Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1868-08-01

The military hppoihtovs alh IauiSai
who, in fact, have control OF th'
State government, are responsible
before tho country for the great in
| crease Of crime ia this State, iron
which they cannot escape by OK part
reports aud false assertions as 10 th'
causes OF such increase of crime.
4. Another fruitful source Of orim'
and lawlessness may DO traced 4
the changed condition Ofsoeiely ro
sulting from the emancipation o
tho negroes, the indolent habits anC
thiovish disposition eyincedby them
aud the turbulent spirit which they
have manifested, instigated by bad
aud designing mon, and in many
instances supported by the oiiicer-
of the frocdmen's Bureau.
In a number Of instances Of very
recent occurrence, the negroes have
displayed u lawless and riotous dis
position, meeting In armed mobs,
deiying the laws, and rescuing per
sous charged with crime from the
hands of tho officers. As II by con
cert ofaction, these occurrences have
of late been Simultaneous in anum-
bcr of localities, and we firmly be
lieve and charge il TO have bceh the
work Of base political design. In
some of these instances the rashness
of the negroes in attacking the Off
GERS in tho discharge Of their duties
has precipitated n conflict which HIS
resulted in the death of somo of
them. In every instance the whitc
people, anxious to avoid all difficult
ty, have acted with the greatest
forbearance only resorting to force
when attacked, or when necessary,
to preserve order and protect the
officers of the law and themselves
from violence. AS illustrative of
the truth of this, we refer to the
late riotous and unprovoled demon
stration at Houston, Hampstead,
Milican, Waco, and in tho counties of
Washington, Freestone and Falls
We have thus grichy and generally
referred to the causes of the increase
of crime and lawlessnes in the State
of Texas. These general statements
are based on facts, detailed to your
from the most reliable
sources and known TO all. To state
these facts in detail, our limited
time forbids. We could. give many
but too well known to all
Of the Convention, Of the most heni
ous murders perpetrated upon per-
sons of Southern proclivities by Fed
oral soldiers, and in many instances
under the sanction of military Off
,ers-ofwhich no notice has been ia
Ken by the authorities, and the offen-
lers have escaped punishment thus
ar. In support of this, we refer to
,he following instances: In the
own of Seguin, q crazy negro was
by soldiers while tied to
rec. The Messrs. Burns, father
md son, were called from their beds
vt midnight and shot by Federal
soldiers and their house set on fire,
DR.. Parker, a conservative negro,
vas shot and killed in Caldwell
county by Lieutenant Plumer with
,ut provocation. Dr. Cunningham
vas taken from the hotel at Con-
,ales at midnight and murdered,
md that by Federal soldiers, with
,ut provocation. We could instance
many more such outrages. Had
Judge Caldwell desired to arrive at
he truth, and had his report been
published for other than political
nds, he might have reported these
nd many Others of a like character
n the State. Such, however, was
'ot his purpose. The whole object
nd tenor of his report, filed as tits
With misrepresentation and unjust |
nd dishonest inferences, was to
each some base political end and
ccomplish some secret design for
he further oppression of the people
f the State, and if possible her sub
ugation to the radical rule.
Your committee solemnly dony
hat radicals, white or black, have
ot freedom of speech-or that
here is any systematic effort to
esist the laws among the people of
he State or to persecute radicals,
7hite or black, from the State Us is
harged in the report. Nor is it
as stated by Judge Cald-
yell in his report for members of
he present constitutional Conven-
ion to return to their counties.
We know ofno such instance, nor
an we from strict enquiry hear of
ny such, except such as are afraid
D meet the legal consequence of
heir criminal acts, by return to
heir counties. We have already
eferred to the unfairness and mis-
of Judge Caldwell's
eport; as additional evidence of the
orrectness of our conclusions, we
efer to a report of the proceedings
the Austin Convention of the 9th
T July. 1t was moved by the Hon.
!. ID. Evans, of Titus, that the
ommittee on Lawlessnes. and
rime, exhibit to any member who
lsy call for it the evidence on
'hich their report is based. The
invention refused TO suspend the
lles for the consideration of the
And Hamilton, of Ira
is stated that the sworn state
tents of the witnesses were not
gned by them.
In conclusion we would remark
rat the untruthfulness and misre-
of facts in the report
Judge Caldwell is only surpassed
y the atrocious character of the
Ieasnres proposed to be inaugura-
d for the alleged suppression Of
-ime and lawlessness. 1t is pro-
osed to organize a loyal militia 20
1 IN connection with radical mill