National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-08-02


General Hancock to General Sherman, written
just after tho election in 1876, for which the
public mind has been prepared by frequent
illusions to 1t by democratic papers and others :
This lettor was written in roply TO two let
tors on tho situation received from General
Sherman:
CARoNDELET PosToFFIcE,
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, December %, 1876.
To General w. L. Sherman, commanding army
of tho United States. Washington, ID. g.:
My DEAR GENERAL: Your favor Of tho
hth instant reached me in New York on the
9th, the day before left for tho west. / in.
tcndcd to reply before leaving, but cares Incl.
dent 10 departure interfered. Then, again,
since my arrival here have boon so occupied
with personal affairs Of business nature that
have deferred writing from day 10 day un-
Til this moment, and now find myself in
debt tO you another letter, iu acknowledge
ment of your favor Of the 18th received 4 fow
days since.
have concluded to leave here on tho Goth
Tomorrow aftornoon), SO that l may bo ex.
pectod iu Now York OH the 3ist instant. 1t
has beon cold and drcary since my arrival
here. | havo worked "lko Turk" Il pre-
sumo that means hard work. in the country
ip making fonces cutting down trees, repair.
ing buildings, etc, etc. and am at least sblo 60
cay that St. Louis is the coolest place in tho
any that have encountered in n temperate
zone. | have known ST. Louis in December to
have genial weather throughout tho month;
this December has been frigid, and the river
has beon frozen moro solid than have ever
known IL.
When heard the rumor that was ordered
to tho Pacific coast thought 1t probably true,
considering the past discussonSou that sub.
ject. Tho possibilities seemed TO me TO point
that way. Had il been true, should of course
have presented no complaint nor made any re.
sistancc Of any kind l would have goio
quickly. II not prepared 10 go promptly
certainly would have been relieved from the
responsibilities aud anxietics concerning pres
idcntial matters, which may fall to those near
the throne or in authority within the next
four months, as we'll as from other incidents
or matters which l could not control, and
the action concerning which might not ap.
prove. | was not exactly prepared to go to
the Pacific, however, and | therefore fUlt
relieved when received your noto in.
forming me that there was no truth in tho ru-
mors, Then did not wish TO appear to be cscap.
ing from responsibilities and possible dangers
which may cluster around military command.
ers in the east, especially in the critical period
fast approaching. All's well that ends well.
Tho whole matter OF the presidency seems TO
me to be simple and To admit of peaceful
solution. The machinery for such contiu.
gency as threatens to present itself has been
all carefully prepared. 1t only requires lubri.
cation, owing to disuse. Tho army should
have nothing to do with tho election and in.
auguration of presidents. Tho people elect
the president. The congress declare in joint
session who he is. We Of tho army have only
10 obey his mandates, and are protected ia so
doing only so far aa they may be lawful. Our
commissions express that. j ike -Joliersou's
way OF Inauguration; it suits our system. lie
rode down on horseback to the capitol II feni
. tt,ll Ii. n
fence, entered and was duly sworn, then rode
to tho executive mansion aud took posses
sion. He inauyurated himself simply by
taking tho oath Of Office. There is no other
legal inauguration in our system. The peo.
ple or politicians may institute parades in
honor OF tho event, and public officials may
add to tho pageant by assembling troops and
banners, but all that only comes properly after
the Inauguration, not before, and il is not II
part of it. Our system does not provide that
ono president should inHugurato another.
There might be danger in that, and il WAS
studously left out OF tho charter. But you
are placed in au exceptionally important po.
sitoM IN connection with coming events. The
capitol is IN my Jurisdiction also, but am n
subordinate and not on tho spot, and If
were so also would be my superior Ia author.
ity, for there is tho station of the general
in.chief. On tho principle that a roxu.
larly.olectcd presidents term of Of.
fee expires With the 81 Of March
(of which I have not tho slightest
doubt), and which the laws bearing on tho
subject uniformly rocognizad and in con.
sideration of the possibility that tho lawfully.
elected president may not appear until tho 9th
OF March, great deal Of responsibility may
necessarily fall upon you. You hold over;
you will have power and prestige to support
you. The secretary OF war, too, probably
holds over, but i'm president appears he may
not DO able to exercise functions in the name
OF president, for his proper acts are those OF
u known superiOr-a lawful president. You
act on your own responsibility and by virtue
of \ commission only restricted by the law.
Tho secretary of war Is the mouth piece of u
president You arc not. III neither caudi-
dato has a constitutional majority Of the
electoral college, or the senate and house on
the occasion of the count do not unite
in declaring somo person legally elected
by the people, there is "A lawful machinery al-
ready provided to meet that contingency and
decide tho question peacefully. 1t has not been
recently uscd no occasion presenting itself
but our foreiathcrs provided it. 1t has been
exercised and has beoD recognized and sub.
mitted TO as lawful on every hand. That
machinery would probably Olcct Mr.. Tlden
president sud Mr.. Wheclor vicc.prCsdont.
That would be right enough, for the law pro.
Vidos that in failure to elect duly by the
people tho house shall Immediately elect the
president and the senate tho vice.presdent.
Some tribunal must decide whether tho poO.
pie have duly elected u president Iprosume,
Of course, that II is in the joint affirmative
action Of the senate and house, or why are
they present TO witness the count ii not to SEQ
that IT is fair and just? II a failure to agree
arises between the two bodies there can be no
lawful affirmative decision that the people
have elected president, aud the house must
then proceed TO act, not the senate The senate
elects vlce.presdents not presidents Doubtless
in case OF failure by the house to elect presi-
dent by tho dth OF March, the president OF
tho senate tif there be One) would bo the
legitimate person to exercise presidential au-
thOriby for the time being or until the ap-
pcarance Of u lawful president or for the
timo laid down ip the constitution. Such
courses would be peaceful and have firm
belief lawful. | have no doubt Governor
Hayes would make an excellent president. /
have met him aud know Of him. For brief
period ho served under my command; but as
tho matter stands can't soc any likelihood
Of his being duly declared elected by the
people unless tho senate and house come TO
bo IN accord rs to that fact, and tho house
would, Of course, not otherwise elect him.
What the people want is peaceful deter.
minatiOn of this maltor--as fair determine.
tion MS possible, and lawful ono No other
determination could stand the test.
The country If not plunged into revolution,
would become poorer day by day, business
would langush and our bonds would come
home TO ilnd deprecated market, / was not
IN favor OF tho military action in South Caro-.
lima rnppntlu ~ Gann.,l Dt buI al