Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-21
GEN. HANCOCK AND THE PREsI.
DENCYs

DENGX-
The appended extract is from the New
York World of the 18th. We entirely con
cur in the opinion expressed, that the in>
terests ofthe nation will be better served by
placing an able and experienced civilian
in the Chief Magistracy for the term to
succeed the present one Military men
of the requisite qualifications of mind
and temper for that exalted and onerous
station, are rare They are as one in
many thousands There is an eminent
fitness with the genius of our govern
ment that a statesman in the strict sense
Of that word, should be its civil head.
We have had two great soldiers in that
position-one the peerless Washington,
whom it was sacrilege to criticise, and
the other jackson, who was a great Presi-
dent as well as soldier But this class of
men do not come often in a century.
The public attention, however, through
the force of circumstances, is being strong
" directed to Gen Winfield 8 Hancock
by reason Of his recent action at New
Orleans He is Democrat, and from
all we know of him, the complimentary
remarks of the World, a Democratic ioara
nal of great influence, are just, and we
give them as a sign of the times
For our part, we hope that a statesman
Of large civil experience may be run by
both parties. We are net likely to need
military abilities; or if we should, the
Presidential mansion is not a fit place
for the headquarters of a fighting army.
Great measures of civil policy and admin
istrative reform should stand in the FORE
ground under the next President. There
is no fitness in choosing a mere military
man to discharge duties requiring great
civil experience But if the Republicans
attempt to sway the canvass by the eclat of
a military name it may be expedient to
neutralize the effort by putting a popular
military name into the other scale. Ifthis
necessity should be forced upon us, an ac-
cidental advantage may result from the
Republican reconstruction scheme by
afiording a field TO test the civil capacity
Of one Of our most admired and meritorious
soldiers.
The standing electioneeTing calumny Of
the Republicans. that every man who dis.
approves of their negro policy is a Rebel
at heart, recoils against its authors when
levelled at so bright reputation as Gen.
Hancock's. For loyalty, gallantry, zeal,
o4srsf-- ,r,1 fla s.,li1 -
there was no officer in the Union army
who, with equal opportunities, left so
shining record. If he had ever had
separste command, he might have acted a
more prominent but he could not easily
have scted more brilliant part Separate
commands we're lsyished on officers of a
different school OF politics. The Republic
can Banks had a separate command both
in the Valley and in Louisiana, and he ac-
quired everything but honor in both. The
renegade Democrat, Butler, had separate
commands, and made himself butt of de-
rision. Pope had separate command,
and his ineompetency was demonstrated
by the second Bull Run. Burnside had a
separate command, and the result was his
useless slaughter of our troops at Freder-
icksburg. Hooker had a separate command,
and the result was his disgracefnl defeat at
Chancellorsvilie. The Conservative Meade
was promoted to a separate command by
accident and a sudden necessity. He won
the great victory of Gettysburg and was
again suhordinated. Democratic officers
who we're not servile enough to renounce
or dissemble their principles, had no fair
chance in the army. The crushing of
Gen. Mcclellan by political malice was a
warning which disclosed 10 ambitious army
officers fatal rock in the channel of pro-
motion.
Although General Hancock never had
separate command while the war lasted,
there were but few directors OF armies who
blazed into such distinction as this bril-.
liant subordinate. The Army of the POI
tomac, in which he served, always, ranked
SIS the first Of our armies, and Hancock as
one of its brightest ornaments. Hispurity
Of character, his patriotic ardor, his gal
lantry, alEcrity, vigor, abilities, modesty
and good fortune, acquired for him repu-
tation which was never Sailed by one
breath Of suspicion or one word ofcensure.
Whenever il is said that Conservative poll
itics are inconsistent with vigorous, devo.
ted loyalty, il is a sufficient reply TO point
to General Hancock, the esteemed and
gallant representative of hundreds Of DEM
ocratic officers, and hundreds of thousands
Of Democratic soldiers. Tne surviving
soldiers of the Army of the Potomac feel
for him a warmth of admiring regard
which the colder character Of General
Grant never kindled and the people share
the feeling. General Hancock has thus far
proved himself as judicious in peace as he
was brave and brilliant in war.
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