The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-04-13
HANCOCk'S MISSION.
The True InWardnr>s of His Visit to
New Orleans for the Release OF An.
derson and Wells.
National Republican,

y IiiDllal hti'u'll'"A'J
Tho recent exposure of the character
of General Hancock's secret mission to
New Orleans continues to attract attcn-
ton, and the comments thereon ar" dr-
cidrGly uutavorahlr to the AdmlnlStra-
tinn, At the time the mission was undrr-
taken Colonel Anderson was already III
limbo, and the prospect was that Cover
nor Wells and the other members OF the
Louisiana Returning Board would soon
h, sent to Join him. All through the
month of February the President was ur-
.,.A Ivy friends as we'll as Republicans
ur,yrully who We're on terms OF any Kind
with him. to take some action for the re-
lief of those gentlemen. Mcssrs. Hale,
White and Galtirlh beside Secretary
Sherman and others of the >o-called Com.
miltre of Distinguished Visitors, looked
mon them as prrsrcn,cd martyrs, and
insisted that they should be saved even
at the st.e-ch of law. TO their entreat-
les. as we'll as to the dispatches from the
personally interested parties. the PrcS'-
dent rrplcd that nothing could he done.
In this decision he was sustained by Ate
toroev General Drvens' opinion that the
State Government of Louisiana was us
..nrrtrct in all its parts' and entitled to
he - free from Federal interference as
that of Ohio or Massachusetts, Thereup-
nn the idea of direct interference for the
rescue Of Colonel Anderson and his ASSOC
r;.,tcs from the clutches OF Louisiana
Whit League justice was abandoned,
and ~ = substitute or flank movement,
# wa, decided by the President to resort
to intrigue for The accomplishment OF his
nnrno>t' General Hancock was selected
rs the tittest person at the Presidents
commend to carry out the intrigue
Hancock had been a prominent Demo-
cratic candidate for the Presidency. lie
was alleged to be a statesman OF q h1gh
nrIrr He had earned boil, the respect
and the gratitude Of the Democracy OF
he South by his administration OF affairs
while in command in New Orleans. lie
was Nichols classmate and friend at
West Point, and the friendly relations
than established had been maintained
since. the war. Why not get Hancock tc
90 to New Orleans and see what conId DC
done? ~, n
This line of reasoning induced the Ere
.;lent to send an officer of the army OF
hiuh rank to New York to see Hancoch
> and induce him to accept the nnSoid1elly
task. Here began the expense to the TO
vernmcpt in carrying out this intrigue
for. as usual when military officers are
, sent on duty to one post to another, thei1
n;]p,oa is maid by the Quartermaster'
D.nartment. This messenger, notWlth
standing his high rank, had some dI'''cul
. ~ in persuading the great Democratic
e military chieftain to accept the task
f Hancock had very little taste tor the Jo'
He had known the President in the arm,
o when he commanded a division in Han
Y cocks corps. Finally General Hancocl
concluded to CO. but only to serve his OF
Il vision commander, who was now il
) GREAT straits. He arrived in New Orea'
! on fine 18th of February. The freedom
$ the city was offered to him. Gentlemen
the most prominent in the State WEE
i with each other in their attentions. H'
= visit was magnificent ontburst of tn
Q annreciation of the Democracy OF Lonlsl
y ana Of the man who, as they declared
:. ..combiued the splendid courage of tn
81 soldier with regard for right aud wron
e of the statesman." He called on Cover
It nor Nichols Tuesday evening, februar
,f 18Th, and cautiously broached the matte
of the intrigue. In answer to the 9ne'
IL t;on as to what he meant to Go abot
Anderson, Governor Nichols said ne II
q ollv did not know, that motion tor
le nav trial for Anderson, which was g!
Q nected on that day TUESDAY. 18TH, ha
y heen nostponed by Judge Whitaker III
til Tuesday, February 10Th: On or abo'
m "Wednesday, February, Goth, Colon
D. Tourtellote. of General shtrmans sta'
arrived in New Orleans as the bearer
- confidential dispatches from Presidel
10 HAYES to Hancock. The ceremonlals
lie trndant upon the death OF the POP
N which we're conducted Wednesday, Fe
NJ ruary Goth, and the parade and review
" the State Guard on Friday, February :
AZ occnpied the Governor attention til
is he could not give the matter OF Anae
r. sons pardon much consideration; ana
= was not until Friday evening" March Is
that Nichols finally agreed to pardon .jnd'
sou if the Supreme Court did not libt
b. ate him. Although his mission was a
#, complisheh, Hancock tarritd in New I
~ l.ons until March Sd; bnt in the mea
to time Colonel Tourtellote had returned
OF Washington, and the President had !
es ceived information of the success OF
:, ;ntr;cues. Whether he subsequent
IT, COMMUNICATED Hancock for the dellca
- manner in which he handled his ,unml
he tary duty is not known; but the re lea
a of Anderson by the State Supreme COZ
~ has relieved all parties to the affair,