The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-09
Proclamation by A. ]. Hamilton,
pRoyrSToN.r GoyERSoR.

president Of the United States OF America, dated I7tn
/ June 1888 | have been appointed provisional gov
ernor of the State of Texas with instructions to pre-
scribe at the earliest practical period such rules and
regula tons as may be necessary and proper for con-
venng convention, composed OF delegates to be
chosen BY that portion of the people of said State
who are loyal TO the United States and none others,
for the purpose of altering or amending the consttu
ton thereof and with authority to exercise within the
limits of said State all the power necessary and proper
70 enable such loyal people Of the State of Texas to
said State to constitutional relations to the
federal government and present such form of
State government will entite the State 10 the guar
antees of the United States therefor and s people
protection by the United States against invasion, in
| surreeton and domestic violence provided that in
any election that may hereafter be held for choosing
delegates any State convention aforesaid per.
son shall be qualified eiector, shall be ellig
Bile rs member to such convention, unless he shall
have previously taken and subscribed the oath of am
nestv as set forth in the presidents proclamation OF
Nav 29th A. D. 1865, and is voter qualified as pre-
scrbed By the constitution and laws of the State of
Texas in force immediately before the ls day OF Feb
ruary A. D. 1861, the date of the socaed ordinance
of secession;
And whereas, having accepted said appointment, it
becomes my duty to make known to the peope Of the
State the fact, and, far may be at this 6me to
advise them Of the measures that will be adopted to
carry cut the great object of my appointmentthe
establishment Of civil government in Texas--and to
make known, l understand them, the purposes of
the general government III relation to them, for the
encouragement Of the loyal citizens and warning
! to the disloyal;
Now therefore. l, Andrew J. Hamilton, provisional
governor Of the State of Texas do proclaim AIT make
| known
Ist That preparatory to any election for delegates
20 convention suitable persons will be appointed in
the different counties Of the State to administer the
oath of amnesty prescribed in the presidents proc
lulnation of the 18th of May, 1865, hereafter set
forth and register the loyal voters according to in
atrucons which will accompany their respective ap
! pointments.
%, There being no civil officers in the State, and
the great body of tho people aborng under such dis
abilities ut this time preclude elections therefor
such State, district and county officers viii be appoint
! ed az may be indispensable to the convenience and
welEbeing of the people the enforcement of Law, and
/ the efficiency of the provisional State government
during its existence
! 81 Those persona who are in possession of the
books records and papers pertaining to the several
State and county officers win b. charged with the re-
sponsibity of their safe keeping, and their delivery
to those who may be hereafter appointed to fill said
! Offices and this viii also apply to those who have
charge Of the books records and papers belonging
the United States district court within the limits Of the
! State
! 4h. A convention Of the people Of Texas will be
held at as early period as practicable to be composed
Of the number Of members to which the counties
respectively entitled in the house Of Representatives of
the stale legislature NO person VIII pe eIllSLpc W
seat in said convention, and no person entitled to
vote for members thereto, who shall not previously
thereto have taken and subscribed the following OATH
prescribed in the presidents proclamation Of the 2eh
Of May 1865:
II, -, do solenuy swear or affirm in the pres
ence of Almighty Cod that viii henceorth faithfully
support protect and defend the constitution Of the
United States and the union of the States Hereunder
and that will in like abide by and faithfully
support all laws and proclamatons Which have been
made during the existence of the present rebellion,
with reference TO the emancipation Of slaves So help
! me Cod
And 10 person we'll affected towards the United
States government and loyal to it. WILL If known, be
permitted take said oath or to vote in said election
This oath will not be administered to any person
braccd in any of the exceptions to the presidents
proclamation of amnesty, except for the purpose of
presenting petition for special pardon AID when
taken for such purpose will entitle tile party
vote until special pardon has been obtained
9th. The convention thus TO be assembled will be
invested with full power alter amend the present
constitution of the State frame one, aud sub
nit their action in either case to the qualified
of the State for their acceptance Qg III tue CON
veItion If ratified, will provide for all that necessari
" follows in the organization of full and complete
State government
9Th. The general laws aud statutes of the State In
force Immediately preceding the LIST of February 1861
(the date Of the socaed ordinance of secession are
to be respected and enforced
And all laws, pretended laws, acts or resou-
tons of any legislature convention or other authori
v, pretended authority, based upon supposed dis
solution OF the Union, inconsistent with tho idea of
Texas being an integral part of the United States
government, imperative aud void and no longer
to be respected or obeyed by the public.
Officers or citizens of the State, and in all things
the when established, viii proceed according to
the laws usages and forms existing Immediately prior
to the said lst February 1861 except in so far as
they may be affected by the of the slaves
the State by the authority Of the United States or
other acts Of the said United States for the suppress
sion Of the late rebsllion
The people Of the State arc invited to engage in the
work Of rcconstructing local government for them
selves | come teuderlng in the name of the United
States amnesty for the pa8sccurity and freedom for
the future Every generous heart will feel and every
candid mind admit that the government Of the United
States seeks not and has never sought to humiliae
the people Of the south.
It but asks them to be friends rather than enemies
Gonquering the rebellion, the first it makes of
the power possesses is to relieve the people from
the legal consequences Of their act Of rebellion and
invite them occupy by their own act their former
position il the Union
I shall not waste time or labor in the attempt to
Soothe those whose hearts are sore because of the
extinction of slavery. II died because it made war
upon the government to whose protection it owed its
COVER and influence !. grapped with freedom in
spirit which admitted eoneiliation concession
10 truce or neutrality its challenge to mortal
oa and in the struggle it went down forever There
ire those, told who profess believe that is
lot yet extinct; that still fingers and by vigorous
application Of etuulapts may be kept in existence for
ome years to como; that the proclamation Of enanci
)aton was but military order, which has spent
ts force since the is over and had any eff
ect except where, by the presence of Union armies
here was physical power to enforce it. There could
'e no greater delusion than this and the
Who encourage such opinions 4 sch there are could
citisene Of Texas at this time, greater dis
ervce If the rebellion is conquered slavery is
ead-one is as much fact as the other. /
The negroes are not only free but beg to assure
ny fellow citizens that the government will protect
hem in their freedom. For The time icing, the freed