American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-08-21
David Davis on II incock.

'iIOpNINtfipN, iiI..- Any > l7N'.
"NY DEAR SI.i-The training
and habits of my lille naturally lead
me to prefer civilians to soldiers
tor great civil trusts, but ~ parties
are ~ ganiz"d, Vofrls must choose
between the candidates they repre-
sent or stand alonf and be inditi,'r-
e It or neutral. which no good cit
izen ought 10 do at a PRESIDENT n
election. ] have no hesitation in
supporting Gen. Hancock, for the
best OF all reasons to my mind, be-
cause his election viii put and enc,
to sectional strife and to sectional
pan ties, and will revive II patriotic
sentiment all over the land which
political leaders and fac ions tor
sinister eudS have sought to pIe~
vent.
There can he no permanent pros-
periIy without Vac!ticaflon. Great
as were the achievements of Gen.
Hancock in The war, his conduct i'll
ueacr, when iii command Of Loui-i
ana and Texas III 1867, WAS still
greater, and Justly cOmmendS him
10 the CDIIItltItCt vi ttt ' :.
That was IA time when passion rnl
ed in publ c couucilS, and military
power was exercised to silence civil
authority. Temptation WAS strong
to sail with the rushing current, for
for an Unframed par tisan opinion
was ready tn cOudone exercises aud
to applaud expressions. Gen. Han
cocks order M. 40, in assuming
charge OF the fifth military district,
announced J.:
The right Of Trial by Jury. the
ha bpas corpus. the liberty of til"
I,ress. freedom Of speech, natural
rights Of persons and rights of prop
erty must be respected" These
principles are the basis of free gov
ernment. Tie proclamation OF
hem by Gen. i:ancocsl stands cat
in sti liking contrast with the action
of his superior, who SOON after .e-
turned and drove him from that
com:.,aRd tor uitering sentiments
worthy of aIE honor. The soldier,
clothed with cXtraoI d:nary power,
voluntarily uncovered briore the
civil authority, sheathed his swoyd,
testified his fidelity to the cnnsiitu-
ton, and set an example OF ofctii-
rnce to law which will pass into
hietory as his proudest claim TO
| distinction.
The man who. in the midst of the
excitement OF that stormy period,
was cool enough 20 see ms duiy
clearly, and Courageous enough TO
execute it firmly, may DC well trust
ed III any crisis. His letter @ Gen.
Sherman recently brought to light,
lifts Gen. Hancock far above the
| past appreciation of his civil ;ilbll :
| ity. 1t marks him as one 0f the WIS.,
est of men; with Il statesHidn'S grasp
of mind and win the integrity OF Il
| patriot. whom no SrnSe OF eXpedl~
ency could swerve from his honest
convictions. Long and unchecked
| possession of power by any party
leads to eXtravagincc, corruption
and loose practices.
After twenty years Of domination
| by the Republicans, chronic abuses
have become fast tened upon the
public service like bainac.rs upon
the bottom of ship. There Is no
hope OF reform by leaders who have
created y system of maiaa,ninistra-
| tiuu and who are now interested ia
p1rpeiuatlng It's evils. Nothing,
short OF the sternest remedy gives
any promise of effective reform,
and the first step toward it is i'll il
charge OF rulers.
/ The government mnst be got out
of he ruts in which it has too long
J been run new blood must he ins
fused into the management of pub-
lie; affnirs be fore relief can he ex~
pected. The people demand change
and being in earnest, they are like
~ TO be gi1iiiiird.
Very sincerely,
DAVID DAVIS.
To Hon. James T.. Harvey.