of happiness.
Your committee fully concur in the opinion, that the consideration for which Florida gave her assent to become a member of the Federal Union has wholly failed—that she is not permitted enjoyment of equal rights in the Union, and is not therefore "on equal footing with the original States in all respects whatsoever"—inasmuch as she has not by said union secured to her people and their posterity the enjoyment of all the rights of life, liberty and property, and the pursuit of happiness, which was promised her on her admission into the Union. The contract is therefore wilfully and materially broken. A compact thus broken in part is broken in whole. States being the parties to the constitutional compact, in their sovereign capacity, in the absence of any umpire provided to decide in the last resort, it follows that the States must for themselves determine the time at which, and the manner in which they will interpose.
In consequence of these and other grievances the General Assembly of the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, has assembled this Convention to take into consideration "the dangers incident to the position of this State in the Federal Union, established by the Constitution of the United States of America, and the measures which may be necessary, and therefore to take care that the Commonwealth of Florida shall suffer no detriment." To discharge this duty in an effectual manner, your committee recommend that the State of Florida do, by her Convention now assembled, secede now, and re-assume all the rights by her delegated to the Federal Government known as the United States of America, and declare herself to be a Sovereign and Independent Nation, and to this end advise the adoption of the Ordinance of Secession herewith respectfully submitted.
J. P. SANDERSON, Chairman,
A. K. ALLISON,
McQUEEN McINTOSH,
JAMES GETTIS,
JAS. B. OWENS,
JAMES B. DAWKINS,
S. BAKER,
J. PATTON ANDERSON.
On motion of Mr. Folsom, of Hamilton, the report was recived and concurred in.
