Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-09-02
House of Representatives, or, what Is
worse, the executive army OF the gov.
ernment.
Garfield Attempts TO Secure Hancock's
Removal In 1858.
dispatch to Nev Yofk world.


Washington dispatch to Mes Yotk World.
The famous Order No. 40 was issued
by General Hancock November %, 1867,
Fairly in the ensuing session OF Congress,
January IL, 1868, Mr.. Garfield, accord
ing TO the Congressional Giobe, page 4sS,
asked unanimous consent in the House
to introduce for immediate considera.
tion and action bill ito reduce and
improve the military establishment by
discharging one major. general" The
bill provided that the army should be
reduced by the discharge from military
service OF the major.general who was
the last commissioned in that grade
before January, 1865, the bill TO take
effect from its passage, 80 that there
should remain but four major generals
in the army. As soon ns the bill had
been read Mr. Garfield expressed the
wish that il might be acted upon the
next morning. Objection being made,
Mr. Garfield then said that he should
bring it up the first thing on the follow.
ing Monday. The bill was aimed di.
rectly al General Hancock, who had
been commissioned Major General July
&c, 1866, and was the last commissioned
in that grade before January, 1868.
Thus it is seen that within six weeks
after Hancock had issued Order No. 40,
Garfield, chairman OF the Military Com.
mittee, moved hill 10 punish him for
issuing it-not by retirement or pension,
but by removal. The Garfield bill was
not heard of again for the reason that
on the same day, January -, Dir. Bing
ham, from the Committee on Recon.
struction, reported bill that answered
nearly the purpose sought by Garfield.
II was in three wordy sections, but its
purport was TO compel Hancock 10 obey
Grant. the general, rather than johnson,
the President. and investing in Grant
the power to remove Hancock il he
obeyed Johnson. IL also gave Grant
the power to do anything he might see
fit in each OF the military departments,
regardless OF the President. In broader
terms, it meant that the powers granted
the President by the Constitution should
be overthrown 10y statute. The bill was
put upon its passage January IL. and on
that day Garfield made speech from
an alleged constitutional standpoint.
After he had disposed Of what he called
It's oonstitutionality he let the light in
on his real purposes by arraigning Han.
cock for issuing Order No. 40. The Ian.
guage of the arrhignment was repeated
by Mr. Lawrence at Rocky Point yester-
day. Mr. Bingham's bill passed the
House, after Mr. Garfeld's speech. by
strict party vote of III Republicans TO
- Democrats, Garfield Of course voting
yea. 1t was not heard OF again in Con.
gress. for the reason given by Garfield TO
Hinsdale THAI Hancock afterward "kept
his place" The speech, however, places
Garfield in square antagonism not only
to General IIaucock,s doctrines, but
also 10 those which he has permitted
his party associates Of late to attribute
TO himself, at least 80 far as it embodies
what he was pleased TO consider his
opinions of the relations OF the civil and
military powers as warranted by the
Constitution.