The daily gazette., 1880-06-30
From the N. Y. Sun.
JUST PRAISE FOR HANCOCK.

iJOo Il hAl6E FOh dANCOCk.
We have already called attention to
the General Order No. Az, which Gen.
Hancock issued on November 80, 1867,
on taking command Of the military
district Of Louisiana. Il was, indeed,
memorable paper. ''in war;" said
Hancock, "it is indispensable to repel
force by force and overthrow and de-
stroy opposition to lawfln au hority.-
But when the insurrectio forces
have been Overthrown and peace estab-
lished, and the civil authorities are
ready and willing to perform their du-
ties, the military should ceased to ,ead
and the civil administration resume
its natural and rightful dominion."-
Solemnly impressed with hese views,
the General announces that "the great
principles of American liberty are still
the rightful inheritance of this people,
and ever should be. The right of trial
by jury, the hdbeds corpus, the liberty
of the press, the freedom of speech, the
natural rights of persons and The rights
of property, must be preserved"
This is but a specimen of the whole
tenor vf this memorable order, and we
say that no document has ever been is
sued showing more profound familiarity
with the Constitution of the United
States, Or q more accurate appreciation
of the ideas and spirit by which public
affairs should be Administered; and we
recall with great present satisfaction the
fact thai when this order made It's ap-
pearance, the President Of the United
States in Office at the time thought ii
necessary TO send to Congress message
applauding and affirming the concur
renee of the Exr cutive in the doctrine
laid down by Gen. Hancock. This mes.
sage is well worthy Of repetition at the
present time: n
"Gentlemen Of the Senate and of The
House Of Representatives:
San official COPY of the order issued
by Major-Gen. Winfield 5. Hancock,
commander of the Fifth Military Dis
tric', dated headquarters in New Or
leans, Louisiana, on the Goth day of
November, has reached me through
the regular channels Of the War De-
partment, aud I herewith communi-
cate it to Congress for such action as
may seem to be proper in view OF all
the circumstances.
'It will be perceived that General
Hancock announces that he will make
the law the rule of his conduct; that he
will uphold the courts and other civil
authorities in the performance of their
proper duties, and that he will use his
military power only to preserve peace
and enforce the law. He declares
very explicitly that the sacred right OF
the trial by jury and the privilege of
the writ of hdbeGs corpus shall not be
crushed out or trodden Under foot
He goes further, and, in one compre-
hensive sentence, asserts that the
principles of American liberty are still
the inheritance of this people, and ever
should be.
"When great soldier, with unre-
sUricted power in his hands 10 Cypress
his fellow men, voluntarily foregoes
the chance OF gratifying his selfish am
bition, and deyotes himself to the duty
of building up the liberties and
strengthening the laws of his country,
he presents an example of the highest
public virtue that human nature is ca
pable of practising. The strongest
claim of Washington to be "first in
war, first in peace, and first in the
hearts of his countrymen," is founded
on the great fact that in all his illus
trious career he scrupulously abstain
ed from violating the legal and consti-
tutional rights of his fellow citizens.
When he surrendered his commission
to Congress, the President of that
body spoke his highest praise i'll say
ing that he had always regarded the
rights of the civil authorizes through
all dangers and disasters. Whenever
power above the law courted his &C
ceptance, he calmly put the temptation
aside. By such magnanimous acts of
foi bearance he won the universal ad-
miration of mankind, and left name
which has no rival in the history of the
world.
81 am far from saving that General
Hancock is the only officer of the Amer
lean army who is Influenced by the ex-
ample of Washington. Doubtless thous-
apds of them are fai, ,hfully devoted to
the princi Piles for whi 3h the men of the
laid down their lives. Bnt
the distinguished honor belongs TO him
of being the first officer in high com
mand south of the Potomac, since the
close OF the civil war, who has giveO
utterance TO these noble sentiments III
the form of a military order.
al respectfully suggest to Congress
that some public recognition Of General
Hancock's patriotic conduct IL due, il
not to him, to the friends of law and
Justice throughout the country. Ofsuch
an act as his at such time it is but d
that the dignity should be vindicated
and the virtue proclaimed, so that its
value as an example may not be lost to
the patton. ANDREW JOHNSON.
"WAsHINGToN, d. O., Dec. l8, 1867.
Fortunate indeed is the republic
whose soldiers thus merit the appro oba'
ton of the civil authorities aud the
plaudlts of the people. Fortunate In
deed is the country whose most gallant
aud popular soldier is thus deeply i'm
bued with the principles of constitu-
tional liberty. Most truly deserved Is
the praise which President johnson, In
the message we have just quoted, saw
fit to bestow upon Winfield Scott Han