Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-12-29
Dallas 5strald.
TELE0RAPIIIC.

House committee on lull' lHlNH
Inns reported bill declaring forfeit.
od lands granted 10 Southern Rail
roads In 1856 About five million
ncrcs are involved.
The following Is the President \
message in relation to General
lIancock's Order, No. i0
Gentlemen Of the senate and Oft House Of Repre-
scniaiivrs
An official copy Of the order is
sued by Major General Winfield >
Hancock. Commander Of the FINN
Military District, dated llcadquar'
tiers in New Orleans, Louisiana, on
the Goth day Of November, has
reached mo through the regular
channels of tho War Department,
and herewith communicate it to
Congress for such action rs may
seem to be proper in view of all the
circumstances 1t will be perceived
that General Hancock announces
that he will make the law the rule OF
his conduct, that he will uphold tho
Courts and other civil authorities
in the performance Of their proper
duties, and that he will use his mil
itary power only TO preserve the
peace and enforce the law. lie dc
clarcd very explicitly, that the
sacred right of the trial by jury,
and the privilege of tho habeas cor
nus shall not DO crushed out or
troddpn under foot, he goes further
and in one comprehensive sentence,
asserts that the principles Ct Amer
lean liberty are still the inheritance
of the people and ever should be,
When great soldier with unre
stricted power in his hands to OPP
press his tellow-men voluntarily
foregocs the chance of gratifying his
selfish ambition and dcvotes him
self to the duty of building up the
liberties and Strengthening the laws
of his country, he presents an OK
ample of the highest public virtue
that human nature is capable Of
pmcticing. The strongest claims
of Washington, to be first in war,
firstin peace and first in the hearts
of his countrymen, is founded in
the great fact that in all his illnstrl-
.ous career he scrupuously abstaned
from violating the legal and consti-
tutional rights of his fellow citizens.
When he surrendered his commits
,sionsto Congress, the President OF
that body spoke his highest praise
in5saying, that he always regarded
the rights of the civil authorities
through all dangers and disasters,
Whatever power above tho law
,courtcd his acceptance, he calmly
put temptation aside = BY such
magnanimous acts Of forbearance he
won the universal admiration OF
mankind and left name which has
no.rival in the history of tho world.
am far from saying that General
Hancock is the only officer of the
American army who is influenced
blythe example of Washington
Doubtless thousands Of them arc
faithfully devoted to the principles
for which the men of the revolution
laid down their lives; but the dis
tinguished honor belongs to him of
being the first officer in high COM
mand south of the Potomac, since
the close of the civil war, who has
given 'utterance to these noble sen
timents in the form of military
order. | respectfully suggest to
Congress that some public recogni
ton of General Hancocks patriotic
conduct is due, if not to him to the
friends of law and justice through
out the country fsuch an act as
his, at such a time, it is but fiji that
the dignity should be vindicated and
the virtue proclaimed, SO that its
value as an example may not be lost
TO the nation.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
SENATE.-Memorial from Norfolk
Board of Trade, favoring arcpeal of
THE cotton tax was tabled.
Memorial from the citizens Of
Arkars as, affirms outbreaks immi-
nent on account of restitution in
several counties.
The repea! of the cotton tax was
then discussed, after which, the
Presidents message, in regard to
Gen. Hancock, was read, when,
amid considerable confusion as to
its disposition, the Senate adjourned.
.HoURE.-A bill FOR the relief of
soldiers who deserted, was presented
by. the Military Committee. 1t pro-
volsed discussion, and it was con-
tendcdthat it restored officers who
abandoned the Union force at tho
commencement Of the war.
The House went into a committee
.on the state of the Union.
Gen. HancoclS's message was read
amid considerable confusion. 1t
was ordered printed.
Reconstruction Committee bill,
telegraphed, in substance, yester-
day, was resumed.
Maynard gave notice of an add
tional section, authorizing Convcn-
'tions to establish Provisional Gov
,ernmonts.
Stevens withdrew a section of the
bill increasing representation from
the Southern States.
The bill passed 104 to 37-=strict
party vote.
The bill, as passed, provides that
a majority of votes shall ratify the
constitution, and that at the time of
voting for the Constitution, mem
bers of Congress must be elected az
.cording Congressional Districts ex-
isting in 1858. The same officers
who makes returns Of votes on the
Constitution shall give certificates
10 Congressman.
The House adjourned.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 18.-Demo-