Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-08-12
The Army and tho Law.
HANCOCK VIEW OF Duty IN TIE
HAYEs-TILDEN CONTEST.

NEW York, July 31--Much talk
having been made over letter written by
Con. Hancock to Gcu. Sherman in De-
ccmbcr, 1876, when tho whole country
was conYulscd By the rival claims Of Hayes
and Tilacn to tho Presidency, Gen. Han
cock wrote to Gen. Sherp,un and asked
that the letter be given him for publication.
Gen. Sherman was absout at the time on u
trip to tho West, but MS soon as he re-.
turned no sent certified copy to Grn
Hancock, who furnished it to the Associ-
atcd Press. This letter was written in
reply to two letters on the situation received
from Gen. Sherman:
CARoNDELEr PosTorFIcE, ST. LOUIS,
December 2S, 1876
My Dear Gcnc,u1: Your favor of the
the 5th, the day before left for the West.
intended to reply to i: before leaving, but
the cares Incident to departure intertcrcd.
Then again, since NY arrival here, have
been SO occupied with personal affairs of
business nature, that have deferred writ
ing from day to day until this moment, aud
now l iiud myself in debt to you another
letter in acknowledgement of your favor of
the 18th, received fow days since. |
have concluded to leave here on the 10Th
Qo-morrow evening" so that l may be
expected in New York on tho 3lst instant
1t has been cold and drcary since my
arrival here. | have worked "iikc Turk"
Ct presume that means hard work) in the
country i'll making fences, cutting down
trees, repairing buildings, &c., &c., and um
ct lcast able to say that st, Louis is the
coldest place in winter, as it is the hottest
in summer, of any that J. have encountered
in q temperate zone. l have known ST.
Louis in December to havo genial weather
throughout tho month. This December
has been frigid and tho river has been
frozon moro solid than l havo cycr known
it.
when l heard tho rumor thot I was
ordered to the Pacific coust thought it
probably true. Considering tho past dis.
cussion on that subject possibilities seemed
to mo to point that way. Had it been
truo should of coursc have presented no
complaint nor made resistance Of any kind
l would have gone quickly if not prepared
to 60 promptly. certainly would have
been relieved from the responsibility and
nnxictics concerning Presidential ma,tcrs
which may fall to those near the throne or
or in authority within tho next four months
ns well ns from other incidents or matters
which could not control and action CON
corning which might not approve. was
not exactly prepared to 60 to tho Pacific,
however, and therefore felt relic7ed when
| received your noto informing me that
there was no truth in the rumors. Then
did not wish to appear to be escaping from
responsibilities and possible dangers which
may cluster around military commanders
in the East, especially in the critical period
fast approaching. All's we'll that ends
well.
Tho whole matter Of tho Presidency
seems to mo to be simple and to admit of
peaceful solution. The machinery for such
contingency rs threatens to present itself
has been oil carofuIIy prepared. 1t only
requires fabrication owing to disuse. 1hc
army shoul0 haze aothiny 10 10 aoM the
election o. anauguration Of Presidents
The people elect the President, Congress
declares in joint session who he is; we of
tho army have only to obey his mandates,
aud are protected in so doing only so tar
as Mcy may DC lawful. Our commissions
express that.
[ like
JEFFERsCN's WAY INOF AUGURATIoN.
IT suits our system. lIo rodo aono on
horseback to the Capitol, Ct fear it was tue
"old capito),') tied his horse to tho rail
optau onI ALA, ~ -.