The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-07-28

National Convention in New I ork
in 1868, and 10 it he, no doubt, in
great measure owes his present
proud distinction as the chosen
leader Of the great party of the
| Constitution and the law.
After reciting Pease's COM
plants, as shown by extracts from
his letter, Gen. Hancock said:
You remark that you dissent
from my declaration "that the
country (Texas) is in state of
profound peace,'' and proceed to
state the grounds Of your dissent.
They appear to me not a little ex-
traordinary. l quote your words:
"It is true there no longer exists
here any organized resistance to
the authority Of the United States,
but a large majority Of the white
population who participated in
the late rebellion are embittered
against the government, and yield
to it an unwilling obedience"
Nevertheless you concede they do
yield it obedience. You proceed:
"None of this class have any af-
fection for the government, and
very few any respect for it. They
regard the legislation Of Congress
on the subject o. reconstruction
as unconstitutional and hostile to
their interests, and consider the
government now existing here
under the authority Of the United
States as an usurption of their
rights. They look upon the
emancipation Of their slaves and
the disfranchisement of a portion
of their own class as an act of in
suit and oppression" And this is
all you have to present for proof
that war and not peace prevails
in Texas, and hence it becomes my
duty ESQ you supposc) to set aside
the local civil tribunals, and en-
force the penal code against -citi-
zens by means Of military COM
mission.
My dear sir, 1 am not lawyer,
nor has it beer my business, as it
may have been yours, to study
the philosophy Of statecraft and
politics. But I may lay claim,
after an experience of more than
half a lifetime, to some poor know
edge Of men and some apprecia-
tion of what is necessary to social
order and happiness.
And for the future Of our COM
mon country I could devoutly
wish that no great number Of our
people have yet fallen with the
views you are entertain. Woe be to
US whenever it shall come to pass
that the power of the magistrate,
civil or military, is permitted to
deal with the mere opinions of
the people.
I have been accustomed to be.
Iieve that sentiments ofrespect or
disrespect, and feelings of afec-
ton, love or hatred, 80 long as not
developed into acts in violation OF
law, were matters wholly beyond
the punitory power of human
tribunals.
I will maintain that the entire
freedom of thought and speech,
however aerimoniously indulged,
is consistent with the noblest as
pirations of man, and the happiest
conditions of his race.
When boy I remember to
have read a speech ofLord Chat
ham, delivered in Parliament. It
was during our Revolutionary
War, and related to the policy Of
employing the savages on the side
of Britain. You may be more
familiar with the speech tnan l
am. If am not greatly mistaken
his Lordship denounced the Brit
ish Government-his government
in terms of measured bitterness.
He characterized it's policy as re-
voting to every sentiment of hu,
| rnanity and religion, proclaimed
it covered with disgrace, and vent
ed his eternal adherence OF 1t
and it's measures. It may, think,
be safely asserted that a majority
of the British nation concurred
| in the views of Lord Chatham.
But who ever supposed that pro-
found peace was not existing in
that Kingdom, or that govern
rnent had any authority TO, ques-
ton the absolute right OF the op'
position 70 express their objections
to the propriety of the Kings
measures in any words, or; to- any