The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-08-06
General HancOck's Letter to General
Sherman.

For some time past statements have been
circulated that in 1876 General Hancock
wrote n letter to General Sherman, in which
it was alleged that he said he considered Mr.
Tilden the legally elected President, and if he
asserted his right to the Presidential chair he
(Gen. Hancock) would support him. Gener-
al Sherman finally admitted that General
Hancock had written him letter in 1876 in
relation to the Presidential troubles, but de.
MED that it contained the sentiments attribut-
ed to General Hancock by his political oppo-
nents. With the consent of both Generals
Sherman and Hancock the letter has been
published 1t is great disappointment,
however, to those who expected to find in it
expressions damaging to the Democratic
candidate. On the contrary, it shows Gener-
al Hancock in the light of a patriot and a
statesman, rs well as a soldier obcdent to his
superior officers. In the letter, after speaking
of the responsibilities and possible dangers
which might cluster around military COM
manders in the crisis which he saw was APP
preaching, General Hancock says
"The whole matter of the Presidency seems
to me to be simple and to admit of a peaceful
solution. The machinery for such contin-
gency as threatens to present itself has been
| all carefully prepared. 1t only requires lubri-
cation owing to disuse. The army should
| have nothing to do with the election or inari.
guration of Presidents. The people elect the
President. The Congress declares in q Joint
1 1uhn no 10 bno In, ,l,,
| to obey his mandates, and are protected in
so doing only so far as they may be lawful
Our commissions express that l like Jeffer.
sons way of Inauguration; it suits our system
| lie rode alone on horseback to the Capitol
Il fear it was the "old Capitol," " tied his horse
| to n rail fence, entered and was duly sworn
| then rode to the Executive Mansion and took
possession He naugurated himself simply
| by taking the oath of office There is no
| other legal Inauguration in our system The
people or politicians may institute paradcs in
honor of the event, and public officials may
add to the pageant by assembling troops and
banners, hut all that only comes properly af-
| ter the inauguration-not beforehand it is
| not part of it. Our system does not pro-
vide that one President should inaugurate
another. There might be danger in that, and
it was studously left out of the charter"
lie refers to the constitutional mode of set
| Ting n disputed Presidential election and
| states it in clear language He holds that if
| neither candidate has n constitutional major
| ity of the electoral college or the Senate and
House do not unite in declaring some person
legally elected by the people, the House shall
Immediately elect the President and the Sen
ate the Vice President This is the language
of the Constitution and under that instrument
| General Hancock expressed his belief that the
House would elect Mr.. Tilden President,
while the Senate would elect Mr.. Wheeler
Vice President. This is the only reference
there is in the letter to Mr. Tilden
He insists in the letter that it is no business
of the army to enter upon questions pertain
ing to the civil administration in time of
peace and expresses his regret that the I'M
lawful use of the regular army has weakened
its hold upon the affections of the people
Altogether General Hancock has no reason
| to be ashamed of what he wrote in 1876. His
letter will place him still higher in the csti-
nation of the American people, since it
demonstrates that he fully understands the
| theory of our government, and is something
greater than mere soldier.