The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-24
No. ;;}>S.
Letter from Hon John e. Campbell fo Go,

Letter from Hon. John & Campbell to Gen.
LoSGsrREEf on TIE SITUATION.
The following letter tron, Judge Campbell. of Als
bama, should have appeared in connection with Go,
Longstreet's letter. published in last Wednesdays
soutb=Western on the situation but was om;tted e.
want of space:
| NEW ORLEANS, April 5, 1857
Ge"eraI-i have received your note relative to the
CONDITION Ill which the Southern States have been
tplaced by the enactment of the military hills and
nave considered q the pfoprefg of the xDresson of
some opinion on tte sntject NJ opinion as to the
proper course to be adopted by the citizens Of the
i Southern Stafes' COMEDIES with yours
Vile military bills have become operative as lawa
IN ten States The President after exhaustng his
eoS''oIcnai means OF opposition, now performing
DIS executive duty to enforce theS faithful execution
len states are now Submissive to form of govern.
n nen' unNho"n to the Constitution Of the Uuited
States The Judiciary power Of the Union is denen.
dent Tor Its organisation aud dstlibpron rno, f,on
sresS. 1t Is quite farto conclude that no arrbngo
mcht OF the judicial pow er would be Suffered n r.
man that seriously incommoded the enforcement of
!hesc measures. Nor am able to perceive that the
Judicial power, under its present Organisation is ade
| quate to afford substantial relief in the existing
emergency even if the opinions of the courts were 5
favorable might be desired
| regard it as an inexorabIe fact that there is M
constitutional opposition that be made to the mill
/ n
crease the existing anarchy.
| These military bills afford to the people of the
otaes, with large exceptions the means of RESTORING
the supremacy of civil order and to terminate the
nomination OF military rule. l may grant that the
conditions are harsh and rigorous; that they violate
/ the fundamental law of the United StatAs and thaF
they promise tor the future much of insecurity and
lhstaoilitY But these admissions do not change the
aspect OF the question, as presented nor do they
lessen the Obligations OF people to take the meas
men Sc ttpti tblrv
veal.
III the ancient and honorable those who haya
an interest III the permanent welfare of these Southern
olates-thoSe who are mindful of their honor, and
"o"'u ADVANCE their prosperity and happness-those
"hom the inspired prophet denomiuutes as' the
head, shall abdcae their functions and retire from
pupfic concerns III a.mood of splen discomfort what
Will be the consequence? The consequence will ha
thaS : the prophet that teacheth lies :" "the demo
sooue t' cauSe'h the people to err whom the same
prophet am quoting ftly denominatcs as the tail
WI" usurp their functions, and will proceed to frame.
government to work mischief aud to institute niSru,e
and confusion Ny counsel therefore, is ,hot the cifi
zehs or the State, on whom the burdens and caamfes
OF this time must fall, those have first described
snail exercise every right, exercise every faculty. and
employ every power that these military bills allow of
with undaHnted courage unwearied in duty aud un
disturbed tranquility CT SOUL terminate .he existing
conditions OF disorder I may eoncede that We have
frankly gwen what the wise and good believe is all
ttNo J'N'-~c "iiH itaHo4t require may grant that
suspicion and jealousy have been INDUCED without
measure, and that the concessions now exaeted il
yielded will not allay these dispositions, and that a
fresh tram OF evils may be the consequence But
tan consideration of this possibility does not affect my
opinion "F'
The Southern States have passed through an ordeal
OF hre, without dishonor dscrcdt among those
whose opinion is valuable
Large masses of our population have shown mag
nanlmy, heroism, capabity for selfsacrifice un-
der the demands of duty that must ct some time or
another be recognised and rewarded
submission to untoward events in the nroner
spirit does not imply surrender of these great oua
ties Our people need not surrender as those without
hope.
We shall not be committed against seeking for
aneiloTaons III our Institutions nor from asserting 4
right that all dsparaging conditions to union be re-
moved
W e may abide time with confidence "that God
Will protect us if we be virtuous and wsen
Iour friend JOHN A. c,upnrtr
General James Longstreet.