[ continued from part 1 ]
---------------------------------------------------------
When the war ended in April 1865, Texas was still considered to
be in revolt (the last battle of the Civil War was fought on
Texas soil after the surrender at Appomattox).  Although a state
of peace was declared as existing between the United States and
the other Southern States on April 2, 1866, President Andrew
Johnson did not issue a similar  proclamation of peace between
the U.S. and Texas until August 20, 1866, even though the
Constitutional Convention of 1866 had approved on March 15, 1866
an ordinance to nullify the actions of the Secession Convention
Southern States remained under military government until their
legislatures adopted the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the
United States Constitution.  Their readmission to full national
status varied from state to state (Georgia was readmitted
twice).
In April 1869, the U.S. Congress passed an Act authorizing voters
of Virginia, Mississippi and Texas to vote on their new state
constitutions and to elect state officers and Members of
Congress. Three months later, President U.S. Grant signed a
proclamation submitting the Texas Constitution to the voters of
the state.
Texans voted on a revised state constitution in November 1869 and
elected a state government.  Once convened, the legislature voted
to ratify the 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution
(the 13th amendment having already been fully ratified) and
elected two U.S. Senators, thereby completing the requirements
for reinstatement.  President Grant signed the act to readmit
Texas to Congressional representation on March 30, 1870, and this
federal act was promulgated throughout Texas by a general order
issued by General Reynolds on April 16, 1870.
No requirement exists -- either in the Reconstruction Acts
governing the rebel states or in the document readmitting Texas
to full statehood -- for the governor of Texas to sign a document
reaffirming Texas' position as a state within the United States
republic.  The only ongoing requirement of Texas government was
that no constitutional revision should deny the vote or school
rights to any citizen of the United States.
A thorough check of the volumes of federal statutes for the
entire period of Reconstruction (1865-1870) and through 1872
revealed no other legislation requiring further proof of
submission to the U.S. government on the part of Texas or any
other of the "rebel states."
------------------------------------------------------------
           [ end of material ]
I just figured Mike shouldn't be the only one to benefit from my
little research excursion.  This internet thingy is both 
interesting and a useful research tool.
T.E. - San Diego Ilks (Sgt. at Arms)
tomenright@funtv.com
... Sorry, the Dog ate my REP packet.
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 [NR]
--- MysticToss 1.20/Pro
---------------