Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-06-15
The civil Record or Gen. Hancock,

The civil Record or Gen. Hancock.
The prominence Of Gen. Hancock a.
q probable democratic presidential can.
didate gives national importance to his
acts and opinions whilst. holding under
the reconstruction laws the position ol
commander Of the Fifth Military Dis.
trict, composed Of the States Of Louisi-
ana and Texas. He was for several
months the absolute ruler of these Com
monwealths, with NO other restraint upon
his action but such Is he allowed 70 b
imposed upon himself, and Il time
when the shortest road to the approval
of the truly loyal and the favor Of
Grants administration led to oppression
and outlawry Of the defenceless white
population committed to his charge
He had the power to remove civil mag
istrates, to suppress local tribunals, to
establish Military Commissions and to
suspend the civil laws. Sheridan was
afterwards invested with the same pow
ers and in the same localities. The
whole country knows nor will soon for
get his arbitrary, irritating and insulting
treatment of these people during his
lawless rule and how Grant and his Cab
met" all Of us here"-approved the
rough-shod doings of this vulgar up
start. Hancock was expected to make
a similar record. He was found, how
ever, to be very different manner OF
man from Sheridan. He declined to
crook the pregnant hinges of the knee,
though thrift might follow fawning, and
resented Grants interference with his
administration by asking to be relieved
of his command. He was relieved, but
before his transfer to another depart
ment, he addressed the letter following
to Gov. Pease, of Texas, in reply to his
application for the establishment of mil
itary tribunals in that State. 1t is a
fair illustration, we think. of Hancock $
character as citizen and his qualifca-
ton as statesman.
HEADoU sRrgRs rrrrH MILITARY DISTRICT
New Orleans, La, March 9, 1863
To His Exccllency +. NJ. Pease Governor of Texas:
Sir-iour communication OF the 18th January
last, was received in due course of mail 1.-THE 18th
January, but not until it had been widely cir
culated by the newspaper press To such letter
written and published for manifest purposes
II has been my intention to reply as soon as leis-
ure from more important business would permit
Your statement that the act of Congress ito
provide for the more efficient government of the
rebel States" declares that whatever government
existed in Texas was provisional; that peace and
order should be enforced: that Texas should be
part OF the Fifth Military District and subject to
military power; that the President should appoint
an officer TO command in said district, and detail
a force to protect the rights Of person and prop
erty. suppress insurrection and violence and
punish offenders, either by military commission
or through the action OF local civil tribunals as
in his judgement might seem best, will not he
disputed. One need only read the act to perceive
II contains such provisions. But how all this is
supposed to have made itmy duty to order the mil
itary commission requested, you have entirely
shown, and the propriety of doing il, are often
very different matters. You observe YOU are at
a loss to understand how government. without
in Congress, or militia force and
subject TO military power, can be said 10 be in
iuli exercise OF all its proper powers. You do
not reflect that this government, created or per-
mitted by Congress. has all the powers VI which the
act intends, and may fully exercise them accor-
dinghy. you think il ought to have more pow
crs. should he allowed to send members to Con-
gress, WELD militia force, and possess vet 9TH
er powers. your complaint is not to be preferred
against NE, but against Congress, who made it
" hat il is
As respects the issue between us, any question
rs to what Congress ought to have done has no
pertinence. You admit the act Of Congress au-
thorizes me TO try an offender by military COM
mission or allow the local civil tribunals try, as
shall deem hest; and YOU cannot DENY the act ex-
prcssiy recognizes such local civil tribunals as
legal authorities for the purpose specified When
you contend there are NO legal local tribunals
for any purpose in Texas, you must either denv
the plain reading Of the act of Congress or the
power Of Congress TO pass the act.
You next remark that You dissent from NV
that the country (Texas)is in a
state Of Profound peace" and proceed to state the
grounds Of your dissent They appear to me not
a little extraordinary. Iquote your words: Il,
Is true there no longer exists here (Texasl any
resistance to the authority of the Uni
ted States But large majority Of the white
population who participated in the late rebellion,
are imoittered against the Government and Weld
ana unwilling obedience" Nevertheless, you
concede they do yield il obedience. You proceed:
None of this class have any affection for the
Government and very few any respec, for it
They regard the legislation of Congress on the
subject OF reconstruction as unconstitutional and
hostile 10 their interests. and consider the gov
ernment now existing here under authority Of
the United States a. an usurpation on their
rights. They look on the emancipation Of their
late slaves and the disfrsnchiscment OF q portion
Of their own class, an act Of insult and opprcs-
SION
And this is all you have to present for proof
that war and not peace prevails in Texas: and
hence IL becomes NV duty-so YOU suppose-,o
set aside the local civil tribunals, and enforce
the penal code against citizens BY means of mili-
,afy commissions.
Ny dear sir, | am not lawyer. nor has i, been
nay business, rs it may have been yours. to study
the philosophy Of siaiecraA and politics. But
riay lay claim. after an experience Of more than
halt . lifetime, 70 some poor knowledge Of men.
and some appreciation Of wha, Is necessary 20
social order and happiness. And Cor the future
Of cur common country, could devoutly wish
that no great number OF our people have We, fal-
len in with the views you appear to entertain.
Woe be to Us whenever il shall come 10 pass ,ha,
the power Of the magissra,e-civil or military
S permitted to deal with the mere opinions or
ieeiings OF the people.
have hreu accustomed 10 believe that sen,i-
nenis OF respect or 6iSrerespect and selings Of
Ancct!on, love, or hatred 30 long not developed
into acts in violation Of law were matters holly
beyond the prnitory power Of human tril una's
l viii u,ainiaia that the entire frr~siom Of
thought and speech however acrimonicusiy in
dniged, Is isconsstent with the nobseet aspirations
Of nsn, ard the hsppiess condition cs his race.
When ecy, rvnicmter to have rad xr<cch