Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-08-14


knew of him for a brief period. HI
served under my command. but a
the matter stands I can't see an
likelihood of his being declared
elected by the people, unless tn,
senate and house come to be in ac
cord as to that fact, and the hous,
would of course not otherwise cleo
him. What the people want is {
peaceful determination of this mat
ter, as fair determination as posi-
!. ble and as lawful no other determ.
lnation could stand the test. The
country, if now plunged into revo.
luton, would become poorer day by
day; business would languish and
: our bonds would come home to find
a dispirited market.
/ was not in favor of the military
in South Carolina recently, and II
Gen. Ruger had telegraphed to me
or asked for advice I would have
advised him not, under any circum-
stances, to allow himself or his
troops to determine who We're the
lawful members of a state legisla-
ture. / could not have given him
better advice than to refer him to
the special message of the president
in the case of Louisiana, some time
before. But in South Carolina he
had had the question settled by a
decision of the supreme court of that
state, the highest tribunal which
had acted on the question, so that
his line of duty seemed even to be
clearer than the action in the LOui-
siana case. If the supreme court
had interfered and overruled the
decision of the state court there
might have been q doubtful certain
| ty, but the federal court interfered
to eomplicate, not to decide or over
rule. Anyhow it is no business of
the army to enter upon such ques-
ton, and even if it might be so, in
any event if the civil authority is
supreme as the constitution declares
it to be, the South Carolina case was
one in which the army had plain
duty. Had Gen. Ruger asked me
for advice, and if had given it,
should OF course have notified you
of my action immediately, SO that
it could have been promptly over
ruled if it should have been deemed
advisable by you or other superior
in authority. Gen. Ruger did not
ask for my advice, and / inferred
from that and other facts that he
did not desire it, or that being in
direct communication with my mill
itary superiors at the seat of govern.
ment who were nearer to him in
time and distance than was, he |
deemed it unnecessary. AS Gen. |
Ruger had the ultimate response !
bility of the action, and had really |
the greater danger to confront in |
the final action in the matter, did |
not venture to embarrasS him by |
suggestions. He was department /
commander, and the lawful head of |
the military administration within
the limits of the department. But,
called to Washington for consulta-
tion before taking command, and
was probably aware of the views of
the administration as to civil affairs
in his command. / knew that he
was in direct communication with
my superiors in authority in refer
ence to the delicate subjects pre-
sented for his consideration, or has
ideas of his own which he believed
to be sufficiently in accord with the
views of our common superiors to
enable him to act intelligently, ac-
cording to his judgment, and with
out suggestions from those not on
the spot and not as fully acquainted
with the facts as himself. He de-
sires to be free to act, as he had the
eventual greater responsibility.
AS I have been writing thus freely
to you, / may still further unbosom
myself by stating that | have not
thought it lawful or wise to use
federal troops in such matters as have s
east of the Mississippi J
within the last few months, save so
far as theymay be brought into action
under the article of the constitution !
which contemplates the meeting
Of armed resistance or an invasion
Of state more powerful than the
state authorities can subdue by the I
processes, and then only I
when requested by the legislature. {
1r, if it could not be convened in !
session, by the governor, and when {
he president of the United States
nterferes in that manner it is state |
If war, not peace.
The army is laboring under dlsad. |
1antages, and has been used unlaw-
ully at times in the judgment of the
people. In mine, certainly, and we
nave lost a great deal of the kindly
ceiling which the community at
arge once felt for us. 1T is time to
top and unload. Officers in COM O
nand of troops often find it difficult Ii
o act wisely and safely when supe- v
iOrs in authority have different c
yieWs of the laws from theirs, and d
when legislation has sanctioned ac- t.
iCn seemingly in conflict with the h
law. and they generally c.
lefer to the known judgment of e.
heir superiOrs. Yet the superior C;
'fficers of the army are so regarded p
n such great crisis and are held to Il
uch responsibility, especially those Il
t or near the head of it, that it is il
lecessary on such momentous occa- Il
ions to dare to determine for them v
elves what Is lawful and what Is 81
IOt lawful. Under our system, If o.
he military authorities should be a
INVOKED, as might possibly be the 81
ase in such exceptional times, "
ghen there existed such divergent le
Jews as to the correct result, the "
rmy will suffer from its past action st
1t had acted wrongfully. al
Our regular army has little hold iC
pom the affections of the people Of Il
0-day and itssuperior officers should te
as far as it is in their ii
over, legally and with righteous er
ltent, aim to defend the right
Yhich to us is the law and the insti- ~
1tion which they represent. 1t is a,
well-meaning institution, and it ~ ~
,ould be well If it should have an Z,
pportunity to be recognized as a +;
ulwark in support of the rights of - -
ne people and the law. am truly oe oe
ours, in
WINFIELD s. HANCOCK. IN
o Gen. w. T. Sherman, Command n
ing Army of the United States, u
Washington. 81 81
ar