The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-07-22
WHOLE NUMBER $780,

General they are to be adjudged and
settled according to the laws. >, Arbitrary
4 power, such as he has been urged to as
sumo, has no existence here. It is not
| found in the laws of Louisiana, or of
! Texas; it can not be derived from any act
or acts of Congress; it is restrained by
the Constitution and prohibited from ac-
ton in many particulars. -
The Major General commanding takes
occasion to repeat that, while disclaim-
ing judicial functions in civil cases, he
can suffer no 1forcible resistance to
the execution of the processes of the
courts. MAJ. GEN. HANCOCK.
GEN HANCOCK IN REPLY TO REPUBLICAN
ta'i2 li" a5.a GOV. PEAsE. 5aa ctl
/ q My Dear Sir: I am not lawyer, nor
has it been my business, as it may
have been yours, to study the philosophy
of statecraft and politics. But I lay
claim. after an experience of more than
half a lifetime, to some poor knowledge
of men, and some appreciation of what
is necessary to social order and happi-
ness. And for the future of our common
country could devoutly wish that no
great number of our people have yet
fallen in with the views you appear to
entertain. Woe be- to us whenever it
shall come to pass that the power of the
magistrate-ciy1 or military-is per-
mitted to deal with the mere opinions or
feelings of the people. .151. aaJ
I have been accustomed to believe
that sentiments Of respect or disrespect,
and feelings of affection, love or hatred,
so long as not developed into acts in vio-
lation of law, were matters wholly be-
yond. the punitory power of human tri-
bunals.
| Twill maintain that the entire free
dom of thought and speech, however
acrimoniously indullged, is consistent
with the noblest aspirations of man, and
the happiest conditions of his race.
When boy, I remember to have read
speech of Lord Chatham, delivered in
Parliament. It was during our Revolu-
tionary War, and related to the policy of
employing the savages on the side of
Britain. You may be more familiar with
the speech than I am. If I am not
greatly mistaken his lordship denounced
the British Government Govern
ment-in terms of unmeasured bitter
ness. He characterized its policy as re-
voting to every sentiment Of humanity
and religion; proclaimed it covered with
disgrace, and vented his eternal abhor-
renee of it and its measures, It may,
think, be safely asserted that majority
of the British nation concurred in the
views of Lord Chatham. But whoever
supposed that profound peace was not
existing In that kingdom, or that govern
ment had any authority to question the
absolute right of the opposition to .ex.
press their objections to the propriety Of
the Kings measures in any other words
! or to any extent they pleased? 1t would
be difficult to show that the opponents Of
the Government in the days Of the elder
Adams, or Jefferson, or jackson exhibited
for it either affection or "respect .
You are conversant with the history Of
our past parties and political struggles
, touching legislation on alienage, sedition
the embargo, National Banks, our wars
with England and Mexico, and cannot be
ignorant of the fact that for one party tx
assert that a law or system of Legislation
is unconstitutional, oppressive, and
usurpative, is not new thing in the
United States. That the people of Texa!
consider acts of Congress unconstitu
: tional, oppressive or insulting to them
, is of no consequence to the matter il
hand The President of the United
States has announced his opinion tina
these acts of Congress are unconstitu
tional. The Supreme Court, as you ar,
a aware, not long ago decided unanimousl,
: that certain military commission wa!
unconstitutional Ourpeople everywhere
in every State, without reference to tn,
: side they took during the rebellion, diff
fer as to the constitutionality of thes,
, acts of Congress. How the matter reall,
is, neither you nor may dogmaticall,
affirm.
If you deem them constitutional laws
and beneficial to the country, you no
only have the right to publish your opin
: ions, but it might be your bounden dut,
privilege and duty of any and every cit
g zen, wherever residing, to publish hi
n opinion freely and fearlessly on this ant
J. every question which he thinks concern
o his interest This is merely in accord
= ance with the principles of our fire
r Government; and neither you nor
g would wish to live under any other ]
is time now, at the end of almost tw
years from the close of the war, W
should begin to recollect what manne
of people we are; to tolerate agai
free, popular discussion, and extern
some forbearance and consideration t
opposing views The maxims that in a
intellectual contests truth is mighty an
: must prevail and that error is Harmless
when reason is left free to combat it, ar
: not only sound but salutary. 1t Is
= poor compliment to the merits of such
y cause that its advocates would silenc
= opposition by force; and generally thos
only who are in the wrong will resort
this ungenerous means. I am conider
you will not commit your serious jude
ment to the proposition that any amour
= of discussion, or any sort OF opinions
however unwise in your Judgment,
n any assertion of feeling, however resen
10 full or bitter, not resulting in breach {
l. law, can furnish justification for yor
!e denial that profound peace exists
l. Texas. You might as well deny thI
IS profound peace exists in New Yorl
y Pennsylvania, Maryland, Californi'
r Ohio and Kentucky, where majority
Is the people differ with a minority {
8 these questions; or that profound pea
vs. exists in the House of Representatives
es the Senate at Washington, or in tt
s, Supreme Court where all these question
ct have been repeatedly discussed, al
10 parties respectfully and patiently hear
s. WINFIELD s. HANCOCK.
i'd The Two Platforms.
Id IT, ;s Vow, ,ouob tho ba1,it of pO1itic