Year: 1865

Address TO the Freedmen OF EcNns.


EXFCt TIVE OFFICE,


AUsIIN 1ENAs. Nov. II, ls65.


| respectfully request that the Chief Justice
of each county in he state in which are any consdera
bic number OF Freedmen, Will in conjunction with such
of the good citizens as NAV feel an interest in the sub
ec matter take such may be necessary TO
call the Freedmen together at the cOurthouses, or
county towns Of such counties at tho earliest day Whch
can be fixed and cause TO be read to them the following
address, and earnestly request Of every good citizen
cooperation and aid IN Placing before the Freedmen
their real condition the hand and on the other
OF protecting him from abuse, by such as may not be
willing 10 respect his rights To ay id trouble. both
races must do their duty aud where either fails the law
mustsbe evoked. A. }. HAMILTON


Provisional Governor of Texas


FREEDMEN OF TEXAS; With the desire and purpose
10 benefit you | address You IN plain language.


earnestly request you TO listen TO what have TO say
for II ls rufh, which II concerns yOn 10 Know. our
conduct durlng the late such as TO win the
good opinion of all the world. During that terrible
struggle you remained quiet and peaeeabe spectators
although you knew that your freedom or continued
slavery depended the result You disappointed both
friends and enemies by exercising prudence and for
bearance and Christian reliance on the wisdom and
justice Of Gods providence which has elevated you IN
the opinion Of good in every part Of the civilized
world This is to-day your best treasure and wish
You 10 preserve IL. The character which you have
thus made. together with your Freedom IS your
wealth. / am most anxious that you viii once
more dsappont those who predict evil OF you,
and fearing that you might be msled by the conn
sells Of bad or wicked men, feel II my duty 10 yOu 10
all OF the people of Texas to the Government of the
United States TO tell you what position you occupy in
that gpyernment-what are your rights, and what are
your duties. In doing this shall speak plainly, for 1t
proper for speak the truth and in such language
as you will understand. You free-rnade 50 by
generous, good goyernment-but you must not think
freedom for YOU than il does for others 1t
means for you that you have night TO labor for an
honest living; the night to obey the great command OF
God TO all men, TO earn IN the sweat o tuer iace their
daily bread the right 10 work Tor yourselves. and re
ceive the full reward OF your labor. This Is all that
freedom means for any people. -.
this freedom and win protect you in its enjoyment
YOn are under the protection OF the GoVeInment,
As ether people ares you will be protected in all that
Is right but in nothing that is wrong That is what
vou have right TO expect from the Government, and
what il will perform. You owe duty TO the Govern
ment as eyery one does who receives its protection.
That duty is 10 obey the laws and employ yourselves
IN useful labor for ur own support and not be DIS
turbers of the public peace by dleness ana vicious
habits No people can be idle without becoming VI
cious No man is good citizen who does not eaIn
a living in some honest way.


have been Informed, from many sources, that yon
bav. been told that about Christmas something would
he done for vow by the Goyernment-that there would
be division of property for your beneft-that homes
would be furnished 10 You by the Government ana
other things given TO YOU without price tell you, IN
be name OF the President and the Government whose
servant an that all this is false-whoever has told
Won this has lied to you. The Government has gwen
you all il can give yOuthat is your freedom ii you
a,e NOT willing to work for your living you do not de-
serve TO be free The great mass OF men WINE as wen
as black have 70 work for living, and those VINO re-





erument IT, then you are friends TO the Government
Won will work for your yingyOu VIII OBEY the laws
Won will not be idle and yiciOus-yOu WI DO yonr duty


and fry 10 preserve the good name which you nave won
Inv vonr GOOD conduct in the past You can only do this
bv labor The United States Government has no land
in Texas 10 give YOU II owns no lahd IN leAasi
and none will be taken from white people to give
TO you. The Government will do 10 wrong. Every
man who is idle and not engaged in making an honest
living is an enemy 10 the Government. Inc Govern


cn cannot protect its enemies ana every one Is its
enemy who does not obey its laws. The laws require
every one TO respect the property OF others you ds
tarb the property OF others You are enemies OF the Jaws
and of the Government. and will be treated accord
incly The laws must be preseryed-they MaH be pre-
serred against epery eaemy ahae or black You are with
out homes, and you have no means OF hVing Dn' ny
yOur labor but by hiring TO labor for others. ms Is
moi bard-it is right / know 1t Is not hard for, In
early life tried ii myself. When you have labored
ong enough to lay up some money you can theh Duy
homes of your own. Now, II you are relying upon


what some fool has told you the Government would do
for vou bitter Disappointment VIII be your i0t. Inc
Government has given you all that II has 70 give you
that is-yOur freedom That is enOugl-t you deserve


eedo Won can do the rest IL you wait until Christmas
10 nroyide Yourselves homes what Will be your condition
when cold weather comes on and you are without homes
without food without provision OF any sort and sun
the Government has done nothing which you nave oeeh
told would be dorci But one thing can happen fou
will not sarye nle there Is something 10 eat III sght
You will in such begin 10 take u from DINERS ana
tbon Won VIII he under the law rogues and thieves.
do not be deceived. Because thc GoVerhiheht nhuc
you free il will not protect you ID ldehess anu .ics

T5ry sbqH be yesDeced II il should become necessary
TO keep the peace and protect the property OF the ci
zen. will NOT only call the United States soldiers,
hut / will call on the citizens No violence can happen
without you being the sufferers beg yon Tor yoar
GOOD 10 act wisely. Go TO work at once Don u wait
for Christmas What does that mean WIZ Cbrist
mas bring yon food and clothing and homesf III you
think go / tell you that you are deceived. .


will exert myself 20 afford yOn all O the protection
that fhe laws give every citizen, but at the same time
Won mnst understand that you are, like oil others, nc
countabe to the law for every wrong that you may 40
Your best is at once to engage 10 WORK ior VINO
ever will pay you the best price you do not you WlDe
In want You cannot all live IN towns. There is only
40 much work that can be found IN the towns Oi the
couutrv When that is supplied no one else can nnd
anything TO do The labor Of those who cultivate the
soil is the support OF the country and that is ID your
control The prices for labor are high. and you ought
~ he thankful that such prospect is opened TO you Tor
sunport am anxious that you should not be imposed
by those who under pretcnse OF being your ilends
ore in fact your worst enemies. Tue man VINO tells you
that the Government will support you without WORK -
moi your real iIiendhe lies to you and VIII iead you


The Treedmen's Bureau viii as far as 1t can. assist
Won in making contracts for labor but the ohcers VIII
not De able 10 attend 10 every case in time 10 save You
from want n Won wait for them to act. Any contract
which YOU NAV make in good faith viii be respected
by the Government and the laws You can nave goVu
men 10 witness your contracts and your rlShs VIII pe
protected by the laws Of the country ,


think You will believe what have SAID 10 yot, LOT
have said il for your good Ibeg you 10 believe IT, anu
act upon H. for Il Is true and time will prove u 10 you.
You are frec-free 10 work for yourselves ana 10 90
right No man ~ free TO do wrong ana Hle upon tne
labor Of others This will be permitted by the COY
ernmen and II you be foolish enough 10 attempt 70 qs
obey the laws you will do yourselves an Injury whch
! yOu cannot repair in years