West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-07-03

thought it necessary to send to Con-
gress message applauding and sf-
frming the concurrence Of the Exec
utive in the doctrine laid down by
Gen. Hancock. This message is well
worthy of repetition at tho present
time
Gentlemen Of Ae Senate and 81 the House
Of Representatives
IAN official copy Of the order issued by
Major- General Winfield s. Hancock, com
mander of the Fifth Military District, da-
ted headquarters in New Orleans, Louisi-
ana, on the 29th day of November, has
reached me through the regular channels
OF the War Department, aud | herewith
communicate il To Congress for such ac-
ton as may seem TO be proper In view of
all the circumstances.
at will be perceived that Gen. Hancock
announces that he will make the law the
rule Of his conduct that ne will uphold
the courts and other civil authorities in
the performance OF their proper duties,
and that he will use his military power
only 10 preserve the peace and enforce the
law. lie declares very explicitly that the
sacred right Of tho trial by jury and the
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall
not he crushed out or trodden under foot,
He goes further, and, in one comprehen-
siye sentence, asserts that the principles
of American liberty are still the inherit,
ance Of this people, and ever should DO.
when great soldier, with unrestric-
ted power in his hands To opptess his fell
low men, voluntarily forgocs the chance
of gratifying his selfish ambition, and de-
votes himself to the duty of building up the
liberties and strengthening the laws of his
county, ho presents an example of the
highest public virtue that human nature
10 capable of practicing. The strongest
claim of Washington 20 be first in war,
first in peace, and 6rst In the hearts of his
conntrymen,' ia founded on the great fact
that in all his illustrious career he scrupu-
lousy abstained from violating the legal
and constitutional rights of his fellow
citizens. When he surrendered his COM
muson to Congress, the President of
that body spoke his highest praise in say
ing that he had alway regarded the rights
of the civil authorities through ell dar-
gers and disasters Whenever power
above the law courted his acceptance, ne
calmly put The temptation aside. BY
ouch magnanimous acts of forbearance he
won the universal admiration of mankind
and left name which has no rival in the
history Of the world.
Il am far from saying that General
Hancock is the only officer of the Ameri-
can army who is II iiuenced by the exam
ample of Washington. Doubtless thou
sands of them arc faithfully devot to
the principles for which the men of the
Revolution laid down their livcF. But the
distinguished honor belongs to him of be-
ing the FIRST officer in high command south
of the Potomac, since the close of the civ
il war, who has gwen uttcrance 10 these
noble sentiments in the form of a military
order.
IL respectfully suggest to Congress that
Some public rcct guition of Gen. Hal cocks
patriotic conduct is due, if not to him, to
tho frisnds of law and justice throu ehout
the country. Oh such an act ss his al
such time it is but fit that the dignity
should be vindicatcd aud the virtue pro-
claimed, SD that its value as IN example
may not Dc lost to the nation.
ANDREW JOuEsoH.
Washington, d. G., DEC. IS, 1867"
Fortunate indeed ia the republic
whose soldiers thus merit the appro-
baton of the civil authorities and
the plaudits Of the people. Fortu-
nate indeed is the country whose
most gallant and popular SO. der is
thus deeply imbued with the princI-
pies Of constitutional liberty. Most
truly deserved is the praise which
President johnson, in the me. sal
which we have just quoted, saw fl to
bsstow upon Whitfield Scott Hancock
N Y. Sun.
60 --soaSsSk.