Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-04-27
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AusHn Awii ilh 1911 .
Coz. Asnnrt sHun Houston. irklsI
Isaf Slr-i wa 700 hually fnrlrgd ai
the lime ~ Uoelslnr funf lasi iator FOO
answer w return post llr prescott q ihc
earliest moment VI leisure I have bod. I
vas much eralihsd III ihe otpiessianof ymf
views, and they accord with iho sentiments
expressed hy many prominent gentlemen
with whom I have had correspondence To-
different parts Of the state. The recent nci
of Congress directing the details Of rSecn'
ting the first act, has relieved us Of any
doubts as 10 the proprioiy Of what course
was best TO pursue, In order hat ne terms
Of the Il rst might he complied With The
views | expressed TO yourself ana other
gentlemen shortly after the passage OF 'he
Shermen bill, have been strengthened by
reelection. In my Judgment, there should
I've no hesitation on the part OF oar people
IN conforming TO the conditions imposed
While we feel that the law is unjust aud
harsh, aud that there is no good reason why
II should have DO so severe, and that,
without any desire ON the part OF The white
race. IA NAV prove of great injury 10 the
blacks, yet II presents plan otadluslmenll
and, however onerous, we should not fail
the very best we can TO restore peace and
prosperity. Those Of us who afe disftan-
chiscd can wei afford To submit to such de-
NAL Of tho privileges Of freemen II Il will
be the means ofbringng quiet, good order
and fraternal accord to the country. IL |
such sacrifice will DO the means of reliey-
ing the country from military rule, Of re- !
storing the sacred right Of trial by jury In |
the courts unawed by bayoncts md aid In !
restoring our countrymen TO their native
land who now wander In exile, il should be |
cheerfully made; and ] can conceive Of no
more worthy sacrifice that patriot hear. /
can make.
BY prompt action in accepting the terms I
proposed, we eau promise ourselves n re-
lease from the terrible suspons Sc, so injuri- |
Gus to every interest OF the country, in
which we have been involved since the :
surrender. by non0ction we leave the
State government to be controlled by the
military rs long MS il may please Congress /
to permit it, with the certainty in the in-
ture that il will be superseded or abolished.
BY such n policy we invite further pros I
crptive and discriminating legislation .
when we are utterly powerloss and unable I
to avoid anything that may be imposed, By .
ayailing ourselves OF the terms offered We
may not preserve liberty, yet we may pre- /
serve life and prevent further humiliation.
Wemay also lay the foundation for fu- /
ture restoration TO perfect equality with the
other States of the Union; and We, may
place ourselves in condition to aid the
great patriotic masses OF the nation in re-
storing the government to its original puri-
ty, and once more making il the pride and
glory Of every American heart, wherever
found, in whatever cline or section.
However dark and gloomy the present
hour, and inauspicious it may appear TO MS,
we should not despair or sink into apathy
and Indifference. Manly exertions, res
olute purpose to repair the situation, and TO
improve every opportunity to better our
condition, is the spirit that should guide
and actuate each Southern.
NIt is neither wise nor patriotic to be sui
len and Indifferent, 10 invite additional
trouble, and contribute by such nets to in
duce the further confusion and disaster
that will surely follow, by delay. On the
other hand there is every incentive TO ac-
ton. Peace with her many attendants of
prosperity, happiness and good will, invites
it. Fraternal accord, with the renewal of
respect and esteem among countrymcn,
suggests it. The pcrpetuity of the govern
ment of our fathers, disenthrallcd from
sectional anmosities. and unembiressed
by fanaticism, demand it, The genius of
the founders of American liberty impl0res
it, The renewal Of national greatness up
on an enduring basis, requires it. The sad
condition of thousands of our suffering,
starving ccuntrywomen and orphan chill.
dren and disabled heroes, pleads for it"
OIr own powerlcss and helpless condi-
ton dictates it. Then let MS not hesitate,
but march boldly to the work before us. BY
compliance with the terms of Congress we
no more express our approval Of the law
than we did when We complied with the
terms of the Presidents proclamation by
abolishing slavery and repudiating our
public debt We had lost the prize for
which we fought. We made that sacrifice
as an earnest Of our rights in the Union.
There was no sacri fce of honor involved
then-there is none now. When we were
called upon voluntarily to adopt the Con-
stitutional Amendment, il was different
The manner of submitting that PROPOSE |
ton by Congress indicated that the Con-
sttution was to be amended in accordance I
with the spirit that created it, and that the
States were to act free and untramelled,
unbiased by the prospect of increased pow
IL.
In the past history Of the country the
people fthe South, on many occasions, have
given the highest evidences of moral cour-
age and fortitude. They are now called
uponto exhibit these virtues in the most
eminent degree. We have seen men under
the enthusiasm of noble impulses, and the
excitement of battle march boldly and de-
liberately into the jaws Of death. Yet my
experience teaches me that such daring is
not the result of the highest order of cour
age. The mind may be filled with visions
of glory, the eye may burn and flash with
the ardor of battle, and the heart may swell
with emotions too grand for utterance, and
vet, such courage as would mpel its victims
to the cannons mouth, is not equal to that
which enables men, in times of great pub
lie calamity, or popular commotion, to
stand up boldly and avow convictions for
the general good that are radically at vari-
Ance with the prejudices, partialities, long
cherished hopes and desires of those to
whom they are addressed. Pride, enthu-
siasm, or ordinary courage may cause the
reckless sacrifice of individual life. But
when great and gallant people care conquer
ed and overcome, when they are oppressed
and spurned, and their very misfortunes
are heaped upon them as crimes, aid every
sneans used to make them the instruments
of their own torture and humiliation, it re-
quires the loftiest courage TO overcome the
animosities and prejadices of the popular
heart, aud to combat the terrible surround
ings of an outraged public sentiment. Yet
all this is demanded of us by the highest
considerations that ever appealed TO the
understanding of men. II can only be ac-
complshcd by the most enlightened patri-
oiism, guided by reason and untainted by
selishness.
l feel an abiding confidence that the peo-
pie ofTexas will not falter or prove indif-
ferent. Every citizen Of the State, however
exalted or humble his sphere, should feel
that his country demands of him prudent
and efficient service and that his services |
may be more potent for good now than at
any future period Every one who is en-
titled should register aud vote at the proper
/. time, and those who are disfranehised /
n a.. TAal