The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-07-15
JUST PRAISE FOR HANCOCK.

JOO1 1HAlSh tOh hANOO-Ae
We have already called attention to
the General Order No, 20, which Gen.
Hancock issued on Nov. %, 1867, on
taking command Of the military district
of Louisiana. 1t was, indeed, memor>
able paper. "In war;" said Hancock,
"ft is indispensable to repel force by
force and overthrow and destroy opposi-
ton to lawful authority. But when the
discretionary forces have been over
thrown and peace established, and the
civil authorities are ready and willing to
perform their duties, the military should
cease to lead, and the civil administra.
ton resume its natural and rightful dos
minatlon." Solemnly impressed with
these views, the General announces that
'the great principles Of American liber
ty are still the rightful inheritance of
this people, and ever should be. The
right of trial by jury, the habeas corpus,
the liberty of the press, the freedom OF
speech, the natural rights of persons and
the rights of property, must be pre-
served" This is but a specimen of the
whole tenor of this memorable order,
and we say that no document has ever
been issued showing more profound
familiarity with the Constitution Of the
United States or a more accurate APP
probation of the ideas and spirit by
which public affairs should be admins
tered; and we recall with great present
satisfaction the fact that when this order
made its appearance, the President of
the United States in Office at the time
thought it necessary to send to Congress
a message ~applauding and affirming the
concurrence of the Executive in the
doctrine laid down by Gen. Hancock.
This message is we'll worthy Of repiti-
ton at the present time:
"Genaemen Of The Senate and Of The House Of Rep
resentatives'
IAN official copy Of the order issued by Major.
Gen, Winfield S, Hancock commander OF the
Fifth Military District, dated headquarters in
New Orleans, Louisiana, on the 29th day OF Nov
ember, has reached me through the regular chan
nels Of the War Department, and / herewith
communicate 1t to Congress for such action as
may seem in view Of all the circumstances.
ut will be perceived that Gen. Hancock an.
uounces 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, aid that he will use his military
power only to preserve the peace and enforce the
law. he declares very explicitly that the sacred
right OF the trial by jury and the privilege Of the
writ Of hdbeds corpus shall not be crushed out or
trodden under foot, He goes further, and, In one
comprehensive sentence, asserts that the prin.
ciples Of American liberty are still the Inherit
lance Of this people, and ever should be.
"Wheg a great soldier, with unrestricted power
In his hands TO oppress his fellow men, volun-
tarily foregnes the cha nee OF gratifying his selfish
ambition, and dev0tes himself to the duty OF
building up the liberties and strengthening the
laws Of his country, he presents an example OF
the highest public virtue that human nature is
capable of practicing. The strongest claim Of
Washington to be first In war, first In peace anG
first IN the hearts of his cOuDtrymen, is founded
on the great fact that in all his illustrious career
| uG DCluplAOb9lJ W. ANAA ' tANNAAb
the legal and constitutional rights OF his fellow
citizens. When he surrendered his commission
to Congress, the Presidency OF that body spoke
his highest praise in saying that he had always
regarded the rights Of the civil authorities through
ali dangers and disasters Whenever power
above the law courted his acceptance, he calm
" put the temptation aside, By such magnani
nous acts of iOrbsarance he won the universal
admiration Of mankind, and left a name which
has no rival in the history Of the world.
II am far from saying that Gen. Hancock isthe
only officer OF the American army who Is in
huenced by the example OF Washington. DOubt'
less thousands of them are faithfully devoted to
Inc principles for which the men of the Revolu-
ton laid down their lives. But the distinguished
honor belongs to him Of being the first officer in
high command south OF the PJt0maC, since the
close OF the civil war, who has given utterance
to these noble sentiments In the form OF a mill
tary order.
public recognition of Gen. HanCOCk's patriotic
conduct is due, II not to him, to the friends Of
law and justice throughout the country, or such
an act as his at such a time II Is but DIT that the
dignity should be INDICATED and the virtue pro
claimed, 80 that its value as au example may not
be lost to the nation. AND lew JOHNSON,
WASHINGTON, D c., Dec Is, 1867"
Fortunate indeed is the republic whose
soldiers thus merit the appreciation Of
the civil authorities and the plaudits Of
the people. Fortunate indeed is the
country whose most gallant and popular
soldier is thus deeply imbued with the
principles of constitutional liberty Most
truly deserved is the praise which Pres
ident Johnson, in the message which we
have just quoted, saw fit to bestow upon
Winfield Scott Hancock.