Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-02
Gen. Hancock on the Army and the
Presidency.


Presidency.
HIS MUCH TALKEnOF LETTER TO GEN. SHERMAN.
The much talked of letter written In 1876.
during the presidential complication, by Gen.
lie. 1t is dated Carondelet p O., ST Louis, Mo-,
Dec rs, 1916. Touching the presidency, Gen. II.
says:-The whole matter OF the presidency
seems to me to be simple and to admit OF a
peaceful solution. The machinery for such
contingency as threatens to present itself has
been all carefully prepared. 1t only requires
have nothing to do with the election or inaugu-
ration OF Presidents. The people elect the
President: The Congress declares in joint
to obey his mandates and are protected in SO
doing only so far as they may be lawful. Our
commissions express that ] like Jefferson's
it was the "Old Capitol,'0 tied his horse to a
rail fence, entered, and was duly sworn
then rode to the executive mansion and took
possession. He tnauguTated himself SIM
ply by taking the oath OF office. There is no
other legal inauguration 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 ban
Ders; but all that only comes properly after the
inauguration-not Beforehand it is not part
President should inaugurate another. There
might be danger In that, and it was studiously
LETT out OF the charter. But you are placed in
an exceptionally important position In conlfec-
ton with coming events. The capital is in my
jurisdiction also, but l am subordinate, and
not on the spot; and If l were, so also would be
Of the general-in-chief. On the principle that
regularly-elected Presidents term Of Office eX-
piTes with the Sd Of March (Of which have not
the slightest doubt, and which the laws bear
Ing On the subject uniformly recognize and in
consideration of the possibility that the law
fully elected President may not appear until the
5th OF March, great deal OF responsibility may
War, too, probably holds over; but if no Pres-
dent appears he may not be able to exercise
functions in the name Of President; for his
proper acts are those OF known superior-a
lawful President.
You act on your own responsibility and by
virtue OF a commission, only restricted by the
law. The Secretary Of War Is the mouth piece
OF President. You are not: II neither eandi-
raj college, or the Senate and House, on the
occasion of the count, do not unite In declaring
some person legally elected by the people,
to meet that contingency and decide the ques-
tiOn peacefully. 1t has not been recently
used. no occasion presenting itself, but our
forefathers provided It, 1t has been exercised
ard has been recognized and submitted to as
lawful on every hand. That machinery would
probably elect Mr.. Ttlden President and MIR.
enough, for the law provides that In
failure to elect duly by the people the House
shall Immediately elect the President and the
Senate the Vice President. Some tribunal must
President l presume, OF course, that 1T Is In
the joint affirmative action of the Senate and
the House or why are they present to witness
the count if not to see that it is fair and just?
failure to agree arises between the two bodies
there can be no lawful Affirmative decision
that the people have elected President and
Senate. The Senate elects Vice Presidents, not
Presidents. Doubtless in case OF failure by
the House to elect President by the 4th Of
March the President OF the Senate Ut there be
no fO
else presidential authority for the time being.
or until the appearance OF lawful President, or
for the time laid down in the constitution. Such
courses would be peaceful and, / have firm
belief, lawful. have no doubt Governor Hayes
would make an excellent President. l have met
him and know OF him. For brief period he
stands. can't see any likelihood OF his being
duly declared elected by the people, unless the
Senate and House come to be In accord as to
that fact, and the House would, Of course not
otherwise elect him. what the people want Is
a peaceful determination of this matter-as fair
a determination as possible and lawful one.
The country, If not plunged into revolution,
would become poorer day by day; busines
would langu1sh. and our bonds would come
home to find depressed market.
DR.. TANNER at noon yesterday entered on the
thirty fifth day OF his fast. He slept Well Sat
| morning. He was attacked with nausea and
vomiting at different periods during the day.
throwing up mixture OF bile and mucus. AT
& a4S p N m ms S pulse I was found to be IS temper
At 2:55 he got up to put on his clothes, but was
unable to do so, owing to an attack of vomiting.
At 7:35 and $40 last evening he also had attacks
OF vomiting, and &C p. m. be retired to his cot
and appeared to be sleeping. His medical at
tendantS said he was In feebler condition than
yesterday; that the attacks OF nausea were un-
favorable, and as they occurred after drinking
small quantity OF fluid, it showed the doctors S
stomach to be in highly 1rritated condition.
one OF the physicians said DIR. Tanner was fail
Ing every day, but there was no doubt he would
finish his self-imposed task He thought the
frequent attacks Of vomiting showed that the
coats OF his stomach were somewhat intiamed
Or. Tanner took nothing yesterday but little
carbODated Ice water.
The New York Herald OF yesterday quotes Dr.
Tanner as saying that he intends "tO take three
square meals every day during the remainder
OF bis lifetime when the forty days are up
which the Herald regards as sensible conclu-
sion.
FIRE AT WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGs-Mr. W. "
COftOTdnS Horses Bur7ed.-A fire broke out at
O'Clock yesterday morning in the loft of the
stable belonging to the White Sulphur Springs
company at Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs
w. Va, located quarter OF a mile from the
hote! and cottages, and spread so Iap1dly, the
lott being full OF hay, that the building was
entirely destroyed and forty-four horses were
burned to death In short time. Twenty Of the
horses belonged to the company and twenty
four were owned by the guests, some of them
being very valuable. The carriages were ali
saved and great efforts were made to rescue the
poor animals, but they became so frantic ana
kicked SO fur1ously that the most daring coach
men, hostlers and others present were unable to
save their pets. The stable was frame one
OF little value and not insured. or the most
valuable horses belonging to the guests Mr.
Corcoran lost three Gov. Mathews one, Prof,
Devere one, Mr.. Darlington four Gen. Ander-
son two, DR.. Norman 0ne Mr.. Delaplain two.
Mr.. Ford tEo, and Mr.. Montague OF Balt1,
more, one. The loss by the fire is estimated at
10000.
THE GEORGIA MURDERs.-Gov. Colquitt, OF
Ca. went TO JOnesbOrO' Saturday night witt,
the Gate City Guard, of Atlanta, to prevent any
attempt on the part OF friends to rescue the
prisoners who were imprisoned on the charge
beating her father and mother and fatally
Wounding her brother. J0neSboro' was In great
state OF excitement over the affair all of yester-