Employment Contracts Quotes
This was passed after the Civil War had ended---during Reconstruction. It in effect gave the local authorities control of all Blacks. Those who did not have a home, and few owned land to have one, had to have a job certified to be a white or the Negro could be arrested as a vagrant. But to get the job, they had to agree to whatever terms were offered, usually by their old slave masters.
This ordinance opened the door somewhat to slavery again as Austin said it would “permit families to bring the necessary and indispensable house servants and laborers.” Earlier Mexican laws had abolished slavery in most of Mexico but left the door open in Texas. See {613642} and {613644}.