Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-04-06
Our Duty

The people Of Tesas have nj mis- lime a
mostlmrorani ani difficult duty 10 perform.
md lho sooner they realize that fiof and
enter nron iis performance tho better for
them
The recent net of Congress known ~ The
Military nill Is uow In foree IN The State II
Texas, And Is now too late 10 Ark why a
law 80 oppressive, and rs we think 10 IN
just, was Imposed upon rs, or 10 ilaiiorour.
selves with the pleasing hope that the law
will not he executed in this State, We say
to all that the Military Dill viii be fally
executed and enforced In our midst, wheth,
err We desire Il or not, The Government OF
the United States is amply able to execute
all the lews passed ny Congress, and all
who may be so foolish as TO think they can
successfully resist the execution of such u
law viii find themselves greatly mistaken
whenever they shall make the effort We
are conquered people, aud must yield
obedience to the laws imposed by our con
querorsi this is the only sensible conclu-
sion to which all reasonable men must
come, who thoroughly understand the laws
that regulate the relative duty existing be-
tween the oonquerors or the conquered !
whether laws Congress may enact must be
obeyed by all the citizens of the United
States. The Constitution Of the United
States declares that all laws made in pur-
suancc thereof are The supreme law of the
land, any thing in any State Constitution
or law to the contrary wiihstanding.
II is now too late to object TO negro suf-
rragc, that is n Jat dceomph, and is no long
or nm open question, and one from the dis
cussion of which no possible good can come,
except to recognize and observe il as part
of the Supreme law of the land.
The inevitable decree has gone forth, the
deed has been done, and whether right or
wrong hereafter Sambo is 10 be regarded as
the equal of the white man at the ballot
box. This esult was not anticipated by n
large majority of our citizens and it falls
upon them like clap Of thunder in n clear
sky. But in the midst of all our troubles
and misfortunes, the right to reorganize
and control oar State Government TO a lin
tied extent, is still left in the hands Of our
people, and il behooves them to be up and
doing, to make the best use o. the little
power that is left them. And though pow
crless TO prevent the negro from voting, they
may save that inestimable privilege to
,-,ac of their follow.c citizens, who in the
late war voluntarily fought against the
United States.
The Convention that will be called for
the purpose of re modelling our State Con-
stitulion, though powerless to deprive
the negro of the right to vote, will have
ample authority under the Military Bill to
disrrancbise all persons who engaged in
the late rebellion. Hence the necessity for
all to register as voters, and aid in send
ing to the Convention men that will not
consent to the dsfranchiscmen of any
person, except such as have been, or may
hereafter be convicted of some infamous
crime. Under the provisions of the Militia
ny Bill, but very small portion Of our pop
ulation will be denied the privilege Of vot-
ing but even that small number may be
the means of giving the control Of the Con
venton to such fanatics as Degener, who
would delight to see every Confederate SOL
der DISTINGUISHED, and his place the bal
lot box occupied by negro.
We most earnestly urge our people to do
all i'll their power TO assist the Federal au-
thorities in en- forcing the Military Bill, and
TO avoid everything calculated to give the
General Government any reason to charge
us with hostility or disloyalty VIC should
exert all our influence to produce harmony
between all sections OF our common coun-
try, by extending cordial invitation TO all
classes of industrious men to settle in our
midst, who, by energy and capital can con-
tribute so largely to our wealth and pros
pcrity as State, and whose presence in
our midst would do so much to eradicate the
preiudices that now mutually exist between
the people Of the North and the people of
the South.
We should most deeply regret to see the
people Of Texas saddlcd with such oppres-
siyc laws as those under which the people
of Missouri and Tennessee now suffer, but
should they fail to do their duty by stub
bornly and foolishly neglecting to accept
in good faith the terms now offered them
by tie Federal Govern ment, they will re-
ceiye and deserve no better fate.
BGs4 The Palestine Advocate revives the
Ill errroct;on Of n canal connectinr the