Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-08-06
A CAMPAIGN DOCUMENT.

The letter of Gen. Hancock to Gen. Sher-
man, written as early as 1876, belongs to
that class of political philosophy and states
manship which eminated from our earlier
pioneers, and gave strength and character
to the Republic. His exalted admiration
for the striking simplicity which attended
the Inauguration of President Jefferson, the
apostle of Democracy in this country, com
ports with those purcr and better days when
economy and simplicity were fully engrafted
upon all the conventionalities of political
and social intercourse-upon this point he
says
II like Jefferson's way of Inauguration it
suits our system. lie rode alone on horse.
back to the Capitol, II fear it was the odd
Capitol, y tied his horse to a rail fence, en-
tered and was duly sworn, then rode TO the
Executive Mansion and took possession.
He inaugurated himself simply by taking
the oath of office. There is no other legal in
| augurstion in our system. The people or
politicians may institute parades in honor
| of the event, and public officials may add
| TO the pageant by assembling troops and
banners, but all that only comes properly
| after the inauguration-not beforehand tits
| not part OF it.
In speaking of the difficulties at that time
existing between the general Government
and the States Of Louisiana and South Caro-
lima, he meets the great emergencies with
practical views expressed in a wise concila-
tory and patriotic spirit, views such as could
only emanate from IA man of enlarged Wis
dom, and who was anxious to see a.rekora-
ton of peaceful relations between O.
ment and State, man and man, In speaking
upon this question, he uses the following
expressive and pointed language
"What the people want is a peaceful de-
termination of this matter, as fair determi-
nation as possible, and lawful one. No
other determination could stand the test.
The country, if not plunged into revolution,
would become poorer day by day, business
would languish and our bonds would come
home TO find deprecated market was
not in favor of the military action in South
Carolina recently, and if Gen. Ruger had
telegraphed to me or asked for advice |
would have advised him not under any Cir
cumstances TO allow himself or his troops to
determine who were the lawful members Of
State Legislature. | could not have given
him better advice than to refer him TO the
special message of the President in the case
of Louisiana some time before. But in South
Carolina he had the question settled by a
decision of the Supreme Court of the State,
the highest tribunal which had acted on the
question, so that his line of duty seemed
even to be clearer than in the action in the
Louisiana case If the federal court had in
terfered and overruled the decision of the
| l,n.F 1N,rl
certainly, but the federal court only inter
fered TO complicate, not to decide or over
rule"
In referring to the use of the army in times
of profound peace, he gives acknowledgement
exhibition Of those splendid powers of nice
discrimination and sound judgment that has
enabled him SO infinitely to discern any
clashing or encroachments of the civil and
military powers of the government, and
which he has not hesitated to give express
sion to when placed in position where they
had to be exercised Upon this subject he
writes as follows:
CAS- | have been writing thus freely TO
you. may still further unbOsOm myself by
stating that have not thought il lawful or
wise to use federal troops in such matters as
have transpired east of the Mississippi within
the last few m0nths-save so far as they may
be brought into action under the article Of
the constitution which contempates meet
ing armed resistance or invasion of State
more powerful than the State authorities
can subdue by the ordinary processes, and
then only when requested by the Legisla-
ture, or, if il could not be convened in Ses-
bsion, by this Govanor, alid when the NJ
dent of the United States intervcnes
manner it is a state Of war, mt Peace.
+ We regret that we have not the space in
which to give more Of this letter That is now
attracting SO much Of public attention, and
which beyond doubt will prove 10 be the
best campaign document in the present can
vass. Written after Gen Hancock had been
defeated for the nomination for President,
and pending the great excitement over the
Electoral Commission, it evnces an utter
absence of any personal consideration, us it
most clearly demonstrates his fitness and
capacity to assume the arduous, delicate aud
responsible duties Of President of the Ameri-
can Republic