The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-06-30

consistent with his position and duties,
10 save the life of this victim convicted
under martial law. Mrs. Surratt and
her companions were executed on July
s, 1866, When Mrs. Surratt's daugh-
ter, at his suggestions, endeayored to
reach theSear of President Johnson to
for her mothers life, General
Hancock assisted her to the extent of
his ability In carrying out her wishes.
But in vain. He hoped for pardon
for Mrs Surratt through the prayers Of
the unfortunate woman's daughter,
and on the day OF the execution he sta
toned mounted soldiers on the line
from the White House to the. Arsenal
grounds, where the execution was to
take place, so that If the pardon were
granted even at the last moment, he
should know it promptly and in time to
save Mrs. Surratt from the halter. No
messenger of mercy came, and the in-
delible disgrace was attached to the
government Of the United States of
hanging woman innocent of crime.
Later in July General Hancock was
transferred to the Middle Ds partment.
His headquarters were ut Baltimore.
He remained In command of this De-
partmcnt until July, 1866. when he
was put in command Of the Department
of Missouri. About the same time he
was made Major General in the regular
army, having already been breveted to
the same grade for "gallant and merit
orious services at Spottsylvania."-
While in the West he conducted several
campaigns against hostile Indians in
the Indian Territory, Kansas anil Colo
RADIO. His subsequent commands have
been those of Louisiana and Texas, of
Dakota and of the Department OF the
East-the last his present charge, with
headquarters on Governors Island.
We have shown above the record that
General Hancock has made for himself
as soldier, but it is not as soldier
that the Presidency ofthe United States,
| if that honor be in reserve for him, will
| be conferred on him. The eyes of
thousands of his fellow-countrymen are
turned to him because, being soldier
himself, he has stood boldly and brave
| Iy forward in emergencies in defense of
the civil law when threatened in time
of peace by the military law. While in
command of the Military District of
Louisiana and Texas, with headquar-
tiers in New Orleans, in November,
lls67, he found himself met by difficult
ties arising out of the results of the
war. With admirable tact and a keen
sense of justice to the laws of the coun-
try as well as to the people of Louisiana
i and Texas, he reconciled the differences
that had previously prevailed and which
had had their origin in the aboEinable
! lcarpet-bag governments that since the
close of the war had blighted those
States. Instead Of an Oppressor, the
i Louisianians and Texans found in him
La governor inspired by motives of the
purest patriotism and Of the highest
4 Justice. On assuming command, No
Il vember 20, 1867, he issued his we'll
known General Order, No. 49," In
;. which he laid down his programme as
Governor of the District. This docu-
i ment was revelation to an oppressed,
!. robbed and humitiated people. In it
he expressed his convictions that the
. people Of Louisiana and Texas desired
peace, and he declared his purpose to
, ensure 1t, by allowieg the civil authors
ties to carry out the civil laws. There
, was everything in this "Order" to pro-
duce profound sense Of gratitude in
| the hearts of those to whom 1t was adj
3 dressed. Following it came for while
3 the blessings of peace and prosperity,
and but for the fact that the Admins.
: tration at Washington removed General
3 Hancock from his sphere Of just and
Z beneficent government the period Of
8 misrule In Louisiana and Texas would
!. have come to an end ten years ago
s How honestly, how impartially and
: how prndently he conducted the affairs
! of those two States is shown in the cast
e of his controversy with the carpet
!; Dagger so-called Governor Pease q
IL Texas. This individual had arbitraril,
e removed the judges and county officer
e whom he found in Office and had an
t. pointed his own creatures to fill thei
II places,
General Hancock's first act on, assn
r, ming command was to redress the III
Is justice that had been done to the peopl
II of Texas, and in his "GeDeIal Order
n No. 40' he repaired the wrong tina
l. Pease had committed. He declare
J. that "the right of trial by jury, til
le habeas corpus, the liberty OF the press
= the freedom of speech, the natura
Is rights of persons, and the rights {
IL property, should be respected" -nobl
N sentiments that have never been fol
re gotten by the American people. Agar
le IN a letter to Pease he said that 20
them (the laws Of Texas and: louisiana
al as on foundation of rock, reposes a
n most the entire structure OF social ord,
he In these two States. Pow'
g. may destroy the forms, but not Il
as principles of justice; these will live
he spite even Of the sword"
in The just course of General Hancot
r. in the South offended the carpet-ba
he gers and their Radical friends in Co
re- gress who endeavored by hostile legi
tn lation, directed against him, either
as- have him retired from the military Sc
nd vice or to make his position as comma
der of the Fifth Military District ir
sat some and embarrassing. Finally q
me issue of obeying wrong or resignil
I'VE his Governorship was presented to hi
ar. He chose the latter course, and in
red letter to friend, in which he spoke
ere his difficulties, he said: "Nothing3 G
in intimidate me from doing what /
Ike lieve to be honest and right"
ing made application to be relieved frt
Tie, his command on February ~, 1858,
m victim of Radical partisanship, whe
On name had become tower Of streng
ep- in the land.
18th General Hancock was brought out
mad 1868 as candidate for the Democra
ion nomination for the Presidency. l..
lay National Convention of that year he
de- ceived l44H votes. Again, in 1876,
Ties received at the St. Louis Convention
Of votes for the same nomination.