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

nave no OlOlng place oeHcaIh Lue
circuit Of the sun. 1t is rather
more than limited in your letter
that there is no local State Govern
ment in Texas and no local laws
outside of the Acts Of Congress
which [ ought to respect, and that
| should undertake TO protect the
rights Of persons and property IN
MY OWN WAY and in an ARBI-
TRARY MANNER. If such be
your meaning, I am compelled to
differ with you. After the aboli-
tion Of slavery Gan event which l
hope no one now regrets) the laws
of Louisiana and Texas, existing e
prior to the rebellion, and not in
conflict with the Acts Of Congress,
comprised a vast system of juris-
prudence, both civil and criminal.
1t required not volumes only, but
libraries to contain them, They
laid down principles and prece-
dents orascertaining tt Q rights and
adjusting the controversies Of men
in every conceivable case. They
were the creations of good and
great and learned men who had
labored in their day for their kind
and gone down to the grave long
before our recent troubles, leaving
their works an inestim able legacy
to the human race. These laws,
as I am informed, connected the
civilizations of past and present
ages, and testified of the Justice,
wisdom, humanity and patriotism
Of more than ono nation, through
whose records they descended to
the present people Of these-States,
l am satisfied from representa-
lions Of persons :eompetent to
Judge they are as perfect:a system
of laws as may. be: found else here,
and botter suited than any: other
to the condition of this people
for by them they have long been
governed. Why should it: be, sup
posed Congress has abolished. these
laws? Why should any one wish
to abolish fhesa 2 ~!iFEhAey~.~ha7e
committed no t treason nor are hos
tile to the" United States; = nor
countenance crime; nor favor in.
justice. i0n;them,: as on.a founda-
tion of rock; 4eposds almost THE
entire superstra csure' Of social or
der in these two States Annul
this code oE4ocal laws and there
would be'no longer any rights,
either OF person ';or property,
|: I:hefe..~ Abolish tho ttAf6 I local; civil. tri-
I eban:als 4nad4ysto execute them, and
fyou would: -Tirtualiff Tiirtiuiasl 'arHul' the
Flaws, except in; rse9aserence to- the
Every few cases cognizable' in the
8:FedesalaCoultts: -Letus, for a mo-
| | taent, suppose 'the:whofo EocaF CIV
III code anhul4ed, and that T. am
left, as commander. Of the Fifth
I Military District. the sole, foun-
| tain of law and justice. This is
the positionin which you ~oald
place noe. II am now to opfooect
+al! rights;saad:redress all wfohgs.
tHow:is itlpossiue for'me to do;{t ?
! Innum cradle questions aFisS,o of
which i am; not only gnoa'aut, cut
! to. the solution of.whica a military
! court is entirelyj unified, -ziOae
would establish:a will, |anotherI q
| deed. 0rthe. qaestioniso one ofsac-
eession, Or partnership, or descent !,
] ortrust; a suit ofejeetment oF.eEam
to chattels. or the application may
Erelate to robbery, theft, arson
or murder,2 How. am Ito take
/ the first step 10 any such matter !?
If l turn to the Acts Of Congress
I find nothing on the subject" |
dare. not open the authors on the
local code, for it has ceased to ex-
! lst. j.. 49,: 49," -: 81. = ,'
b. And you tell me. that in: this
.perplexing condition Lam 10 fur
nish, BY dint of my own hasty
and crude judgment, the Legislation
] demanded by the vast and mani
fold interest of the. peoplel LIRE
peat, sir, that. you, and not Con
gress, are responsible for the.m0n-
strous suggestion, that there are
no. local laws or institutions here
10 be respected by me, outside the
Acts of Congress. { say unhesi-
! .tatingly, If it-~ere' possible that
Icon gress :shou4d pass an act'abol-
Iishing the local codes for Louisiana
! Aand:Texas-which Edo not believe
-sHd.it should: tall, to my lot - to
supply their places:with something
! of my own, l do not see how l
! 1,.-L,l IL i oS++or% bon follow + !, a. lew 6