The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-07-16
HANCOCws NOBLE SENTIMENTS.

- lfANe1AANAA AtH1 Ah0AAAt
grand and sialesman-like official letter
of General Hancock, the Democratic
candidate for President, to Governor
Pease of Texas Every Democrat,
every patriotic citizen, no matter what
his politics, must applaud aud admire
the sentiments expressed, and the devo-
tion OF the author to the supremacy Of
the civil law
HEApouARFERs FIFru MILY DIsT.,
New Orleans, La, Mar. 8, '6s.
70 Ills Ereeiisncy 4. ~. Tease, Goper.
nor ef Tieras
SIR Your communication of the
18th January last was received by due
course of mail (the eth january, but
not until il had been widely circulated
by the newspaper press. To aueh a
letter written and published for mani.
fest purposes it has been my intention
to reply as soon as leisure from more
important business would permit.
Your statement that the Act Of Con.
gress toprovide for the more efficient
government of the Rebel Statea," de.
clarcs that whatever Government ex.
listed in Texas was provisional that
peace and order should be enforced
that Texas should be part of the Fifth
Military District, and subject to mill.
tary power; that the President shoald
appoint an officer To command in said
District, and detail force to protect
the rights of person and property, sup.
press insuIrection and violence, and
punish instruction aud violence, either
by Military Commission, or through The
action of local civil tribunals, as in his
judgment might seem best, will not be
disputed. One need only read the Act
to perceive it contains such provisions.
But how all this Is supposed 10 have
made il my duty TO order the Military
Commission requested, ,you have en-
tirely failed to thow. The power to do
thing, if shown, and the propriety of
doing il, are often very different mat
ters. Nou observe you are ut loss 10
understand how Government, with.
ont representation in Cong,css, or n
militia force, and subject to military
power, can he said TO he in the full ex-
ereise Of all its proper powers. You
do not reflect that ihis Government,
created OF permitted hy Congress, has
all the rowtss which tie Act Intends.
and may fullv exrieis,. them according
y. II yot think il oi,.sirt 50 lave
more pow ,.rs. should lc allowed ,o s,,ut
metnhe's io Congress. wirld 4 militia
force. nnd possess VT btber POWERS.
,oar complaint is nOt 90 l,,. pr, f,ir,al
agaisist me, but against Cpng,us. who
ma ie il what it is.
As respeets the Issue between ua, any
question as to what Congress ought 10
have lcne has no pertinenee. You ad
nit the Act OF Congress authorizes me
To Try un offender hy Military Commis.
sion. or allow the local civil tribunals
to Try. as shall deem lest, and cannot
deny tie Act recognizes such local civil
tribunals aa legal auihoriiirn Tor the
| purpose specified When ynn contend
there are 10 legal local tribunals Tor
any purpose in Texas. ,ou utnst either
deny the llain ,rH,lire Il The Act oi
Congress ~ Tie rose, of Conere,s Ia
pass the Act
A0I next ttma's that yan disst ns
from my ,ls.eluratis,ii, ..'ihst tie. country
| CTeSas) Is III a state of profound l.e.,cs..'
and proceed to afate the grounds oi
YOUR dissent They appear to NE NIT II
little extraordinary. | quote your
words lit is true there no longer
exists here (Texasl any organized re-
sislanee 10 the authority Of the u,itt.l
Statea.' "But large majority Of tbe
white population who participated in
the late Rebellion areembittered against
the Government, and Weld il AN un.
willing obedience" Nevertheless, you
concede they do yield il oIedieuce. You
proceed
None Of this class have any alice
iion for tl~ Government, and very few
any respect for it. They regard the
legislation Of Congress ON the suhieat
Of reconstruction as unconstitutional
and hostile to their interests, and con-
slider the Government now existine
here under authority Of the United
States as an usurpation Of their rights
They look on the emancipation ef their
late slaves and the disfrancllisement o.
a portion Of their. own class aa an aci
Of insult and oppression.
And this sail you have TO present
for proof that war and not peace pre-
walls in Texas and hence it beeomei
my duty-so you suppose to sat asid,
the civil tribtntsls, and enforce tie Pe
nal Code against citizens by means o
Military Commissions.
My dear sir, | am net lawyer, no
has it been my business, as it may hay,
been yours, to study the policy Of state
craft and politics. But / may IL,
claim, after an experience OF more thar
hall q lifesiipe, TO seaie poor knowl
elge.ef mpn, and ntae appreciation o
what is necessary to social order ant
happiness. And for the future of on
common country, could devontly wisl
that no great number Of our peopl
have yet fallen in with the views yol
} appear to entertain. Woe be to II
whenever It shall come to pass that tn
power OF the magistrate civil Or mill
tary-is permitted to deal with th
mere opinions or feelings Of the people
have been accustomed to believ
that feelings of respect or disrespect
and feelings Of affection, love or hatred
50 long as not developed into ACTS i
violation Of law, were matters who'll
beyond the pnnitorY power Of hnma