New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-19
LETTER FROM THE HON j. Il. G. PITKLN TO
GEN. HANCOCK.

LEIIER IHOH IHE HON. d. IL. u. TIIhIN ~
GEN HANCOCK
We give below a letter from the Hon. J. r.
G.. Pitkn to Gen. Hancock IL written before Con-
gross decided not to impeach Mr. johnson. BY an
peced delay the publication of the letter deferred
Major GEN. Winfield 5. Hancock Commanding F0h lht
t1rV District
GENERAL have the honor to request that the recent
appointment OF myself as Secretary OF state eonalhed III
the suspended order Of Brcvet MaOrGen JOS A. Mower
may not be confirmed When that appointment was an
nounced by our local prints no one eoud nave peh more
surprised than myself had sought nothing az the hands
OF that worthy officer and regard for tho political
friends whose opinion hold dear Will certainly dsSuade
me from Obtruding upon hls successor Iad the
former been continued in command am persuaded that
his appontees would have cordially ana materially as,
sisted him I'm the labor Of recOnstrucuOn ana am
equally certain that not Of them would have con
scented to be miserable stewards OF an apostae
There Rebels numerous and aljeet enough Tor TINS
service brZzng like wasps about your headquarters ana
singing loyal regulations uoEs esy Won 10 itNl O
any man." The officer who suffers them ana nstals then
IN public place accepts desperate risk. lOuare heresr
National servant not as an autocrat whose aeuon
we may not question The law or fecOnhtIucuOn Is at
not insured that guarantee the loyast here VIII charge
the bitter reason where II may belong Grant may crawl
stealth from his tent 20 your ear but the shap cahg
OF his idle scabbard against our need will betray him des
pite his painful caution Andrew Johnson, your tenn
porary Commandcr-n- Chief, may inisinteipret your
duties for you, but tile reproach OF the last count
OF the indictment about 20 DC pronounced against
United States, to wit: that lac has continued III
places OF trust and emoument persons VINO nave
81 ne Tnited safts. tbis reproach our loyal
element stand equally resoute TO hurl az his misguided
instrument be he who he may lt may not De unknown
10 YOU that Louisiana has thus far made or damned
every military custodian OF her Interests. she teens
with reributions. Every official indecOn Il danger,
for which the best field credit does not compensate Inc
p0tical class which represent may perhaps be par
doned for the surise that the terms OF the law men
toned fail TO recognize Rebels dement's as special
qualifications for office. II this be an error there IS
iesses In his initial order that the military should DEFER
70 civil authority which is forthwith recommitted to
10 bIgh National ends, that hs patient waiing since
M Tor chance 10 surrender to the enemy i at length
fully rewarded That enemy at least CONSISTENT mas
~ changed It's front has not 0rbome It's old heresles
That cannot captulate with YOU sutices as reason
WHY nv name should no longer be entertainer ~ ned
,,rs with reference TO bureau OF this State. Your adj
yt sir has lent renewed 10 class VI our people
cn toHdy dream grim murder Of another now in ses-
sion i'm this citywhch has already besoueht our public
seeks TO render loyalty again dscredt and peril and
which may reasonably condc its SCHEMES to nm whose
euviabe distinction is 10 be not only one OF the I'VE dis
trct commanders that discover more force IN nau
yhm OK President than In solemn decree OF C9ugress'
are content not only 70 have YOU SO acclame ou W
conccde that you amply deserve II; BUT
f.., is. ssai ss sd .a ~ sais parts
sos s1 7oae S.' RsH Iui fSst then kso5
T. I g al q. IiI oS SI .l,i 5oi .i,s oot them off,
Furthermore, am unwilling 20 permit suspicion in
Louisiana that await an order OF confirmation from
pen which grossly aronted the negro juror on Thurs
been informed tnat the auinlnlstfd-
courts cogged. II entirely frustrated by the pres
S Snt Whence this valuable Information comes:
Who are the yOlets that srew the green zap or the
new come SPRING. Men, who have just doned their
Rebel uniforms, aud as procients In partisan shames
have virtually promoted 10 your ciyl STAN men, the
final chapter OF whose biography viii be- in too many
cases indictment; men 10 Whoin the INSURED color
may cast back the Odum or having defeated the ends OF
Justice dozen hands from which, Sir you cannot wash
the red smear OF Rebellion may shooI erect 10 Jurors
oath they once did to citizens The fidelity OF their
observance Of the latter vow Is perhaps the best reason
Tor your espousal OF their arbitrary jealousy OF the Jury
boX The view however, Is by 80 means uncommon
may st remember the one and not the other that an
officer cannot erase single tte WIN an angry sweep OF
ns a competent iurOr-is stancher weapon CT recon
striction than ma0rgcnerals sword, ana may even
shyff that aggressive hand When, sir not one Oh
nnr local msadvsers shall longer crouch your heels
In security from his dues and when better authority
than yours shall have DECLARED, soon II will, that
temple of justice can question no Color tAccp nt
crime YOU will discover that the black Juror VIII hithe
illustrate nor clog the administration OF JUSTICE, ana
especially of what some IN thls community may WEI, COM
plain of not having yet received, criminal Justice
need not discuss the quality OF the negrOs tltle 10
jury-sea with general VINO assumes essnuNe vala
city, ordinarily supposed 10y those at hs distance lIo
the Capital 10 pertain soey 20 Cogtvss d s
the subject have but To say IN DshaI OF our co0eu e
mcn that theirs is the undauhted spirit OF nm VINO stoie
through the night the angry waters IN tie gse or
slave and chccred his dismaycd boatmen with tho com
mand, Row boldly-fear noIhns-you Dear Cssar ana
Papon another short depression. OF the opinion enter
tanned of Mr. Johnson by the Republican ranks OF Lous
ana It may not be aniss to say word nc Is leSaru
ms highly successful counterfeit OF certain charc'eIs III
the past Permit 10 cite two or three OF these A.,
Equally defiant OF the people he mas sald Win tn1
Roman 1Iherius Let them hate me, so long as they
obey me-" like Caligua, he has sought to behead e mar
lowed marbles in national temples ara suDstl1ute
thereon hisown coarse oWernR pV"' SbeTeI1
he has shaken he club OF Policy
TOO many have thrown spCnges rather than stones III re-
tUpn. Ike fIe early French King, he has mprudently
touched the political scrOfua OF the coulu anu plo
popnced IL cured When as with ROmulus, Senate
shall have accorded HIM his due he will but enjoy the
satrcal finger and comment paid TO the rebel bonoSus'
'There hangs not man but bother Inc Egyptlah,
an emboiming person OF distinction first extracted the
hrnn through the nostris, ana after dsemboweling,
washed the cavities with wine The President mas saved
us these lahors but apprehend that no spices nor
myrrh can henceforth give him sweet SAVIOR IN bis
But some one must soon thrust his feet into the Pres
DENTS shoes aud your evident Willingness, General 50 10
be persuaded by Democratic nomination eAclles less
sollcitude for tine nation than for yourself
Thoughts tending 70 ambition they do plot
Unlikely wonders"
To the American people however belongs the uniform
upon your back and cannot believe they contemplated
that II was to be used through tins district simply Tor t1
purpose of political canvass with us pockets ustehIu
with The summaries OF JOhnsOnian speeches, eoated III
advance nj the White House and issued here ~ general
orders should you far prosper In yonr venture us W
attain the nomination sought have but to wish you as
marked Il success enjoyed one year hsV ny SouI
patron, and promise that our eoorea peyP 10 hcir
YOU have so warmly commended yoursei MI u ' mn
utmost TO assist that success. Ins laI III out
traton here you have verify vndicateu your ION
as the Tcnuc ssoeans Elisha ana our pcvun W ms
mantle I'm conclusion one may well greve That the eN-
allied resolve winch impeed the pen ana swordo the TWO
men, whose names, dear to nepean history You aIe
nreged 10 hear has yet been exhibited since your
oecnpation of the Fifth District Headquarters.
Our present convention has two imperative duties 10
nerfortl-lrst 10 rend with It's two hands, white ana
black each of your adverse orders 10 tates 70 uecte
e"rv iorni most vacant ana 10 cancel every distinction
~ rce and second place those hands austetey upon
our commanders shoulders, aud face 10 face Win h
,t the drmuess OF lust defense with honor for his
strs and In an charity of spirit distinctly Oadmonlsh MIN,
that line mistaken purpose OF his embassy unfortunate
for Louisiana, is tendiOld more SO for himself.