The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-08-06

whole 8aotcnl IheOry Disposed o(-A
Leaf Frem the Page ~ l1istory.
The following letter was written %
Governor Peasc, Of Texas, in reply Il
one received by General Hancock in
1868, soon after the latter assumed COM
mand ofthe Fifth Military District:
HEADQUARTERS Firth MILITARY Dfsrnrcr.
NEW ORLEANS, La, March y. 1865.
TO His Exceilency y. NJ. Pcasc. Governor Of
SIH-Yonr communication or the nth Jan.
nary last was received In due course or mail
thc Eth january, hut not until II had been
widely circulated by the newspaper press. Ia
such a lctter-written and pubii med for mani
fest purposes-it has been my intention 10 re-
ply as soon as leisure from more important
business would permit.
Your statement that the act OF Congress
s'to provide for the more efficient government
Of tlc rebel states declares that whatever
Government existed In Texas was provisional
that peace ana order should be enforced, that
Texas should be part of the Fifth Military
District nnd subject 10 military power, that the
PRESIDENT should appoint an oifcrr TO com
mand In said district, and detail force to pro-
tect the rights ~ person and property. sup
press insurrcction and violence, and punish
offenders, either by military commission or
through the action or local civil tribunals as
IN his Judgment might seem best, will not be
disputed. Ono need only read the act to per
ceiye u contains such provisions. Hut how
NIL this u supposed 20 have made II my duty
10 order the military commission you re-
gucsted. you have entirely failed 10 show
Inc power 70 do thing, II shown. and the
prupricty 81 doing II, are often very different
matters. You observe you are ut u loss TO I'M
defstnnd how a Government. without repre-
seniation In Congress. or a militia force, and
subject 4" military power, can he said 70 be
IN the fun exercise OF NIL It's proper powers
You do not reflect that this Government. ere
atcd or permitted by Congress. has all the
powers which the act intends. and may fully
exercise them accordingly. II you think Il
ought 10 have more powers. should be allowed
70 send members to Congress. WELD militia
force, and posses yet other powers. your com
paint y not 10 be preferred against me. but
against Congress- who made II what il il.
As respects the issue between us, any qucs-
ton as 10 what Congress ought 10 have done
has no pcrtincnce. You admit the act OF Con-
grcss authorizes me 10 try an offender by mil.
1fary commission. or allow the local civil tri-
bunals 20 try, as ! shall deem best, and you
loci civil tribunals rs legal authorities for
the purpose specified. When YOU contend
there are no legal local tribunals Tor any pur-
pose in Texas, you must either deny the plain
reading OF the act OF Congress or the power Of
Congress 10 pass the act.
You next remark that You dissent from my
declaration THAT the country Texas IL in u
stare OF profound peace, aud proceedfO state
the grounds Of your dissent. They appear 10
me not a little extraordinary. l quote your
words: III j. true there no longer exists here
fIexnsl any organized resistance 10 the au-
thorty Of the United States" But "a large
majo lfy Of The white population VINO partic-
pated In the late rebellion are embittercd
uga,nI1 me G1sernmen' and yield 70 Il an
coed:
None OF this class has any affection for the
Government, and very few any respect for il.
They regard the legislation OF Congress ON the
subject OF rccuns ructiOl rs unconstitutional
and hostile TO their interests, and cons der the
government now existing here under author
ity OF the United States as Mn usurpation OF
theirrights. They LOOK upon the EN- sncipa-
tion o. their late slaves and the. disfanchisc-
mcnt of portion OF their own class as an act
OF insult nni opp. ession.''
And this Is all You have 20 present for proof
tnat war ana not peace prevails In Texas and
hence y pcc,mcs my duty-so YOU suppose
force the penal code against citizens by means
OF military commissions.
My dear sir. am not lawyer, nor has II
20 study the philosophy Of statecraft and pol
ftics. But ! may lay claim. after an expert
ence Of more than half q lifetime, 20 some
poor knowledge Of men. and some apprccia-
tion OF what IL necessary 20 social order and
happiness. And for the future Of our com
mon country, could devoutly wish that uo
great number Of our people have yet fallen in
with the views you appear ~ entertain. Woe
be 10 us whenever II slall come TO pass that
the power 81 the mag.stratc-civil or military
lis permitted - deal with the mere opinions
or feelings OF the people.
have been accustomed 20 believe that sem
timcnts or respect or disrespccf. and feelings |
Of affect ion. love or hatred. 50 long ~ not de-
velopcd into acts IN violation Of law, were mat
tiers wholly beyond the punitory power OF hui !
man tribunals
1 win maintain that the entire freedom OF
INDUCED. Is consistent with the nobiest aspi-
rations OF man, and the happiest condition VI |
his race.
When a boy, remember 70 have read l
speech Of Lord Chatham, delivered In Parlia- /
mcnt. IL was during our Revolutionary War,
and related 10 he policy Of employing the
savagcs on the d: OF Britain. You may be /
am not greatly mistaken, his Lordship de-
the british Government his Govern
ncnt-in ter ms OF unmeasurcd bitterness. He /
sentiment Of humanity and rcli9ion-pro-
claimed IL covered with disgrace, and vented |
his eternal adherence OF II and its measures.
Ior,y OF the british Nation concurrcd in the
views OF Lord Chatham. but whoever sup
posed that profound peace WIS not existing In
hat Kingdom. or that Government had any
authority 20 question the absolute right 81
The opposition 20 express their objections 20
The pfopriety OF the Kings measures IN any
words. or 70 any extent they pleased? Il
would be difficult TO show that the opponents
81 the Government In the days of the elder
Adams, or Jcnc son. or jackson exhibited for
3 either affection" or 'respcct." You are
with the history of our past
parties and political struggles touching
legislation on alicnngc, sedition. the en-
DnrgO. National Banks, our wars with En-
me fact that for one party to assert that law
,r system OF legislation Ii unconstitutional.
,ppl essivc and usurpativc, Is not a new thing
= nc United Iedr states n, That the people q
ional, oppressive or insulting 90 them, IL OF
70 consequence 20 the matter In hand. The
President Of the United states has announced
lis opinion that these acts Of Congress ARE
The Supreme Court. as
fou are aware. not long ago decided unan-
nonsly that 2 certain military commission