Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-07-15

Tree, popular 0fAcusslon, and ex-
tend some forbearance and cousid
GRAFTON to opposing views. The
maxims that in all Intellectual con-
tests truth il mighty and must
prevail and that error Is harmless
when reason Is left free to combat
it, are not only sound hnt saIutary.
1t ia q po"r compliment to the
me,lts OF such . canse. that is ad-
vocatss woaldeiience opposition by
force; and generally those only who
are iu the wrong will resort to
these ungeneraas means. | am
confident you will not commit your
se,i ms Judgment to the PROPOSITION
that auy amount of discussion, or
any aort of opinions, however, re-
eentful or bitter. not resulting in a
breach of Law, can furui.h justifica
tion for your denial that profound
peace exists 10 Texas. You might
as we'll deny that profound peace
exists in New York, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Califurnia, OHIO aud
Kentucky, where . majority of the
people differ with the minority on
these questions or that profound
peace exists in the Houre Of Rep
,esentstives or the Senate At Wash
ingtop, o, 10 the Supreme Court,
where all these quetIions have
been repeatedly discussed, and
parties respectfully and patiently
heard. You next complain that IN
parts of the State rexas)it is diff
cult to enforce the criminal laws;
that sheritts fail to arrest j; that
grand Jurors will not always indic';
that in some cases the military
acting iu alj Of the civil authorities
have not been able to execute the
process Of the courts; that pe'it
jurors have acquitted persons ad-
judged guilty by you, and that
o:ber persons charged with ffenses
have broke til and f ID from per-
secution. l know not how these
things are; but admitting your rep
resentat!ons literally true, it for
such reasons I should set aside the
local civil tribunals and order Il
military commission, there is no
place in the United SAFES where
it might not be done with equal
prop,iety. There is pot State 10
the Uuion-N ,fth or rSoutb-wbere
the like facts are not continually
haprening. Perfection is not to he
predicted of man or his works. No
one can reasonably expect certain
and absolute Justice in human
transaction, aud if military power
is to be set in motion, on the prin-
ciples for which You would seem to
| fear that civil govern
msnt,regulated by laws, GOULD have
no abiding place beneath the cir
cult of the sun. 1t is rather more
than limited in your let er, that
there is no local State government
in Texas, aud 10 local laws outside
If the acts OF Congress, which ]
ought to respect; aud that / should
undertake 10 protect the rights OF
pc, sons and property in my own
way and in an arbitrary manner.
II sucb be your meaning, am
compelled to differ with yonr. AT
ter the abolition OF slavery (aD
event which l hope 70 one now le-
gre,s,) the laws OF Louisiana and
Texas existing prior to the rebel
lion, aud not 10 conflict with the
acts Of Congress, comprised vast
system Of jurisprudence, both civil
and criminal. 1t requi Ell not vol
umes only but librar,e, to contain
them. They laid down principles
and sprecedents for ascertaiuiDg
the r,gh's and adjusting the CON-
trovesies of men, In every conceive
able case. They were the creations
Of good and learned men, who had
labored. in their day, for their
L MI. and gone down to the grave
long before our recent troubles,
leaving their works au inestimable
] ,gacy 10 the human race. These
laws, as | am Informed, connected
the civilIz .t.on of past and present
ages, apd testified of the Justice,
wisdom, humanity and rat! t!iotlsm
of more than ore nation. through
whose records they descended to
the present people of tbe-e States.
I am sati-ti.d, from representa-
tions OF persons competeut to
jnGge, they are as perfect system
"f laws as mag he found elsewhere,
and better suited than any other
to the condition of this people. fo,
by them they have long been gov
e:ued. Why should it be 50 p 'sed
Congress has abolished these laws?
Why shonld any one wish TO abol
ish them? They have committed
no treason, nur are hostile to the
Uni'ed States. Eor eonntenance
crime, nor favor ihius'ice On
them. as on a foundation of rock,
reposcs almost the entire Super,
structure of social order in these
two States. Apnnl this code Oi
local laws, and There wonld no
louGer be any Tikhfe, either oi