Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-01-03
Tlte free press.
johnson and Hancock.

JOhHsOH anu ihohtoNhs
The Presidents recent message to Congress
-7ais5 Of Gen. Hancock, was certainly one
8 ,4s n0st surprising ones ever received by
...aiy. In it Mr.. johnson calls on the
-.-bers to note that Gen Hancock has
.-,lgnced that be will make the law the
-rrs5t LIS conduct ; that he will uphold
.-,r0rr,s and that he will use his militia
p, rower only to preserve peace and enforce
,re law" Now Generals Sickles and
S.t,feld, certainly, and we believe Generals
sheridan and Pope, made the same an
nouD,,ment several months before Hancock
did. lut the President didn't see fit to
make their orders the tex5,for a special mess
aye But Mr.. johnson tells us that Gen.
hancock has . gone further, and in one COM
rrehensiye sentence asserted that the priuci-
ules Of American liberty are still the inheri-
tanco Of the people and ever should be.
For this the President compares Gen Han
cock to Washington declares that to him
belongs the q" distinguished honor of being
the first officer IN high command South of the
Potomac who has gwen utterance to these
noble sentiments, in the shape Of a military
order and suggests that some '' public re-
cognition" Of Gen uancock's conduct is
due to him.
To appreciate the tull force of this joke, it
is TO be remembered that it leaked out Just
after Gen. Hancock left Washington for
New Orleans. that the order which be was
to issue on assuming command of his dis
trct had been drawn up in consultation with
Mr. johnson. Mr.. johnson had made the
astounding discovery that ''the principles of
American liberty are still the inheritance of
tie people, and ever should be-" lie sug-
gastcl to Gen. Hancock that he embody this
discovery in bis first order. tie did so, and
when it comes out the President Is thrown
INTO such ocs,acios of admiration over this
example Of the highest public virtue that
human nature is capable Of practising, so
be calls it, that he must relieve himself by
a message to Congress.
No wonder it was received in the House
with shouts Of derisiye laughter" Con-
gress didn't get time b-iore the recess to /
adopt the Presidents suggestion and give
Gen. Hancock "sOme public recognition"
and possibly it will not be IN a hurry TO.
when il reassembles.
We notice that this illumination from the
W nite House, Is pretty widely accepted as
evidence that Mr. johnson has abandoned /.
all hope of being reelected. and, since he
caunot be the power on the throne proposes
q -5utent himself with being the power
behind the throne" of the mex admin istrs-
ton and that he thus in effect nomln1 tes
his successor. But that Is by NJ means so
clear. We do not believe that Mr.. johnson
aas any doubt that he can cantr0l the demo
cratic national convention, or any intention
Of getting out of the way tor any other can
iiiate He means to b. tat democratic
nominee to secure from tie people the en-
dlrsemeut of his course which is afforded
bv reelection. and to hold his Office |
through another term. lie is just fool |
enough to believe that possible. If that Is
20, then IN his message he is simply helping
the democracy to fill out the slate. He
inks johnson and Hancock" will be
st the ticket and he knows no better
aau to utterly damn his nominee, by such
aiiculous and unheard Of endorsement.
We have been inclined 10 think and
5lre well OF Gen. Hancock We have
Known him for brave ard able soldier.
he writer of tins was very near him when
b. fell. on the left centre at Gettysburgh
i-ring the crisis and shock Of the final strug-
Il. was in fact one of those who caught
as he sank from his horse and staunched
-a bleeding from his severe wound. Hay-
lg thus had his blood on our hands, we
lave watched his career with special inter
ai, and it has been with sincere sorrow
lat We have perceived min becoming ap-
g-rsntly the ally or tool of those who are
aylng to undo the great results Of the war,
% the success Of which he contributed SO
argely. If be has had hopes of politi-
ca. enhancement, Of course they may as well
nlw be dropped. Better, far, would il have
been for him to bave died on the bloody
slopes of Gettysburgh, than to live to earn
the private approval, and be disgracod by the
public endorsement, Of Andrew johnson.