Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-07-05

Louisiana, on the 10Th day Of November,
has reached me through the regular
channels OF the War Department, and
herewith communicate II to Congress
for such action AZ may deem to be
proper In view OF all the circumstances.
ut will be perceived that General
Hancock announces that he will make
the law the rule OF his conduct; that he
will uphold the courts and other civil
authorities in the performance of their
proper duties, and that he will use his
military power only to preserve the
peace and enforce the law. He declares
very explicitly that the sacred right oil
the trial by jury and the privilege oil the
writ IL kdbcas corpus shall not be crush
ed out or trodden under loot. lie goes
further, and, in one comprehensive sen.
tence, asserts that the principles oil
American liberty are still the inherit
ance of this people, and ever should be.
when great soldier, with unre-
stricted power in his hands to Cypress
his fellow men, voluntarily foregoes the
chance OF gratifying his selfish ambition,
and devotes himself 10 the duty oil
building up the liberties and strength
ening the laws OF his country, he pre-
sents an example OF the highest public
virtue that human nature IL capable oil
practising. The strongest claim OF
Washington to be first in war, first In
peace, and first in the hearts OF his
countrymen,' il founded on the great
Tact that in all his ilustrious career he
scrupulously abstained from violating
the legal and constitutional rights OF hls
fellow citizens. When he surrendered
his commission to Congress, the Presl'
dent Of that body spoke his highest
praise in saying that he had always re-
garded the rights OF the civil authorities
through all dangers and disasters.
Whenever power above tie law courted
his acceptance, he calmly put the temp
tatiOn aside. by such magnanlnous
acts OF forbearanCe he won the universal
admiration oi mankind, and lett name
which has no rival III the history oil the
world.
IL am far from saying that General
Hancock lis the only officer of the Amer
lean army who is influenced by the eX'
ample Of Washington. Doubtless
thousands OF them are faithfully devot-
ell To the principles Tor which the men
OF the Revolution laid down their lives.
But the distinguished homer belongs to
him OF being the first officer in high
command south oi the Potomac. since
the close of the civil war, who has given
utteranCe to these noble sentiments IN
the iorm of a military order.
Il respectfully suggest to Congress
that some public recognition oi General
ilanCock's patriotic conduct Is due, n
not to him, To the friends OF law and
justice throughout the country. oi
such an act a. his, at such time, 1t Is
but tit that the dignity should be- yindl'
dated and the virtue proclaimed, So hat
its value Us an example may not he lost
To- the matt IA. ASDREw JOHNSON.
"WNsuINCroS, u. c., Dec. II, 1864.
Fortunate indeed IL the republic
whose soldiers thus merit the approha-
ton oi the civil authorities aud the
plaudits ol the people. Fortunate III
deed il the country whose most gallant
aud popular soldier Is thus deeply im-
hucd with the principles Of conStltu-
tiunal liberty Most truely deserved Is
the praise which President johnson, IN
the message which we have just quoted,
saw hi To hestow upon Winfield scott
Hancock