The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-10-22

DALLAS, October Il, 1851.
Major John T. Elliott, Editor Dallas Herald.
Dear sir. Il leave tomorrow on u short
trip to northwest Texas, and probably may
not return before the election on the 2nd f
November, for, though hoping to do SO TINT l
may vote for the patriot and statesman, Han
cock, for president of the United States, it
has so happened, though American born,
that | have never voted fer the office of
president of the United States Except for
General Lewis Cass, of Michigan, in lS48;
Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, in 1882
Horace Greeley, Of New York, in 1872, md
Samuel J. Tilden, of New York, in 1876
l have never had tho privilege of voting for
president for any man of what is called the
south. OF course, beng partly raised In tho
province and republic of Texas, | had no
right to vote for president until the first
election after the annexation of Texas to the
United States, and that e.ection came OIL in
lS48, when rode forty miles to cast my
vote for tho old western Lcro, General Low
is Cass, Of Michigan, one of tho Spartan
band who gave protection to my mother and
elder sisters before | was born.
Recently two communications have ap-
peared in your paper in regard TO the re-
ported speech Of Mr.. A. B. Norton, Of this
town, in thestate Of Indiana, slGndCrOus Of
tho people Of Texas. Too y, while prepar-
| ING TO leave Tor the northwest, ! was inIorued
that would be attached as the autnor OF said
communications, aud every effort made to
assail my own record, and thereby destroy
the effect of those articles. AS l cannot 10
present, should sucn An tttempt be mad2, l
desire t. say that l challenge and defy IN n
vestigation into my conduct since boy In
Texas, and in eight days more will be sixty
years old. ! challenge any and every mar a
any and every party to show waercll, i,r
foity.six years, rs Il plow boy, volun,e, I
citizen soldier q writer of Texas pioneer his
tory, an editor member the legislature
an officer In the military service OF NY coun'
try, or in any other ca, aci y, hive ever d nc
a dishonorable act. ! challenge them 10 show
that in the dark days of tho war | ever codn'
teuancod, tolerated or did not oppose and de-
nounce any and every oppression Of union
men. | dare them, to the test and viii cal
only union men to show the falsity OF any
and every such accusation -.
| challenge any and every Republican in
this state to a comparison OF acts, ana before
a Republican Jury | will prove that in the
last ten wears | have done more for peace
and reconciliation and o encourage northern
and western men to come and live among US
than any ten Republicans in the state,
dare them to the test, and will leave the
decision to any ten Republicans fresh from
the north. They may say was, before the
war, strong pro. slavery man, an advocate
of secession, and a confederate soldier
admit it all. was all that and all that sucf
advocacy imports. But when the warclosed
the south surrendered, the negroes were
emsncipated and made voters, a. man OF
sense aud q patriot, as contra-distlngulshec
from an unreasoning fool, sought to lind The
path of duty, and to follow it. AS found
whether wisely found or not, have followed
IL without variableness | believed then
and believe now, that our best course was tt
encourage northern and western men to CONF
and live among us. have so acted, ana VII
continue 10 so act Believing the election o
, Hancock would destroy sectional hate anC
re.upite us MS our fathers were in lG6,
: have been, and am, for HE election. Deiea
= will not change my course or my principles
w Truly, JOIN HENRY Brown.
l p, S.-Lest The foreg Ing may not be SUI
fciently plain, invite all who may desire Il
I know the truth, to the fact, that | was born
in Pike count, Missouri, where | have hun.
dreds of old friends of both partles-'lla'
/. INV father came from Pike county, Missouri
TO Texas in 1924, and hence from eh!dhooc
y / have been, if not in body, in spirit IN Tex
as. Since ny arriyalin the country IL Aus
t tins colony, iu,herles' boy lhaye llyed II
s the counties of jackson, Lsvaca, Gonzales
Victoria, Calhoun, Galveston, Bexar, TraNls
Bell and Dallas, and have represented i've
different districts in the legislature or eoun
/. ellis of the state, and having consclene'
void of offense, defy any man or ny.part.
!. to assail me rs man Of truth aad yersclty
N. B.-Msjor Elliott, as you well know,
A wrote the tw communicationsin the hERALl
a reply TO Mr.. Ncrton's reported speech an
), cd 10 zach. Your friend,
JOHN HKNRY Brown.