The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-03-21


JOHN HANCOCK AND THE NEGRO
BRIGADE.
We have passed over In silence the
utteranoes Of several Journals In Texas
that have openly stated or coyertly In
that the Hon. John Hancock
sought toipvade Texas witha brigade
Of negro troops and while we have
daily read these statements there has
been lying In our desls the fullest ana
most. positive denial from the gentle
nnnnlii question II was to be hoped
that the press would not condescend 10
traduce and falsely the character Of a
brave, outspokep and honorable gentle
man, without the strongest assurance
that their allegations could be meas
urably fortified by facts; but such a
course has been taken, aud we deem II
d fitting occasion to repel aud forever
silence these falsehoods. The Mexia
Ledger remarked respecting Hancock
that 'erhe recollection OF his attempt
cd exploits with II oosrp u 4fique on
Texas soil IL too green In our memory
for that" that Is, for him to represent
iathe UnitedStates Senate the Demo-
cracy ofTexas. We did not refdte this
insinuatlon, but simply desired the
Ledgey to explain what 1t meant by
ATTEMPTED exploitswlth corp sH AJri-
q,le,p whereupon the Marshall Herald
copies the paragraph and remarks
that inasmuch as THE DALLAS
HERALD appears not 10 understand the
paragraphs that the Marshall paper will
undertake to explain matters, which II
proceeds at some length to do by stat
ing that Hancock raised u regiment II
New Orleans, composed principally o
negroes, and that this command wa
to invade Western Texas where Han
cock had resided for long period be
fore the war, concluding the somewha
desultory article with this sentence
certainly, II the Western Texas PEG
pie, whose country he contemplated
ravaging with negro soldiery are fo
him, who shall DO against him ~
While, The HERAIp Comedies tn Z
eminent qualIhcAtions o. Goyerno
Coke aud Judge Devine for the Sena
torship, and would acquisce In the Ell
ovation Of either OF these distinguishes
statesmen to that high position, i
cannot forbear TO defend the characte
OF a man who Is peer TO them both
and would with pronounced ability
represent this great State In our M
tional councils. The letter ofthe Hon
John Hancock Is AZ follows: MI
"a vs. w wAsnIsoToN, February 20. 1870.
James Ii. Simpson, Esq, Dallas, Texas;
DEAR SIR am just In receipt o.
yours OF the 25th Instant, In which, re-
Ierring To the approaching election o
q United States Senator, you say 1t has
been stated to you, and will be useC
against me by certain parties, at the
proper Time, that addressed a com.
nunication TO the Secretary of Wai
asking that1 be placed In command
OF a Federal brigade to invade Texas
by way of the Rio Grande; and further
ask,if YOU can be authorized TO refute
this should occasion offer. IL IL not
true, and you are hereby Authorized To
30 state, ifin your Judgment occasion
should require 1t. i never, at any
time, addFSssed such y communicable
to the Secretary OF War o.
advised or sought to invad,
Texas by way of the Rio Grand,
or by any other route; but, on the con
trary, when approached on the sub
ject advised against 1t as unnecessary
~ Texas would not continne the wa
when 1t should terminate lii the Trans
Mississippi country; and. becausaI de
sifed,uas far as possible, tosave my owl
State~ffOm the ravages of invadin,
armies.
l was as earnestly opposed to seces
sion IA. any one,s and adhered to the
cause Of the Union as ptpmislng the
best, II not the only means, OF preserv
ing republican institutions. In this
acted On my deliberate judgment, and
In obediehOeto nay duty,
IenteitsihSd no hatred, malice or nro.
scfiptiVe feeling towards any whose
Judgment aud sense Of duty induced
him TO pufsne'-a Inherent course
When the war was ended was anx
ious aud embraced every opportunity
to repair the wreck and ruin that wai
left 10 Afneiiorate the condition of tn,
people, and to restore them to theil
just rights Of equal privileges and i'm
munitiess with all the citizens of tn,
county Ia order that they might freel,
enjoyDAstA exercise % controlling vote,
in Its Government.
lido not deny or seek to disguise yer,
strong feeling Or condemnation for thos,
the most OF whom did more to fill the
lapdswith cripples, widows and or
phans; now dragging out wretchec
lives In restitution and want, by press
ing others TO the front OF battle thar
by placing themselves In peril, and who
now affect to be inappeasible and ir
rec0ncilabl6 In their animosity, tina
they may secure position and self.ag
granllissnent, though the people re-
Inaininlthe condition OF political serf
dom. The report you refer to Is not 1
new one, but is more mildly put now
than on Asforiner occasion. III Octo
Der, 1896 when, on the eve OF tn,
Senatorial election, then pending be
fore the Legislature, Il was stated
was AsH Federal ,arigadier- Heneral, t
rai!e a1egros bI1gad6 tpSinvade Texas
and 80 forth. Ifyou have or can get q
file Of the State Gazette for that time
YOU will md an article written and
signed ny myself characterizing the
authors and getters-pp Of the rumor In
wnt \ en- conceive. fitting terms
Judse Baffold, ana Likely Others q
Ipfsupis Soe were TOO young IL fhe