The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-10-26
HANCOCK UNDER THE LIGHT
OF RECONsTRUCTIO


1t has probably escaped the men,
ory of many, that in 1866 Judge
Hancock was appointed by the re-
construction convention as one
Of a commission to visit Wash
ington to report the action of
said convention to President John
son. The other members of the
commission were Ex-Governor j.
w. Henderson, of Harris county
Col. Lane, of Lamar, and Capt.
Porter, of Kaufman. After the
formal presentation of the &C
ton Of the convention, Judge
Hancock asked the president to
state q day or hour when he could
see him. Judge Hancock, accompa-
MED by Judge IL. G. Hynson, called
on the president next day, and a
the interview that ensued Judge
Hancock stated to the president that
the people of Texas had laid down
their arms and surrendered to the
United States authorities in good
faith; that they were people whose
promises could be confided in; that
he was willing to trust them implicit
ly, and assured the president that
their promises would be complied
with. Judge Hancock further stated
to the president that the military
authorities were overriding the
civil, and that he trusted the presi-
dent would restrain the former,
as they, the military, were by their
conduct in taking private property
from citizens of Texas without their
consent and without compensation,
exaspersting them and destroyi ng
the good faith they had promised at
their surrender. Judge Hancock
further told the president that he
had lived many years among these
people, knew them well, and would
be willing to offer himself as a
pledge if necessary, for their up
right and patriotic conduct, if they
should be permitted to exercise
their right of self-government. Mr..
johnson responded by saying that
he was glad to hear of the friendly
and patriotic feeling of the people OF
Texas, and would do all in his
power to aid and assist them in re-
covering from the injurious effects
of the war. The president further
stated to Judge II. that he would
have an order issued by the secre-
tary of war forbiding the military
from trespassing upon the private
property of the citizens of Texas,
and that no property should be used
or taken without the owners con-
sent and due compensation paid.
The president then wrote an order
to the secretary of war, and called
Mr.. Cooper, his private secretary,
directed him to take this order
to the secretary of war and order
him, the secretary, to send 1t to the
commanding general of the mill
tary division of which Texas
was a part, by telegraph. The
president further told Judge H.
that when he returned home to
Texas, if he found any illegal acts
being committed by the military to
write him and he would have it
stopped and the guilty parties pun
ished. So it appears that here was the
beginning of Gen. Hancock's cele-
brated order, of which we have
had SO much to say in commenda-
ton of Gen. Hancock. The peo-
pie of the south have honored
the brave and generous chieftain
for his noble conduct i'll issuing an
order which made him famous, and
which made the people of Texas tenn
porarily tree. Bull pens were
crowded with ex-Confederates,
and the heavy hand of
a military despotism was crushing
Texas. Her men were enslaved, and
Gen. Hsncock's order once more
made them free. The people of
Texas have bowed down in rever-
ence before this man for his serv-
ice in the cause of the down.
trodden, and he will ever be held
in sacred remembrance by them.
Gen. Hancock acted upon the deci-
sion of President johnson, brought
about by the interview with Judge
John Hancock, the generals distin-
guished kinsman. What a moral
grandeur in this story! The two
preparing the way for
the freedom of people, the
one the executor, the other
the moral power that stood be-
hind the president and Gen. Han
cock. showing the course that should
be pursued with conquered Texans
the one the military instru-
ment through which freedom was
promulgated, the other the adj
vocate, securing through the
force of truth, well urged, the
very order for which the
people of Texas have so adored
the great military commander.
The statement as to this interview
comes from an eyewitness and a
listener. Judge H. G. Hynson, now of
Texarkana, was with Judge Han
cock when he called on President
johnson, and from private letter
we learn these facts, which
have never before been made
public in Texas. John Hancock
has been pleased at the honor
paid Gen. Hancock by the people of
Texas, and he has never asked that
he be accorded some of the credit
bestowed upon one we love so well
for his share in liberating Texans, in
causing the military to be made SUBJ
servient to civil authority. He does
not ask now that it be shared with
him, but the STATESMAN asks 1t
for him. Judge Hancock knows
nothing of this communication
from Jud0e Hvnson throuoh