New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-15
TEXAS POLITICS.

An election will be held 10 Texas on tie 18th OF
June next for State officers and at the same time the
amended Constitution agreed on by the Conventios
will be submitted to the people for acceptance or reec.
ton 1t does not appear that there is any serious op-
position to the adoption of the proposed amendments
The two parties Of tho State divide on personal ssuos
and on the old issues OF tho war. Those opposed to
Secession are now the Union" party, and those who
were in favor Of Secession are the Conservative
Union" party. The latter had control Of the Conven.
ton The Southern InteUigenecr edited under the su-
peryison Of the Union Executive Committee, asserts
that the majority Of tie Convention did all in its
power to thw0rt the policy Of the President and to
show its contempt for the people," They refused TO
pass al ordinance declaring the Ordinance Of Seces-
sion null and void from e beginning, and contented
themselves with declaring it simply null and void.
That, however Is better than Others Of the Rebel
States did, which, in contempt Of the explicit injunc
ton Of the President recognized the validity Of their
Secession ordinances by repeating them, and which
nevertheless were afterwsrd epplauded by Mr. John
son, and are now recommended for immediate read
mission In regard 10 the Freedmen, the Texas Con-
sttuton recognizes the abolition Of Slavery "by
force of arms" and enacts that
AFRICANS and their descendants shall be protected in their
Light Of and y % 10 .so Ss
and be sued acquire hold and transmit property apd oil
criminal prosecutions against them shall be Conducted IN the
prosecutions for like 0nses againstae white
race and they shall be subject to like penalties.
The freedmen are permitted to testify in cases in.
yolving their own rights. and the Legislature may
authorize them to be witnesses in ohercases as to facts
hereafter occurring. But they are denied the benefit
Of the school fund, which ia appropriated exclusively
&, oc oil fha ph
tants"-whoeTer they may be. War debts In aid Of
the Confederacy are repudisted.
The Texas journals do not, as we said indicate any
opposition to this constitution As the Secessonsts
had control of the Convention, they must be supposed
to approve their own work, unless they have since
been encouraged to think they might hold new
Convention under better auspices, and that fewer con-
cessons to the loyal spirit Of the North would now be
required by the President Their opponents, however,
who undoubtedly include all the loyalty there is in the
State seem to make point against the Constitution
except that it does not go far enough in its opposition
to Secession. They do not propose to extend any
other rights to the negroes Their sixth resolution
says in general way and apparently in good spirit:
acquescs sincerely In the act Of the nation sbohing
Slavery. and we viii endesvor to amelorae the condition
and BY according to them not gradsnsy but Willingly and
heartily the rights which may hereafter Dc.
secured to them by the Constitution and the lava"
But no measure Of relief or justice is specified
The commendsble thing about the genuine Union
address is its tone Of cordial loyalty to the Union
and of tolerable goodwill to the Freedmen. while the
Conservative or bogus Unioniss echo the CoppeThesd
slang of the North in the declaration that they oppose
the haSty and nconsiderste elevation of the negro
to political equality and in these sentences, which
read like an editorial out Of The FORD:
Tho Radical branch OF the Republican party Of the North
who closed the doors Of Congress against Southern Reessns
ves who have declared their intention 70 reduce US TO con-
dion territorial vasssage and to place Us below the eve
who slaves have eir aderea a. o.,
midst They hayo had their adopted their plat
FORMS nominated their candidates tor the principal ooss In
and determined to aid and sbe Stevens sumner.
and Phillips their opposition to the policy Of the President
their raids against constitutional liberty and In the esab
shment Of consolidated despotic Government"
We hope, first, that the real Unionists will carry
the State. aud secondly. that they will then feel
themselves strong enough to despse the clamor about
Radcalism and lift themselves to the level Of justice
which shall grant to the Freedmen both civil and
political equality