TEXAS. 



673 



ning, led to confusion and disorder, may not 

 be amiss." * * * It further says : 



After the divisionists had succeeded so far as to 

 appoint six of their number to go on to "Washington 

 and represent their views at an expense of $6,000 to 

 the State, a majority of the convention proceeded to 

 complete a constitution for the whole State. Not 

 liking the provision on' suffrage, which was finally 

 adopted, the ab initio and division portion commenced 

 doing their utmost to break up the convention, be- 

 ginning to leave, and preventing the orderly conclu- 

 sion of the whole business. * * * The last quarrel 

 was over the printing, the president's faction being 

 determined to prevent its being given to the Eepub- 

 lican office, in which they succeeded by breaking up 

 a quorum. Their plan was to give the control of the 

 printing to the Washington committee, who were to 

 take everything on to the North, and have the print- 

 ing done there, which would have been a disgraceful 

 proceeding for themselves and the State. Finally, 

 the whole matter ended by the military taking pos- 

 session, and we believe that General Canby will fix 

 up matters as well as they can be arranged under the 

 state of confusion and disorder in which the conven- 

 tion left them. We have heard it reported that the 

 general will appoint one of each wing of the Eepub- 

 licans, together with a military officer, to inspect and 

 determine what the convention really did do ; and 

 thus, after a while, we shall be enabled to know what 

 has been done, and then the people of Texas can 

 begin to consider what they .ought to do in the 

 premises. General Canby, an unprejudiced party, 

 will be able to perform all the ministerial duties left 

 undone by the turbulent body which has, at last, 

 dispersed. We have full confidence that the military 

 commander will act for the best under all the circum- 

 stances. ' ^ 



In its issue of February 20th, the same paper 

 says: ""We understand, through the energy 

 of General Canby and his assistants, military 

 and civil, the constitution has been put in 

 proper shape, and will shortly be published. 

 We trust, on the whole, it may be found such 

 a one as the people of Texas may accept with 

 honor and safety." 



Some two weeks later, the constitution was 

 published in pamphlet form, and circulated 

 among the citizens. It was also generally 

 printed, or commented upon, in the newspa- 

 pers throughout the State, so that the people 

 at large might easily acquire a knowledge of 

 its contents. Its preamble and first section 

 were as follows : 



PBEAMBLE. We, the people of Texas, acknowl- 

 edging with gratitude the grace of God, in permitting 

 us to make a choice of our form of government, do 

 hereby ordain and establish this constitution : 



ARTICLE I. Mil of Rights. That the heresies of 

 nullification and secession, which brought the coun- 

 try to g_rief, may be eliminated from future political 

 discussion ; that public order may be restored, pri- 

 vate property and human life protected; and the 

 great principles of liberty and equality secured to us 

 and our posterity : we declare that 



SECTION 1. The Constitution of the United States, 

 and the laws and treaties made, and to be made, in 

 pursuance thereof, are acknowledged to be the su- 

 preme law ; that this constitution is framed in har- 

 mony with, and in subordination thereto ; and that 

 the fundamental principles embodied herein can only 

 be changed, subject to Federal authority. 



Concerning the right of suffrage, Article VI. 

 ordains thus: "Every male citizen of the 

 United States, of the age of twenty-one years 

 VOL. ix. i3. A 



and upward, not laboring under the disabili- 

 ties named by this constitution, without dis- 

 tinction of race, color, or previous condition, 

 who shall be a resident of this State at the 

 time of the adoption of this constitution, or 

 who shall thereafter reside in this State one 

 year, and in the county in which he offers to 

 vote sixty days next preceding any election, 

 shall be entitled to vote, etc. Persons disfran- 

 chised, of unsound mind, and criminals, are 

 excepted. 



The oath of office is to be as follows : 

 SECTION 1. Members of the Legislature, and all offi- 

 cers, before they enter upon the duties of their offices, 

 shall take the following oath or affirmation : " I (A.B.) 

 do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I.will faithfully and 

 impartially discharge and perform all duties incum- 

 bent on me as , according to the best of my 



skill and ability, and that I will support the Consti- 

 tution and laws of the United States and of this 

 State. And I do further swear (or affirm) that since 



mitted an assault upon any person with deadly 

 weapons, or sent or accepted a challenge to fight a 

 duel with deadly weapons, or acted as second in 

 fighting a duel ? or knowingly aided or assisted any 

 one thus offending, either within this State or out of 

 it; that I am not disqualified from holding office 

 under the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution 

 of the United States (or, as the case may be, my 

 disability to hold office under the fourteenth amend- 

 ment to the Constitution of the United States has 

 been removed by act of Congress) ; and further, 

 that I am a qualified elector in this State. 



The Ordinance of Secession made by the 

 State of Texas in 1861, and all her subsequent 

 acts relating thereto, the new constitution ex- 

 pressly declares, in Article XII., to have been 

 null and void from the beginning, with some 

 limitations, especially as they may affect claims 

 acquired by private parties. 



The new constitution makes important pro- 

 vision for the education of youth in Texas. 

 Having created the office of a Superintendent 

 of Public Instruction, and defined the duties 

 of that officer, it earnestly enjoins the Legisla- 

 ture to establish and perfect a general system 

 of public schools, and enforce strict compli- 

 ance with its regulations ; it also provides, for 

 their maintenance and progress, ample means 

 from various sources. 



The State being as yet very thinly inhabited, 

 the iramers of the new constitution, with a 

 view to increase her population and thus pro- 

 mote the development of her vast resources, 

 made provisions which seem well calculated to 

 invite and draw settlers from abroad, as fol- 

 lows, namely: 



SECTION 1. There shall be a Bureau, known as the 

 "Bureau of Immigration," which shall have super- 

 vision and control of all matters connected with im- 

 migration. The head of this Bureau shall be styled 

 the " Superintendent of Immigration." Jle shall be 

 appointed by the GoVernor, by and with the advice 

 and consent of the Senate. He shall hold his office 

 for four years, and, until otherwise fixed by law, shall 

 receive an annual compensation of $2,000. He shall 

 have such further powers and duties, connected with 

 immigration, as may be given by law. 



