, 1865-08-09

establishment Of civil government in Texas,
and to make known, IS understand them,
the purposes Of the general Government in
relation to th:m for the encouragement Of
the loyal citizens as warning to the dis
loSA.
Nov, therefore, /, Andrew J. Hamilton, |
Provisional Governor OF the Stale Of Texas, |
do proclaim and make keown:
lst. That preparatory to any election for
vii be appointed In the different counties Of
the State 10 administer the oa b Of Amnesty
az r1esctihed in the Pro.la1ust ton Of the .e3th
Of May, 1SG5, hert after set forth, ard 10 reg
lister the loyal voters aceosdlr@ tb inssruc-
tions. which Will accompany Their :tspectirc
appointments.
"a, There being NO civil officers in the
Stafe. and the crest hody of the people Ia
boring under such disabilities at this time IS
to pre- clude electors therefor, e,ich STATE, dis
ttlct or county officers Will be appointed as
may he irdeeps nsable to the convenience atd
well.being Of the X ole, The enforcement Of
State Cover meat during its existence.
Sd. Jhose pe7se1s who afeEEn Possession OF
the beoke, ret ords, and paptIs pertaining to
The several State ard county ctac*fs, vii! be
cla.ced With the responsibility Of their safe
keeping, and their delivery 70 those ho may
this will apply also to those who bare charge
Of The books, records, and papers belonging
to the United States District Curt within
The limits OF the State.
5th. A Convention Of the Tsep!e o: Texas
will re held at aa early period IS p:actice~
bers TO which the counties are respectively
entitled IN The nouse If Representatives, Of tho
State Lcg{Ele.ure. No person will he ellgt-
blc to seat in said Convcntion, and no per-
son entitled u, 20 Z fer members the.e:o who
slall no, previously thereto, havs tassn and
10 I. had
the Presidents Proclamation Of The ~ n Of
sls{, 1s5: !, .o,,nn,x ,w,,,, or ,s,,rn, !, o,e,.
cuce af Alute lty Gpd. lhat1 VIII Ecncetor.h f4tA-
jn;;y euppust, protect md cefFnd the Consultation
Il ihe Entted StsteR, and tho E1ion Of the StAtss
Hereunder, and that will u like manner ab:ds
n5 and faithfully support ~ laws nnd proclaoa.
Of the ptekent rebellion. with teftfenc: - the
Emancipation Of s'arcs. So hslp NJ Goi;"
And no person not vel affected toya:d
the Unf.ed stat.a Government ana loyal TO
, it, will, If known, be permitted to tsks said
:. . cath OF vote in said election. This oath viii
not be administered TO any person embraced
| In any one Of the exceptions to The Presi-
| de1t's Proclamation Of amnesty, except for
! the purpose Of ptesentsng petition :or
! pose, will 1ot entitle the party to yote until
! special pardon has been obtained.
! 5tb. The Convention thus to be asscMh1ea
| will be invested with full power to a1ter or
! smtrd the pssecnt constitution ai the State
or frame new one, sud submit their acu9n
! in other Gaze to the qualified voters Of the
! S.atc for their acceptance or rejection.
! I. is cxpecttd, Of ccurf :. that the action OF
! tie Convention, If ratif 4, Will provide fer
; al that ncc.ssarily follows IL the organ.
j; izstjon OF tuN a1d complete State G,7ern-
! neut.
! 9Th, The general 1axs and statues Of the
: state in fcrce im1ctIa'clr preceding tha tst
d; o, February> 1861 tthe date of The o-ca"ed or
dirauce Of eeceasion), arc to TIC respected anc
! c.!orc1a.
! rsolu.iors of any Legislature, uventIon,
! OF other authority, or prc:tnded authority.
based rpcu dissolution OF the Union, or In
consistent With the idea Of Te1as being an
integral Fart Ct the United States Govern
nsnt, are y Operative az Sosa, ana I n1 torGgTs ~
Gers or citizens Of the Statt, and IN MI tElngf
tie courts, when established, VII proceed &C
| cprd3nr to the Laws, usagee and forns exist
Ing Immediately prior to the said 1st OF Feb
! rua1y, 1861, except in 50 far as they may ne
atfectt By the cmanci! PATTON Of the slaycs IL
fhe State by the authority Of the Coited
States, OF other acts Of The said T-ltc1
e.a!cs for the suppression Of the late rebel
lien.
The people Of ,be State are invited to On;
gage ii the work Of rtcorstrncting lceal
governments fer themselves. com: seLos.
nas;r. IN fhe r,.f-recurltv aud freedom fo1
the future. Every generous heart ElA ieel
and every candid mind adult, that tha Gog
emmett Ct ahc, United Stats sSsss Aot sas
r. @ esyes sought to hnmnl'1e the people o
Il but asks them u BE- friends rather thai
enemies.
Conopesicg the rebellion, the first use ]
makes Of The power 1t possesses IS 70 .eiieF
tie people from the legal consequences
| their act Of II bclllcn a1d infite them to o.
cupy by their OWE act, their former Fcsiloi
4 Ithall not waste time OF labor In the at
q te1apt to sqotbe ltcse Ehose hearts arc sos
!. because of:the extinction o. slsFssy. 1t das'
: because It made Wat upon the Government t
o whose protection it owed its power aud IN
Gaence, It erappled with freedom In Epftt
!. which admitted Of 10 couciltstton or conces
a,cn. 10 truce or neutrality; i.s cAaNeSg
: WIS to mortal combat, nd in The sttnsgle
tod. wIo profess to believe that it Is not es
= trct; that IT still fingers, md by . s:gorou
T. application Of Et:mulauts. may be kept Ia c,
. iste1cc for some years to come Z; that II
!. rroclamsticn Of emancipation was hns mi
{ I itary order which taa now spent Us fore
d feet, except where, by the presence OF Uhio
d a,tniea. there was physical poTer to eotorc
!. #. There could bl no greater hslnsion tna
), ttf6; and the man CT men who encourage
+ such c1;uicps, If such tacra a.e, e7utt not c
! the citizens of Texas, Ut this tine. ETcatt
3 dts-se,vicc: # the rebellion 's ean4nc1eS
4 slavery is dead :; ont is as much in TACT rs II
a The negroes are not only free, hut ! beg
ASSURE my fe1ioW-citizens that the Govern
mept will protect them In their freedom
Fer the time being, the freedmen are recon
Unreasonable compensation, to labor at lea
q. iii lie close of the Season for gathering tt
prescpt crop. For them. generally, to {
Otherwise would be greatly to the injury
e themselves arl the community at farg
y But Let II he understood that cenll'tu:tio
g among those interested In securing their
I'd bor to prevent then, from hiring to perso
IN wrO will nav the best price for euch lsb1
nd ana to csttncise in society those xho orpo
r. such eomeinatiope, will meet With m fsy
sn sa at the hands of the people Or TIE Cover
~ usut Of the United States.
ed And can1or compci1s me to say to the pt
toT plc Of Texas. that If in the action Of !
"a moposed Convention the negro Is chasaci
I'd led or treated as less than freed man. 9
-, Senator'S and Representatives viii stek
d. vain admission to the Halls Of congress.
j. Is Indeed strange that men shorld take
he solemn oath to faithfully abide by q: d supp
ali laws and proclamation. which have bs
;. made durIrr the existing rebellion with :
ererce to the emancipation Of Rla7es: ane
lie urH breath favor gradual cmanc1pats'
ItIs the part Of wisdom, and the past
pa sistsncc, ard rce ognize truth however UNI
I'd ID cssnld not, II were to attempt it. sa1
"a fy 1boke u no ars Eot willing to believe
- that slnyery ~te never Eond, ahn esn3.
~ ~ ration not an evil. A few men in the So1
older With The a Tnn,e .ne,asa e,safs that mopt Of
IL lew viii 70 down to their graves, sore 4
Il co,nr1ainfng. but In The meantime th 7se
ng. realize that new era has deWSed upon
I'll ana who tske advantage Of the present. :
no leave far in the background tbe noun
ort1 the past glory Of slsTery. TEXAS nas
!, Let her use hce power Wisely. ana knt
- not limit her power and influence IN tao
. tuse of cur country. .....us
In the Eff IT to aid you In the rs.organ
!. ton of the civil government. shall be gt
+ ID ard controlled b. no Personal feeling :;
tae frE from /. ar Of blanc. Believing that
.1ed experience Of the past four wears has prc1
dons @ Cd tie mind Of maj oritY Of the people
nm disTaEelonate thought and cEliChtcued j.
ltate mept. shall ftarle ssiy challenge their q
..c ~. tiny Of an may ao"r attempt hop
4 u votld to tbs principles Of freedom and eq
tbt ! ity In government; End difficult aEd deli
y AZ know the task essigned nc to be, 8
Asol With the aid aud encouragement OF the i
e1rt | men 61 IeAa8s u may ut successfully acc
'nea I,lished. ,.o. ,,..
as mang Il the loyl men IRON different
tiens o. TIE csntsl Of ri The sst eao'en To G.
~ .s;,1 iers ~ nnon The present md future OF
= stste. aud now most cordially invite
or 70 mcnc 1g s At the cfty Of Galveston: this e5
H. f., Jnis, 4. D. 1865: and ol American ina'
ssh.s donca +1,e n3netie4h veAT.
'sAa oeoee 'DV "Nt1 a, j. HAMILTON