The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-08-13
The Hancock SHERMAN Letter.

The Hancock. sherman Letter.
Gen. Hancock's letter to Gen. Sher.
man concerning the presidential election
controversy In 1876, about which there
has been considerable sdid by the press,
has been made public, and proves to be 4
very lengthy document, devoid Of any
intimatiOn that he would recognize Til
den az the lawfully elected President.
II was written from st. Louis, No.,
and bears date December 28th, 1875.
The letter opens with commonplaces
concerning his delay In answering
Gen. Sherman's letters, respecting the
weather &C., and then expresses his
pleasure that he is not to be ordered 10
the Pacific coast, Oh had been reported,
for he did "not wish to appear to be es-
Gaping from responsibilities and possible
dangers" which might "cluster around
military commands IN the east" Mt that
critical period. He then proceeds to tho
discussion of the presidential question
in the following manner:
"All's well that ends we'll" The whole matter
Of tho presidency seems to mo to be simple, and
to admit of o peaceful solution. The machinery
itsoir hos h.a, IN cor,f,l,v rro,,ared IL onIv
re"mircs IrLricstinn. owing In i,s,,se. Tho arny
should have nothing 10 do with the election or
Inauguration Of presidents. The people elect
the president. The congress declares in joint
IN obey bis mandates. and ARG nrotcctod in 40
doing onIv 10 FAR az thew NAV he IawfuI Cur
commissiSns cxnrcss tRat' 7 like J,fYcrson's
way Of Inauguration. II suits our system. He
rode alone on horseback to the capital q fear II
fence. entered and w"s dnlv sworn then rode
In the executive mansion and toot nossession
He inonmrat1 himself simnlv Inv takinU the
oath M pSI;ce rhcre ia M other LEGAL ;nanm,-
ration in ""r .vstrm IN" nv n""nIc or s%oit;cisns
NAV Institute na,adcs in honor NJ the event
and mbI,c offciaIs NAV add IN The psoeant Inv
Assembling troops and banners. but ali ihat only
comes nronorly after tho insnc,ration, mot Inc,
fore. and II IL NOT n mart of h,
Onr system does not proyjde TINT one presi-
dent siould inaugurate another. There
might be danger I'm that. md 4 was
studously left ont OF the charter. But Won are
placed in On exceptionally important position in
connection with coming events. Tho CAPITAL ia
i'm INV Jurisdiction also' but am gubordnatn
and not ON the spot. and If [ were. 40 also would
i've INV s,ncrior In authority. For there in the
station of peperal-in-chiof ON the pinciple that
n rcpuarly elected presidents term of Office ex-
pires with The third of March Cof which have
hear; no NJ" H. sb;,,ct is"rm,v rccogn;1s and
in consideration M the uossibilitv that the
lawfully elected president nav not appear until
thc 5th NJ March a Great dcsI ri rcs,snsib;jitv
NAV necessarilv coii nnon von' Ym hold over,
Won will have nowcr and prestige In sunnort
Won. The secrotorv Of wor. too, Probably holds
99ye, lint IL no nrc:;5",t nrpaars Ge NAV not hc
able 10 excrcise tho functions in the name Of n
prcsidcnt. for his proper NETS are thorc OF
Known .mre,ior n Iswf,,I nrcS;de,t Won act on
ynur o,y,, resnons;biI;tv and nv v;rtnc M a
comm ission onIv restricted bv law. The secre-
tarv of war IN ibe monthniecc of n president.
Ton are moi.
To neither candidate has n constitutional
majority of the electoral college. or the senate
and ho,;ss ON the occasiop of t6c count do not
mite in declsr;nS s"mo nerson LEGALLY cIected
Inv tbc nconjc there ia a lawful machinery nj
r.oJv rrov;ded n meet fiat c,nt;noencv and
dcc;So the meat;on ncocefniiv tn las not becn
recently nscd no occasion ,reseutinU itself. bnt
our Soresatbc,s nroyidcd r THAT macb;ncrv
would ,,rohaSiv dIIact NJ T,,den nres;Jent and
NJ WbaoIsr y;ca nroS;dent ;TYiat would bs
ny. a,,o,''., g. H. lo,n ,ro,;das that !, a
Failure m sjsct dniv nv tho neonIc the bcmse
shaii ;mmef;atalv nIcct Tho nrcs;dent and The
senate the vice nycsidcnt samc frib,,nni mnst
decide whether the people have duly elected the
president. ! presume, OF course, that u IL III
Inc JON. hr r ,n U oa the s siao. a tha
comS t # NOT " 70 nee that Is fair and lust II
a failure to agree arises between the two bodies
there can be no lawful affirmative decision that
inc people have ave elected president, ana the
be scnatc e I pcc moi
Doubtless in case of failure 2y tie house to
elect president by the ith of March, the presi-
dent Of the senate OF there be one) wonld be
ant eg s ' 10 cnerc p;, t%a on
laid down in the constitution. such courses
would be peaceful. and, have firm belief,
lawful. l have no doubt Coy HAYES would
a d S an e1S s h Fos'aeh mt nave met MN
un J S m~ command ~ Int AZ The matter stands
can't sce any likelihood Of bis being duly dc.
clared elected by the people unless the senate
and house come to be in accord al to that fact,
'hS WbSt NO. o. not
determination of this matter"as fair deter.
mination az possible, and lawful one. No