The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-07-03

When the famous "Order No. 40,
the letter to Gov. Pease and the sharl
rebuke to the Freedmen's bureau
managers in Texas had convinced tn,
Republican leaders that Gen. Han
cock was not the supple tool theil
Southern policy required, steps were
taken to get rid of him. Gen. Grant
who had just sold himself to the
dominant party by deceivlng and be.
traying the President Johnson-was
invested by congress with extra.
ordinary powers which rendered him
entirely independent of the constitu.
tional commander-ln-chief. These
powers he proceeded to use for the an
noyance of Gen. Hancock, who, find
ing himself embarrassed and humil-
lated by an authority he could not re-
sist, became anxious to leave post he
could no longer fill with honor or use
fitness. Writing to friend at Wash
ington, he said: l.,
&c hope to be relieved here soon.
The president is no longer able to pro-
tect me. So that 1 may expect one
humiliation after another, until I am
forced to resign. l am prepared for
any event. Nothing can intimidate
me from doing what ] believe to be
right"
Shortly afterward the following let
ter was written:
"HEADQ'Rs 9TH MILITARY DIST.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb, 81, 1868.
" To Brevet Maj. Gen. L. Thomas, Adjutant Gem
eral, o. S. A., Washington, D. c.
"Generdl-I have the honor to transmit
herewith copies of my correspondence
with the General-in-Chief in reference to
my recent action concerning the removal
from office of certain aldermen and assist
ant aldermen of the Council Of the City of
New Orleans, made by me for contempt of
the order of the District Commander
81 request that the same may, in the ap
prOpriate manner-as explanatory of my
action, and for his infOrmation-be laid be-
fore his EXcellency, the President of the
United States, with this my request to
be relieved from the command of this mill
tary district, where it is no longer useful or
agreeable for me to serve.
When relieved, should the exigencies
of the service permit, it would be most i'm
accordance with my inclinations to be sent
to st. Louis, Missouri, there to await fur
Their orders.
81 am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, W. S. HANCOCK,
"Maj. Gen. U. S. Army"
On the 10th of March following he
was relieved. Meanwhile Gen. James
A. Garfield had thrust his fingers into
the business in characteristic fashion.
1t being supposedly those who did
not know him-tbat Gen. Hancock
would remain in New Orleans i'm
spite of all annOyances and insults,
Garfield, then chairman of the mill
tary committee of the house, actually
introduced bill to reduce the number
of majOr-generals in the army, with
the avowed object of shelving Han
cock The Republican majority, how
ever, did not dare press the bill to d
passage; even those friendly to its
object fearing the effects of the con-
persecution upon the popu-
lar mind. But it was not Garfeld's
fault that this noble soldier, who had
then been twenty-fOur years i'm the
cOuntry's service, who had distin- |
guished himself in two wars, who had |
shed his blood and saved the day at |
and who had received the |
thanks of congress "for his gallant, |
and conspicuous share in /
that great and decisive victory Twas !
not stripped of bis hard-Won honOrs /
and sacrificed upon the altar OF parti- |
san malignity. We do not know how |
his act may strike others, but to us
Is ineffabIe meanness makes even the /
credit MObilier and De Golyer per-
Ormances respectable by comparison.
Fate and the American people have
lecreed for Hancock appropriate re-
renge, and for Garfield appropriate
The hero whose shoulder
traps the Republican nominee would
rave torn off will be the next presi-
lent Of the United States. l