Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-09-04
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delicate subjects presented for. bis
or had ideas of his
own which he believed to be suh-
GENTLY in accord with the views OF II
our common superfsrs to enable him
to act intelligently according to his
aud without suggestions
from those not on the spot and not as
fully acquainted with the facts as
himself. He desired, too, to be tree
to act, as he had the eventual greater
responsibility, aud so the matter was
governed ss between him aud myself.
As / have Been writing thus freely
to you, may still further unbosoml
myself by stating that l have not |
thought it lawful or wise to use fed
eral troops in such matters as have
transpired east of the Mississippi |
within the last few months, save SO |
far as they. may be brought into sc-
ton under the article Of the constitu-
ton which contemplates meeting
armed resistance or Invasion OF a
state more powerful than the
state authorities can .subdue by the
ordinary processes, and then only
when requested by the Legislature,
or, If it could not be convened III sea-
son, by the governor, and when the
president of the United States inter-
venes in that manner it is q state ct
war, net peace. -.f ...,....,....,
The army is laboring under disad-
vanta ges and has beeuused unlawfully
at times il, the ejudgment.ofthe people
lin mine certainly, and we have lost
| a great deal of the kindly feeling
which the community at large once
felt for us. 1T is time to stop ana
unlOad.' t.v I'd. a-G a.', 49,.
Officers in command of troops often
| find it difficult to act wisely and safe
| ly when superiors i'll authority have
different views of the law from theirs,
and when legislation has sanctioned
action seemingly, i'll conflict With the
fundamental law, and they generally
defer to the known judgment Of their
superiors. Yet the superior officers
lef the army are SO regarded i'll such
great crises and are held to such re-
sponsibility, especially those at or
near the head OF it. that it is necessa-
J. nv on such momentsus occasions to
dare TO determine. for themselves
, what is Lawful and what is not law
: ful under our system, if the military
i authorities should be invoked, as
might possibly be the case i'll such ex-
, ceptional times when there existed
: such divergent views as TO the cor
, rect result. The army will suffer
! from its past action if it has acted
, wrongfully. Our regular army has
little hold upon the affections OF the
: people to-day, aud its superior OH
: GERS should certainly, as far as lies IL
+. their pswer, legally and with right
: eous intent aim to defend the right
!. W which to us is} the law-aud. the III
: stitu tions, which they represent. 1t is
: well-meanimg institution and 1T Woult
e be we'll if it should have an oppor
Il tunity to be recognized as bulwarl
in support Of the rights of the peopl
: aud Of the law. l am truly yours,
t 20 .Ai WINFIELD S. HANCOCK.
n To General w. L. Sherman, com
y manding army Of the United States
|, Washington, D. C.'
t HEADQUARTERS, ARMY U. S.,
i WASHINGTON. b. g., Jan. 2, W.
il "Gen. w. S. Hancock, N. Y. -.a.
d DEAR GENERAL Il did not receiv
It your most interesting letter of DE
It cember %, from Carsndelet. Mo-, til
Y yesterday. l am very glad to hav
y your views in exteuso upon subject
j. Of such vital Importance. Our stand
e ard opinions are mostly formed o
i the practice of our predecessors bu
J. great change was made after tn
| close of the civil war by the ament
10 ments of the constitution giving
e the freed slaves certain civil and pol
It tical rights, aud empowering col
1T gress to make the laws necessary
% enforce these rights. This power
IS new and absolute, and congress hs
E. enacted laws with which we are nc
a vet familiar and accustomed. Sc
II pages 348, 349 and $50 revised statute
le (section 1887 edition 1874.
s. As matter of fact dislike to hay
.e eur army used in these civil conflict
~ but the president has the lawful rigi
he to use the army and navy and has e.
le ercised the right, as he believes, Law
j. fully and rightfully, and our duty hs
=, been, and is, to sustain him with ze
ll and sincerity.
III AS to the presidential election, "
es are in no manner required to take tt
NJ least action, but to recognize him s
president whom the lawfully al
es pointed officers declare to be sue
t. person. l hope and pray that tt
Or congress will agree OH some metho
~ before the day and hour arrive. b
l i'll case of failure to elect by or b
lg fore the 4th of March, there will
lie a vacancy in both offices Of presidel
to and vice-president, in which eve
ne the president of the senate becom
Sc president pro tempore, and he
is election will have to be held undo
IT. the law of 1892. See title I'LL, cha
81 I.,pages 81, % and % revised statute
d. 1t is we'll we should compare not
st. aud agree before the crisis is Oh u
" but, | surely hope we may pass th
ay ordeal safely and peacefully.
nd will be pleased to hear from ys
I'd at any time. ......
lSigned) w. L. SHERMAN.
ry A true copy.
nd Jno. NJ. Bacon, Col. and a. ID. G
to Hancock's letter of January 2, 1S1
We "HEADQUARTERS,M ,MIL.DIV.oF THE
IN ATLANTIC, N. Y, Jan. 2, IT.
ps General w. L. Sherman, Unit
Jul States Army, Washington. d. G.
General:-An anonymous cumm
ID nication to the secretary of ws
isl dated Louisville, KY, December
Use 1876, reached my headquarters ou
9th of that month. from the office
ou Lne huJutaHt-Seuefal el tue army.
OF 1t represents that, 'in the conte
he plated uprising Of the people to e
ON force the inauguration of Tilden a
lty Hendricks the depot at Jetfcrsonvi
he is to be seized and is expected
he arm and clothe the Indianl army
er- democrats
urt The Endorsement on this comm
er- nication, made at your headquarte
in dated December 26, 1876, is as
lde lows:
Official copy. Respectfully reterl
the to Major General w. S. Hanco
ns, commanding division of the ATTAIN
my who may draw company from Il
SUI eral Ruger, commanding departm,
5 it of the south. and post it at the jeff
Was vile depot with orders to protec
ain against any danger
The terms of the Endorsement
ad. ply all exercise of discretion Oh
uld part, which leads me TO write y
nv before taking action.
uld In my judgment there is no dan
( it OF the kind the anonymous com,
.ble ntcatlon sets forth, or other kind
ity. Jeffersonville depot to justify u mo
ad- ment of troops to that place. Sue
aud mOYemeut it seems to me. wO