The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-07-01
TaE DEMOCRaTIC NOMINEES.


civilian and statesman worthy the
highest consideration of the party, and
who was its first choice for the highes.
office In the gift of the people of these
United States. 1t was believed he would
make an able president, experience hay
ing taught that it is better to look 10 a
civilian for such high preferment than
to a military man. But the record
sho vs. that Gen. Hancock under
stan Is perfectly we'll that the military
arm of the government should be sub
ordinated to the civil, and his official
acts point directly 10 the fact, that,
though an officer of the regular army,
he has compelled the military, at
time when it was not expected, to re-
main subservient to the civil power of
the country. 1t was Andrew johnson
who determined to place Gen. Han
cock in command of the department of
the southwest, and his expressed pur-
pose in dong so was that he under
stood we'll that Gen. Han
cock was decided in his views
upon powers, affecting the civil
and the military arms of the govern
ment, derived from tbe plain letter of
the constitution, which he felt assured
Gen. Hancock would implicitly obey.
President johnson was not mistaken,
and in his famous order, of November
90, 1867, Gen. Hancock then in COM
mand of Louisiana and Texas said:
''The right of trial by jury, The ha-
beas corpus, the liberty OF the press,
the freedom of speech, the natural
rights of property, must be pre-
served" and for the exercise of
such feeling he afterwards became
the subject of persecution, on the part
of party that made Grant Mill
tary dictator, and which has now re-
pudiated Mr.. Hayes because he felt
somewhat as did Gen. Hancock. Un.
der the reconstruction acts of Congress
and by appointment of MIR. John
SOD, he became the absolute ruler of
two Southern states, with the power
to remove civil officers and to substl-
tute military tribunals and to suspend
all civil law. His first act on taking
command, with his headquarters at
New Orleans, was to issue an order in
which he proclaimed that tine consti-
tuition had survived the war, and that
! 1t should be used as guide in the ad-
ministration of the affairs of his dis
trict. This famous paper gave Gen.
Hancock civil reputation, which,
coming from man trained alone in
the art of governing by force of arms,
entities him, however, to rank among
civilians. A part of the order read:
The general commanding is grstified
to learn that peace and quiet reign in
this department. 1t will be his pur-
pose to preserve this condition CT things.
AS a means to this great end he re-
CARDS the maintenance of the civil au-
thorities in the faithful execution of the
laws as the most efficient under exist
ing circumstances.
In war it is indispensable to repel
force by force, and overthrow and de-
stroy opposition to lawful authority.
But when insurrectlonary force has been
overthrown and peace established, and
the civil authorities are ready and will
ing to perform their duties, the mill
tary power should cease to lead, and
the civil administration resume its nat
ural and rightful dominion. Solemnly
impressed with these views, the general
announces that the great principles of
American liberty are still the lawful in
heritance of this people, and ever
should be. The right of trial by jury,
the habess corpus. the liberty OF the
press, the freedom of speech, the nat
ural rights of persons, and the rights
of property must be preserved.
Free institutions, while they are es-
sential to the prosperity and happiness
of the people, always furnish the
strongest Inducements to peace and or
der. Grimes and offenses committed
in this dristrict must be referred to the
consideration and judgment of the reg
ular civil tribunal, and those tribunals
will he supported in their lawful juris-
diction.
Should there be violations of exist :
ing laws which are not inquired into
by the civil magistrates, or should fall
ures In the administration of justice
by the courts be complained of, the
cases will be reported to these head
quarters, when such orders will be mlde
as may be deemed necessary.
| While the general thus indicates his
purpose to respect the liberties of the
people, he wishes all to understand that
armed insurrection or forced resistance
to the law will be instantly suppressed
by arms.
Such were the sentiments of the man
and ithe major-general, whom DEM
oc-ats in national council haYe hon
ored with an expression of their choice.
That he had not fought brayely in the
defense of the Union cannot be de-
MED, and when Pennsylvsnians remem-
Der Gettysburg it will be surprising in-
deed that they do not rally to his sup
port at the polls in November, and hon.
or him for the protection of their
homes against these very Southern
men, who, when subdued, he bsfnend-
ed and protected. Not alone on the oc-
casion Of his first general order, when
placed In command at New Orleans,
did Gen. Hancock display his obedi-
ence to the constitution, but when Gov
ernor Pease, the provisional Governor
OF Texas, asked him to extend over
Texas a strong military arm, and to as
sist in denying the late rebels Of the
state voice in its government, he
again placed himself on record in IA
vor of free civil government and Of
freemen, and the rebuke given by
this regular officer Of the army
to one who had been nourished
alone in the walks of civil life
was enough to convince that it is
not training but nature and the oppor-
tunity that makes man inclined to be
oppressive and unjust Gen. Han
cocks civil record 10 as good as that
OF any civilian OF the land. and the
rorrcsl - S,c,,naki 1a<7 ~ kfa non, .