The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-09-06
mother Proclamation by Gov. Hamilton
OF TEAAS.
FNErTTIVE OFFICE.
I1-N IT 2 II VI
Austin August 18th, 1860.


the purpose Of enabling the loyal people OF the state
Of Texas to organise State government and IL Is
made my duty as provisional governor OF SAID St'e,
.at the earliest practical period to prescribe such reS
and regulations as may be necessary ana proper lof
converting a convention composed of lesate5 to De
chosen by that portion of the people OF SAID aiaLe
who are ioval to the United States, andn other; and
Whereas it is further provided in said proclamation
s'that no person shall be qualified MS an eector or
eIisibe as a member Of such convention. unless ne
shall have previously taken and subscribed the oath OF
amnesty as set forth in the presidents proclamation
of Doth of Nav 1865" And whereas it has been made
known to me that many persons have taken said oath
of amnesty whose subsequent conduct and decara-
tons contradict the idea that they took said oath with
the intent in good faith to observe the same:
Now therefore, for the purpose of providing the
means whereby the people Of the State who desire to
take the oath of amnesty and who arc entitled to the
benefits thereof under the said proclamation OF the
president of the said 29th of May, A. D. 1863 may be
enabled to do with the least delay and nconvenece
and for the purpose of asceranng who are the people
soyal to the United States upon whom expressly,
sand none other is conferred the power to elect dele
cafes to Il convention hereafter to be assembled, l.
ANDREW J. HAMILTON, provisional governor OF
the State of Texas do prescribe and proclaim the fol-
lowing "ruIes and regulations" viz
1st The chief justices of the several counties in the
State are charged ex oIico, with the duty of admin
istering the oath of amnesty to the residents and c
zens of their respective counties and for the purpose
of administering the oath, and at the same time OF
making register of the names OF loyal citizens who
shall be entitled to vote in the election OF delegates to
convention and like register of the of those
nersons who may take the said oath Of amnesty
preliminary step to an application to the president of
the United States for special pardon, hereby order
that the chief justices in respective counties and
the clerks OF the county court and the clerks OF the
district for the county, shall constitute board.
for the administration Of the said oath OF amnesty, and
tI,,,r of said
either of the clerks above mentioned shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of the business hereby
committed to them
Cd The chief Justice shall provide for the of the
board suitable blank book, in which separate reg
lister shall be kept of the of loyal citizens who
shall be entitled to in the election Of delegates to
a convention, and another register of the names of
those who take the oath of amnesty for the purpose of
APPLYING to the president OF the United States for
special pasd don.
Sd! The chief Justice shall also provide for the use
of the board printed forms of the oath of amnesty,
which shall be properly filed up with the of the
party to whom the oath is administered and signed by
him. when he takes the oath, in the presence of the
chief Justice to which fact the chief justice shall GER
tify This OATH so signed by the party, shall be de-
posted in the Office Of the clerk of the county court
and kept by him. The chief justices shall also provide
for the use of the board printed forms Of certificates
which shall be signed by the chief justice and aesed
by the clerk OF the county court and delivered to the
to be evidence in his hands of the fact that he has
taken the oath The certificates shall state, as the fact
may be- that the party, naming him, has taken the
oath of amnesty and been placed the register of
his county as voter, or that being within one
of the exceptions of the general amnesty offered by
the president of the United States, has taken the oath
of amnesty step preliminary to his application to
the president for special pardon.
4h. The board heretofore constituted, shall sit in
every county at least one day in every week. for the
of the business hereby committed to it
Tie chief justices shall give public notice. by posting
notices at public places in all the precincts of the county
of the day on which the board will meet The board
may, if the members of the board deem it proper or
necessary to do so, sit two more days of each |
week. for the transaction of business always giving
public notice of the days which the board will hold
its sessions.
9Th None but those who arc entitled to claim the
benefit of the general amnesty offered by the president
of the United States will have the right to have their
names placed on the register voters. Those who
are embraced within any of the exceptions the gen
cra amnesty offered by the president, will be permitted
to take the oath of amnesty only for the purpose of
enabling them to present their petitions to the presi
dent for special pardon. When special pardon shall
have been granted by the president any such person.
and evidence of the fact shall be presented to the
board the of such person shall be placed on the
register of voters and certificate of the fact signed
by the chief justice and attested by the clerk of the
county court shall be given the party and the fact
That the party has received the presidents pardon
shall at the time be noted on the register
9th. In any case in which he may think proper to
10 So the chief justice shall have the power to swear
he party who desires tG take the oath of amnesty to
and he may nterrogate him touching
MS LOYALTY the government of the United States and
he intent with which he proposes to take the OATH If
my one shall refuse to be sworn, or, being sworn
hall by his answers to the questions which may be
,ropounded to him. give evidence of hostility to the
government of the United States, or of purpose to
oppose the which have been adopted in rela
ion slavery it will be the duty of the board to
use to administer the oath of amnesty to such person
18th For the administration of the oath of amnesty,
he registry hcrenbefore required and the certificate
be delivered to the party, the board shall be entitled
o charge the sum Of one dollar in specie, or in the
,aper money of the United States, one-half of which
um shall be paid to the chief justice and the remain
ng half equally divided between the other members i
# the board.
Sth For the certificate provided for in the oath 3
lause of these Instructions the board shall be entitled
charge the additional of fifty cents, in specie
r in the paper money of the United States, to be {
qually divided among the members of the board.
9th All persons who have heretofore taken the oath
amnesty before officers of the Z S. Army, or any f
ther persons authorised to administer said oath, and
no desire to be registered voters in the counties
their residence shall present to the board of regis
ration hcrenbeoe constituted the evidence that they
taken the said oath of amnesty, and that they
nted to be registered voters; whcreupOn it shall |
ethe duty Of the board to place the of such i
ersons on the register Of voters and to give to the
arty interested certificate of the fact, signed by the
hiet justice and attesed by the clerk OF the county
ourt for which registry and certificate, the party :
shall pay the of fifty cents, in specie
= in the paper money of the United States to be d.
ided equally among the members of tl&board. i
10th The blank book, and printed forms necessary r
be used in carving into effect the foregoing instruc
ons will be charge upon the counties, to be paid
Ut OF the county treasures.
The officers herein named are enoined to be careful
nd punctuain the discharge of the duties committed
them; and the people respectfully invited to 90 !
inward with aacrty and take the steps necessary to
ltite them to aid in the restoration OF regular consti
tona government to the State with as little delay as
ay consist with the general good. .
A. J. HAMILTON {
Provisional Governor. Il
JAMES II. BELL, Secretary of State Il