The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-09-02
OUT AT LAST.
The Famous CorresPOnde Be-
tween Sherman and II "a acoclk Du.
ring tue Excite menf Of 1867.

The Famous correspondence Re.
tween SberDl AN a nd II uco ock Du.
ring tue Excitement Of 1861.
The pressure brought 10 besr upon
G General Sherman for The publication
OF his letters TO General Hancock in
December. 1876, haa brought out the
entire correspondence between those
distinguished gentleman during the
excitement OF the Presidential count
OF 1867. The following are the most
important features of the letters:
The first, Sherman III Hancock, is
dated December 4. 1876, aud condens-
ed is rs follows:
hope that events soon will admit
of a return 10 their posts of companies
detached at the South; but every
time l make move in that direction
am met by insurmountabie objec-
tions. I dislike much to have our
soldiers used in connection with leg
islative body, but orders coming from
the President have to be Obeyed.
Second letter, dated December II,
1876: H. s.#-.tsl
There is no truth in the report that
you are to be ordered from New York.
| hope you will spend peaceful and
happy week with me during the holi-
days. No serious changes in COM
mand are being contemplated, and,
when they are. you may be sure that l
will give you the earliest notice. There
are men, on mischief intent, who
would gladly SOW the seeds of dissen-
sion among us of the army. .....
Third letter. dated Jan. IL, 1S77:.
dislike to have our army used in
the civil conflicts, bat the President
has the lawful right to use the army
and navy, and has exercised that right.
As to the Presidential election, we
must recognize him as President whom
the lawfully appointed officers declare
as such. In case of failure to elect by
March 4. the President of the Senate
becomes President pro tenn and new
election must be had. 1t is we'll we
should compare notes and agree before
this crisis is on us, but hope we may
pass this ordeal safely.
Haneock's first letter. under date OF
January 2, 1877, is in reference to
scare derived from an anonymous let
ter in relation TO threatened rebellion
at Jefferson Barracks, Hancock says
there can be no danger from an anon
ymous letter, and that be should besi-
tate to take any decided steps with the
company placed at his disposal. 1z
His second letter is regarding his
order TO GO 10 the Pacific. and the cor
rection of an article in the World
Hancock says that at that time he had
not seen Gen. Bnford, who had com.
mand Of the forces in South Carolina,
for years. The third letter ia one to
the World, wherein he says he could
not have refused to be removed to the
Pacific, as he never had heard or seen
any order for such removal. He asks
q correction of the World. I.i 4.i
The fourth letter, to General Sher-
man, is dated January 19, 1877: s,.s
The proposition for JOINT commit-
| tee lnsures peaceful solution of the
Presidential question, If 1t becomes q
law, and in my opinion, gives to Gen
eral Haye chances which he did not
have before. l have considered that
Mr.. Tilden's chances were impregna-
BILE; but not SO Mr.. Hendricks. Now,
| it seems to nae that Governor Hayes
has something more than an equal
chance, but definite results cannot be
| foreshadowed. If the bill passes and
General Grant vetoes it, Mr.. Tilden's
chances will be stronger than before.
The danger in this compromise ques-
ton or joint committee plan, is that
the defeated candidate might appeal
| to the Supreme Court on the grounds
of illegal (unconstitutionaD decis-
IONS"
The correspondence ended by Sher-
man saying that the passage of the
bill would end all disorder and danger
of confusion.
Commenting on this correspondence,
the Cleveland Penny Press, a non par
tisan paper, of rather decided Repub-
lican leaning, very appropriately says :
The political event of to-day is the
publication In full of the cOrrespOn-
dence between Generals Sherman and
Hancock, at the time of the Presiden-
tial crisis of 1876. The Republican
papers blindly alleged that Hancock
gave utterance to reasonable senti-
ments in one of those letters. One
letter was published, and has formed
the strongest campaign document that
could be issued for Gen. Hancock.
Discounted, the Republicans said that
there was letter not yet published
which contained the reasonable ex.
pressions. This assertion has brought
out the correspondence entire, and
now the reckless Republican journals
who have been all along crying fol
these letters feel as though they had
pulled down mountain on them
selves. The letters of Gen. Sherman
take much stronger ground than did
Hancock against the using Of the arm }
to influence legislative matters, and II
is quite plain that had Gen. Sherman
had his own way. the troops would
not haye been concentrated in Wash
ington at that time. Aside from the
complete loyalty and patriotism O
General uancoak's letters, their pro
pheiic wisdom stands prominent. lie
clearer than any other public man
fOresaw the outcome OF The electOra
commission bill, and while he looked
upon it as doomed to defeat the inau
guration of the rightly elected Presi
dent, he still had no hesitabcy in yield
, ing allegiance to wbOmever the proper
4 authorities should seat in the Presi
Dental chair. No stronger or wiser
documents could have been writer
than the letters of these two grea
military chieftains- The sentiment!
there expressed show that there is nc
| foal;uv of sunoriOritv " amOn0 the lead