The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-05-04
A Deputation from Texas Wait
upon the President.
ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN.
REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT.


by the convention Of the State Of Texas, who,
in person, delivered to The President an Of
fetal copy ofthe ordinances adopted by that
body.
Judge HANCOCK, on behalf Of the commit
tee, addressed The PRESIDENT in substance
as follows:
Mn. Par sIpEsr We have been directed by the
convention Of the people Of Texas to present to you
the ordinances of q general character adopted by
that body, and to assure you, and, through you,
the national authorities, OF the loyal and pacific
| disposition Of the people Of our State.
The convention deemipg II oxpedient to reform
and amend many Of the provisions Of the eonstitu-
! ton Of the State, the session was somewhat pro-
trneted extending from the 9TH Of February last to
the I'd Of April. But on those subjects which have
arisen results OF the late unfortunate civil war,
entire unanimity Of sentiment was manifested BY
the members as to the general scope and object Of
the action to be taken to testify the good faith Of
the people Of Texas In thor acceptance OF the 70.
suits Of the war; and the sincerity Of their profess
sons of loyalty to tho Constitution and the Union
of the States Hereunder.
We have the honor to present you official copies
Of the ordinances adopted by the convention on
these subjects, and to them we invite your atten-
ton
It will be seen that by the most solemn acts Of
| organic law the convention declared null and void
the ordinance termed the ordinance Of secession,
by which part Of the people OF Texas, on the LIST
| OF February, 1851, declared their purpose to sep
arats the State from the Federal Union. And not
| withdrawing the views and opinions many Of the
members entertained in the past, the loyal aud
ondly cherished sentiments Of many Of the citizens
Of the State, the convention, recognizing the SUI
| prcmAcy Of the Constitution OF the United States
and Of all laws passed in pursuance thereof, re-
nounced the claim Of right on the part Of the
State of Texas to sscede from the Union.
The entire debt growing out Of, and aceruing
| d,ri h. tinn daalarad mil and
void prohibited the Legislature from assuming or
making any provision for the payment Of any por-
tiOn thereof
By constitutional provision the convention
recognized free those persons heretofore held as
slaves, and declare that hereafter neither slavery
nor involuntary Ieryitude, except as punishment
for crime, shall exist in State. Freedmen are
protected in their rights Of person and Of property
enabled to contract and to be contracted with, to
sue and to be sued, to acquire, hold and transmit
property and to testify witnesses in the courts
wherever any interest or right Of any Of them may
be involved, under the same rules Of evidence ap'
picable to the white race thus securing to them
by constitutional provision equality before the law,
leaving no material right subject to the contin.
gency Of legislative action; not doubling however,
that this class Of persons, so long as they remain
among US, will receive ample protection In their
rights from all departments Of the State govern
, ment.
On oil these subjects the convention has spoken
di,passionately, and in good faith, what they be-
lieved the sentiments Of the people of Texas
When to these acts added the circumstance
= connected with the manner In which the soldery OF
Texas laid down their arms, and returned to their
homes aud peaceful ayocations, despite the author.
ity Of their officers, when their judgments were con
yinced that further resistance would only augment
the ealamities Of the war, without waiting for the
arrival Of national force to accept their surrender
and that since that time these people have readily
conformed to all requirements made Of them by the
n United States Go'ernment We think there will b
few instances found Of a people giving higher ev
dences Of their reliability the sincerity OF WHOSE
professions OF loyalty should inspire greater conh
dence. A brave and chiyalrous people who hny'
given earnest such as these, OF their faith and 10y
u atty deserve to be trusted. magnanimous anC
Just people ought not TO desire to maintain militar
: rule over them when they are ready and willing h
1 do their duty as good citizens
s. For some months after the breaking up Of th
u southern armies the public mind Of Texas gave IN
ie mistalnble assurance of feeling Of gladness an
hope of an early return to peace, law, order an
l. good government, of which they had been 80 Ion
} deprived. They remembered that the nations
e Congress had claimed that State had not the con
g titutonal right to secede from the Union, and tn
ot.repeated declaration that the seats Of souther
members in Congress, though vacated, were thor
, to be occupied when those in rebellion against tn
u Government should lay down their arms and retur
r to their rightful allegiance. They believed tina
n such would be the policy OF the Government, an
rcjoiced In the hope Of an early restoration Of n
the integral parts of the Union to position Of pc
litical e9uslity, without which republican instity
u tions may lingeT for time but must soon perish
IS We regret that truth and compel US to adm
that these demonstrations OF hope and patriotic d.
Is sire have to some extent, given place 70 feelings
y doubt and despondpncy, attributable in the mi
to two causes frst, the powerful efforts that haV
been eXerted In Congress to exclude therefrom rel
b resentatves from other States similarly situate
e while the people are to be taxed those who AZ
|. fully represented; and, second, the course OF 10
ID military authority towards the people Of Texas,
.. holding It as u conquered country, appropriate
70 their property without compensation subje tin
s. the citizens to military arrests and imprisonment
II often without alleging any ofense against them,
be released at the pleasure Of the officer command
ing after weeks-sometimes months--of imPrisol
ment.
are not disloyal. There Ia no feeling Of hostility
tho Government Of the United States 10 dispos
tion-not the slightest-to renew hostility, or
y offer opposition to the Government. There 81
Of eyil-dispOsed, bad men among u.s. some ambition
and designing, (their number 10 small, who hope
No profit from arbitrary power and prosper best in u
10 absence Of regulated authority They are not 10y
he to any Government. But with the great mass
the people the paramount desire Is the restorat'
of the Union and Of civil Government. II the
blessings come not to the nation, the fault will n
b. be with the people Of Texas, many Of whom Prov
ng their loyalty to the Union by every saerhcs VIM,
madness and tyranny could exact. Are their rgh
to be disregarded because OF the few who are wick
he and depraved The people Of Texns expect 81
w will ask only that which Is lawful-their rights
guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.
of We shOuld feel that we had only partially pc
formed our duty to the people Of our State we
we to omit expressing to your excelleney our &C
IL dial appreciation Of your course as President OF u
United States, and particularly our approval
your restoration policy. Your wise and patriot
u course in behalf Of the equal rights OF all seeto
ut Of the country has revived fresh hope in many
70. responding heart, that tho gsnsration which
o. experienced the most terrible shock OF civil war
modern times may see civil and constitutional u
IN srty restored throughout the entire land
on We thank you, In the name Of the people
Texas, for the uObls and patriotic stand you ha
taken In behalf Of constitutional liberty. j
M olive branch Of peace extended to US BY 20
kindly hand, we accept in grateful spirit
pledge to you tho support, earnest and thorouf
Of the people Of Texas In all measures that y
M tend to restore the State to its pristine positi
IN. among the States Of the American Union. M
tie God preservs your eTcsllency many years In heal
=, and prosperity, an instrument, under His gu
ance, to restore the Government Of our fathers
leu preserve the liberties Of the people.
'on REPLY or rHE PRESIDENT.
us THE President briefly responded. He thank
by the committee for the kind and compliments
I'VE manner In which their chairman had alluded to