Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-16
HANCOCK IN u.
READY TO OBEY TILDES's ORDERS AFTER
MARCH 3D.

MARCH 3D.
WASHINGTON, July Sit is now fully
established that Hancock wrote General
Sherman while the Electoral count was in
progress, that he should, il the Democrats
decided Tilden elected, recognize him as
President after March 3D., even il he were
inaugurated or should take the oath Of
Office in New York instead of Washing
ton. The whole story is thus told by the
correspondent OF the Boston Journal, who
was present at Democratic conference
where General Badly Smith made known
Hancoek's position.
The readers Of the Journal will doubt
less remember that secret conference Of
leading Democrats Of Vermont was held
at Waterbury on the evening of March 81,
at which Gen. W. F. (Baldy) Smith, was
present. The Journal correspondent was
admitted to the Democratic conclave only
on Il pledge Of secrecy as to the subjects
under consideration, which injunction he
has faithfully maintained. But inasmueh
as the chairmrn of that meeting, Hiram
Atkins, editor Of the Argus and Patriot,
and Chairman Of the State Committee, has
seen fit to divulge the most important
statement made at the time to the coun-
try, the journal correspondent feels ab-
solved from further secrecy or obligation
to keep silence relative thereto. The story
related by Mr.. Atkins at Cincinnati was
doubtless made with the view Of gaining
the good will and support Of Tilden's fol-
lowers for General Hancock. 1t has been
discredlted and doubted by many, but
your correspondent can fully corrobOrate
the truth Of the story in every particular,
which he will proceed to do.
The conference referred to was held in
one OF the upper parlors of Bishops Hotel,
in Washington, at about o'clock on the
evening of March 3lst. There were pres
ent Messrs. Hiram Atkins, B. B. Smalley
W. II. II. Bingham, Lucius Robinson, A
NJ. DIckey, j. W. McGeltric, NJ. d. Gil
man, J. j. Deavitt, NJ. S. Bowman, Col
Railey, r. l. Scott, l.. w. Redington anC
80 other representative Democrats Of Yer
mont. Your correspondent sat at tablI
in the center Of the room, and opposite
him sat General w. #. Smith, ex-Policl
Commissioner Of New York City. Dur
ing the evening General Smith was called
| upon to address the meeting, and in hi!
| remarks he said:
"There is one thing about General Han
cock that l want to tell you, whiel
shows the character of the man. / know
il to be true and it is this:
During the exciting times pending tn
election Of President in 1876, and abou
| the time OF the decision Of the Electora
| Commission, General Hancock, who theI
commanded the Eastern Military Depart
ment Of the United States, wrote lette
| to General Sherman, expressing his belle
that Samuel j. Tilden was legally electeI
| President. and that as such he was entitled
to take the oath of office elsewhere than a
Washington. Hancock further state,
that as an officer of the United State
army he should obey any order he nigh
receive from President Tilden after mid
night Of March Sd. And, added Genera
Smith, he was ready to answer a call TO
troops to sustain President Tilden shoull
the occasion demand a resort to arms.
The explicit statement from Genera
Smith OF determination on the part o
the present Democratic candidate for tn
Presidency to assist by force of arms j
the usurpation Of the Presidential Oiiic
by Tilden in 1876, should such procedur
be decided upon, was heartily applaude
by those present. General Smith was /
a position in 1876 to know whereof
spoke, and his statement stands uncon
tradicted.
The editor of the Argus and Patriot, 1
this weeks issue Of his paper, admits tn
truth of the substance OF this remarkabl
story, but claims it was somewhat chang
ed by his interview. The remarks Of Ger
eral Smith made at that conference as n
membered by the Journal correspondent
agrees substantially with the story as toll
by Mr. Atkins to the Cincinnati interview