Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-08-17
&elmunt Chronicle
st. GIairsvitIe, Chic, Aug. i1.
GevernOr Hamilton on Slavery
EnI NccOnst

GbNsFoDF thsesislton Oh SEhNcfy
s And HccOnstFu CtiOn.
Andrew j. Hamilton, Provisional Cover
noi OF Texas, has issued a proclamation to
the people on tho subject of reconstruction,
or organization Of local governments in that
State, aud we commend to tho fossil re.
mains Of the pro slavery pTy Of the North
the "Nallandigham and Pugh' party-a
careful study Of the great self evident trnihs
enupciated in the chasing paragraph, ofthat
proclamation as given below
The people OF tie State are invited to en-
gage in the work Of reconstructlng local
governments for thcn,eiVcs. come, ten
dering in the name OF the United States
amnesty Tor the past sccuiity and freedom
for the future. E,cry generous heart will
feel. aud every cIndlJ mini admit, that the
Government Of the United Statos seeks
not, aud has never sought, to huDiliatc the
people of the South. 1t but asks them to
he friends rather than enemies.
Conquering the Rebellion, the first use it
makes OF the power it poss, sses is to relieve
the people from the legal consequences of
their act OF Rebellion, ond invite them to
occupy, Us their own act, their former po-
stion in tho Union.
! shall not waste time or labor in the at
tempt 70 so0thG those whose hearts are
sore because OF The extinction of slavery. -
1t died because it made war upon the Gov
ernment 10 whose protection 1t owed its
power and influence. 1t grappIcd with
Freedom in spnit which admitted Of no
concliatiou, no cuncesSiOn-no truce or
neutrality; its challenge was to mortal com.
bal, aud ia t,tc struggle it wont down for
ever. THcrc are those, am tod, who pro-
iess to believe that it is not yet extinct; that
it still fingers, and by vigorous aRplica-
iion Of stiiuulants may be kept IN existence
for some years to come: that the prUclama-
ton Of emanc patton was but military or
der, which has now spent its force since the
war is over, and never had any effect except
where, 10y the presence OF Union armies,
there was physical power to enforce it
There could DO no greater deuson than
this, and the man or men who encourage
such opinions, if such there are, could not
do the cili2rus Of Texas, at this time, a
greater dis>eiyicG. If the rebellion is con-
qucred, Slaycry is dcad-ouc is " much q
TACT as the other.
The negroes ale not only free, but | beg
to assure my lellOw-cltizens that the Gov
errmcnt will protect them in their freedom.
For the time being the freedmen are rec
ommendcd to engage with their former
masters for reasonable compensation to la
Dor at least till the close Of the season ioi
gathering the present crop. For them, gen
cIa''y, TO do otherwise, would be greatly IL
the jury Of thcmsclves and the commune
ty at large. But let il DO understood that
combinations among those intercst,d d in So
curing their labor TO prevent IE Al from
hiring to persons who will pay tie hHsi Price
for such labor, and to ostraclsr IN society
those who oppose sucn combina ms, will
meet with 40 favor at the hands ot the peo-
pie or Government Of the United states. -
And caDdor compe's mo to say to he people
OF Texas that II in the action of the pro-
posed convention the negro is characterized
or treated as less than freeman, our Sen
ators and Representatives viii seek in vain
for admission to the halls of Congress lti-
indeed strange that men should take a sol.
emn oath to faithfully abide by and support
all laws and proclaDalions which have been
made during the existing Rebellion with
reference to the emancipation of slaves, and
in the next breath favor gradual elnancipa
ton 1t is the pant Of wisdom and the part
OF duty to accept what is inevitable without
resistance, aud to recognize truth, however
unpnlatablc.
could not, if | were to attempt it, salts
fy those who are not willing to believe it,
that Slavery was never u good, and Eman
cipation not AN evil A few men in the
South differ with the whole civilized world
upon that subject, and suppose that most
OF that few will 30 down to their graves sore
aud companinc, but, in the meantime,
those who realize hat new era has dawn
ed upon U.s. aud who take advantage Of the
present, will leave iari in the background the
mourners over the past glory Of Slavery
Texas has today her future destiny in her
own hands. let her use power wisely, and
she need not limit her power and influence
III the future Of our country.
Ia the effort to aid you in the reOrganiza-
ton of the Civil Government, shall be
guided aud controlled by no personal feel
ing, do nothing out Of malice. and shrink
irem nothing from fear Of blame. Believ-
ing that the experience Of the last four
years has prepared the mind OF majority
of the people for dispassonate thought aud
enlightened Judgment, shall fcdressly
challenge their scrutiny of all may DO or
attempt. hope to merit the appreciation
of those who are devoted TO the principles
of freedom and equality in government; aud
difficult and delicate as ! know the task AS
signed me 10 be, still, with tue aid and en-
cOuragement of the loyal men Of Texas, il
may successfully be accomplished.
1t would afford me great pleasure to meet
as many of the loyal men from different
sections of the State to confer with me up
en- the present and future of our State, as
can make il convenient to visit the Capital
Of the State, and | now most cordially in
vite them to do 20.
Done at the City Of Galveston on the
25th of July, A. ID. 1868, aud of American
Independence the nlnetieth year.
A. j. HAMILTON,