The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-08-16
Wednesday Morning, August l6, 1865.
TEXAS.
Speech Of Governor Hamilton at Houston

Speech of Governor Hamilton at Houston
The Houston (Texas) Telegraph reports in
full Provisional Governor Hamilton's speech
to the citizens Of that place, July 28th. The
Governor followed the same line of remarks
made in his Galveston speech, and said, in sub
stance, that Texas had less excuse for rebellion
than any other state. ao a4
SLAVERY THE PRETExT FOR Rebellion.
You were asked, in the name of past and
present prosperity, and of the promises of the
future, not TO act rashly. The institution o.
slavery was made the pretext for your course.
You were afraid of the natural antagonism
between free and slave labor-that one would
eat out the other. That was true: the fear was
well-tounded. The people were not told the
truth. They said to you, scome and vote
vote as you please-but remember the ready
rope and the convenient limb" Vote openly
you shall not fold your ticket.
r CoNCILIAToRY REMARKS M .ill.
Who denies all this Many valiant gentle
men hereabouts promised to collect all the
blood that would be shed in a lady's thimble.
All they shed could be so collected. Some of
them are here to-day, who still have the au-
dacity to advise you as to whom you may trust.
But shall never make such a mistake in nv
them Remember all they said and predicted.
and how all their predictions have been falsi-
fed. They have lied to you from beginning to
end. 1t may be said that all this is not cOncil-
iatory. I am done conciliating men who are
at heart rebels to their government. The man
who, after the experience of the past four.
years, does not admit that his course has been
criminal, is an unconquered rebel He is join
ed to his idols-waste no time on him.
Thu North Won coid n ,ofI Io,, 81
They had constitutional right not to love it
You seemed to think God had employed the
last twenty-five years of eternity in perfectine
this institution. You aDOtld not GllOw free
thought and speech Slavery was too sensi.
tive. You did murder men and lnaltrea
tender women. You would not even allow {.
man to be silent If he attemHed 1t, you made
him run round and hunt up his neighbors to
prove his soundness. Talk to me about free
man, without the right of free speech and con
science The meanest dog in the community
could bring you before a vigilance commit
tee.
HE RESPONDS TO THE INVITA- TIoN TO COME
AND ENFORCE THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAIM
ALTON.
The late President, in the kindest feelings
offered peace. You heaped every vile epithel
upon him, and taught your children to abuse
him. Did your papers recommend considera-
ton of his terms? They did not dare. Mere
echoes of despotism, they called Mr.. Lincoln
ian old fool" and told him to come on and try
his strength if he wished. They even invited
me, the much-abused Jack Hamilton, to come
and enforce the Presidents proclamation, allG
/ am here tonight in response to the invita-
ton, though delayed by circumstances could
not control , e effs
THE PROCLAMATION. taHa
After using every other means to restore the
Union, the Emancipation Proclamation was
issued, in conformity with the constitutional
authority to suppress insurrection. Mr. Lin
coin would not suffer the Union to be destroy
ed without availing himself Of every means to
save it. Slavery challenged the government to
mortal combat, and one or the other had to &c
down. How many have told you ofthe wrongs
inflicted upon you by this cruel warl How
many lies have been told you by those who
minister in holy things! They shall yet be
known; their names shall hang on high, who
prostituted their holy calling to political pur
poses, and insulted Deity himself by yproclaim-
ing that infamous falsehood, "this cruel war
waged upon us" You sent your ragamuffins
to seize the public property at San Antonio
The mint was seized at New Orleans. You
were in arms, and yet the President had call
ed out no troops. 1t was boasted that your
troops would soon occupy Washington city,
Att Mr. Lincoln accepted the issue, and
said, slavery shall die, by the grace of Cod
The world said amen, and l believe God APP
proved. rCs gssG
The President advised with me as to the
good effect OF the proclamation, which some
doubted, unless enforced by armies. said :
Your armies VIII make it eflectual. Slaves es-
Gaping to your lines heretofore have been sent
back to their masters; but now wherever the
armies go, they will break the institution down
told him foreign Intervention was threaten
ed but no foreign nation would dare interfere
in behalf of slavery after the PRONUNCIATION
of his proclamation. Recognition, after this
never would have come, though the South hat
Some think the proclamation only a militia
ry order, and that slavery can be revived afte
the resumption of civil rule. This is folly. Tc
saynothing about the constitutional argument
it is the law of war that commanding gener
al has the right to destroy the property upoI
which bis antagonist depends, and thus breaI
him down. You claimed that slaves wer'
property, and only property, and the Presiden
had the right to destroy any of your property
especially slavery, which was the cause OF th
war A voice-'Do you proclaim that th
slaves are 1reeg'1 1 dol They are free By tn
majesty OF the ldao and government, tkroagt
tte vosce Of the Dadrtyred President, and sctt
toreCer be defended In their freedom. The mai
who now opposes it, is more guilty than th'
man VINO at tirst favored the rebellion.
ADVICE TO THE NEGROES.
The governor then addressed the vas tthron.
OF negroes present. They were required, h
said, to remain ON the plantations of their for
mer masters, Tor the good Of the country, AM
their own, to gather the present CROPS. Bu
at the beginning of another wear. they eoult
make their own arrangements, without hin
drance, supported by the law and government
and work for those who pay the highest
tYour enemies say you will not work. tina
Won will steal. etc They have lied in every
thing they have predicted: let this be the las
lie proved upon them. You who are sore up
on the subject must remember that the GOV
ernment could do no less than it has done
You may go down to your graves believin
that slavery was right. 1t is dead-let us bu
ny it out Of sight"
HOW THE NEGROES ARE TO BE TREATED.
1t Is hard to convince man that IL Is pei
ter to work than to have another TO work tC
him. What will become of the negro do 20
ask? Tell me what will become of the whit
man and viii answer. five do our duty
the negro, he viii live and prosper. He is in
ierior, you say: it is our duty then to elevat
MN. some would drag angels down rathe
IMAM liit others up. Your former slaves car
not pc lorceo upon your society, nor upo
your taDle, nor can you force Yourself upOl
nus. Conduct and character will prove whic
Is the better man. | am willing to take m
Canoes with the black man, and If he has
i pe'ser nioral character than / have, or bette
just. '-'' 'o'' man
Now some pro-slavery man will 90 off an
say this man Hamilton is in favor Of socis
equallty between the whites and the neoroes
Wnlcn VIII be lie, for / have said every ma
is 10 40 as ne pleases on the subject Are va