San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-10-30
S

harmless when reason 10 left to
combat it. are not only sound but
salutary. II is q poor compliment 70
the merits Of such cause, that its
advocates would silence opposition
by force; and generally those only
who are in the wrong will resort TO
this ungenerous means. I am conf
dent you will not commit your
serious Judgment to the proposition
that any amount Of discussion, OF
any sort Of opinions, however un'
wise in your Judgment or any a..
sertion or feeling, however resentful
or bitter, not resulting in Q breach
of law, can furnish justification for
your denial that profound peace
exists in Texas. lH
You might as well deny that pro-
found peace exists in New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, California,
Ohio and Kentucky, where q majori
ty Of the people differ with q minori'
ty on these questions, or that pro.
found peace exists in the house Of
representatives, or the senate, at
Washington, or in the supreme
court, where all these questions have
been repeatedly discussed, and par
ties respectfully and patiently heard.
You next complain that in parts Of
the state (Texas) it is difficult to en-
force the criminal laws; that sherifis
fail to arrest; that grandjurors will
not always indict; that in some cases
the military acting in aid of the civil
authorities have not been able to OK.
ecute the process Of the courts; that
petit jurors have acquitted persons
adjudged guilty by you; and that
other persons charged with offences
have broke Jail and fed from prose
cution. L know not how these
things are, but admitting your rep
resentations literally true, If for
such reasons ! should set aside the
local civil tribunals and order o mil
itary commission, there is no place
in the United States where it might
not be done with equal propriety.
There is not o State in the Union
North or South-where the like facts
are not continually happening. Per
lection is not to be predicated Of
man or his works.
No one can reasonably expect GER
tain and absolute justice in human
transactions and ii military power
is to be set in motion, on the princi-
ples for which you. would seem to
contend, I fear that a civil govern
ment, regulated by laws, could have
no abiding place beneath the circuit
of the sun. It is rather more than
limited in your letter that there is NO
local state government in Texas, and
no local laws outside Of the act Of
congress which I ought to respect
and that I should undertake to pro
tect the rights of persons and prop
erty in my own way and in an arbl-
trary manner. Ii such be your
meaning am compelled to differ
with YOU. After the abolition OF
slavery, ian event which I hope no
one now regrets) the laws of Louisi-
ana and Texas existing prior TO the
rebellion, and not in conflict with the
act of congress, comprised q vast
system OF Jurisprudence, both civil
and criminal. 1t required not vol
umes only but libraries to contain
them. Iney laid down principles
and precedents for ascertaining the
rights and adjusting the controver-
sizes of men in every conceivable case
They were the creations OF great
and good and learned men, who had
labored IN their day for their kind,
and gone down to Inc grave long be-
fore our recent troubles, leaving their
work an lnestlmabie legacy to the
human race. Tnese laws as l am
informed, connected the civilization
OF past and present ages, and testi'
tied of the llsuce, Wisdom, huInani-
ty and PATRIOTISM OF more than one
nation, through whose records they
descended to the present people OF
these states, and / am satisfied, from
representations Of persons compe-
tent to Judge, they are as perfect q
system vi laws as may be found else
where, and better suited than any
other to the CONDITION OF the people,
for by them tney nave long been
governed. Wny should 1t he sup
Sosed congress mas abonshed these
iawst wny should anyone wish TO
abolish themi They nave committed
no treason, nor are tney hostne to
the United States, or countenance
crime, or favor injustice. On tneln'
ms ON a foundation OF rock, reposes
almost the enure superstructure Of
social order IN these two states.
AnnuI thus code OF local Laws, and
there would he NO longer any rights
either OF person OF property hsre'
Abolish ule local eiyn Tribunals
made to execute them and you would
y,rnaliy annu the LAWS, except in
reference to tne very lev cases coe-
n.z.D.e an tine ieuer-a coars3 Let us
ior a moment suppose lie ~iioie ioc'l
cay,, code annu..od, and that 1 ain
,eit. as Commander Of the flItl
m,nt1ry disIrIcs, Tne sole fountain o.
saw ana Jusuce. Inns Is siIe Pos'uoi
IN wmcn you pace me
lam now " protect all nights and
redress all wrongs How Is 1t Possl
b,e for me 10 40 1T lnDumersOr
onss.,o,s ar7se Of winch 4 am not On