The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1860-08-25
For the Republican.
rnx CONDITION o. rxx COUNTRY.

Mr.. EDITOR
The excitement which has been pro-
duccd by the burning OF several Towns,
aud the attempts which have been made
to burn others have caused our Citizens
Of this county and other counties, 10
hold meetings, and organize Nigilant
Committees and Patrols, ~ protect our
persons and property, to watch our IN.
terests and 10 keep in subsection our
slaves. Under the pressure Vt existing
circumstances, this is the only means
o! safety, We can adopt. II may bc
well Tor us to take calm aud dellber.
ate view Of what mas been done already,
and what in all probability will yet DO
done, 50 that our citizens may ACT with
more energy and prudence than has char
acterzei their conduct heretofore in
some portions VI our State. We do sin
cerely desire, tina, they will not act here
after, with that indccisiou, and weak
ness Oh the one hand, and that tasbness
and want OF reflection ON the her,
which has influenced their motives III
some places They have taken up men,
have examined them. and by letters, pa
pers, and IN other ways, clearly proved
Them to be Abolitionsts. Yet they have
allowed these same scoundvels certain
length Of time to quit their neighboI-
hood, thereby turning them loose again
upon society, with more acrimony and
more vindIc,iveness against US than
ever, and with inst as much power, TO
plot treason and iustigste OUT slaves to
rebellion When to hang then as high
as Hsmap WAS what they richly deserv.
ed, because we had no law tba, would
fully meet such cases In other portions
Of our State, horse.,hieves have been
caught, and without judge or jury hung
to the nearest tree.
Now let Us look ut these cases right
ly. Ia the frs, place. where our lives,
and liberties are actually IN dspger,-
where the urgency Of the case demands
prompt decision, and where our laws
do not protect Ms, we tamely and quiet
ly allow the criminal to escape. In the
second case, where our lives, and liber.
ties are in no danger whatever and
where our laws can protect us, We hang
Is there any justice IN such doingsy 10
there any good reason in such conduct I
If there is, we must confess We cannot
see It, |, may be said, and that with
some show OF reason, that our jails are
insufficient to hold these scoundte!s, that
our laws are too slow III their action
upon snch cases aud that not more than
one IN twenty are ever brought to trial,
but that they most always <,akc their
escape These are facts which We are
bound to admit, and will bring us 10 the
/ ,t..r al, IA, hpe
point Of view. The opinions which will
be here merely suggested we will leave
to The wisdom and discretion Of our Eel!
lov-citizens, that they may, or may not
act upon il they choose.
Would it not be right and is 1t not
important for US ~ have as soon az pos
sitle called Courts 10 administer JUS
iicc AS soon as the offender is caught
whether he be Murderer, Abol!,onist or
Thief. II /, is said We have no power,
then we say let us have power. Let US
have an extra session %. our Legislature
snmed lately, to make US such laws, the
same t. continue III operation until the
regular meeting Of our Legislature which
will decide whether such laws are good
OF not, 1t seems to us tina, the critical
condition Of our country calls aloud for
some such measures, and until we are
guarded by sach, our only safety is in
vigilant committees These it must be
confessed arc liable to abuse, iur i; mat
tcts not how they may decide in any
case, there will always be some cause OF
complaint. This together with the fact
that some Of them Will get tired and re
sign, and other rncn Of a more violent
disposition be substituted IN their place
viii be sufficient reason why we should
not rely for any length Of time upou the
benefits they may confer. besides by out
ward influences the very body 70 which
we at first looked for assistance may
IN time become terror 10 us all II 10
onr only help now. Blu, we must have
some more permanent means, restricted
and regulated by law, for our future
welfare. We should all be law-abi.
ding people aud il We are not governed
/ by that there is no telling to wha. ex.
ccsses an excited and Infatuated multi
iude may he driven to.
I We live in crIlica! times and are now
I upon the eve Of grea, Presidential
election, which in al, probability Will dc.
cIIt tue !ttt Y! this RfNat h'tu"'i'
And We are Tree TO confess, for we do
most sincerely believe, that all the ex
ctemen, winch has been produced Of
late By Abolitionists aipong us has been
done t. patalyze the South and to pre-
ven, tail vote in November next, All
that men can devlse--every exeftion and
every act-no matter how interruptions
it may bc--will be brought to bear upon
this election II they can elect Lincoln,
it is all they desire. Let rs ask what
VIII be the consequences II he Is elected
One of the very iirst acts Of his admin
is,fa.ion, will to TO repeal the Fugi
tive slave law" aud then 10 deny the
right Of Congress TO protect slavery
any where On all our horde, States the
ci,,c, will be terrible The running "a
our slaves. flooding our country with
Abolition,sts aud fiunaercrs will pro
ducc such state Of ,loodshed. anarchy.
and confusion, AZ the mud Of man can
not conceive, but such as will bring
upon us civii revolution Ia certainty.
God forbid that the times Of the lnquisi-
ton. OF the bloody days Of the French
Revolution should como upon us. To
prevent such terrible catastrophe. we
must he governed by experience and
l. =