The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-09-01
HANCOCK AND SHERMAN.
Balance of the Famous Correspondence
THE COUNT OF THE ELECTORAL VOTE AND
THE USE OF TROOPS IL THE SOUTH

1 DdAdHCe VI tne EaHlOus correspondence
THE COUNT OF THE ELECTORAL VOTE AMI
THE USE OF TROOPS IL THE SOUTH
NEW YORK, August 26.-The follow
ing is the letter of General Sherman, 81
frequently spoken of as having brought
forth the great letter of Gen. Hancock,
dated Carondelet,P. O. ST. Louis, Mo.
Dee. %, 1876, are as follows:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF UNITED STATES, ,
Washington, Defenders 1876 /
: Gen. W. S. Hancock, Es,o York City:
DEAR GENERAL-I have just received your
letter of the Sd. and have teIegraphed you my
consent 10 your proposed trip can not fore
see any objection, and hope soon that events
viii admit of a return to their posts of the
companies detached at the South, but every
time make move in that direction [ am N ct
\ by nsurmountablo objections Three com
panies OF the First Artillery, from Fort Sill
reported at Columbus, Ohio yesterday, and
will be here is evening Everything is
! ready for hem. The last company suppose
was detained Fort Sill TO await relief on the
! way Tell Gen. Fry, Adjutant General that
/ in case of any orders | will have them sent
/ to you at New York, and he can execute
! them.
The political orders to Ruger, at Columbia
! | preferred should 90 from the President to
him through the Secretary of War. They
/ were not military. / dislike very much to
I have our soldiers used in connection with
/ legislative body, but orders coming from the
President have TO be obeyed. They form a bad
/ precedent, but thus far have prevented a col
lision of arms between intamed partisans. /
j trust you viii find Mrs. Hancock and your ST
Louis friends we'll Truly yours,
W. L. SHERMAN, General
Next followed General Hancock's ia
nous reply in which he set forth the
manner in which the Presidential ques-
ton should be decided, and the electoral
vote counted and deprecated the use of
the army Here is General Sherman's
answer TO that letter:
THE REPLY To GEN. HANCoCK's FAMOUS
LETTER.
Headquarters Army OF UNITED STATES,
WAsHINGToN, d. c., Jan. = 1871. ]
To Gen. W s. Haacock Ne,c York
DEAR GExERAL-I did not receive your most
interesi ing letter of December ., from Ca
rondelet, Mo-, till Yesterday. / am very glad
10 have your view an eLteHS0 upon subjects of
such vital importance. Our standard opinions
are mostly formed en- the practice OF our pre-
decessors. but great change made after
the close of the civil by the amendments
Of the Constitution, giving TO he freed slaves
certain civil anu p0llticat rights, anu empoW-
ering Congress to make the laws necessary to
enforce these rights. This power is new and
absolute, and Congress has enacted laws with
which we are not YET familiar and accus-
toned. See pages $40 and so, Revised Stat |
utes, section 969 edition 1854. As mat |
ter Of fact | dislike to have our army used in |
these civil conflicts, but the President has the |
lawful right to use the army and navy, and
has exercised the right, he believes, law I
fully and rightfHlly, and our duty has been, /
and is, to sustain him with zeal and sincerity. |
As to the Presidential election. we are in no
manner required to take the least action but /
to recognize him as President whom the law
fulIv-appointed officers declare TO be such !
person. | hope and pray that Congress will /
agree on some method before the day and hour
arrives. but in case of failure to elect by OF
before the 4th Of March there viii be vacan-
cy in both the offices of President and Vice
President, in which event the President of the
Senate becomes President pro tenp0re and
new election will have to be held under the
law of 1892. See title Ill, chapter l., pages
81 y and ., Revised Statutes 1t is well we
should compare notes and agree before this
the ordeal safely and PEACEFULLY. L will be
pleased TO hear from you at any time.
W. I. SHERMAN.
New YORK, January a. 1871
GEN. w. I. SHERMAN,
United States Army, Washington:
Ny DEAR GENERAL-I have been quite busy .
since my arrival and have not felt like writing
much, so thaU | have not yet written to you as :
intended in reply to your favor acknowledge ,
ing the receipt of my letter from OaroHdolet. !
wished to notice simply your reference to the !
Revised Statutes, and one or two other points
N "A brief way. | will do so yet, but not to- |
lay, as | am house-hunting, apartment or
lotel hunting, rather. 1t too late n the
season to accomplish much here in that way,
save to pay out money and get but little salts
action IN return.
The proposition for joint committee assures =
peaceful solution of the Presidential ques-
ion if ii becomes law, and in my opinion q
gives to Gen. Hayes chances he did not have :
before. | have considered Mr.. Tilden chances !
mpregnable; not so Mr.. Hendricks. Now, it p
,eems 10 me that Gen Hayes has something :
mere than equal chance, but definite re- /
suits cannot be foreshadowed. Fortunately, :
rouble need not be provided against by the
Use of the army Should the bill become law
f the bill passes and Gen Grant yetoes it, @
,Ir Tilden chances will be stronger than be-
ore certainly, if he and his friends support a
d the measure public opinion will strengthen
lis pos ition. The danger in compromise of b
he question, the joint committee plan, is,
hat the defea ed candidate might appeal to V
he Supreme Court, on grounds of illegal, un n
Constitutional decisions. p
! am, very truly yours,
WINFIELD ;. HANCOCK.