The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-07-22
HANCOCK AND SHERMAN.
Their Conduct in the Hours of
1876 Contrasted. .rs

| the New York Herald, 7th: "The
statement of what General Hancock
Said ne would do in the event OF a
division of the house and senate n
which the electoral vote should b.
counted is deprived of much, If not
all its Importance. in view of the
actual facts. General Sherman iii
the la ter part Of November began
concentrating troops in w ashing
ton, for what purpose is not, def
niteiy known to this day. Only
the day before the arrival of the AZ
tillery companies. and while tney
we're en- roate TO this city, ne en-
lphatically denied that troops weIe
| coming here. Their movement
was in obedience TO his own orders
He had n suspicion that another re
bellion was going TO take place, an
tnat the presidential issue might b'
undecided on the fourth of Marcl
when President Grants term would
expire. In this dilemma it was
General Sherman's opinion that hi
I-should be prepared to protect and
defend the will of congress. 1t il
! not even understood here that con
| gress had assembled when General
| Sherman wrote personal letter to
| General Hancock asking his views
on the situation, The reply, it is
said, gave General Sherman great
4 er scare than he ever before expert
enced, for. having asked an expires
sion of opinion" General Hancock
alphabetically answered that if the
| senate Was to assdme that MI
4 Hayes was elected and the house
should declare that Mr., Tilden was
elected, and the limit fixed by law
for the term of General, Grant had
expired, then if Mk Tiiden should
take the oath of Office he would re-
spect him as president Of the United
States. Having obtained this eX-
preston from General Hancock
personally and contide italy, Gen
eral Sherman could do no more
than lock it up among his private
papers, 1t complicated matters,
however, here in Washington, and
j all that was heard was that in the
event OF trouble, General Hancock
could not be relied upon. 1t was
not pretended that the inclination
fof General Sherman to Mr.. Hayes
was right, butias General Sherman
is reported to have said the govern
ment had got to be preserved and
somebody had got to act promptly,
and up to the fourth of March he
was certain of President Grants
support. Still it was a matter OF
| political preference whether a citi
| zen should stand by the course o
the senate or the action of tile
house. 1t was General Sherman !
opinion that if force had TO be uset
Ithen the side that had the most ef
fective army would be recognized
and order and good governmcn
would follow. Stall, the presenc
! of General Hancock IN New 1uri
surely troubled General Sherman
1t was proposed 10 relieve him o
the command of the military divis
ion of the Atlantic and order Gen
e-al M'Dowell to New York, trans
1 ferring General Hancock to SeI
Francisco. While this was und ei
consideration the electoral commits
sion bill was first sugge ted and
the necessity for the change was be
! lieved 10 have passed, In this con.
nectlon another story Is revived
that which contemplated the aoduc
ton Of Mr.. TIldeD in the event he
should attempt TO assert himself as
President Of the United States,
! which act was TO be executed By
the civil authorities with a force OF
marines, the draft to include those
at Boston, PhiledelphIl and Wash
ingtoH. as as well as those at Brook
Iyn, which force was TO be ready TO
answer the Uniled States marshaPs 6
call for aid. The United States
troops were not to be called for.
1t is understood here among the
personal friends Of General Han
cock that he will, prior TO the pub
lioation of his letter of acceptance,
tender his resignation TO the Presi
dent as major-general Of the United
States Army. The reason assigned
for this proposed course is that,
pending The election. General Han
cock. if he remained in the army,
would be restrained ty the rules
and customs governing army
officers; who are supposed TO be
men without political preferences.
Another reason is an objection
which his candidacy presents in u
person being elected TO the high
est civil office in the land while still
an. officer Of tie regular army =
The cases of Scott and Grant, IL Is
contended, were different from that
of General Hancock. The nomina.
zion OF the latter was distinctive
partisan selection, whereas with
The former distinguished services
in Mexico and during the rebellion
gave them some claim upon the
gratitude of their cOuntrymen re
gardless of political views. 1t is
also said in explanation that Genern
al Hancock does not wish to em-
barrass or in the slightest degree
retard tie success of his party, and
as a citizen he will be wholly free
and on an equality with the repub
iican nominee. Having the great
est confidence in the success Of the
canvass, his retirement will, in his
opinion, it is said, be anticipated
only a few months. The example
of General Grant, who did not re
sign until a short time before his
Inauguration as president, has no
influence with General Hancock
Besides, it is alleged that this step
will Increase the popularity of the
democratic candidate, and make
SUCCESS doubly certain. While the
propriety of the step has been
duly regarded, those who are famil-
lar with General Hancock's cireum
stancs say that, in the event of de-
feat, he would no longer care TO
serve on the active list Of the army,
and that his friends would at the
next session of congress see that
he is put upon the retired list, a.
position be is now entitled TO if he
4 L., ,7.fs Il 80