The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-02-28

GuLulIi btuSeLnehb OI aHalES IN NAhdWell NOunLy
The names signed to 1t are those Of good Union
men, and Of reliable ami respectable citizens.
During tie coming fortnight, the number Of out
RACES committed on freedmen will very likely be
greatly increased as 1t was last year, about Christ
mas, when many freedmen will be robbed Of their
whole years earnings.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
(Sgned) BYRON PORTER,
Sab-Assistant Commissioner.
CITIZENS PETITION.
MaIor-General Charles E. Griffin, Commanding
Department of Texas:
DEAR SIR: We respectfully represent the ne
cessty for retaining part Of the United tates cav
airy forces now stationed at Austin, Texas, for
the purpose of suppressing acts of lawlessness,
being perperated at different points in the State.
We enclose O statement Of outrages committed at
Prairie Lea, Caldwell Comfy, Texas, and respect
fully request the keeping of company OF sol
dieTs, or part of a company, for the prot ection
of the lives of freedmen, and the preservation of
law and order there. Ii the troops now ordered
to that point BY Breyet- Brigadier-G Sturgs
are withdrawn, without other troops supplying
their places, the lives of the loyal whites, as well
as the freedmen, will be endangered.
We would additionally urge your influence IN
having an agent Of the Freedmens Bureau sent
TO Priirie Lea CSigned by w. Q. Philllpsi X. A
Alexander X PSschal; L. Collins; J.L. Rhodes;
T.C.Collins J.T.Allen Geo. r. Scott William
Alexander A. II. Langley Mathew Hopkins
L, W. Collins; F. w. Kenge; Ernest Raven
VIM. d. Price; B. @. Bennett -1i W
.e STATEMENT OF oUrRAcKs
PRAIRIE LEA, Texas, Dec. IA, 1866.
Governor j. W. Throckmorton, Austin, Texas;
DEAR Sin; Your letter. and that of Judge
Hancock, concerning Mr.. Tucker, came to hand.
Since writing to the military about one month
has elapsed Tucker has, IN the meantime visit
ed and raped respectable lady about twelve
miles below here, and was arrested, and put in
jail at Gonzales, where suppose he will remain
until taken out by his numerous rebel friends.
During my short stay here, | have seen freed
men chased by white rebels on horseback. run out
of town and shot OF. On Saturday the 9Th inst,
/ saw q freedman publicly whipped because he
addressed young man he had known from in
fancy as Tom, instead of Master Tom. The
young chiyalry said himself, in my hearing, he
had whipped him the ireedman) for calling him
Tom. Day before yesterday, O freedman was
beaten over the head with a stick while another
rebel stood with six-shooter In his hands, be-
cause he wanted beef account drawn OIL that he
might see the items 'r 'I'
A few days ago freedmen was chased into a
private residence, and subsequently run down,
dragged back TO town by chivalrous rebels for no
Offences his life threatenedl If he reported the par
ties. This Is but sample Of what Is going on in
this reconstructed land
We are told by the President of the United
States, that civil law prevails to the exclusion of
military law, and that the people everywhere are
being protected In their ri ghts. There Is no civil
law here 10 reach rebels The freedman has an
abundance. ftY 5.iT lG,f .f.
No constable has been found who will or dare
serve the freedmen live here in terror Of life.
II the civil law prevails and is competent 10 pro-
tect the people, we should like to see II enforced
here II powerless, 1t is time the aid Of the mill
tary was invoked.
The facts stated above can be substantlated by
some Of the best citizens In this place. There Is
no agent of the Freedmen's Bureau here, and If
here, would be powerless without soldiers. Dur
ing the coming Christmas 1t Is not improbable
that more than one freedman Will be assassinated
here. .'u| Your obedient servant, '.'
(Signed) Gs iaa w. O. PmLLIPs. q
7. s.. Since writing the foregoing communica-
tion, to-wit the 18th inst, freedman Nelson
Smith, was shot down for refusing to give his bot
tie Of whisky to two reconstructed rebels, and
will probably die from the wound. pH .5
(signeD w. G. PmLLIPs.
A. p. BoNNER
iur fI mtt Sal JoIIN M4CKEY. l,t. d
GOVERNOR THRockMoRToN's LETTER. uut
Thereupon Governor Thr0ckmorton addressed
note to Gen. Sturgis, commanding, in substance,
0s follows;-
AUSTIN, Dec II, 1866.
GENERAL STURGIs lam Informed of outrages
perpetrated at Prairie Lea, Caldwell county, upon
freedmen and Others. would be glad TO have
you send part OF company Of cavalry, say
twenty men, under judlcious and discreet officer
to be retained there for some time for their pro-
lection. should be glad to consult with YOU
before they 60, and to have them sent within the
present week. Very respectfully gJI.Il
(Signed) j. w, THROCKMoRToN,
ioVn inf
Similar accounts of outrages in Texas
might be multiplied to any extent, did
time permit, i
1t is unfortunate, and a disgrace to
our country Of boasted freedom, that a
large party in this country has always
interpreted the constitution as denying
justice and freedom, and as sanctioning
slavery and drebellion. This party claims
that politics should not be based upon
right and justice, and that religion and
politics are Inconsistent. But the con-
stitution itself claims, as before shown,
that its objects are to secure these bles-
sings, and that Congress shall have
power to render these objects effective
The Declaration of Independence, writ
ten by Thomas Jefferson, only few
years before the constitution was adopt
ed, declares that when any Government
becomes destructive of the great ends
for which Governments are instituted
among men, to wit: to secure to men
their inalienable rights of life, liberty g.,
it is the right of the people to alter and
abolish them,
To show that the Governments are
bonnd by the laws of justice and re-
ligion, the same as individuals, we will
quote from Kent's Commentaries, Vol,
!, page 3; ~ n..
States or bodies polite, are to be considered
as moral persons, having public WILL capable
and free 10 do right and wrong, inasmuch as they
are coleclions of individuals, each Of whom car
rles with him into the service Of the community
the same binding law Of morality and religion
which ought to control his conduct in private
life" a HHa
10 Having attempted to show by the
constitution itself what we're the objects
Of its formation; that Congress have
full power to carry out those Objects