Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-07-16
HancOck's InsubOrdinatiOn.

II not be about as well to modify the talk on
that subject hereafter. lApplause.l
HancOck's InsubOrdinatiOn.
The statement made that General
Hancock, 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 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 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. If Gen.
eral Hancock actually informed per-
sons in Congress that, if the finding of
the Electoral Commission should be
disregarded and Tilden should assert
his authority as President, he (Han-
cock) would pay no attention to his
superior officers, but, acting on his own
Judgment as to who was President,
would take the field in the new civil
war, then his conduct was disgraceful
to him as a soldier and citizen.
1t is also stated that, when President
Lincoln removed Mcclellan from the
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
command; and that this proceeding
only failed because of McClellan's 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 perfdy.
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-
priety 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
a 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
Indn SIX mouths ne was CduCuudte
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's S
previous orders, the most Important of
which was that allowing negroes to
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 had
the Presidency on the brain ever since
the war closed, and his expressed will
ingness to put himself at the head OF
any military movement to force Tilden
into the Presidency shows his extreme
anxiety to overturn the Republican
party, even by resort to civil war
which would have cost thousands OF
lives aud set the precedent in this
country for the adoption of the Mex
lean system of elections, - Chicago TTi6-
ttne.
R0-"Mr. English adds materially to
the strength of the ticket, ~ Louisville