The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-07-22
Hanc0ck's InsuberdinatiOn.

The statement made that General
Hancock, q subordinate officer of the
regular army, in anticipation of the ac-
tion of Congress ON the Presidential
count in February, 1877, volunteered
the information that he would, as a mil
itary commander, sustain Tilden in his
claim to the Presidency and would rec
ognize him as the President of the
United States, seems to be confirmed,
and is hardly doubted. Army officers
are subordinate to the law in times of
peace, and at all times are subordinate
to their superiors in command. Even
the officers of the army who Joined in
the rebellion had the decency to resign
their commissions before taking service
in the civil war. At the time men
toned General Grant was President;
there was no question as TO his author
ity until the expiration of his term of
Office. General Sherman was General
of the army, and Sheridan was Lieuten-
ant General, and both were superior in
rank to Hancock. He could only act in
subordination to them, and to orders
through them, or declare himself in re-
volt. He stood in the same relation to
his superiors in command that the Ser
geant or Corporal stood to a Captain or
Colonel of his regiment, or towards
General Hancock himself. As an Of
ficer, receiving his orders through his
military superiors, he had no more le-
gal right to set himself up to Judge of
their authority than had any Corporal
or private to decide whether he should
obey his commanding officer =Gaps.
eraf Hancock actually informed per-
sons in Congress that, if the finding of
L. ek ha
disregarded and Tilden should assert
his authority as President, he (Han-
cock) would pay no attention to his
Judgment as to who was President,
war, then his conduct was disgraceful
to him rs a soldier and citizen.
1t is also stated that, when President
command of the army, Hancock was
active in urging that the order be dis
obeyed; that the army be marched to
Washington and that the Government
be compelled to continue Mcclellan in
commando; aud that this proceeding
only failed because of Mcclellan s
refusal to take the responsibility. The
proof of this scheme is said to be in ex-
istence, but the country will wait until
that proof is produced before accepting
such a monstrous instance of political
and military perfidy.
When General Hancock was in COM
mand in New Orleans in the winter of
1878, he issued an order removing a
majority of the City Council and other
civil officers in New Orleans and ap-
pointed others. General Grant, who
was then General of the Army, and at
Washington, upon being officially in
formed of this proceeding telegraphed
Hancock to suspend the execution of
the order and to report all the facts and
circumstances. To this Hancock re-
sponded that he was on the spot, and
was informed of the facts, and consid-
cred that his position as Commander of
the Department entitled him to an ex-
emption from any interference by the
General of the Army. As to the cir
cumstances, the fact that he had issued
the order was sufficient as to the pro-
prietv of the order itself. The letter
was remarkable for the tone of insub-
ordination which marked it from begin
ming to end. The General of the Army,
however, insisted on his authority, and
in due time Hancock was compelled to
revoke his order dismissing the various
officers, and compelled to restore them
and remove those he had appointed.
The fact is, General Hancock became
politician seeking the Presidency
from the day the war closed. When
johnson removed Sheridan from New
Orleans he appointed Thomas to that
Department.. General Grant, in behalf
of Thomas, appealed to the President
to change the order, Thomas being
then in poor health. 1t is supposed
that Hancock, through Jere Black,
sought the appointment, intending to
exhibit his independence of Congress
by carrying out Andrew Johnson's pol.
icy. His first act on his arrival at New
Orleans was to revoke several of Sheri.
dams previous orders, and, while open.
ly disregarding the law of Congress,
to make himself conspicuous as a sup.
porter of Johnson's policy. In less
than six months he was candidate
before the Democratic Convention seek
ing the nomination for President, and
being supported by all the delegates
from the rebel States. His sole plat.
form was his order revoking Sheridan
previous orders, the most Important ol
which was that allowing negroes tc
act as Jurors. Hancock reversed this
allowing no negro to be juror, but al
lowing the ex-rebels to serve in that ca
pacity.
1t is evident that Hancock has haG
the Presidency on the brain ever since
the war closed, and his expressed will
ingness to put himself at the head o
any military movement to force Tilder
into the Presidency shows his extreme
anxiety to overturn the Republican
party, even by resort to civil wal
which would have cost thousands o
lives and Sc: the precedent in thi
country for the adoption of the Mex
ican system of elections. Chicago T1i6
une.
~"Mr. English adds materially t,
the strength of the ticket. ."-Louisrilt
nOna