Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1870-03-19
fnE
Southern Political situation.

.
A SOUTHERN CONOREssMAs INTER
yIEwED-wnAT nE THINKS OF fuE
sITuAIION-IENANs AND REcoN'
sIRucIIOS.
Prem the Norblss'ills llnd,l Commercially
; Captain John e. Conner, formerly
of this place, arrived at his old
homo on Saturday night last, from
Texas. lie was in tho regular ser
vice there when the initial steps In
reconstruction were taken, and re-
signed his commission TO take part
in tho canvass, on tho Democratic
ticket, aud was elected TO Congress
from the Second District, and Is on
his way now To the Capitol. We
give below Ills Views, imparted TO
us in conversation, on the situation
in that State. However much wo
may differ from him on questions Of
a political nature, we can fully ap'
prccaie any light that may be
/ thrown up0h tho grent social and
political problem OF Southern Recon
struction. 1t is question as broad
and deep as society itself, and con-
Germs every man in the nntion. Mr..
Conner's well known capacity for
giving II correct exposition of what
I he sees and knows, with our admo-
milton not 10 color anything, but TO
give US tho political status of the
State, regardless Of party prejudices,
entities his views to some consider
able weight. II Texas is not the
most peaceful State on the conti-
ncnt," il is certainly not what wo
have been led to believe by the
. press OF both political parties. Our
conversation was substantially us
follows: . ......
CAtrAis cuhSEk's STATEMENT.
QUEsTi0Y.-Wc have heard many
reports of crime and lawlessness in
Texas, and the people generally
/ throughout this section have been
led to believe that it was dangerous
for Northern man to travel thro'
or To live in that State. Tell us
something about that.
, CAPT. CoNNER.-l have been some
little amused, and greatly mortified,
at the mistaken ideas entertained
by the Northern ptuplc towards
TeSus, There is not Il more law
abiding people on this continent
! tliun those OF Texas wi III venture
/ the assertion, without tho fear OF
successful contradiction. that not q
single individual has been subjected
to the slightest molcstation within
| the limits of that extended common
wealth, on account OF his politics,
/ since the close of the war. AS an
illustration Of the quiet state Vt
society, and the determination on
the part of The Texan people to
maintain peace and enforce order, ]
will simply refer to the late election.
The Second Congressional District
extends over an area of country
larger than the whole State of In
diana. The election lasted four
days, and the people were compelled,
under the election order, to vote at
the county seats. This, of course,
involved the gathering together of
every class of people, representing
every color Of politics and all shades
of interest In Indiana, such an
election would have been character
izod by many free fights in Texas,
it passed off quietly, without sin
gle disturbance during the entire
time.
QUEsTIoN.-Thcn / understand
you to say there are no bud iaeh in
Texas.
CAPT. CoNNER.-By no means,
sir. We have our desperate charnc-
tcrs, or despcradocs, as they are
called, but they arc not so as the
result of politics, If a man kills
another here in Indiana, and your
sheriffs get after him, he runs off to
Texas, and procIaiming himself a
"Union man, claims the protection
of the military authorities. That
man, when he comes to Texas,
brings with MIN the same murder,
Gus disposition that Chai'attefised
him in Indiana, and, under the
guise of loyalty, imposes himself
upon the authorities aud the people.
! Not unfrequcniIy his career term-
mates by the sacrifice of life and
this, for political effect is charged
to the arcoun: of tho Texas people,
and forms material for chapter in
that thrilling sensation story. enti-
tied " Lawlessness and Crime in
Texas
EsTIoN.s- Could a Northern
man, Il Republican, go to Texas,
and prosper in business?
CAPT CONNER We have II State
an Empire within itself, for
which Goo has done more, and man
less, than for any other section OF
thi, Union We ask emigration.
We invite capital TO come and assist
us in the development of our vast
and ineyhauStible resources. In
behalf of the Texas people, | can
assure you that ify0u, or ans other
uentleman-f care not What his
politics-will come to Texas, with
an intention to Iiveand reside among
us, and extend towards us those
courlesics which one gentleman cx.
poets from another. that he will
receive nothing but kindness from
our people.
QUEsTioN.-What is the present
political status of Texas ear
CAPT. CoNNER-It is Radical in
every department. The Governor
and all the State officers, both
branches of the Legislature. and
three of the Congressmen are Rad
icals.-I being the only Democrat