Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-08-14
s'irginia sree grsss.
II. n. e u. ". d. GdLLAHER. Editors.
Caariesforn, Jegcrson County, rcSi fG.
,, - fco0
lfHgrsi ~, 1850.
Hancock 70 shcrasan.

This letter was written in reply to two
letters oa the situation received from Gen.
Sherman:
Caroade5tt J. o.. 81 Loais., Dee q, 1873:
NV Dear General: Your favor OF the 9Th
instant reached ne in New Ior., on the 9th,
the dag before left for the West. intend
cd .3 reply before leaving, but cares incl
dent to departure intcrlerod. Then again,
since riv arrival here ! have been 50 occn-
pied with personal affairs OF a business ma
ture that have deferred writing from day
to-day until this moment, and now find
pyseh' IN dcat TO yoI another letter IN ac-
knoWlcdsemcnt OF your favor Of the lIta,
received a few days siace.
81 have concluded to leave here oa the
18th lto-mcrrcwl 2. H., so that } may be
cXoectcd in Neg YCY'. on the 3lst instant.
II haas bcca cold and drcaTy since my arrival
here. have worked like a Turk g." Il
presume that means hard worG) intEccoun-
fry. ia making fences, eating down uees,
-re,,sirii4ss brildiggs. ese., a'ld aaI nc least
able 10 say that ~. Louis is the coolest
place in tic winter and il j. the hottest in
The summer Of any that h..ye encountered
in q temperate zone. / have known ~.
Louis In December to have genial weather
throrylcul the month: this December has
been .rigid, and the river has been .fozcn
more solid thau / have ever known il.
"Whcn 7 heard tie rumor that ! was or
der,l 20 the Pacific coast | thoughtitp proba-
biy .lue, considering the past discussion on
that -uhicc Tie possibilities seemed to
me To- point that way. Had It been true /
should, of coursc, have presented no COM
plaint nor made resistance ot amy kind. |
would have gone quickly, if not prepared
to 90 promptly. ! certainly would have
been relieved from the responsibilities and
anxieiies concerning presidential matters
which nav lal to those near the throne Cr
in authority Within the next four rmonths, as
well - rom other incidents or matters
which co,Gd not control, and the action
concerning which i.migat not approve. J
was no. exactly prepared TO 90 to the Pa
cifc. however, and therefore felt relieved
whom / received yournoie informing lie that
there was no trath in the ramors. Then
did not wish t. appca t0 be escaping from
re.pansibili.ies and possible dahgers which
NAV cluster around military commanders ii
. lho East. especially in the critical period
fast approaching. AIS well that ends well
YThc whole matter OF the presidency seems u
me to be simple ald 20 admit OF peaceful
solution. The machinery lorsuch contin-
eancv q. threatens to present Itself has been
all carefully prepared. 1t only requires lii
bfication owing todisuse. The army should
have nothing to do with the election or III
aucuration OF Presidents. The people elect
the President. The Congress declares in 9
Joint session who he is. We of the army
have only to obey his mandates, and arc
protected in so doing only 50 far as they
may be lawful. Our commissions expires
that. Hike Jeifcr-ons way OF Inauguration
il suits our system. Iic rode aloneOn horse
back TO the Capital, Il fear it was the " old
Capitol.'l tied his horse TO Il rail fence, en-
tered and wa duly sworn, then rode TO tie
Executive Mansion and took possession -
He inaugurated himself simply by taking
the oath of Office. There Is no other legal
Inauguration in our system. The people Ol
politicians may institute Esrades IN honor
OF the event, aud public officials may add u
the pageant by assembling troops aud ban
ncrs, but al that only comes properly alter
the inaururat;on-not befC'e-and II Is moi
4 pat OF it. Oar system docs not provide
that one President should inaugurate an
other. There might be danger in that, and
it wa studiously left out OF the charter
Bat you are placed in an exceptionally IN
portant position in connection with coming
events The capital is in my jurisdiction
also, but ! am 4 subordinate and not on to,
spot. and if I were so also wouid he ny su-
perior in authority, for there Is the station
/ OF the genCral-in-chiCi.
On the principle that regularly elected
/ Presidents term Of Office expires with The
Srd of March. lof which / have not the
F slightest doubt ! and which the laws bearing
I on the subject uniformly recognize, and II
consideration 6f the possibility that tho
lawfully elected President may not appear
until the 9TH Of March, great deal OF re-
sponsibiiiiy may necessarily fall upon you
/ You viii have power AID prestige to support
YOU. The Secretary OF War; TOO, probably
holds over; but if no Precedent appears ht
NAV not be able to exercise functions IN tht
rarne Of President. for his proper acts ar,
/ those Of a known superior, lawful Presi-
dent You set on y0ur own responsibility
and by virtue OF i commission, duly re-
s.ricted by the law. The Secretary OF Wal
( /, the mouehpiece Of the President. 1ot
/ are not. II neither candidate has consti
I tutional majority Of the electoral college oi
The Senaye and House on tie occasion oi th'