A Mississippi state lawmaker regretted calling for his state to secede from the United States and apologized to his constituents.
On Wednesday, state Rep. Price Wallace wrote a public apology on Twitter after proposing his state “succeed” from the Union, seemingly meaning to write “secede,” the act of withdrawing from the country.
“I truly love the USA and Mississippi and would never support any idea of seceding from the union,” Wallace wrote in his apology. “I am extremely sorry for my comment it was inappropriate and in no way represents the will of my constituents or myself. I humbly ask for forgiveness for my poor lack of judgment.”
I truly love the USA and Mississippi and would never support any idea of seceding from the union. I am extremely sorry for my comment it was inappropriate and in no way represents the will of my constituents or myself. I humbly ask for forgiveness for my poor lack of judgment.
— Rep. Price Wallace (@pricewallace) November 11, 2020
The state Republican initially tweeted that Mississippians should “form our own country” after withdrawing. He sent the tweet in response to his Republican colleague, state Rep. Robert Foster, who demanded “all legal votes” be counted in the election.
“After all legal votes are counted and confirmed by their state legislatures Republicans will accept the results even if it’s not in our favor. The same way we did with Obama twice. Sadly, Democrats won’t accept the rule of law if it doesn’t end in their favor,” Foster wrote on Twitter. “They will riot and burn their own cities to the ground. With that being said. I choose law and order over a Banana Republic, so if it comes to it, let them riot. May God save our Republic.”
Anyway, here’s his tweet for posterity in case he deleted it. pic.twitter.com/DQeuc4zbOo
— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) November 10, 2020
In the 1869 case Texas v. White, the Supreme Court determined “the Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible Union, composed of indestructible States,” barring states from unilaterally seceding.
“The Union of the States never was a purely artificial and arbitrary relation. It began among the Colonies, and grew out of common origin, mutual sympathies, kindred principles, similar interests, and geographical relations. It was confirmed and strengthened by the necessities of war, and received definite form, and character, and sanction, from the Articles of Confederation,” the court ruled. “By these the Union was solemnly declared to “be perpetual.” And, when these Articles were found to be inadequate to the exigencies of the country, the Constitution was ordained ‘to form a more perfect Union.'”
President Trump won the state of Mississippi in the presidential election over one week ago. On Election Day, the state voted to change its flag, removing Confederate symbols for a new design, a magnolia flower surrounded by stars and the phrase, “In God We Trust.”
