The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-08-07


Legislature. Ieeuld not have given him better adj
vice than to refer him 10 the special message OF DC
President In the case Of Louisiana some time before
But IN south Carolina be had the question settled
b. decision OF The supreme Court az the state the
highest tribunal which had acted ON the question
80 that his line Of duty seemed even 10 Dc cieare'
than IN the action In the Louisiana ease. II the
federal court had lnericfed and overrulcd the de
clsion Of the State court iheH might have hecn
doubt certainly but the federal court only iniefIefed
10 complcaie not to decide or override.
"Anysow Il Is no business Of the army 10 eniel
upon such questions and oycn II might be 10 -
any event 1.-THE civil authority Il suprcne, as h'
constitution declares Il TO be. the South carnlini
case was one In which the army had a plain duty
Had Gen Rnger asked me for advice, and If had
given IT, should OF course have notified you OF my
action Immediately 80 that It could have been
promptly overrulcd II q should have been deemed
advisable BY you or other superior in authority
Gen. Rugrr dd not ask iormy advice, aud nierret
from that and other facts that he did not desire Il
or that being IN direct communication with mi
military superior. Ut the seat Of government, WIS
were nearer to him IN time and distance than Twas
he deemed II unnecessary. A. Gen. Kruger had th'
ultimate responsibility OF action and bad really th'
greater danger to confront In the final action In th'
matter did not venture 10 cmb0Tfass him VIII
suggestions lie was a department commander ant
the laWml head at The military administration
within the limits Of the department. but besides
knew that he had been called 10 Washington to
consultation before taking command, and was pFoba
bly, aware Of the views Of the administration a. Il
the civii afaiE in his command l knew that h'
Was IN direct communication with my suPdi"rs u
authority in reference TO the delicate subjects pre-
senied for his consideration had ideas Of his own
which he believed 10 be sufficiently In seeord with
the views ofour common supcrion, 70 enable him
~ act iutciigcuty according to hsjudgmens' and
without suggestions fron those not ON the spot, and
not Us fully acquainted with the facts as himself
lie dcsirpd too 20 be free TO act, as he had The
eventual greater responsibility and NJ the mattel
was governed rs between him and myself As
have been writing thus freely 10 you may slil fur
,hcr unbosom myself by stating that have mol
thought il lawful OF wise to use federal troops In
such naitels as have tmnspIrcd East Of The Missis
sippi within the las, Few monthssayc Tar as they
may be brought into action under the article Of the
constitution which contemplate meeting armed
resistance or invasion OF State more powerful than
the state authorities tan subdue by the ordinary
processes, and then only when requested BY TIT
Legislature. or, II 1t could not be- convened in ses
the United states sztcryenes In that manner 1t Is
state OF war net peace. The army Is laboHng under
disadvantages, aud has been used unlawfully al
times in the Judgment Of the people in mine Ger
tanlyj and we have lost great deal VI the kindly
feeling which the community at Large once felt ioi
Us. IT is time to stop and unload" onicers in
command OF troops often find It difficult to act wisely
and safely when superors In authority have differ.
eut Views Of the law from their, and when legisia
tion has sanctioned action seemingly in conflict with
the fundamental law, and they generally defer I1
the known Judgment Of their superion. Yet the
superior officers of the army are regarded In such
great crises and are held 10 such responsibility
peclally those at or near the head Of a. that Is ne
ccSsary on such momonious occasions 10 dare %
determine for themselves what Is lawful aud What
Is not lawful under our system, Il the military au
thontes should he invoked, a. might possibly BE-
the case, In such exceptional times when there eN
isled such divergent Views to the corTcet result
The army will suffer from It's past action n II ha'
acted wrongmlly. our REGULAR army has little hold
upon the affections Of the people to-day, and IN
superior officers should certainly, as for lies In
their power legally and with righteous intent aim
to defend the right which TO Us is M ldW and th,
institution which thcy represent ltisawcll.mean
ing institution and 1t would he won Il 1t should
have an opportunity 10 be recognized rs a bniNark
In support Of the rights Of the people and Of ie iaf
am, truly youn,
TO Gen, ". 7. sherman commanding Army Of
the United states Washington, u. e."
HISTORY % TuE LETTER
The New York Herald Of Sunday. Ia introduein Z
Gen Hancooks letter. says
"Gen. llAncock's letter VIII be found to be one Of
the most interesting campaign documents that ha,
been brought 10 llsht thus far In the present pres
DENTAL contest when the republicans feYlyed the
fact Of such letter having been written they claimed
that is tone tnetured with trson and that H.
publication would greatly damage the prospects Of
Gen Hancock as the democratic candidate for Pres
idcnt These statements Wcre met with an emphatic
denial By democratic politicians on the broad fun.
dainental ground that General Hancock was ION
loyal and patriotic 10 have ever written or given us
terancc 10 a sentiment that by even the baldes
stretch Of the Imagination could BE- tortured int,
disloyaliy. On being spoken to ON Saturday by Ia,
Horuid reporter on the subject Gen. Hancock gave
full and explicit explanation, via;
Il hardly remembered writing The letter he said
"until saw reference To II in some ofthe ncyspa
per. when wrote 1t had no idea that Il would
ever b. published was in Western town on prl
waite business, with no secretary or member Of nj
stan with me. ] wrote it frankly aud with a,
constnint"
And sick BY what you wrote 2"
Il never wrote anything am afraid Of hayin,
known and that W aid not stick TO-"
And you desire this letter 10 b. publlshedge
Il only waited for the consent Of Gen. sherman
and that having been given there Is no ols,ael,
against its publication"
PRESS COMMENTS.
The Democratic press are everywhere jnbi
liant over the letter, and below we give III,
opinions of some of the leading Republican
and Independent press
The Washington Sar. ind, says There is moth
Ing Whateyern the letter that Is not consistent will
loyalty and devotion to the country. Whatever els
may be said about Hancock Il cannot be double,
that he y as loyal to the Union Us any patriot VIII
shed his blood in is cause
The Philadelphia Eoeaiag Tckpuph, rep, say,
"The document is one that Is entirely creditahe Il
the writer, and 10 far rs we eau see there Is no,
word or line IN Il that can be construed 10 his sad
vantage or disereditn
The New York Eplfag Its republican, says =
The Hanoock-SheIman letter ought 10 be a lessor
70 oyer-zealous partisan newspaper The letter /
In all respects proper one 10 have been written
The views which it cmbodies might well have beer
adopted by any good citizen, republican or demo
erat, in civil life military life Gen, Hancock sai,
no more and no les than he could say with pruprie
IT, but the si,ly organs have told 80 terrible stor,
about him and his letter that the publication b,
very contrad helps him and serves the purpose OF
good elec,ioneering document"
The fhilndelPh Ia Tiiass, ind says without In
tending TO do anght else than define his duty as
military commander, the 0bedicut servant Of N,
civil law Gen. Hancock has displayed the sonndes
and broadest craftsmanship, and his confidential NJ
torrance TO his chief that is mingled with his HON,
Affairs, and home Improvements aud home enjoy
ments. will be quoted heneeforth by all parties a
the ciearest definition Of the civil and military now
ers OF the government in of conflicting aathor,
that has einanaied from either field OF FORUM
The Philadelphia Fress rcp. says .--eGen. Han
cocks pariisans will probably bail Ii with more en-
thnsiasm than his letter Of acceptance, for il ha,
something more tangible 10 lay hold or The ono (,
mere empty plaiitnde. the other has substance and
point ON the whole we think. and are glad 70 say
that Il will not make an unpleasant impression on
the county,
EckenrOde's Bone Phosphate,
THE GREAT CROP GROWER
MANUFACTURED by
I. II. ECkENRoDE, TANEYToWN, Nh.