Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-03-09
Reoons'ruction in TeNss--t:uv. Har,-ii.
teH-- Message.

~
The mc-sas- Of B,G. a. J. Hamilton, d..
Provisional Governor o. T,2ss. 90 tie Con-
sti,uii,-al Convention a. ~.ril,d - Austin.
Fclrr,sIy 10Th, i- a !sai-o s.5iay d,cum,rr.
going iar ls-iore. IN tie exI ,-ion If manly
nut j--i Vows. What BIAS an -re5 from amy
other iri,i-i9isl r.yc.no. II tae s.are5n
State
OF ;ae changes wlioE oa-4s 2. be lia5.
L. tire organic law Of the Stale, &c. s,y1
Thee CAL be 70 doub; jd.i "a i. eArec.el i,T
the country that you all srhra-, Fl-hia tie
scope Of your action q. cieIr All exqlc.t leu-a'
oi the rlxai OF Texas L. se,-l- OF withdraw ffam
he feisru, Union, o right as-ui3sl by an al
6uthor-z-4 aud reyO.u. quarry 1sig = men 10
1851, sitiag il this hall; a figh; ileu invoked
70 justify rebellion against ,lie frel and parent
Il government Instituted by ;he patriot Sire gf
ZIG, snl ilstiy esteemei ,as Ice, hope of
freedom in .le world. Il csluo, De Jh5aEbt uu-
7essona'.e that the people 81 The JuIt-i Sist-s
should desire a formal an s5sun rec ln;atiou
Of Political hercsy ~ dangerous 20 their peace
and Lbe-.ie-.
He iurthcr tells the Convention TINT
though tie question Of s. cs=silu has ben
settled by tie trial Of arms. tie people of
the UuItcd states wiil eIpe-. solemn Icc-
laration Of acquieseence IN that settlement
by the people Of Texas. He says
Too much has been prelic4tel upon the loc-
trine Of the right Of sesesE iou-too much dared
AMI done by the people Of the South 10 man
tain ito justify the people Of the United States
II accepting silence On our part as al admission
Of error They are DO; likely to Re 80 credu-
lous; and If they we've disposed TO he SO, the
ustersnces OF some Of tie Leading presses Of the
State during the past three months wouii euliCh-
ten them
GOV. Hamilton says tho overthrow Of the
Go'rrnL4ent OF the overthrow u Slavery
was the great question at issue All
thoughtful men zee nov that tic rebellion
involved that i=sGe, ana IL was rendered bv
the South Tic Government accepted the
trial
g The battle hiss hen fought; amongst tie
most memorable certHinly n tie annals Of man
Kind. Slavery has fallen, never . rise a-sln
On this continent, unless. IN the rrovilause Of
God, another night shall settle upon this vest
ern world. Ike that which f5loweI the down
fall Of the Roman Power, II which both liberty
and civilization shall b. lls.
. Il = not nov necessary g. contrcrsft tle
opinions OF those who uaiut-iael that tie ur5-
elsmstiou Of the President Of tie United states.
declaring the freedom q the slaves Of the south.
was but military orier. which was 10 LONGER
operative after the cessst1u Of actual hlstii.ies
The wise s1t benetcent spirit u that proclana-
ton has by the voice q the American people
assumed the firm Of cons,ituti1nal law Il i
nov the supreme law o. the land that Slavery.
or involuntary seryituie, except f5r crime.
whereof the party shall have been dGly convict
ed, shall not exist II any state OF territory Of
the Union. I doubt not thst YOU VII concur
Elth me that this radical change il the condition
81 these persons IL our State who were formerly
N Slavery, ought 10 be fully recognized il the
Constitution. and their new condition provided
for
lie SAYS the rebel debt nust be ropudiated.
IL Proviic for its payment would he 70 JUS
,ify the SQUIRE for which it was incurred.
Ian Of opinion that a failure to guard the |
people, ty an appropriate provision. against /
'aIsiion ior the payment Of this debt, would be /.
snsatisesStory to them, and Justly offensive to /
the Government Of the United States
The disPosltion 50 strongly shown il some |
Of the >Juthern States TO make the emanci-
patton Of the blacks practically nugatory, as
AZ IS pys-Ible, Gov. Hamilton pointedlv
condemns. lie believes the nation viii never
allow such d course ofinjustice and dishonar
70 prevail.
Our former slaves are declared By the CO..
stitution o. the United States 20 he free Shall
We tresi that decla-stion Is mere Form Of
words, or shall We receive II = s. living truth
We have seen war insugurstsd -0- the perpsi-
uatiCn Of Slavery result IN The declaration. by
the most powerful Of t. zs;i0ns q the earth.
that II shall no Longer exist Lst Us not deceive !
ourselves hy the cnppozitioa that the nation VIII
,Ail to make ttEt declaration good. OF T. redeem
"a y the Ai.E obligations which IL has assumed ]
q tins teaEf before the civilized word
IL Ey judgment there could not De devised 8
iao=e successful mode Of procrastina,iag our
return 10 cur original position II the Union than
% deny the freedmen in our midst those civil
tights and privileges, Elthou, which 10 cal
hen free would be only ''to keep the word q
'romise to the ear and break ii to the hope
In ny iu igment, gentlemen, It Is the Part Of
wisdom to provide IL the or-anlc 'aE II The
state thst the freedmen in cur midst shan enigy
lvil rights On al equality with the white r1pu-
alton Of the State. By civil rights. mean tie
lght to sue IN the courts Of the c5ax=y sul to
estify unier the same rules that apply 10 the (
.dmissibility Of the TESTIMONY og ,.t;ts iers7ns
o acquire and hold property. EsE. and personal
nd to be placed upon 81 t.naE;y VII white
len IN resi-c; 10 the Punishment Of crimes
More than tins. oehcTs I W0uil De uuvise
0 eIeinle The free1nec n ou- midst from the (
Eercise Of political Pa i'eses, by making the I
nlQyment y these privileges 30 depend upon I
ociden; = birth q color ! wish t. Re perfect
! trssk in the statement Of nv views, but do
OF wish 10 De misunderstood. l DO not believe
lst the crest mass Of the freedmen IN our midst
re qualified BY her intelligence 20 exercise the
CHI Of suffrage, and do not desire 20 see this
rIyege conferred upon them But think
lat prosrsss l. the great law o. MAD. under ,
5e=y free government, and DO not believe that
ly policy can be enduring or permanent ~ this
1untrY which Is based upon accidental circum-
ances and the traditions Of preiuiice.' IL I
cad Of beng founded upon the eternal Irinc.-
lee Of truth and justice
lie further warns the Convention tlat 3
ny system Of laws intended to bear Oh the c
,eedmcn especially, and to keep them in
tate Of depenoenoe on their former masters.
i'll produce evil results.
ANY system Of laws. Therefore. iptaHdei 10 :
sp<ive them Of the actual fruits o. liberty. VIII
eet with resistance fro,n the Congress II the I
nited States. Such legislation IN other States z
Is already aroused the attention Ct the nation.
ID feel assured that repetition Of Il IN Tx
, Will but increase this jealous watehfuiuess -
zen II snch Legislation could meet with tolera
n for the present, which Is not to be expected.
would be but the beginning OF another sgita- Ii
u which would necessarily result in the tn
1ph Of the views Of the majority Of the M
Z. d
Ii is gratifying TO see the expression Of
ch humane. just and patriotic sentiments
m the Provisional Governor Of Southern
tic They put to shame the language of
uy of our Northern politicians.
Southern Representation.
senator Wilson Oh Monday Introduced a