Year: 1867

10 tie people Of the IN judicial Dis


trict,


FELLOW CITIZENS Having been
removed from office, cannot lot thi,
occasion pass Without rendering tC
the people Of the seventh Judicial
District my heartfelt gyatcfuiRes'
for all they have done l0r me, from
the day i camo among them,
boardless hoy, without education
an acquaintance, or dollar. j
ever man had cause to DO thankful
to his fellow men, have to the pco
pie of this Judicial District, and
having so expressed myself, should
end this card, were il not, that rs Il
citizen OF the United States, and late
an officer sworn to support the Con
stitution thereof, | cannot permit
judgement by default to 90 against
me on a charge of djSloyalty, either
expressed or implied, for it is no,
true.


When tho armies of the South
surrendered and the President OF
the United States offered amnesty
to the Southern people, some GER
tain classes excepted in the procla'
nation, | willingly took the amnesty
oath in good faith, and with heart
LOYAL to the "Constitution of the
United States and the union of the
States thcreunder." Soon after
taking the oath 1 was appointed
Judge of this District by Gov. Ham.
ilton. l accepted the office and
qualified. In the first charge | de.
livered to the Grand Jury | said
speaking Of the situation


"Let us work together in q spirit
! of hope and harmony to re establish
the broken alters of our country
mend the shattered hearth stones,
and rcfertilize its desolated fields
American citizens cannot sit sullen-
ly down in the ashes of despair and
surrender the principles of repre-,
sentation, which arc the essence and
glory Of republican government
But let us not forget our true posi-
ton. Why should we talk ofpartieS
now, when unity among ourselves
is so important? Old issues have
sunk in the whirlpool of revolution
Their distractions and theories arc
buried in the grave yard Of Rebel
lion, and to use current phrase, in
"accepting the situation, and yield
ing our allegiance to the govern
ment we failed to divide, we again
take upon ourselves the solemn obi
cations of loyal citizens, and thereby
clothe ourselves anew with social,
moral and legal duties to ourselves,
the State and the United States. In
the language of our dead hero,
statesman and patriot, Houston, eve
should place our feet upon discomfort
and ambition, and cast aside all feel
ings but those Of PATRIOTISM"


"The Constitution Of the United
States again covers us as a broad
and massive shield, and it is our duty
to obey and maintain the laws
emanating from the legislative bolies
enacted by that instrument. The
delicate task of healing the wounds,
binding up the broken limbs, and
restoring to q hcalthful tone the
shattered nerves of national conf
dence-in short Of RECoNsTRUcTIoN
now devolves to some extent upon
every officer and ycoman Of the
land. And every one who has the
welfare of the country and the love
of his fellow men in his bosom, will
recognize that fact, and forgising
and forgetting old feuds that have
no longer any fuel to keep Up the
flame, will devote his energies and
influence to the re establishment of
law, and a thorough judicial pro-
lection against the malign Influence
of The lawless and disloyal."


From that day to this ! have
neither uttered nor felt any disloyal
sentiment against the Government
of the United States, nor have | been
an impediment to reconttruction,-
Mine was a Judicial office, it was
not my province to make political
speeches or decisions. My oath
bound me to take the constitutions
and laws for my official gnides. l
endcavored to do so. But in the
multitude Of difficult questions that
were constantly occurring in the
courts, growing out of our complex
and novel position-aucstion with
out precedent either in law or his
tory-for America had none similar,
and tie Jurisprudence Of Europe
could present none-l doubtless
committed many ell rors. But | can
lay my hand upon my heart and
say they were not wilful, and that
| tried to do my duty as an off ter,
knowing no party, friend or foe.


/ bow to the order of removal. 1t
| is law to us, and l have before said
the highest duty of an officer Of the
law is obedience to the a W s,
1 whether civil or martial. e't


To my brethren of the bar, i feel
obliged for their uniform forbearance
and courtesy toward a young law
yer occupying the high and respon-
sible position of a District Judge.


Fellow citizens, l again thank
you TOR your past support and favor
4 / hope the day will soon come when
1 Won can again choose your official
agents at the peoples strong hold o.
freedom, the ballot bor With loyal
! hearts ard hopeful eyes, let us look
forward to the day when the millen
NAL harbinger of permanent peace
shall spread the gospel proclamation
of general amnesty and representa-
ton in the legislature of the nationi
when the American flag. bright with
the stars of republican glory, with
the Constitution wreathed around u
and enwoven in its folds so insep-
arabic that no power on earth can