The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-08-11

the great crime, and consummated it. The
frauds and the forgeries pad been prepared
while the army stood guard over the plotting
crew, and General Hancock clearly per-
ceived the great crime and the degradation
to which the army had been subjected, and
says:
Our regular army has little hold upon the
affections OF the people of to-day, and Its SUI
perior officers should certainly, as far as lies
| in their power, legally and with righteous in
tent aim to DEFEND THE RIGHT, WHICH
TO US is THE LAW, and the institution
which they represent. 1t is a well-meaning
institution, and IL would be well If it should
have an opportunity to be recognized as bull
wark in support of the rights of the people.
General Hancock knew the duty of the
army. To defend the right is its mission
to uphold the law, not crush it-and he
was brave enough, and patriotic enough, to
point out to General Sherman the infamous
wrongs the army had been required to sup
port. Again he says:
The superior officers of the army re-
garded in such great crises, and are held to
such responsibility, especially those at or near
the head of IL, that IL is necessary on such
momentous occasions to dare to determine for
themselves WHAT Is LAWFUL AND WHAT
is NOT LAWFUL UNDER OUR SYSTEM.
General Hancock looked to the Constitu-
ton for guidance; to the principles of civil
liberty; to the rights Of the people, and,
having the great charter for his chart, was
certain to commit no crime against the
rights and liberties OF the people. He further
says:
The army Is laboring under disadvantages
and HAS BEEN USED UNLAWFULLY at
times in the Judgment of the people Din mine
certainly, and we have lost great deal of the
kindly feeling which the community. at large
once felt for at is time to stop and I'M
load"
Here we have the direct declaration that
the army had been used Uala,gf,tlly; that il
had been used to maintain Legislatures never
lawfully elected, and to dispense Legislatures
that had been lawfully elected. To use the
army unlawfully is wrong under all cir
cumstances, but to use it to beat down the
liberties of the people is crime OF such fear
fal proportions as to defy exsggeration. That
such was the case is fully set forth In Grants
dispatch to s. B. Packard, of New Orleans,
dated March /, 1877, which is an unequivo-
cal Endorsement of General Hancock's dec
Iaration to Sherman. The dispatch was as
follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, ID. q. March l.
To CT .ernor S. B. Packard, New Orleans:
SIR-ln answer to your dispatch of this date.
the President directs me to say that he feels It
his duty to state frankly that he does not be.
lieve PUBLIC OPINION viii longer SUPPORT
THE MAINTENANCE OF THE STATE GOV
N a
MILITARY, and that he must concur in this
manifest feeling. Troops will hereafter, as In
Violence when the state authorities fail, but
under the remaining days OF his official life
they win not be used to establish or to pull
down either of the claimants for control of the
State. 1t il not his purpose to recognize either
claimant. c. G. SNIFFIN.
Secretary.
For months previous TO the date of the
foregoing dispatch troops had supported the
infamous usurper, Packard. They had pro-
tected the villains who reversed the will of
the citizens OF Louisiana, and now tlas tho
frauds and forgeries required TO place Hayes
in power had bsen perfected, u. 8. Grant,
four days before the expiration of his term
of office, sends dispatch to Packard, saying
that public opinion will no longer support
the use OF military in maintenance OF State
Governments. 1t was this use of the mills
tsry that Hancock denounced and that
Grant at last was compelled 70 admit as
against public opinion. Grant and the Re-
publican managers knew full we'll that they
were using the army TO prop up fraud, and
were finally compelled to bow to the de-
mands of an outraged public opinion. In
view of such facts the utterances of General
Hancock will add to the luster of his name
and endear him to the American people.
AN ECHO OF THE GREAT CONSTITUTIONAL
ERA
The New York Herald, in long review of