Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-12-27
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.

1
RECOG IrION OF GENERAL IIANCoCK'S AID
| MINIsTRATIoN OF AFFAIRS AT NEW OR
! LEANS.
! arhe President sent the following message
to Congress on the 18th instant:
/ GejH5enaen Of The Senate and of The House
! Of Representatives
| An official copy of the order issued by
Major General Winfield S. Hancock, Com
mander Of the Fifth Military District, da-
ted headquarters in New Orleans, La, on
the 29th day of November, has reached me
through the regular channels of the War
Department, and L herewith communicate
1t to Congress, for such action as may seem
to be proper, in view Of all tho circum-
stances
It will ho perceived that General Han
cock announces that he will make the law
the rule of his conduct that he will up
hold the courts and other civil authorities
in the performance Of their proper duties :;
and that he will use his military power on
ly to preserve the peace and enforce tho
law. He declares very explicitly that the
sacred right Of the trial by jury and the
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall
not be crushed out or troddcn under foot.
He goes further, and, i'll one comprehen-
sive sentence, asserts that the principles of
American liberty are still the inheritance
OF this people, and ever should be.
When a great soldier, with unrestricted
power in his hands to oppress bis fellow
men, voluntarily foregoes the chance Of
gratifying his selfish ambition and deyotes
himself to the duty of building up the lib
!, berties and Strengthening the laws of his
country. he presents an example of the
highest public virtue that human nature is
capable of practlcing. The strongest claim
of Washington to be 90 first in war, first in
peace and first in the hearts of his country
men" is founded on the great fact, that
III all his llIustrious career he scrupulously
abstained from violating the legal and con
stitutiOnal rights of his felloW-citizens. -
When he surrendered his commission to
Congress, the President of that body spoke
his highest praise in saying, that he had
"always regarded the rights of the civil au-
thorities through all danger and disasters -
Whenever power above the law courted his
acceptance he calmly p:lt the tempter aside.
BY such magnan1mousia acts Of forbearance
he won the universal admiration of man
kind and left a name which has no rival in
the history of the world.
l am far from saying that General Han
cock is the only officer of the American
army who is influenced by the example of
Washington. Doubtless, thousands of
them are faithfully devoted to the princi-
Piles for which the men of the Revolution
laid down their lives. But this distin-
guished honor belongs to him of being the
first officer of high command, south of the
Potomac, since the close of the civil war,
who has given utterance to these noble
sentiments in the form of q military order.
l respectfully suggest to Congress that
some public recognition of General Han
cocks patriotic conduct is due if not to
him, to the friends of law and Justice
throughout the country. Of such an act as
his, at such time, is but fit that the dig
nifty should be vlndicated and the virtue
proclaimed, so that it's value as an example
may not be lost 10 the nation.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, d. c., Dec. Is, 1867.
We print, as a proper accompaniment
to the Message of the President, the fol-
lowing order
HEADo'Rs FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT,
NEW ORLEANS, La, Nov 90: 1867
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 20.
l. In accordance with General Orders No 81,
Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant Generals
Office Washington. d. c., August 9th, 1867,
Major Gen raj ". S. Hancock hereby assumes
command OF the Fifth Military District and of the
Department composed Of the States of Louisiana
and Texas
Il.
learn that peace and quiet reign in this Depart
ment. 1t will be his purpose to preserve this con-
ditiOn OF things. AS a means to this great emu
be regards the maintenance of the civil authorities
in the faithful execution of the laWs, the most
efficient, under existing circumstances.
III war it 10 Indispensable to repel force by force,
and overthrow and destroy opposition to lawful
authority. But when lnsurrectlonary force has
been over! thrown, and peace established, ard the
civil authorities ready and willing to perform
their duties. the military power should cease to
lead, and the civil administration resume it's
natural and rightful dominion. Solennly i'm
pressed with these views, the General announces
that the great principles of American liberty still
are the lawful inheritance of this people, and ever
should be. The right OF trial by Jury. the Habeas
Corpus, the liberty OF tho press, the freedom Of
speech, and the natural rights OF persons and the
rights of property must be preserved.
Free emstitutOns, " lille they essential to the
prosperity and happiness Of the people, always
furnish the strongest Inducements to peace and
order. Crimes and offences committed in this
District must be referred to the consideration and
Judgment OF the regular civil tribunals, and those
tribunals will be supported IN their lawful juris-
dctiOn.
Should there be violations Of existing laws
which are not inquired into by tho civil magis-
tratos or should failures in the administration of
Justice by the courts be complained OF, the cases
will be reported to these Headquarters, when
such orders will be made as may be deemed ne
cesSary.
While the General thus Indicates his purpose to
respect the liberties OF the people, ne wishes all
to understand that armed insurrection or forcible
resistance to the law will be instantly suppressed
by arms.
By command of Major General v; $. HANCOCK
B'vt Lieut.. Col, Actg Asst Adi't General.
NATHANIEL BURBANK,
I'd Lieut., 37th Inft, B'yt 1st Lieut. U. S. A.. Act
Asst Adj't General.
Misery i'm the South
po,ortc from tho South No dOubt but