Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-06-09
Acts OF the Texas COnventlOn-.-
Their Committee Walt Upon
the PreSldent...HiS Reply.
WAaHINnTON, May, 4th, IS66.

Tic fTcSIucIlt..suis hCPiJ'
WASHINGTON, May, 4th, 1866.
On yesterday a highly interesting
interview took place between tho
President and a committee, compos-
ed ofJohn Hancock, J. w. Hender-
son, r. III. Lane, and J. A. Porter,
appointed by the Convention OF the
State of Texas, who, in person, de-
livered to tho President official cop
les of the ordinances adopted by that
body.
Judge Hancock, on behalf Of the
addressed the President,
in substance as follows:
Mr.. PREsIpENr:-We have been
directed by the Convention OF tho
people of Texas to present to you
the ordinances OF a general charac-
ter adopted by that body, and to as
sure you, and through you tho ma:
tional authorities, of the loyal and
pacific disposition Of the people OF
our State.
The Convention deeming it expo.
dent to reform and amend many OF
the provisions Of the constitution OF
the State, the session was somewhat
protracted, extending from the 7th
February last to the 25th of April.
But on those subjects which have
arisen as results of the late unfortu.
nate 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 peo.
ple of Texas, in their acceptance OF
the results of the war, and the sim
certify of their professions of loyalty
to the Constitution and the Union
of the States Hereunder.
We have the honor to presentyou
official copies of the ordinances
adopted by the Convention on these
subjects, and to them we inviteyour
attention.
1t will be seen that by the most
solemn acts oforganic law, the Con-
vention declared null and void the
ordinance termed the ordinance OF
secession, by which a part of the
people of Texas, on the LIST Of Feb
ruary, 1861, declared their purpose
to seperate the State from the Fede-
raj Union, and Notwithstanding, the
voices and opinions of many Of the
members entertained in the past,
the loved and fondly cherished sen.
timents of many of the citizens Of
the State, the Convention, recogniz-
ing the supremacy of the Constitu-
ton of the United States, and of
laws passed in pursuance thereof,
renowned the claim of a right on
the part of the State Of Texas to Sc
cede from the Union.
The entire debt, growing out Of,
and accruing during the war, the
Convention declared null and void,
and prohibited the Legislature from
assuming or making any provision
for the payment of any portion there
of. BY constitutional provision the
Convention recognized as free those
persons heretofore held as slaves,
and declared that hereafter neither
slavery nor involuntarily servitude,
except as punishment for crime,
shall exist in our State. Freedmen
are protected in their right of per-
son and property, enabled to con-
tract, and to be contracted with, to
sue and to be sued, to acquire, hold,
and transmit property, to testify as
witnesses in the courts, whenever
any interest or right of any of them
may be involved, under the same
rules of evidence applicable to the
white race; thus securing to them,
by constitutional provisions equality
before the law, leaving no material
right subject to the contingency OF
legislative action; not doubling,
however, that this class of persons,
80 long as they remain among US,
will receive ample protection in
their rights from all departments OF
the State government.
On all these subjects the Conven
ton has spoken dispassionately, and
in good faith, what they believed to
be the sentiments Of tho people OF
Texas.
When TO these acts are added the
circumstances connected with the
manner in which the soldiery Of
Texas laid down their arms and re-
turned to their homes and peaceful
avocations, despite the authority Of
their officers, when their Judgments
were convinced that further resis.
lance would only augment the ca.
lamities of the war, without wait
ing for the arrival ola natl bal force
to accept their surrender, abd that
since that time these people have
readily conformed to all require.
ments made of them by the United
States Government, we think there
will be few instances found of o PEG
pie giving higher evidences Of theil
reliability, or the sincerity Of whose
professions of loyalty should inspir,
greater confidence. A brave and
chivalrous people, who have giveI
earnest such as these Of their faitl
and loyalty, deserve to be trusted
A magnanimous and just peopl
ought not to desire TO maintain mil
itary rule over them when they ar
ready and willing 10 do their dut,
as good citizens.
For some months after the break
ing up of the Southern armies tn
public mind Of Texas gave unmis
taxable assurance'of q feeling {
gladness, and hope Of an early r.