Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-23
HancOck's InsubOrdlnatiOn.

HAncOok's lnsubOrdinattOn.
The statement made that General
subordinate officer of the
regular army, in anticipation of the ac-
ton of Congress on the Presidential
count in February. 1877, volunteered
the information that he would, as a mil
itary commander, sustain Tilden in his
claim to the Presidency and would rec
ognize him as the President of the
United States, seems to be confirmed,
and is hardly doubted Army officers
are subordinate to the law in times of
peace, and at all times are subordinate
to their superiors in command. Even
the officers of the army who joined in
the rebellion had the deeency to resign
their commissions before taking service
in the civil war. At the time mem
toned General Grant was Presidents;
there was no question as TO his author
ity until the expiration of his term Of
Office. General Sherman was General
of the army, and Sheridan was Lieuten-
ant-General, and both were superior in
rank TO Hancock. He could only act in
subordination to them, and to orders
through them, or declare himself in re-
volt. He stood in the same relation to
his superiors in command that the Ser
geant or Corporal stood to Captain or
Colonel of his regiment, or towards
General Hancock himself. As an of
ficer, receiving his orders through his
military superiors, he had no more le-
gal right to set himself up to judge OF
their authority than had any Corporal
OF private to decide whether he should
obey his commanding officer. If Cen
eral Hancock actually informed per-
sons in Congress that, If the finding OF
the Electoral Commission should be
disregarded and Tilden should assert
his authority as President, he (Han-
cOck) would pay no attention to his
superior officers, but, acting on his own
! Judgment as to who was President
would take the field in the new civil
war, then his conduct was disgracefu
to him as soldier and citizen.
1t is also stated that, when Presiden
Lincoln removed Mcclellan from thC
command of the army, Hancock wa
active in urging that the order be dis
obeyed; that the army be marched Il
Washington and that the Government
be compelled to continue Mcclellan il
commando; and that this proceeding
only failed because of Mcclellan
refusal to take the responsibility. TIL
proof of this scheme is said to be in OK
istence, but the country will wait unit
that proof is produced before accepting
such monstrous instance of politica
and military perfdy.
When General Hancock was in com
mand in New Orleans in the winter O
1923, he issued an order removing
majority of the City Council and othe
civil officers in New Orleans and aI
pointed others. General Grant, VIII
was then General of the Army, and q
Washington, upon being officially in
formed Of this proceeding telegraphe
Hancock to suspend the execution {
the order and to report all the facts an
circumstances. To this Hancock II
sponded that he was on the spot, an
was informed of the facts, and consiC
cred that his position as Commander {
the Department entitled him to an o.
emption from any interference by tn
General of the Army. As to the oil
cumstances, the fact that he had issue
the order was sufficient ms to the PR
priety of the order itself. The lettt
was remarkable for the tone of insul
ordination which marked il from begil
ming to end. The General of the Arm,
however, insisted on his authority, an
in due time Hancock was compelled
revoke his order dismissing the warrior
officers, and compelled to restore the
and remove those he had appointed.
, The fact Is, General Hancock becan
politician seeking the PresidenC
from the day the war closed. Wht
johnson removed Sheridan from Ne
Orleans he appointed Thomas to tn
Department. General Grant, in beha
of Thomas, appealed to the Presidel
TO change the order, Thomas beir
then in poor health. 1t Is suppose
that Hancock, through Jere Blac
} sought the appointment, intending
exhibit his independence of Oongre
by carrying out Andrew Johnson's pc
, icy His first act on his arrival at Ne
, , Orleans was to revoke several OF Shel
dams previous orders, and, while ope
ly disregarding the law Of Congress
! TO make himself conspicuous as a su
? porter Of Johnson's policy. In lie
than six months he was candida
/. before the Democratic Convention see
ing the nomination for President, al
!, being supported by oil the delegat
= from the rebel States. His sole plf
= = form was his order revoking Sheridar
!. previous orders, the most important
. which was that allowing negroes
g act rs Jurors Hancock reversed tn
Q allowing no negro to be a juror, but
. lowing the ex-rebels to serve in that c
. paeity. :,
i II Is evident that Hancock has h
!. the Presidency on the brain ever sin
r. the war closed, and his expressed WI
2 ingness TO put himself at the head
Is any military movement TO force Tild
q into the Presidency shows his eXtreI
p anxiety to overturn the Republic
h party, even by resort TO n civil v
which would have cost thousands
"a lives and set the precedent in d
ht country for the adoption Of the Nj
~ loan system Of elections Chicago II
: tI1se.
"a B6y-Wallace has mounted the stun
nt preliminary TO iimng up his coIiee-p
he and declares that the bloOdy-sh
'er which has been the Republican bait
he cry for the past twenty years, is II
ort ever buried in the dark and dre
fGte past 1t has been 3 'dreary past
In Wallace and his party, but is it wise
ast call public attention to the length Of
- narfod ~ v Times