Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-03-03

on the public debt, and the status OF
the negro, definitely and finally, and
make such amendments to the State
Constitution rs may be deemed eS'
pcdient, to bo submitted to the peo'
ple or not, as the Convention may
determine.
Adjourned to 10 A. NJ, tomorrow
From tn Austin Gazette.
SATURDAY, Feb, II, 1866.
10 o'clock, A.. NJ.
Mr.. Henderson, chairman OF COM
mittcc on Legislative Department,
reportcdan ordinance amending Ger.
tain sections of the Constitution, OF
which five hundred copies were or
dcred to be printed.
Mr.. Roberts, chairman of the COM
mittce on Judiciary Department, re-
ported in relation to the resolution
instructing the committee to inquire
into the condition of the library and
records of the Supreme Court that
the Provisional Governor had taken
action in the premises, and action on
the part of the committee is not nee
essary.
Mr.. Hancock, chairman Of the
committee on General Provisions,
reported in favor of striking out ar
ticle 8, except tho number which he
filled as follows:
SEC. |. African slavery, as it here
tofore existed, having been termi,
mated within this State by the Gov
ernmcnt Of the United States, by
force of arms, and its re-establish'
ment been prohibited by the amend.
ment to the Constitution Of the Uni.
ted States, it is declared that Meth.
er slavery or involuntary servitude,
except as punishment for crime
whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted, shall exist in this
State. And freedmen and their de-
scendants shall be protected and Sc
cured in their rights of person and
property by appropriate legislation;
they shall have the rightto contract
and be contracted with, to sue and
be sued, to acquire, hold and trans
nit property, and be subject to no
penal laws based upon inequality or
distinction Of races.
SEC. 9. Freedmen and their de-
scendants shall not be prohibited on
account of color or race the right to
testify as witnesses in any case, civ
il or criminal, involving theright OF,
or injury to any Of them, in person
or property. The credibility Of their
testimony to be determined by the
court or jury hearing the same; pro-
vided, that in all cases in which
they may be heard as witnesses
against white person, it shall be in
open court, and the latter shall have
the same right when testified against
by white person. The Legislature
shall have power to authorize them
to testify as witnesses in all cases
under the regulations herein set
forth.
Five hundred copies were ordered
to be printed.
After several unimporsant mo
tions relative to printing, &c,
Mr.. Spaight introduced an ordi'
name" amending section 8 of the Bill
Of Rights. Referred to committee
on General Provisions.
Mr.. Burke offered a resolution in.
structing the committee on the Leg
islative Department, to inquire into
the propriety of amending the Con
stitution with regard to the tenure
of office, providing that the Govern
or should remove no one from Office
without the advice and consent o.
the Senate, &c. Lost.
Another resolution offered by Mr.
Burke, instructing the committee on
the General Provisions of the Con-
stitution to inquire into the propri-
ETY. of amending section 30, article
7, so as to provide for granting
chartersto Banking Companies, was
adopted.
Mr.. Roberts offered a resolution
instructing the committee on Intern
al Improvement to inquire into the
propricty of defining the power of
County Courts on the subject ofsub-
scriptions to railroads, and Of ex-
pressly comforting or refusing 1t.
Adopted.
Mr.. Gentry offered the following
resolution:
That the committee on General
Provisions be instructed to examine
and report upon the following:
1st. That no inconvenience may
arise from change Of Government,
il ;s declared that all laws passed by
the Legislature of this State, not
repugnant to this Constitution or
the Constitution of the United States
which have not expired by limita-
ton, or been repealed, whether pass
ed before or since the lst of March;
1861. are in full force and effect, and
shall 80 remain until they shall ex-
pirc by limitation, or be repealed by
the Legislature.
I'd. That all judgments, orders
and DEGREES of the several courts of
,b;s State- and the acts of all officers,
State and county, done inpursuance
of laws in force at the time, are here
by declared to be valid and binding.
Sd. That the provisions of the
foregoing shall extend to and include
the officers and courts Of the Pro-
visional Government of Texas
Adopted.
Mr.. Runnels introduced an ordi-
nance protecting parties from pros.
ecution who have made seizures Of