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Hatteras Hyde Co. NC
Nov. 18th, 1861

To His Excellency Abraham Lincoln
President of the United States

A provisional state government for North Carolina was this day instituted at this point by a Convention of delegates and persons representing forty five counties of the commonwealth. The movement has the consent and approbation of all loyal citizens of the state and has been anxiously awaited by the people of western North Carolina for months. The following is a draft of the ordinances adopted by the convention.

By the people of the state of North Carolina as represented in Convention at Hatteras Monday November 18th 1861.

Be it ordained by this Convention and it is hereby ordained and published by the authority of the same

I - That this Convention on behalf of the people of North Carolina and acknowleding the Constitution of the United States of America as the supreme laws of the land hereby declare vacant all state offices the incumbents of which have disqualified themselves to hold them violating these oath to support the Federal Constitution.

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II - That the office of governor of this Commonwealth having been vacated byt he death of John W. Ellis and by the ative treason of the Union of his Constitutional successor acting governor Clark therefore Marble Nash Taylor is hereby appointed and declared provisional Governor of North Carolina.

III - That the Constitution of this state and its amendments together with statutes and laws thereof as contained in the revised body put in opperation January 1st, 1856 be declared continued in full force also such subsequent acts of the General Assembly as were not adopted in Contravention of the National Convention as in delegation of its authority.

IV - That the ordinance of the Convention which assembled at Raleigh on the 20th May last - proclaiming the secession of this Commonwealth from the Federal Union . Such sucession being legally impossible is of no force or effect and said ordinances together with all other ordinances and acts of said Conventtion or of the General Assembly made and done in pursuance of the treasonable purposes of the Conspirator against the Union is hereby declared abinition / Null & Void.

V - That whereas it is desireable that this State shall be represented in teh Federal Congress and maintain her due right - in the Councils of the Union therefore the provisional Governor be diserted hereby to order special elections in accordance with Chapter 69 of Revision Code as soon as precticable and expedient in any District -or Districts now unrepresented and in view of the prevalence of

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armed rebellion and disorder in many positions of this Commonwealth the Governor is hereby diserted to issue his certificate of election upon presentation of such evidence as shall satisfy him of the fact of an election.

VI - That the Governor be authorized and empowered to fill such official vacancies by temporary appointment and to do such acts as in the exercise of a ____ discretion he may deem expedient for the safety and good order of the state.

Pursuant to the II ordinace of the Convention and to Chap. 69 Revisen Code of North Carolina I have issued my proclamation under the great seal of the state ordering an election in the second Congressional District to be held on Wednesday 27th instant-

I have the honor to be your excellencys Obt Serv.

Marble Nash Taylor, Provisional Governor of North Carolina

By A.J. Stowe, Secretary.

(Source: The Library of Congress)