The New York herald., 1866-03-22
TEXAS RECONSTRUCTION CONVENTION


thing Done ms Yet-Failure OF the Con-
vention to Repeal or NuIlify the Ordi-
nance of fseecssion-The Majority Report
OF the Committee Claiming the Right
OF Secession, Sc.
OUR AUSTIN CORRESPONDENCE.
AUSTIN, Texas, March O, 1866.
DILAToRY ACTION.
The action OF this Convention for the past week has
not warranted more frequent dispatches. -Four weeks
have now been occupied in egsating upon State mat
er and cheerful disposition to come at once to those
duties which plainly pointed out to the Convention
IS not as apparent people abroadand may well say
the people OF Texas-could desire. Many minor ord-
oances, besides innumerabc resolutions, have been
passed. and four weeks have been occupied In such
work. when the ordinance of secession has been
repealed, has any Of the points been acted upon
which mentioned in the Presidents reconstruction
policy.
THE SECESSION ORDINANCE QUESTION.
strong effort made to bring up the ordinance of
secession for action but after much discussion, expana
tions and sundry excuses, IL was postponed, and a
lengthy bill from the Committee the Legislative De-
partmcnt was reported, and the whole week was occu-
pied its different and perplexed sections The follow
ing are the proceedings on the ordinance question:
MAJORITY RKroRr
The majority Of the Committee the Condition Of the
state reported tho following ordnance:-
The people of the state Of Texas by delegates in con-
venton assembled acknowledging the supremacy Of the
constitution of the United States and laws made in pur
thereof do oran that the ordinance passed by
n convention In the city of Austin on the 1st day Of
February. 1861 entned 'An ordinance to dissolve the
united under the compact styled The Constitution Of the
United States of America be and the same is hereby
annnlled and declared to be Of no further effect.
Mr. Jones of Bcxar on behalf of the minority Of the
Committee tho Condition of the State, mad the fol-
lowing report
yhc und ersigued minority Of the Committee on the
Condition of the State. to which was referred various
ordinances and resolutions relating to secession beg
leave make this minority reportWc bavc given the
important matt. r. submitted to the committee that
cunsld ration which they deserve Acknowedg
states, find in it nc warrant of authority
the act Of secession either by express recognition or
by implication, reserved right Of the states and can
therefore other conclusion than that the act
of secession nuily from the beginning, as being
intended 10 dspace and overthrow the recognized su-
preme law oi the land
Viewing secession a revolutionary measure, the
suit of the struggle forces upon the conclusion
Abortve attempts at revolution never impress any
changes upon the fundamental laws OF a government
The ordinance reported by the majority OF the
committee virtually asserts that the secession
ordnance and laws enacted under II have legal exist
cnce, and rghtiuy Of force up to this time To this
cannot yield Our assent and II would in the highest
degree prejudice application for the resumption by
State OF her constitutional relations with the federal
government. 1t would not only be regarded claim
Of the rg. OF cession, but the Of its
pr ncipe, in the late attempt to enforce 1t by arms.
4, annual it for the future and to declare that 1t
have further eft CT Is to assert that 1t is of legal
effect and that by IL the supreme law OF the land has
been legally displaced and remained SO up to the time Of
action in this Convention.
The undersigned beg leave to report the accompanying
ordinance, as substitute for the ordinance reported by
the majority of the committee, and recommend its
adoption IN lieu thereof
An Ordinance declaring null and void the ordinance OF
secession
we the people OF Texas, by delegates in convention
assembled, acknowledging the supremacy OF the con-
siitution OF tho United States and laws made pur-
thereof and dsclamng the right Of secession,
and rccogn zng ordinance entitled IAN ordinance TO
dissolve the Uncn between the State of Texas and the
other States untd under tho compact sylcd The
stituton OF the United States Of Amorica" adopted by
convention Il Austin, on tho 1st day Of February,
1901 to be in cortravcnon to the consttut OF tho
uned States, do odain and declare tho samo to be
| null and void ab initio