, 1866-03-02
TEXAS.
The Constitutional Conventton-Gov.
HamilIon's Message to the Conven-

In the Texas Constitutional Convention or
the 9th ult., committee Of five WINS appoint
ed to wait upon Gov. Hamilton and Inform
him that the Convention was organized auG
was ready to hear from him. The Governor
sent In message Of considerable length, from
which We take extracts in reference to the
Freedmen:
The most important questions, gentlemen,
to which you will be required, by the pItu.
liar circumstances under which we are placed,
to direct your attention, Esrow out Of the
emancipation Of those who were formerly in
state Of bondage, and who still remain In
our midst. Our former slaves arc declared by
the Constitution Of the United States to be
free. Shall VIC treat that declaration as a
mere form of words, or shall VIC receive It rs
living truth? Shall we repose upon the
postulate that the act of emancipation is only
wrong done to ns, or shall we question hon.
cstly with ourselves concerning It's signif-
canoe: 1t sefms to me that the events OF the
post i've years should aDate, somewhat, our
pride Of opinion.
We have seen war inauguated, for the
perpctuatiou OF slavery, result In the decIara-
tfon, by the most powerful OF the nations OF
the earth, that 1t shall no longer exist. Let
us not deceive Ourselves By the snppost
tion that the nation will not fail to make that
declaration good, Or to redeem, fully. the
Ii
behalf, before the civilized world.
In my Judgment, ther, could rot be devised
more successful mode Of procEastinnting our
return to our original position In the Union
than to deny to the freedmen in onr midst
those civil rights and privileges without which
to cali them free would be only to Keep the
hope" z,
I cnnnot assuno to know the Individual
views Of the gentlemen who compose this
body; but have reason to appreheud, from
what has met my eye, in the form Of published
circulars to the people, before whom many oi
you were candida. o., and leading articles ID
State, that my views on this subject will not
be acceptable to majority Of the members
Of this convention. But feel that the present
Ia not d time for any true man, least Of all tor
one placed in hlghly responsible position, to
dissemb1e hfs honest convictions and opinions
views vii not accord with the Immature aud
ttmfd Judgment Of those who are yet welded
to the prcjudtees Of the past.
Ills fav0rlte phrase Of nany TINT ~ this
Il white mans government" aud 1t Is de-
clared to be the main duty OF those who re-
present the people, at the present time, to
TAKE care that it shall eontinue to BE- 50. I
thank God that this Is a white mans govern
ment, and humbly trust that the time will
never come when It shall cease to be so. But
II, by the declaration that this Is white
mans government, 1t Is meant that the black
man Is to be excluded from its benefits, and
forever wholly debar1ed from the exercise Of
spectfully take issue With the proposition, a.
matter of fact, and with the yiews Of those
by whom It Is maintained. Bl1ck men do now
enjoy, and hare long enjoyed, the exercise Of
political privileges, as well a. Of civil rights,
under the Government Of the United States.
The election Of President Of the United States
vota Of black men, IN the great State OF New
York. Is It, then, : matter Of fact that thls
Government Ia not the Government of the
black man as well IS Of the whItes And il,
IN the past, black men have enjoyed civil
rights, and been admitted to the exercise of
political privileges under the Government Of
the United States, is It likely that the act OF
emancipation, which Is regarded by ma}ori-
" Of the nation as great and glorious event
In the history Of the human race, will not be
followed, In due time, by tho enlargement OF
the rights and privileges Of the people who
are declared to be enlrnnchiseds
In my judgment, gentlemen, It is the part
Of wisdom to provide in the organic Law of
the Stale, that the freedmen III our midst
Shall enjoy civil rights, on an equality with
The white population Of the State. By civil
rights, mean the right to sue In the courts
rules that apply to The admlssibility Of The
testimony OF white persons to acquire and
hold property, real aud personal, aud to be
placed upon an equality with wllitc men iu
rcspcct to the punishment OF crimes.
More than this, beilevc it would ba un-
wise 10 exclude the freedmen In our midst
from the exercise Of political privileges, by
making the enjoyment Of these privileges to
depend upon the accident Of birth or color.
wish to be perfectly frank in the statement
Of my Views, but do not wish to be misua-
derstood. ! do not believe that the great
mass Of the freedmen in cur midst are quail
lied by their intelligence to exercise the right
OF suffrage, and do not desire TO see this
privilege conferred upon them But I think
that progress is the great law Of mind, under
every free government, aud do not believe
that any policy can be enduring or permanent
In this country which Is based upon accidental
circumstances md the /" traditions of prcIu-
d1cc,n Instead OF being founded upon the eter-
nal principles Of truth aud justice. 'F = 80
II we fail to take our stand now upon prfn-
cipie-lf We fail to make political privileges
depend upon rules OF universal application,
we will Inevitably be betrayed into the error
OF leQislating under the influence of ancient
preiudices. md with view only to the pres-
cnt. think that human wisdom cannot dis
cern what is to be the future Of the African
race iu this country. Let Ms not, therefore,
arIogate to ourselves the attribute Of Ompf-
science, and assume that the freedman will
never attain to that measure OF intelligence
which will qualify him to exercise the p1iYi-
lcCe OF voting for those who are to make the
laws hv which ha uf11 Ia nnVarneJ