Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-12-26
Gn7emen Of The Senate and Of tie House

Gentlemen Of the Senate and Of tie House Of
Representatives
An official copy Of the order issued by Major
General Winfield S Hancock, Commander OF
the Fifth Military District, dated headquarters
In New Orleans, La. on the Doth day Of No
vember, has reached me through the regular
channels Of the War Department, and here
with communicate 10 90 Congress, for such &C
ton as may seem 90 be proper, IN view OF all
the circumstances.
liz win be perceived that General Hancock
announces that he VIII make the law the rule
of his conduct; that be viii uphold the courts
and other civil authorities in the performance
Of their proper duties; aud that he will use
his military power only 20 preserve the peace
and enforce the law. He declares very eXpli-
city that the sacred right Of the trial by jury
and the privilege Of the writ Of habeas corpus
shall not be crushed out OF tr0dden under foot.
He goes further, aud in one comprehensive SEN
teuCe, asserts that the principles Of American
liberty are still the inheritance Of this people,
and ever should be.
When a great soldier, with unrestricted pow
erin his hands J0oppresshis lel'ow-neu, v0lun-
tarly foregoes the chance Of gratifying bis sell
fish ambition, and devotes himself % the duty
Of building up the liberties and strengthening
the laws of his country, be presents an exam
pie of the highest public virtue that human
nature is capabeo Of practising. The strongest
claim of Washington % be first in war first
in peace, and first In the hearts Of his country
men. is founded on the great fact, that In an
his ilustri0us career he sCrupulously abstaiued
from violating the legal and constitutional
rights Of bis teIow-CitiZenS. When he SIrren-
derej his commission 90 Congress, the Presi-
dent Of that body spoke his highest praise In
saving, that be had already regarded the
rights Of the civil authorities through all dan
gers and disasters Whenever power above
the law coUrtej his acceptance, he calmly put
the temptation aside. BY such magnanimoUs
acts of forbearance he won the universal admit
ration Of mankind. and left q uame which has
no rival in the history Of the world.
am far from saying that General Hancock
Is the only officer Of the American army who
is influenced by the example Of Washington
Doubtless, thousands of them are faithfully de-
voted 90 the principles for which the men Of
the Revolution laid down their lives But tho
distinguished honor belongs 20 him of being
the first officer Ia high command, south of the
Potomac since the close Of the civil war, who
has given utternce 20 these noble sentiments
il the form Of military order.
respectfully suggest TO Congress that some
public recognition of General Hancock prtri-
otic conduct is due if not 20 him, 90 the friends
of law and Justice throughout the country
OF such an act as his, 40 such a time, il is but
it that the dignity should be indicated and
the virtue proclaimed so that its value as an
example may not be lost Co the nation
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, D. C., December Is, 1867.
In the Senate, Mr. Wilson said the Commit
tee on Military Affairs had before them resolu-
tons Of thanks 20 Generals Sheridan, Sickles
and Scbofeld for their administration Of the
law in the South, and he moved 10 refer this
message 20 that committee. Mr.. Doolittle
wished it printed, and Mr.. Coukliug moved to
lay it on the table, but before the vote was Ia
ken the Senate adjourned.
In the House, after a clumsy attempt at wit
by Mr. Covode, the Message was laid on the
table, AID on motion Of Mr.. Banks, ordered
20 be printed
some curiosity is felt to see whether the two
Houses win thank the military despots who
subvert the civil authorities, and decline 20
thank Gen. Hancock for maintaining civil SUI
premacy.
The uItrls are in a tight place. One Of the
main issues before the people in the Presidcn-
sl election win be, whether the military or the
cv.. rule shall prevail