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


sentful or bitter. not resulting la Z breach Of
that profound rsace exists IL Texas You
n New "" Y r nn! vassa ssss sa
California. Ohio and Kentucky, where u ma
jor,y Of the people difier with q minority
on these qtiestions--Or that profound peace
exists In the House Of Representative. or
the Senate ~ Washington, or Ia the
sons have becn r wns. ~ ssss qa ae
parties respectfully and patiently heard.
You next complain that In parts Of
criminal laws, that shcriifs fail 70 arrest, thar
grand Juries will not always indcf. that in
some cases inc military acting Ia nil Of civil
nutnorities nave not been able 10 execute The
process 81 the courts, that petit jurors have
acquitted persons adjudged guilty by you, and
tnnt other persons charged with ofrenses have
broke yall ana He'd from prosecution. know
not how these things are. But admitting your
representations litri ally tric. III for sucn reas-
ons should set aside the civli tribunals, and
order military mission. there H. no place
IN the United States where II might not be
uune with equal pfopgiety. There ~ not a
riale IN tnc Union--north or .south-where
the Ike facts are not continually happening.
| perfection IL not 70 be prcdicated Of man or
MS works NO one can reasonably expect
actions. and II military power Il 10 10 sci in
motion ON the principles Tor which you would
seem 20 contend fear thar a civil Govern
ment, regulated BY laws, could have n aDid-
Ing place beneath the circuit Of tue sun II
u rather more Than limited In your letter, that
there IS no local state Government In Texas,
ana no local laws outside OF the acts Of Con-
grcss which ought 10 respect, and that
should undertake 10 protect the rights OF per-
sons and property IN nv olrn ray and III an
nfDurdfy manner. II such be your moaning,
am compelled 10 differ with YOU After the
abolition ~ slavery, ian event which hope
no one now regrets the laws ~ Louisiana and
lexas existing prior 10 the rebellion. and not
in conflict Win the acts OF Congress-, COM
prised a vast system Of Jurisprudence, both
civil and criminal. II required not volumes
IN sH4.pf IN 3hAf. mA...~
laid down principles and preccdents for as
ceraining the rights and adjusting the con-
,dIroversies Of men IN every conceivable case.
f.ihcy were the creations ofgreat and good and
learned men, who had iabOrcd In their day
Tor their Kind, and gone down to the grave
long ipng before our recent troubles, leaving
their works an incstinahe legacy TO the hli-
man race. These laws, as l am Informed.
connected the civilization OF past and present
ages, and tssiitied q the justice, wisdom, hui
tions through whose records they descend
ca 10 the present people OF these States. |
am satisfied, from representations OF persons |
competent 10 Judge, they are a. perfect sys- |
tenn OF laws as may be found elsewhere and l
better suited than any other 10 the condition /
been governed. Why should il 10 supposed
Congress has abolished these lawsy Why i
should any one wish TO abolish themS They \
nave committed no treason, nor are hostile To \
the United States, nor counfcnance crime nor \
favor injustice On them as on 1 foundation
OF rock, repascs almost the entire supcrstrrt-
this code Of local laws. and there would be no /
longer any rights. either of person or property,
here Abolish the local civil tribunals made 4
10 execute them. and you would virtually an
nul the laws, except In reference 10 the very l.
few cases cognixabe I'm the Federal courts
Let US for moment suppose the whole local
mandcr of the Fifth Military district. the sole
fountain Of law and Justice. This Is the posi-
ton IA which you would place me-
am now 10 protect all rights and redress all
How IL II nnseiIla I'm N n N IN 4
lnnurnerable questions arise, Of which am
moi only ignorant, but 10 the solution Of which
military court Is entirely untitled. One
would establish will, another decd--or the
question Is one OF succession, or partnership.
~ descent, or trust-a suit Of cjectmcnt or
claim 10 chattels-or the application may re-
late to robbery. theft. arson or murder How
am 20 take the first step ia any such matter.
IL turn % the acts Of Congress find noshing
on the local code. for II has ceased 70 exist.
And you tell me that i'm this perplcxing con-
dition am 10 furnish. 10y dint Of my own
manded by the vast and manifold interests or
the pcopiei repeat sir. that you. and not
Congress-, are responsible for the monstrous
situations here 70 he respected by me. outside
the acts of Congress. / say unhesitatingly, IL
u were possible that Congress should pass nm
act aboli ~hing the local codes for Louisiana
and Icxas-which | do not believe and II
should fall 70 my lot 70 supply their places
with something q my own. DO not see how
here prior ~ the rebellion. excepting what
ever therein shall relate 20 slavery. Power
may destroy the forms, but not the principles
q Justice. These will live In spite even OF
the sword History tells as that the Roman
pandccts were lost for long period among
mum sn. .na' Wa sha r9vo,on naa nespea
ruins-again 10 be regarded as precious
You are pleased to state that .since the
there has been 4 percepfibIc increase Of crime
and manifestation Of hostile feeling towards ,
the Government and it, supporters" and add
recital OF the condition OF the country
You Will permit me TO say that deem II i'm
possible the first Of these statements can be
rcctncss Of the second. General order No. 10
was issued mt New Orleans. November ~, 1891,
and your letter was dated January II. 1868.
become gcnerily known, some additional .
lime must have elapsed before Its effect would
be manifested, and yet y further time must
lranspirc before you would BE- able 70 collect ,
evidence OF what you term "the condition Of
the country" And yet, after all this. you
you'll have g make ne ncces sary investga-
was the cause. The time. therefore. remain
ng 20 enable You. before the 18th Of January,
delicate and nice question must have been ..
very short. How You proceeded. whether you
investigated yourself or through third PEE ,
,ctcncy and fairness, on what evidence You ,
'cstcd your conclusion. or whether you ascer- l
aimed any facts at oil, are points upon which
four letter 80 discrcetly omits all mention that
may well be excused for not relying implic- {
tly upon II, nor IL my difficulty diminished BY a
he fact that In another part OF your letter you !
tate that ever since the close uf the war I
Iery large portion q the people have had I
10 affection for the Government. but bitter
lcss Of feeling only Had the duty Of pup
ishing and circulating through the country {
ong before Il reached me. your statement =
hat tine action ~ the District Commander was
increasing crime and hostile feeling against q
nc Government. been less painful TO your r
II might possibly have occurred !
o you to furnish something on the subject In \
addition to your bare assertion. 4
But what was order No. 40, and how could II 4
ave the effect you attribute 10 III IL sets II
orth that " the great principles Of American
liberty are still the Inheritance Of this people {
md ever should be, that the right OF trial BY n
urv. the habcns corpus, the liberty of the !.