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


manitY and religion; proclaimed i COW
cred with disgrace, and vented bis eter-
nal abhorreuee Of it aud it's measures.
IL may, / think, DO safely asserted that
u majority of tho British nation con-
CURED in the views Of Lord Chatham.
But whoever supposed that profound
peace was notexisting in that kingdom,
or that the Government had any au-
thority to question tho right of the OPP
position TO express their objections TO
the propriety Of tho Kings measures
in any words, or to any extent they
pleased : lt would be difficult toshow
that the opponents Of the Government
in the days Of tho elder Adams, or JEFF
ferSon, or jackson, exhibited for Il
either affection" or respect You
are eonyersant with tho history Of our
past partias and political struggles
touching Legislation on alicnage, sedi.
tion, tho embargo, national banks, 6nr
wars with England and Mexico, and
cannot be ignorant Of the fact that for
one party 10 assert that law or System
of legislation Is unconstitutional, op.
prcssive and usurpative, is not new
thing in the United States. That the
people OF Texas consider Aets Of Con-
gress unconstitutional, oppressive or in
sulting To them. is Of no consequence
to tie matter in hand. The President
Of lhe United States has announced
his opinion that these Acts Of Congress
are unconstitutional. Tho Supreme
Court. as You are aware, not long ago
decided unanimously that certain
Military Commission WAS uneonstitu-
tional Our people everywhere, with
out reference TO which aide they took
during the Rebellion, differ MS to the
constitutionality Of these Acts Of Com
gress.. How the matter is. neither you
nor may dogmatically affirm
Ii yon deem them constitutional
laws. and beneficial TO the country, you
not only have the right to publish your
opinions, but il might be your bounden
duty as citizen TO do so. Not less is
il the privilege Of every citizen, wlsfr-
ever residing, to publish his opinion on
this and every ether question which he
thinks concerns his interest. This is
merely in accordance with the princi-
plies Of cur free Government and nei.
ther you or | Would wish 10 live under
any other. Ii is time now, AZ the end
Of almost two years from the close of
the war, WC should lcgin TO recollect
what manner # people We are 10 toll
crate again fee popular Discussion. and
rsteild sone consideration aud forbear-
auee Ia opposing views. Tie mn nxims
tiut Ia all intellectual contests truth is
mighty, nnd must prevail, and iha' or
ror II harmless when Reason il lefl free
io combat il, atc not only sound but
Salu,ary. IL ~ poor compliment 10
the merits of such a osiisc that It's adj
yoca;.a wol.ll silence opposition by
fufe'.. aud generally those only "a lao are
ia ihe wrong will resort To- this ungcn-
eroua mrans. | M, confident you will
not commit your serious Judgment to
the rroposiiioi, tla, ANY amount Of dis
cussion, or art Aigt ii ".inions. how
ever nnWi>, ia t",ir Judgment, 81 nur
assertion 81 t.aiing, bo4e,er rcseutfnl
or tittet. mot resuiting in u breach Of
law. can furni-li iut,iiirati"n f,r your
denial that profound l@ac,' exists in
TrNas. Nou mil lt as well derry that
~. i,uil lr-are cNists IN New York,
Z, niist lVunis. Alar, limi. California,
GP'o ari'i Kentucky, where majority
81 IL" people differ with minority on
THESE questions; or that profound peace
eNist. Ia the lIonse of Representative
or tie Senate at Washington, or in the
SHpreme Court, where all these qnes.
tions have been repeatedly discussed,
and parties patiently and respectfully
heard. You next complain hat in
parts ef the State (Texasl ii il difficult
10 enforce the criminal laws that
sherilIs fail to arrest that grand jurors
will not always indict that in some
cases the military acting in aid Of the
civil authorities have not been able TO
execute the process of the Courts; that
petit jurors have acquitted persons ad-
judged guilty by You; and that other
persons charged with oHenscs have
broke Jail and fled from prosecution. /
know not how these things are but
admitting your representations literally
true, if for such reasons | should set
aside the local civil tribunals and order
n Military Commission, there is no
place in the United States where il
might not be done with equal propriety.
There il not State in the Union
North or Sonth--wherc the like facts
are not continually happening. Per
fection is not to DO predieated by man
or bis works, No one can reasonably
kexpect certain and absolute Justice in
human transactions and If military
power is to be set in motion, on the
principles for which you would seem tc
contend, fear that civil Government
regulated by laws, could have 20 ahid
ing place beneath the circuit of the sun
1t is rather more than limited in youl
letter, that there is no local State Gov
ernment in Texas, and no local laws
outside Of the Acts of Congress, which
[ ought to respect and that | should
undertake to protect the rights Of per
soas and property in nsy olgn qgag ant
in an arbitrary p,aai,er. If such b'
your meaning, / am compelled to diiGel
with you. After the abolition Of slave
ny, ian event which ! hope no one now
regrets) the laws of Louisiana ant
Texas now existing prior to the Rebel
lion, and not in conflict with the Act
of Congress, comprised a vast system o
Jurisprudence, both civil and criminal
/ 1t required not volumes only, but ibla
ries to contain them, They laid dow
principles and precedcnts for ascertain
| ing the rights and adjusting the contro
veraies Of men, in every conceiyabl