Year: 1865

There are many ignorant persons whosnp-
pose that IL negro swcars 10 anything ~
Court, Judgment must be rendered accord
ingly This Is not so. l. is not 70 In the
case Of the testimony Of white man. All
trials Of questions Of iGct are by n jury,
The ury will, in all cases, judge of the
crcdibiity of the witness, whether white or
black, IL they think 10 tells the truth,
they will find verdict accordingly. II
they do not credit his testimony, their vcr-
dict will not be affected by it.


To deny 10 the freedman this essential
right of all frccmcn, is TO deny to him the
freedom which the United states has pro-
claimed. and which, be assured, whatever
we may do, will be secured TO him.


| issued proclamation, n few days since,
limiting for the present, the action Of the
Courts, in suits for the collection of money.
| feel that this is matter Of great dclicoey
and | think it proper for me 10 state frank
lv the considerations which influenced me
TO issue this proclamation. am opposed,
upon principle, to any legislative interier-
cnce between the debtor and his creditor
think that the prosperity of a country
depends greatly upon the facility with
which debts can be collected. But the pres
cnt circumstances of this country are very
extraordinary. The people have suffered
immensely from the burthcns of the war.
Th' re is but little money, as yet, in clrcu-
lation in this State. Property is OF but
little cash value. These things being so,
creditors will not be disposed to receive
property in payment of debts, and the sale
of it under execution would work very
great hardship upon the debtor. think
the disbursements by the army and other
causes will soon bring money within the
reach of the people, and that settlement Of
debts can be made. | feel assured that ii
the Courts were open now for thc rendition
of final judgments in actions of debt, ii
would be almost impossible to prevent the
Convention when it assemblies, from an
thorizing legislation that would lave the
effect to impede the collection of debts for
n long time to come, whereas, if brief in
diligence is extended to debtors now, the
Convention will meet under circumstances
that will insure proper action in this all
important matter. My advice to the people,
then, is to prepare Tor the payment of your
liabilities as speedily as possible. when
the Convention shall assemble, L hope to
see it require legislation that will insure
the prompt collection Of debts. The future
prosperity and development of the country
require this


You are anxious to know when Con-
vention will be called. know that many
persons are of opinion that the call OF
Convention ought to have been my first act
as Provisional Governor. did not think
so and what is more important, the Presl-
dent of the United States, whose represen-
tative am, did not think thata Convention
could be called until the people had quail
fed themselves to vote by taking the oath
of amnesty. After organizing Provisional
civil government throughout the State,
which is now nearly completed, | think it
important that the public mind of the State
should be directed 10 the great questions
upon which the Convention will be called
to act, before the people elect their dele
gates. If We proceed in this most import
ant matter too hastily, follow-citizens, our
work will be imperfectly done. Let us act
wisely, let us deliberate upon the subjects
which will engage the attention OF the Con
vention and upon the wise solution OF which
will depend our prosperity for many years
to come. Of this much, however, you may
be assured: | shall not delay the call Of
Convention one day after | think it can be
safely done. am anxious to see you re-
sumo the government, and shall rejoice as
much rs any man. when we are once more
in the constitutional path from which VIC
unwiscly departed


Fellow citizens, ! have addressed you
frankly. hope you will poader well what
have said The times demand candorand
plain dealing ON the part of public men,
That man who contents himself now wi;h
criticising the errors Of others, and lament
ing the unhappy condition of the country,
without putting his own hand to the work
of restoration, and without proposing any
remedy for the evils which an unhappy
war has entailcd upon us, is not, in my
Judgment, doing the duty of patriot. 1t
requires not much talent, fellow-citiscns,
to find fault And whore there are 50 many
lingering causes of discomfort as now exist
in the country, it does not require much
ability to nurse them into opposition TO
the efforts of those who may be striving to
ameliorate or remove existing evils. Let
me warn you to scrutiniZe closely the con-
duct of those who may attempt to persuade
YOU to array yourselves in an attitude oil
hostility to the policy of the government.
To do the best thing that can be done, -
the wisdom of craftsmanship. To do Moth
ing. because VIC cannot accomplish that
WHICH would be most agreeable to MS, is not
wisdom, but folly. The government OF the
United States, fellow citizens, has no hos
tility to your interests. The President oil
the United States and his advisers, from
their elevated position and wide view of all
the interests Of the country, are better
iudecs than you or l can be, of the general
policy which will restore quiet and pros
perity to the country. Let us set up no
frivolous or factious opposition to the ma
tional policy, but let us 60 to work, IN good
faith, and with hopeful hearts, to restore
TO Texas the blessings of regular constitu-
tional government and we will then be in
a position to exercise our proper influence
in shaping the general policy of the nation.
We have passed through terrible ordeal,
but We have saved that which is beyond all
price, a government based upon enduring
principles, straDg enough to protect all its
lcitizens, and possessing within itself the
means by which it can be adapted to the
C~ants Of an increasing population: The
war has brought sorrow and desolation 10
many n heart and freside: but the Supreme
Ruler of the Universe has beneheently pro-
yided q balm for every wound. The dls-
charge Of duty, the effort to repair IN the
future the mistakes Of the past, and above


rorI cnu attain If