Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-07-15

and extend some forbearmce
land consideration to opposing
views. The maxims that in all
intellectual contests truth is
mighty, and must, prevail and
that error is harmless hen rea-
Son is left free to conibat it, are
not only sound, but .salutary.
1t is poor compliment to the
merits Of such a cause, that it's
advocates would silence opposi-
-tion by force; and generally
ftlioae only who idre in the wrong
will resort to tiiis, ungenerOrls
means, lam confident you will
mot commit your serious judg-
ment to the proposition that any
amount of discussion, or, any
sort of opinions, however un-
Wise in, your judgment; or any
assertion of feeling, however re-
fsentful Or bitter, not resulting
in breach Of law, can furnish
justification for your denial
THAT Profound peace exists in
Texas You might as we'll de-
ny 4 hat profound peace exists in
New York, Pennsylvania, Ma
ryland, California, Ohio and
Kentucky, where a majority of
the people differ with minority
on these questions; or that pro-
found peace exists in the House
of Representatives, or the Ser
ate, at Washington, or in the
ESupreme Court, where all these
questions have been repeatedly
idiscussed,J and parties respect
fully and patiently heard. You
lneXt complain that in parts of
the State (Tcxas) it is difficult
10 enforce the criminal laws;
that shcriffs fail to arrest; that
in some cases the military act
ing in aid of the civil authori-
ties have not been able to exc
cute the process of the courts;
that petit jurors have acquitted
persons adiu,lged guilty by you;
and that other persons charged
with offences have broke Jail and
fled from prosecution. [ know.
not how these things are; but
admitting your representations
literally true, if for such reasons
l should set aside the local civil
tribunals and order a military
commission, there is no, place
in the United States where it
might not he done with equal
propricty. There is not State
in the Union-North. or South
where the like facts are not
TO be predicated of man or his
works. No one can reasonably
expect certain and absolute JUS
tice in human transactions; and
Iif military power is to be set in
motion, Oh the principles for
which you would seem to con-
tend, | fear that a civil govern
ment, regulated by laws, could
have no abiding place beneath
the circuit of the sun. 1t is
rather more than hinted in your
letter, that there is no local
State government in Texas, and
no local laws outside Of the acts
of Congress, which l ought to
respect; and that | should un-
dertakc to protect the rights of
persons and property in nay o,ela
lUay and in an arbitrary manner.
Ii such be your meaning, | am
compelled to differ with you.
After the abolition of slavery,
(ah. event which | hope no one
now 'regrets,) the laws Of Lou
isiana and Texas existing prior
to the rebellion, and not in con-
flict with the acts of Congress,
comprised Il vast system of ju-
risprudence, both civil and
criminal. 1t required not vol
umes only, but libraries to con-
tain them. They laid down
principles and precedents for
asccrtaining the rights and adj
justing the controversies of
men, in every conceivable case.
They were the creation of great
and good and learned men, who
had labored, in their day, Cor
their kind, and gone down to
the grave long before our re-
cent troubles, leaving their
works an inestimable legacy to
the human race. These laws, as
| am informed, connected the
civilization Of the past and pres
cnt ages, and testified of the
justice, wisdom, humanity and
patriotism of more than one ma
tion, through whose records they
descended to the present people
of these States. / am satisfied,
from representations of persons
competent to judge, they are as
perfect a system of laws as may
be found elsewhere, and better
suited than any other to the con-
dition of this people, for by
them they have long been gov
erned. Why should it be sup
posed Congress has abolished
these laws? Why should any
one wish to abolish them? They
have committed no treason, nor
are hostile to the United States,