Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1880-07-22

tence, and martial law prevailed. It
vas partiC ularly to be lamented that
one Of the condemned persons was a
woman, and the regret is deeper
when. in caImer times, people who
considered the case carefully, are
convinced that. As far as the crime of
assassination ia concerned, she was
guiltless. The execution had been
ordered for the 9Th day Of July |
Gen. Hancock saw that the only hope
for Mrs. Surratt lay in the power of
her daughter to move the Presidents S
heart, and so informed the daughter,
and gave her every facility in his
power to gain access to the President.
SO great was his anxiety in regard to
the looked for pardon Or reprleve that
he placed a lire Of mounted sentinels
from the White House to the
place OF execution, that the words of
grace, if spoken at the last minute,
should 90 surely and swiftly. But
no such words were spoken, and to
the now almost universal regret of
the people, Mrs. Surratt died.
After the close of the war, in July,
1863, Gen. Hancock was assigned to
to the command OF the Middle Mill
tary Department, with headquarters
at Baltimore, and in August, 1866,
to command the Department of Mis-
souri,. In the latter capacity his ser
vices were of great Importance in
harmonizlng the conflicting elements
in Missouri, arising out of the occu-
patton OF the State by troops under
| the State authorities, and tue pres
ence of the men of the Southern Con-
/ federacy, who has just returned to
their homes. While still in the
Southwest he was also engaged in a
campaign against hostile Indians in
Kansas and Colorado. At this time
it was intended to place him in COM
mand of one of the military districts
of the South created under the recon-
struction acts of Congress. BY re-
naming in the field and taking no
part in political affairs, Hancock al
though conservative in his views, had
won the good will alike of Republi-
cans and Democrats The desire to
retain it was more inviting to him
: than the opportunity TO WELD the un-
limited power which the suggested
assignment presented. Hence he
sought to be excused from such duty
in the South, and at first his inclina-
. tions were respected. Subsequently,
however, in opposition to his wishes,
!. in the latter part of 1867 he was as
. signed to the command of the Fifth
Military District, comprising the
, States of Louisiana anil Texas, with
headquarters at New Orleans. Con-
gress had invested such commanders
with despOtic powers, and it was easy
! for them to issue military mandates
in the decision of all important ques-
7 tions, civil or military, involving the
t rights and interests of citizens, in
, stead of following the more circuitous
, but more constitutional course o1
f civil methods. In this crisis he was
e called upon TO decide whether in his
| administration he would use the civi
l authorities or, discarding them, resorr
q to military commissions for the tria
all offences. His predecessor il
command had constructed the
construction acts to give the com
nder of that district absolute pow
i'll the States of Louisiana ant
Sas. Hancock held the supremacy
he civil over the military authority
I'd OF the Fifth Military Distric
about SIX months, and it was a
own request that he was relieved
letter to friend in Congress
ouncing that the time had com
II he had to choose between obedi
e to what he regarded as wrong
.esignation, he closed with tn
lie sentiment: "Nothing can in
idate me from doing what 1 be
'e to be honest and right" o.
9th Of February, 1868, he ap
I'd to be relieved from his com
nd, and was shortly afterward as
ned to the command of the Mill
y Division of the Atlantic, where
III the exception of three years il
mmand of the District of Dakota
has since remained.
A PERSONAL SKETCH.
! volume of camp and field anec
might be written illustrative c
ian, but it is not needed to TN
and him. Gen. Hancock's pei
characteristics might almost b
.wn from the foregoing simple rec
of his life. He appears the yer
,u ideal of the soldier. His figur
tall and finely shaped. His eye
ar, blue, inquiring, benignant i
pose, but inspiring in danger an
fnestness In manners, no ma
er surpassed him. He is the en-
Ii nddiment of kindly courtesy. To hi
is subordinates he was kindliness itself
ID He put one at ease, gave confidenc
8, made man think better of himse
a made him think that he amounte
f, to more than he suspected. This ws
is one of the secrets of Hancock's su.
" cess in the field. Hancock's reproo
), on the other hand, was not thing I
Of be wished for twice. He was sevel
n- in his requirements, and sometime
ID made his colonies and generals wis
d, they were anywhere but under Il
ID plain severity Of his talk. Yet aft
c. the lesson was taught, the wound vi
id healed by some attention so kind
,y land so gracious, that the object OF
I'd felt at last that ne had gained by Il
lg transaction. This he was to his sui
r. ordinates. What he was to his 81