The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-08-05

contrary. When 1 agreed to go to
Williamson county to attempt to recon-
cile democrats to his support, he told
me in the presence of Major Tom Brack-
enridge before going to Europe, that he
would accept the nomination and would
make it the canvass of his life" If Major
Breckenridge has forgotten it, other gen.
tlemen in Austin have not forgotten that
Major B. told them so.
6. l cannot accept Judge Hancock S
proposition, made in his Georgetown
speech, to wager me, that Degner never
charged him with desiring to raise me-
gro regiment. But he endorses the veraci-
ty of Governor E. j. Davis, who, am
credibly informed, did charge from the
stump in Blanco, that John Hancock
wished to raise negro regiment during
the war, and that Davis offered to read
letters from federal officers to prove it,
l leave him to wrestle with the conse-
quences of his endorsement of the dead
witness.
After living in the same county with this
man from 1852 to 1862, had never en-
tered his home; he had opposed my eleva-
ton to the district judgship, when was
elected IN 1857, and we were not friends
Such were our relations when 1 was APP
pealed to by Colonel Wash Jones to re-
turn to Texas in mid-winter, from Arkan
sas, to save Judge Hancock's life The
sister of Colonel Jones had married Han
cocks brother; he was Hancock's friend
and remained his friend for years after the
war. The following letter from Colonel
Jones needs no explanation:
BAsTRoP, Texas.
Hon. A. W. Terrell, Austin, Texas:
DEAR JUDGE-Yours of the 18th inst
received by last mail, while at Camp Mel
son, Ark. l met you near General Nc
Culloch's tent (quarters) just as you
dismounted. | remarked that letters had
been received in camp, conveying the sad
intelligence of the assassination of Hun.
ter and Hubbard, and that 1 feared Han,
cock would soon share their fate, unless
something should be done to prevent it
said, "Terrell, I know there is no love
between you and Hancock; you are both
my friends; I will now put your friend
ship to the test. You can save Hancock
1 can't; will you, for my sake, save him p
You answered, 81 will" We both went
into the tent-in a few minutes
withdrew; and as l saw nor heard
nothing of you afterwards IN
the camp, l took it for granted
you had departed on your mission. Wher
1 afterwards heard of Hancock's fight,
felt relieved.
Some time after the war you detailed tC
me the circumstances, i. e., you left imme
dirtely and rode fifty miles a day, until
you reached Austin, just in the nick OF
time to save Hancock's life. Amongst
other things, you gave the interview with
him and the means employed to prevent
his assassination. You know 1 never
blamed Hancock for leaving the state, be-
cause knew of the necessity. 4 Il 4 x
Signed. Truly yours,
G. w. JONES.
On arriving at Austin, 1 repaired to
duced to his wife. We went out to a small
house in the yard, where his apprehen
sions and the measures for his safety
were discussed. Among other things il
was agreed that Judge TONNES and myself
should seek to interest DR.. Moore. of Bur
net county, (now of Waco) in his behalf
this we did by letter, signed by Judge
Townes and myself, and we'll remembered
by DR.. Moore. Other means 1 resorted
to, which brought me in nearer contact
with the misguided men who sought hi
life. I did not leave Austin until Han
cock himself left there, assured of hi:
safety; nor did he leave this state fol
months after.
The arrogant, ho-but-me assumption
and self-importance of this man, receives
every service as its rightful due; and this
must account for the convenient memory
that refuses to register favor on its tab
lets. But, there are other men whose
memories are less treacherous, now i'll
Austin, who were present years ago in a
democratic caucus, when l attempted to
excuse Hancock's flight from Texas on
account of his danger; and when l men
toned not only my ride from Arkansas to
save his life, but that 1 accomplished my
object.
Does it not pass belief that this man
should now hear of this thing for the first
time? The human nature that can
cheaper an obligation by disparaging the
benefits out of which it grew, when they
involved an effort to preserve life itself. is
rare, even among bad men.
This man now publishes to the world
that he was conscious of no danger. Why
then, did he afterwards enter the federal
lines and stay there? Did he leave hi;
wife and child to the chivalric protection
of his southern neighbors, that be might
aid to desolate their homes? waive ne
bloody shirt, and wish it buried for ever
but the statement of southern man, Of
southern birth, that he was conscious o.
no danger, when he abandoned his state
and family and entered the federal lines a
such a time startles and confounds me.
No nature is so utterly depraved as tt
be destitute of all good, hence l admi
that soon after the war Hancock con
demned the tyranny of the military force
with which he re-entered his STATE
and aligned himself with the dem
ocratic party. His Georgetown eulogy
on himself for this service, with which his
TRADE against me is interlarded, would
have come better from another, and this
revives the old suspicion that his zeal fol
the people grew out of the fact that Jacl
Hamilton was made provisional governor
instead of himself.
Let him be credited with whatever goo
he has accomplished; but the estimate
placed on this man by the lower house OF
congress when it became democratic, wai
shown by the failure to give him the
craftsmanship of any standing committee
though he was there for third term
That estimate so recently endorsed by