Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-08-11
Hancock TO Sherman.

two letters of the situation received
from Gen. Sherman
'Carondeld Z. o., 81. L0pis, Dec.
2Sth 1S76.-My Dear General 4: Your
favor of tho 4th instant reached me in
New York on the 5th, the day before L
left for the Wost. l intended 10 reply
to it before leaving, but cares incident
to departure intcriored. Thon again,
since my arrival here 1 have been 50
occupied with personal affairs of a
business nature that 1 have deferred
writing from day TO day until this mo-
ment, and now l find myself in debt to
YOU another letter in acknowledgment
ofyour favor Of the 18th, received q
few days since.
Il hare concluded to leave here on
the 20th (to-morrow) Z. NJ, so that l
may be expected in New York on the
SIst instant. 1t has been cold and
and dreary since my arrival here. l
have worked like q Turk Il presume
that means hard work. in the country,
in making fences, cutting down trees,
repairing buildings, etc., and am at
least able to say that st. Louis is the
coolest place in the winter and it is the
hottest in The summer Of any that l
have encountered in q temperate zone.
I have known st. Louis in December 20
have genial weather throughout the
month this December has been frlgld,
and the river has been frozen more
solid than have ever known II.
when hear the rumor that ! was
ordered 20 the Pacific coast l thought 1t
probly true, considering the past dis
cussion on that subject, The possl-
bilitics seemed to me to point that way.
Had it been true l should, Of cosrse,
have presented no complaint nor made
resistance of any kind. l would have
gone quickly, If not prepared to go
promptly. certainly would have been
relieved from the responsibilities and
anxic.ics concerning presidential mat
ters which may fall to those near the
throne or in authority within the next
four months, as we'll as from other in
cldents or matters which | could not
control, and the action concerning
which l might not approve. | was not
exactly prepared 10 20 to the Pacific,
however, and therefore felt relieved
when l received your note informing
me that there was no truth in the
rumors, Then did not wish to appear
to be escaping from responsibilities an(
possible dangers which may cluster
around military commanders in The
East, especially in the critical period
fast approaching. ALPS we'll that ends
well. The whole matter of the presi.
dency seems TO me to be simple and Ia
admit of q peaceful solution. The ma
chincry for such q contingency as
threatens to present itself has been al
carefully prepared.
1t only requires fabrication
owing to dlsusc. The army should
have nothing to do with the election Of
inauguration OF Presidents. The people
elect the President. The Congress;
declares IN n joint session who he is.-
We of the army have only to obey his
mandates, and arc protected in 80 do
ing only so far as they may be lawful
Our commissions express that. like
Jeffer,on's wag Of Inauguration; it SUIT;
our system. lie rode alone on horse.
back TO the Capitol, Il fear it vas th'
odd Capitol, y lied his horse to raj
fence, entered and was duly sworn
then rode to the Executive Mansion
and took possession. He maugurateC
himself simply by taking the oath o.
Office. There is no other legal inaugu
ration in our system. The people o.
politicians may institute paradcs in
honor Of the event, aud public officials
may add to the pageant by assembln!
troops and banners, but all that only
comes properly after the inauguration
no. beforehand it is not part OF IT,
Our system does not provide that on,
President should inaugurate another.
There might be danger in that, aud il
was studiously lett out Of the charter
But you are placed in an EXCEPTIONAL.
important position IN connection Wit
coming events. The capital is in ml
jurisdiction also, but am q subordinate
and not on the spot, and i'll were 81
also would be my superior in authority,
for there is the station OF the general
in-chlcf. On the principle that regu
larly elected Presidents term Of oflic
expires with the 3rd of March, e
which l have not the slightest doubt,
and which the laws bearing on the sub
iect uniformly recognize, and in con
sideration of the possibility that th
lawfully elected President may not ar
pear until the 5th Of March, great def
of responsibility may necessarily fal
upon you. You will have power an
prestige to support you. The Secretar
of War, too, probably holds over; bu
if no President appears he may not b
able to exercise functions in the nam
a ola President, for his proper acts al
| those of known superior, a lawil
I President. You act on your own rC
| sponsibility and by virtue of a commits
sion, duly restricted by the law. Th
s Secretary Of War is the mouthpiece OF
1 President. You are not. If neithe
candidate has constitutional majorit
, of the electoral college or the Senal