EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA
Montgomery, December 14, 1860.
Whereas, the election of Abraham Lincoln, a Black Republican, to the Presidency of the United States, by a purely sectional vote, and by a party whose leading and publicly avowed object is the destruction of the institution of slavery as it exists in the slaveholding states, and whereas, the success of said party will greatly endanger the peace, interests, security and honor of the slaveholding States and make it necessary that prompt and effective measures should be adopted to avoid the evils which must result from a Republican administration of the Federal Government, and as the interests and destiny of the slaveholding states are the same, they must naturally sympathize with each other, they therefore, so far as may be practicable, should consult and advise together as to what is best to be done to protect their mutual interests and honor. Now therefore, in consideration of the premises, I, Andrew B. Moore, Governor of the State of Alabama, by virtue of the general powers in me vested, do hereby constitute and appoint Hon. Robert H. Smith in conjunction with Hon. I. W. Garrott, a citizen of said State, a Commissioner to the Sovereign State of North Carolina, to consult and advise with his Excellency Gov. John W. Ellis and the members of the Legislature now assembled, as to what is best to be done to protect the rights interests and honor of the slaveholding states, and to report the result of such consultation in time to enable me to communicate the same to the convention of the State of Alabama, to be held on Monday, the 7th day of February next.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed in the City of Montgomery, this the 14th day of December, in the year &c aforesaid.
Andrew B. Moore, Governor.
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The Magazine of History With Notes and Queries, Vol. III No. 1, January 1906, page 50
