Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-08-11
HANCOCK TO SHERMAN.
TEXT OF THE MUCH TALKED
ABOUT LETTER ON THE
ELECTION.
THE ARMY IN THE CRISIS or 1915.
A THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION OF THE DUTY
OF SOLDIERS UNDER THE LAW.

OF SOLDIERS UNDER THE LAW.
Tho following letter was written il
reply to two letters on the situation
received from General Sherman:
CARoNDELET P o., ST LOUIS,
December 2S, 1876,
Ny Dear General Your favor o.
the 4th inst. reached me in New Yorh
on the 9th, the day before / left fol
the West. intended to reply to il
before leaving, but cares incident &c
my departure interiered. Then again
since my arrival here have been SC
occupied with personal affairs of 0
business nature that 1 have deferred
, writing from day to day until this
moment, and now | find myself in
debt to you another letter in acknowl
edgement OF your favor Of the 18th
received a few days since. | have
I concluded TO leave here on the Goth
tomorrow afternoon, so that ! may
be expected in New York on the 3lst
inst 1t has been cold and dreary
since my arrival here. have worked
like Turk" q presume that means
hard work. in the country in max
ing fences, cutting down trees, repair.
ing buildings, etc. etc. and am at
least able to say that St. Louis is the
coldest place in the Winter as it is the
hottest place in the Summer of any
that ! have encountered in temper.
ate zone. J 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 il.
When ! heard the rumor that | was
ordered to the Pacific coast | thought
it probably true, considering the past
discussion on that subject, The posi-.
bilities seemed to me TO point that way.
Had it been true, | should, of course,
have presented no complaint nor made
resistance of any kind, | would have
gone quickly if not prepared to 90
promptly. | certainly would have
been relieved from the responsibilities
and anxieties concerning Presidential
matters, which may fall to those near
the throne or in authority within tho
next four months, as well as from
other incidents or matters which
could not control and the action con-
cerning which | might not approve.
| was not exactly prepared to 60 to
the Pacific, however, and therefore
felt relieved when received your note
informing me that there was no truth
in the rumors. Then | did not wish
to appear to be escaping from respon.
sibilities and possible dangers which
may cluster around military command
ers in the East, especially in the crit
ical period fast approaching. Ais
well that ends well.
The whole matter of the Presidency
seems to be simple and to admit of a
peaceful solution. The machinery for
such a contingency as threatens to
present itself has been carefully pre-.
pared. IL 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 Con
gress declares in joint session who
he isl We of the army have only to
obey his mandates, and are protected
in so doing only SO far as they may be
lawful. Our commissions express that.
| like JefIerson's way of Inauguration /;
il suits our system. He rode alone on
horseback to the Capitol Il fear it
was the old Capitol y , tied his horse
to rail fence, entered and was duly
sworn then rode to the Executive
Mansion and took possession. He in.
augurated himself simply by taking
the oath Of office There is no other
legal Inauguration in our system. The
people or politicians many institute
parades in honor of the event aud
public officials may add to the pageant
by assembling troops and banners, but
all that only comes properly after the
inauguration-not before, and it is not
part Of ii. Our system does not pro.
vide that one President should inaug.
rate another. There might be danger
ns ,L" -. ' '''O ou'
But you are placed in an exception.
ally important position in connection
in mn ;nrigd;o,;nn 9 o,so H Sn, IJp'so, is %
snhoSd,na,o anS -. | o ,Iaa,a, n ~" y
"a woro oo oIso ,novId ~ ~ sPo'' ""u
NOV ~ an,bor,,D ~ e"n otiu 49, ~ "i1 supp
No. ae ,Lo GnS,.I ~ =, % CI;o. Wv 1 stu
nr;noinlo n H. ,hat ror,n ~, Gn,y oIoo,1 In .ne
idon,,I ,osno % ~ oSioo % 49, 1891 ';,i Us .
"a Of March y of wh;oh uo + H. VIZ ~, .Lo .ho
sI;ob,os, n % dnnS, v "nS " .rh;nL nS'u ~ my @ .ne
basr;ny on ,ho srh;oo, M nn;ia...', tn snH 'a"s u
oon;nae ond ~ 'oGS oay.iSo.,.,o un,io, ,Yo, %
dntnii, I aIoo,ad JiS,a.'on p"aa;Iau. VI ene
",na a", uiGT.Iu .;I ~ k. L'siSvhs sS III may no.
d%PaI % Of rosnoUa;b,;,r ] OH Htu y, n,n aun grShe
SaII ali rnon y, Tom Yo. hol3 E d"or mooeS'"v,Iy Wy,
will have mower and prestige 70 sunnort
Won. The Secretary of war loo prob'
ABLY holds over, b1t If no president
appears he NAV not be able TO exercise
functions in the name of a President
for his proper acts are those of =
known superior-a lawful President
You act on your own responsibilitv
and by virtue of commission only
restricted by the law. The Secretary
OF war is the mouth-piece of a Presi.
dent You are not II neither oandi.
date has q constitutional majority of