Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-07-15
HANCOCKS RECORD.
Written by His Own Hand.
THE NOW FAMOUS LETTER ID
THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS
VIGOROUS, MANLY AND
PATRIOTIC DOCU-
MENT. !

| Hancock toward the Close Oh bi
administi alton of New OrlesnS il
reply TO the application of Govern
or Pease, of Texas, for the estab-
Iishment of military commission.
in that State 1t deserves care.
ful reading and in it may be foun'
q Triumphant medication Of III,
principles upon which Hen. Ham
cock cunduc' ed his administrations
No conservative citizen Can reat
it without heing impressed with
the soundness Of the writol's po-
litical principles, the frmness anC
Independence of his character, the
excellence of his Judgment. hi'
statesmaulike ability and manly
patriotism
IIEADoUARrER's 5Tu MILITARY
DISTRICT, NEW ORLEANS,
La, March 9th, 1868.
To His E,ccel1ency f. AZ. Iease
Governor Of Tteas
SIR: -Your commune ,tion of the
l7th of j ,uuarv last, was received
in due course Of mail, (the 27;h OF
j ,n"ary) but not until it had been
widely circulated by the newspape,
press. L" such letter written
and published for manife>t rur-
poses-it has been my iuten'ion to
reply as soon as leisure from more
important business would permit
Your statement tina, the act OF
Congress ITO provide 70. the mo G
efficient government Of the rebel
States " declares that whateve.
government existed iu Texas was
provi>ional; that peace and order
shonl'i be enforced; that Tex.s
should be part of he Fifth Militia: y
District, and subj ct to military
power; that the PrcsIdenf should
appoint m officer to command in
SAID district, aud delail Il force to
protect the rights of persons aud
property suppress insu,rection and
viol. nee, aud punish ffender>,
either by military commission, o.
through the action of l,cai civil
tIibunal>,as II in his Judgment might
seem best, vii! not be disputed.
One neei only to read the act to
perceive it contains such prnvis-
lens. But how all this is suppos
ed 10 have it my duty to order the
military commission requested, You
have entirely failed to show. The
power to do a thing if shown, aud
:he propr,-ty of d"iug il, are often
very iudiffeIe ent matters. You OBJ
serve you II 9 at II loss to under
stand how "a government, witbou:
representation in Corgress. or a
military force, aud subject to mill
ta,y POWER, can be said ~ he in the
full exercise of all it's proper power.
You do not reflect thai this COVER
meht, created or permitted by Con
g,ess, has all the powers which the
act in ends. and may fully * .rcise
them accordingly. II you think II
ought t., have more pn~>Is. should
it I've allowed to seUd members t.
Congress, WELD Il military force
u ID possess yet other powers, you,
complaint is not to be preferred
against M, hut against Congress
who nate 1t what 1t ls.
As respects the issue between us
any question a. to what Cong o.,
ought to have doue has no peril
nence. You admit the act OF Con
g,ess authoriZss me to try an Of
fender by military commis>i on, oI
allow the local civil tribunals Il
try, as | shall deem best; aud got
cannot deny the act exp essly rec
ogniZes such local civil tribunal.
as legal authorities for The purpo-'
specified. When yon contend ther,
are no legal local nibuuals for an,
purpose in Texas, you must eitbe
deny the plain leaning of the nc
of Congress or the power Of Con
6 ess TO pass the act.
Your next remA,k lhlt you dis
sent f,"m my declaration, ''iha
the country (rexa-) is iu state o
profound peace" and proceed t
state the grou, d of your dis 'nt
They appear tn me not . little ex
t.ao' diUary. l gu 'te your words
ut is tue there 10 longer exist
here (fexas) any organized rtsis
taUce to the authority of the Uui
ted States "But large 10 j n,t,
ofthe white population who par
tiiciratrti in The late rebellion, ar,
embit'ered against the Goyernmen
aud yield to 1t 40 unwilling obedi
euee, Nevertheless, you conced
they do yield it obedience. Yo
proceed.
/ "None OF this class have any at
fee,ion for tue Government, an
very few any respect for it. The
regard the legislation Of Congress
on the subject of recon .truction a
l0nconEitntioDsl and hostile