The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-08-06
HANCOCK IN 1876.
THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE TO SHER-
MAN.

His Opinions ON Political fairs and
The Inauguration of the President
He DisapPrOves Of the Use Of the
Military In Louisiana and south
Carolina.
The World Of August l publishes the
following letter from General Hancock
written in reply to two letters on the sit
uatlon, received from Gen. Sherman:
CAKoNDELEr p. o., ST. LOUIS,
December %, 1876.
My DEAR GENERAL: Your favor of
the 4th inst, reached me in New York
on the 5th, the day before left for the
West. / intended to reply to it before
leaving, but cares incident to the de-
parture interfered. Then, again, since
my arrival here | have been so occupied
with personal affairs of business nature
that | have deferred writing from day to
day until this moment, and now find
myself in debt to you another letter, in
Acknowledgement of your favor of the
18th, received few days since. l have
concluded to leave here on the 29th to-
morrow, p. NJ, so that may be expected
in New York on the 3lst inst. 1t has been
cold and dreary since my arrival here.
have worked like Turk Il presume that
means hard work in the country making
fences, cutting down trees, repairing build
ings, etc, etc, and am least able to say
that St. Louis is the codest place In win
ter, as it is the hottest place in summer,
of any that | have encountered in the
temperate zone. / have known St. Louis
in December to have genial weather
throughout the month. This December
has been frigid and the river has been
frozen more solid than have ever known
it. When / heard the rumor that was
ordered to the Pacific coast, thought it
probably true, considering the past dis
cussion on that subject. The possibilities
seemed to me to point that way. Had. 1T
been true, should, of course, have pre-
sented no complaint, nor made resistance
of any kind. would have gone quickly
if not prepared to go promptly. GER
tainly would have been relieved from the
responsibility and anxieties concerning
Presidential matters which may fall to
those near the throne, or in authority,
within the next four months, as we'll as
from other incidents or matters which /
could not control, and action concerning
which might not approve. was not
exactly prepared to go to the Pacific,
however, and / therefore felt relieved
when / received your note informing me
that there was no truth in the rumors
Then did not wish to appear to be esca-
ping from the responsibilities and possible
dangers which may cluster around mill
N ha ac% oil
in the critical period fast approaching.
"AlPs well that ends well The
whole matter of the Presidency seems
to me to be simple, and to admit of a
peaceful solution. The machinery for
such a contingency as threatens to pre-
sent itself has been all carefully prepared.
1t only requires fabrication owing to dis
use The army should have nothing to
to do with the election or Inauguration of
Presidents The people elect the Presi-
dent, Congress declares in joint session
who he is. We of the army have only to
obey his mandates, and are protected in
30 doing only so far as they may be law
full. Our commissions express that. |
like Jefferson's way of Inauguration. 1t
suits our system. He rode alone on horse
Capitol-tied his horse to a rail fence,
entered and was duly sworn. Then rode
to the Executive Mansion and took posses
sion. He inaugurated himself simply by
taking the oath of Office. There is no
other legal Inauguration in our system.
The people or politician may institute
parades in honor of the event and public
officials may add to the pageant by assem-
bling troops and banners, but all that
only comes properly after the inaugura-
ton. not before, and it is not part of it.
Our system does notprovide that one Presi-
ident should inaugurate another. There
might be danger in that and it was studi-
ously left out of the charter. But you
are placed in an exceptionally important
position in connection with coming events.
The Capitol 10 my jurisdiction also, but !
am subordinate and not on the spot, and
if were you also would be my superior
in authority for there is the station Of
General-in-C Chief On the principle that
o regularly elected Presidents term Of
Office expires with the Sd Of March (of
which have not the slightest doubt, and
which the laws bearing on the subject
uniformly recognize), and in consideration
of the possibility that the lawfully elected
President may not appear until the 5th
Of March, great dsal of responsibility
may necessarily fan upon you. You hold
over. Yon will have power and prestige
to support .you. The Secretary Of War,
| too, probably holds over, bat Il no Presi-
| ident appesrs, he may not Be able % ex-
escise the fnnetione in the name Of tie
President, for his proper aCts are those 81
| ) known sapeEioE - Esesldene Ion act
- gcnr own responsibility 80 ~ xirkne