Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-18
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT TO
CONCRESS
Some Public Recognition OF His Conduct
Suggested to Congress.

Some Public Recognition OF His Conduct
Suggested to Congress.
0
The following message was sent by the Prss-
dent to Congress to-day:
Gentlemen of tie Senate and Of the House Of
Repres,Rtatire An official copy OF the order
issusd by MAJOR General WiaheidS S. Hancock,
Commander of the Fifth Military District
daled Headquarters in New Orleans, La, on
the 29th day of Novsm DER, has reached me
through the regular channels OF the War De-
partmept, and here ewiih communicate IL 10
Congress, for such action as may seem to be
proper in view of all the circumstances.
1t will be perceived that General Hsncock
announces that be will maze the Law the rule
of his conduct tha. he will uphold the Courts
and other civil authorities in the performance
of their proper duties; and that he will use his
military power only TO preserve the peace and
enforce the law. He declares very explicitly
that the sacred right OF the trial by Jury and
the privilege Of the writ Of Habeds Corpus snail
not be crushed out or trodden under foot. He
goes further, and. in one comprehensive sen
tence, asserts that the principles OF American
liberty are still the inheritance OF this people
and ever should be. ....l f'
When o great soldier, with unrestricted
power in his hands TO oppress his fellow men
voluntarily foregoes the chance Of gratifying
his selfish ambition, and devotes himself TO the
duty of building up the liberties and strength.
eniDs the laws of his country, he presents an
example of he highest ublic virtue that hu-
man nature is capable of pracucing. The
strongest claim Of Washington to be .shrst in
war, fret in peace, and fret in the hearts OF
his countrymen." is founded on the great fact
that in all his illustrious career he scrupu.
lously abstained from violating the legal and
constitutional rights Of his fellow. citizens.
When he surrendered his commission to Con-
gress, the President Of that body spoke his
highest praise in saying, that he had "al ways
regarded the rights Of the civil authorities
through oil dangers and disasters" When
ever power above the law courted his accept
ance, he calmly put the temptation aside by
saeh magnaA imous acts of forbearance he won
the universal admiration OF mankind and LET,
name which has no rival in the history Of
the world.
am far from saying that General Hancock
is the only oficer OF the American army who
Is Influenced by the example Of Washington
Doubtless, Thousands Of them are faithfully
devoted to the principles for which the men OF
the Revelation laid down their lives. But the
dhting uisned honor belongs ID him of being
the mrs, officer in high command, south Of the
Potion &C, since the close OF the civil war who
has given utterance TO these noble sentiments
in the form OF military order.
respectfully suggest TO Congress that some
public recognition of General Hancock's pa.
riotic conduct 10 due, if not to him, to the
friends OF Law and justice throughout the
country. OF such an act as his, at such a
time, II is but nt that the dignity should be
vindicated and the virtue proclaimed, SO that
its value as an example may not be lost to the
nauon. ANDREw JOHNSON.
Washington, d. c., December Is, 1867.
CHANGE Or CAARTRR OF THE DISTRICT Or
CcIuhBIA.-In the Senate to day Mr sum.
ner reported. from the District Commi,tee
House bill No. las, with amendments, con-
esruing the selection Of oficers in the CITY OF
Do the duty Of the Mayor OF Wasnin gron the
Boards Of Aldermen snd Common Council. 70
assemble In Joint convention, 1t the CITY Han,
the passage of TIE act, aud proceed 10 ssisc,
by ballot all officers whose APPOINTMENT. upon
the nomination Of the Mayor, are now Author.
,sd sSo o. soe snarter, or by any law Of the Uni
hereafter be authorized thereby, who snail
nolo their Offices respectively for one year and
nnlI successor Is appoin ted; and on the
same DAY OF the month in each year thereafter
the joint con nvention shall proceed to q new
selection: Pr0rided, That when so Assembled
tney may abolish any OF the Offices now
ssiaolisned not elective by the voters
Of the city, or change the duties connected
herewith, or the compen sation thereof AZ
tbey may deem proper or necessary for the
interests OF the city, and that no person shall
be regarded as Incompetent 10 hold ang of
SAID onces, or be disq ualifled therefor, who is
qnaiined elector m the District. In ali the
meetings OF the Mayor OF Washington and
Boards OF Aldermen and Common Counctf for
the purposes mentioned in the Hrst sectIcn Of
ibis act, the Mayor or the President of either
board shall preside, and the secretaries of the
Boards shall act as tellers, and keep q record
OF the proceedings, and the Mayor or any
mem Der of either Board may nominate one or
nIIts pna ths rs sGr ,ne omees reauired 70 be
b.r OF votes shall be publicly declared select
cd and certificate of his selection shalIvith.
IN nr nv hss nrss asys, oe made out and be signed
20 transmitted TO the person selected, VINO
shaII within ten days thereafter enter on the
n alscnargs OF the duties OF his once, which
snaIi oe Immediately vacated by the person
then holding the same. All questions arising
In the Joint convention authorized by this act
shall De determined by majority OF the votes
OF the members thereof present at any Of It's
meetings, and it shall have power 70 adlourn
! on time to time until all the duties imposed
upon il shall be completed, and to require Of
the persons selected for any Office such security
n may be deemed necessary; and In the event
OF any vacancy, from disability, death or
resign alton, it shall be the duty Of the Mayor
70 call meeting OF the joint conventior to
select successor for the unexpired tern of
service. When the Mayor, boards OF
Aldermen and Commsn Council shall be
~ jo.nt CouNcutlons as prOvlGe0
Tor In fAis act, they shall by q majority
vote designate a bank in which the varfonx
moneys of the oitv shaIl be deposited and they
snail make sucn reg alations In relation 10 the
10 ode IN which sach funds shall be deemed
I'd visaolo for the Interests OF the CITY: And
within nye days after such designation, a Ger.
tiht ate OF the bank selected sha all be made ont
and placed in the hands Of the pres tdent or
cash e thereof. and thereafter IL shall not ne
lawful 10 retain or deposit the funds of the
city or any part thereof, in any other bank or
place. 1t repeals all acts inconsistspt vim rho
above provisions
GENERAL lNCoRPoRArIoN Acr FOR THE
D1sTRIcr.-Mr. Wiley, from the Senate Dis
Tract Committee, reported back to-day with
the '.Bill providing for the form.
aaon Of Corporations and regulating the same
In the District OF Columbia The hill "A
amended authorizes Corporations 70 be formed
IN The District for manufacturing or tnsurtoe:
Tor saxangs institutions, saving banks or banks
extensively OF discount and deposit: hotels
gas works, cemeteries or building associations,
lransacEng the basfness properly Pertlinine
tnrretei for univsrsitiss, colleges. academies,
seminarSes, schools or seminaries for the pur-
pose OF teaching any branch or branches Of
usefuf In<ormanon OF learning, or promotinR
red Eion. morality, military science and dls.
riplise, or the diffusion Of know ledge 10 uclud.
Ing library companies and literary and scien.
inc associations; Tor benevolent associations /
Ind asylums for the bifnd, the deaf the
n uie, unatics, and for -Aospitals; for gym
D aeue axsociatops; and tor any other
purpose or business useful 70 the public, for
which . hrm or copartnershjp may D. lawfully
'ofmed In the District of colnnbia. Bur sn,s
'ct shall not be construed 70 authorjxe the in
CORPORATION OF n hank of circu ation or oS :.