The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-07-06
THE HANCOCK INTERVIEW.
Judge Pittman's Account of the visit
that Led to the : ,dier-States.
mans Nomination.

The Hon. Thomas w. Pittman, of New
York city, is in tow, stopping at the hotel
Barnum Mr.. Pittman is gentleman, ex-
perienced in politics and the author of the
famous Hancock md Hendricks letter pub
lshed four years ago, and which created con-
siderable comment. Mr.. Pittman was origin
ally a Seymour man, but finding that Sey.
mour positively declined, his second choice
was General Hancock. Last Thursday Mr..
Pittman, in company with DR.. Munford, of
the Kansas City Times, who had just returned
from Utica, where he learned from Mr..
Seymour that he positively declined to
accept nomination, visited General Han
cock at Governors island. Mr.. Pittman
gave the following interesting account of
what TRANSFERRED to Post.Dispatch reporter
this morning. He said We found Gen.
Hancock had just come from the Warren
inquiry. He was in his unitorm tie invit.
ed DR.. Munford and myself to his library.
We were soon Joined by Gen. Eppa Hunton,
OF Virginia, and Gen. Beale, of Virginia, who
were witnesses in the Warren inquiry, who
had never met Hancock before. There were
also Gen. Newton and Col. Alex. G. II. Daw-
son, formerly of Georgia. The conversation
turned upon general topics and in few mo-
ments it drfted
TO THE GETTYSBURG FIGHT.
Gen. Hunton said to Hancock: " General,
your corps won Gettysburg
General Hancock arose with that peculiar
smile, which is Hancock SMILE and with all
his suavty of manner said THAT victory
belonged to the general who commanded
that army"
with all Difference to your opinion, your
troops won the fight" remarked General
Hunter. 81 received three balls in my shirt
and fourth shattered my scabbard. | am
delighted to meet you; it il the first time
have had the pleasure of meeting YOU" DR..
Munfor and myself then turned the CONVEX
sation, our mission being purely a political
one.
A GRAND REPLY.
DR.. Munford had Just come from Utica.
He said General Hancock, it must have
been terrible temptation to you, sir, not to
have maintained military law in Louisiana"
Hancock answered "There was two instru-
Inents that | was early taught were greater
than the sword the declaration of indepen-
dence and the constitution of the United
States. When they were attacked by force
deemed it my duty to maintain those in
struments by the sword After peace was
restored, | naturally maintained the civil
over the military law. Hence there was no
temptation at all"
This patriotic sentiment was applauded by
every person present When Gen. Hunton |
arose to depart he said: Seen. Hancock, if |
you are dominated at Cincinnati shall take
my coat off in Virginia and stump the state
for you, and believe when next meet you
/ shall meet you as Gen. Hancock, president, |
in the White House." Hancock smiled, and |
said he had come so frequently near the nom
ination it was quite problem to him. He |
could only say that he had the most sincere
respect for all the gentlemen who were
named as candidates, and he believed that the |
convention at Cincinnati would be marked as |
the most patriotic ever assembled in the |
country, and whoever the nominee might be, |
their selection would be ratified at the polls |
by the American people. DR.. Munford and |
myself assured the general that, since Sey- |
mour had positively declined, he was our
choice and we would exert what little nfu- |
ence we possessed in his behalf.
SOLICITING 80 VOTES.
General Hancock kindly thanked US say
ing he was making no personal canvass, and |
soliciting no votes. Before the party broke
up this sentiment was offered General |
Hancock, the soldier statesman, who, in time |
of war, DIRE his sword to maintain the union,
and in time of peace turned his sword into
pen to maintain the civil over the military
law" After the military gentlemen had de- |
parted, DR.. Munford said " General Han
cock, what about Pennsylvania ?" "Well, |
sir" replied Hancock, 81 have some very
warm friends in that state and believe that |
native pride, should be elected standard |
bearer, would give me that state. Besides,
there are many ofn1y old corps residing there.
and it would be atfectation on my part to say
that don't believe that have the affection |
of my soldiers"
Mr.. Ptman, in conclusion. added: 81
shall not rest until the close of the polls on
election day. can say as a citizen of New
York, and as msn who has been twenty |
five years in politics, that the great empire
state will give $4,000 majority in Novem.
ber"