An Ordinance adopting the Constitution of the Confederate States--

We, the delegates of the people of Virginia in Convention assembled do, in their name and behalf, assent to, ratify and ordain the Constitution of the Confederate States of America adopted by the Congress of the Confederate States of America on the eleventh of March eighteen hundred and sixty one and we do hereby make known to all whom it may concern, that the said Constitution is binding upon the people of this Commonwealth.

But this constitution is ratified & adopted by Virginia, with the distinct understanding on her part, that she expressly reserves to herself the right, through a convention representing her people, in their sovereign character, to repeal & annul this ordinance & to resume all the powers hereby granted to the Confederate government, whenever they shall, in her judgment, have been perverted to her injury or oppression.