Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-08-13
That Famous Letter.
Which was to Prove Gen. Hancock q
Traitor.


Traitor.
New YoRE, Aug. 2.-The follow
ing is Gen. Hancock's letter, dated
Carondelet 2. O., St. Louis, Mo.
December 20, 1876, in reply to two
letters from Gen. Sherman, on the
situation, which is given to the pub
lie. After acknowledging Gen,
Sherman's letters and excusing de.
lay in answering the first, and some
remarks on tho weather, in which
he says St. Louis is the coolest place
in winter and the hottest in summer
of any he had encountered in the
temperate zone, he goes OIL TO say
Z" When heard q rumor that l was
ordered to the Pacific Coast, ]
thought it probably true. Consider
ing the past discussion on that sub
ject, the possibilities seemed to me
to point that way. Had it been true,
l should of course have presented
no complaint nor made resistance of
any kind. would have gone quick
ly, if not prepared to go promptly.
l certainly would have been relieved
from the responsibilities and ankle
ties concerning Presidential matters
which may fall to those near to the
throne or in authority within the
next four mouths, as we'll as from
other incidents or matters which l
could not control and the actiol
concerning which l might not ap-
prove. was not exactly prepared
to 90 to the Pacific, however, and
felt relieved when l re-
ceived your note informing me that
there was no truth in the rumors.
Tuen 1 did not wish to appear to be
escaping from the responsibilities
and possible dangers which may
cluster around the military COM
in the east especially in the
critical period fast approaching-
all's WELT at ends we'll. The whole
matter of the Presidency seems to
me to 10 simple and to admit of a
peaceful solution. The machinery
for such a contingency as theatens
to present itself, has been all care
fully prepared. 1t only requires
fabrication owing to disuse. The
army should have nothing to do
with the election or Inauguration OF
Presidents. The people elect the
President, Congress declare, in joint
who he is. We Of the army
have only to obey his mandates, and
are protected in so doing only So
far as they may be lawful; our com
express that. I like Jeffer-
sons way OF Inauguration, it suits
our system. He rode alone on
horse, back to the Capitol Il fear it
was the old Capito). tied his horse
to Il mil fence, entered and was duly
sworn in. Then he rode to the Ex-
ecu,ive Mansion and took possession.
He inaugurated himself simply by
taking tue oath of Office. There is
no other legal Inauguration in our
system. The people or politicians
may institute parades in honor OF
the event, and public officials may
add to the pageant by assembling
troops and banners, but all that only
properly after Inauguration,
not before, and it is not part OF it.
Our system does not provide that
one President should inaugurate an
other. There might be danger in
that, and it was studiously left out
of the charters. But you are placed
in an exceptionally important posi-
ton in connection with coming
events. The Capital is in my juris-
diction also, but am subordinate
and not on the spot, and if l were
so also would be my superior in au-
thority, for there is the station OF
the general-in-chief. On the princi-
pie that regularly elected Presi-
dents term of Office expires with the
Sd of March (of which I have not
the slightest doubt), and which the
laws bearing on the subject uniform.
ly recognize, and in consideration OF
the possibility that the lawfully
elected President may not appear
until the 5th of March a great
deal of responsibility may necessari.
ly fall on you. You hold over, and
will have the power and prestige to
support you. The Secretary OF
War, too, probably holds over, but
if the President appears he may not
be able to exercise the functions in
the name of the President, for his
proper acts are those Of q known
superior-a lawful President. You
act on your own responsibility and
by virtue of a commission only re-
strictel by law. The Secretary of
War is the mouth-piece of Presi-
deut; you are not. If neither can.
didate has constitutional majority
OF the Electoral College, or the Ssn-
ate and House Oh the occasion of the
count do not unite in declaring some
person legally elected by the people,
there is Il lawful machinery already