The daily gazette., 1880-08-02
HANCOCK T0SnERMAN
Duty Of Army Officers in Case no
President Should be Elected.
MUST OBEY THEIR sUpERIORs
Congress the Tribunal to Decide
the Result of tho Ballot.
ILLEGAL USE OF TROOPS


PRESIDENT GRANTS ACTION IN REFER
ENCE To SOUTH CAROLINA
CRITICISED.
The letter written by Gen. Hancock
to General Sherman in regard to the ac
tion he would take as an amy officer in
certain contingencies during the Presi.
DENTAL struggle is given in full below.
II will be found 10 be one of the most
interesting campaign documents that has
been brought TO light thus far in the
present Presidential contest. When the
republicans revived the fact Of such
letter having been written, the,
claim that its toLe was tinctured
with treason and that its pub
lication would greatly damage the pros
poets of General Hancock as the demo-
cratic candidate for President. These
sta ements were met with an emphatic
denial by democratic politicians on the
broad fundamental ground that General
Hancock was too loyal aud patriotic to
have ever written or given ulterance to
sentiment that by even the boldest
stretch Of the imagination could be tor
tured into disloyalIy. On being spoken
to yesterday by the Herald reporter Oh
the subject lie gave full and explicit
explanation Of the whole matter.
81 hardly remembered writing the
letter." he said, "until l saw reference
TO it in some Of the newspapers. When
L wrote it l bad no idea that it would
ever be published. | was in Western
town on private business, with no secre-
tary or member of my staff with me.
wrote it frankly and with no con
straint."
"And stick by what you wrote"
81 never wrote anything am afraid
of having knowa and that l would not
stick to-
Gard you desire this letter to be pub
lished?"
81 only waited for the consent of
General Sherman, and that having been
given there is no obstacle against its
publication"
The following is the full text OF the
letter, which we are enable TO print
through the courtesy of the editor of the
World
ST. Louis, Mo-, Dec. rs, 1876.
My DEAR GENERAL--Iour favor o
the 4th inst reach me In New York OH
the 9th, the day before left for the West
| intended to reply to it before leaving
but cares incident to departure interfered
Then, again, since my Arr val here ]
have been so occupied with personal
affairs OF business nature that | have
"A 10. Il
this moment, and now l find myself in
debt to you another letter in Acknowledge
ment of youi favor of the 17th, received
few days since.
have concluded to leave here on the
29th (to-morro@) p. NJ, so that l may
be expected in New York on the 31sl
inst. 1t has been,cold and dieary since my
arrival here. have worked "like Turk
q presume that means hard work. in the
count y, in making fences, cutting down
trees, repairing buildings, &C., &C., ant
am al least able TO say that ST. Louis is
the coldest place in the winter, as it is
the hottest in summer, of any that | have
encountered in temperate zone. have
known St. Louis in December to have
genial weather throughout the month;
this December has been frigid, and the
river has been frozen more solid than
have ever known it.
THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL AC-
TIoN.
When heard the rumor that | was
ordered to the Pacific coast l thought il
probably true, considering the past dis
cussion ON that subject. The possibilities
seemed 10 me to point that way. Had il
been, true | should, of course, have pre-
sented no complaint nor made resist
ahce OF any kind. | would have gone
quickly II not prepared 10 go promptly.
l certainly would have been relieved
from the responsibilities and anxietie,
concerning Presidential matters which
may fall to those near the throne or il
authority within The next four months,
as we'll as from other incidents or matters
which could not control and the action
concerning which might not approve. /
vas not exactly prepared to go to the
Pacific, however and l therefore felt re-
lieved when receivedyour note inform
4ng me that there was no truth in the
rumors.
Then did not wish to appear to be
escaping from responsibilities and posi-
BILE dangers which may cluster around
military commanders in the East, espec
tally in the critical period fast approach
ing. Airs well that ends we'll. The
Whole matter OF the Presidency seems to
me simple and to admit of peaceful
solution. The machinery for such a
contingency IS threatens to present itself
has been all carefully prepared. II
only requires fabrication, owing to
disuse. The army should have nothing
to do with the selection or Inauguration
of Presidents. The people elect the
President. The Congress declares in a
Joint session who he is. We of The army
have only to obey his mandates, and are
prolec ed in so doing only so far as they
NAV be lawful. Our commissions ex-
prrss that. | like Jefferson's way OF
Inauguration; it suits our system. He
.ada alona an horseback to the Canitol