, 1880-09-20
The Army and tho Law.

The following letter, published in the
Phililalphis Inquirer, Republican pa
per, on the 30th June last. affords just
I illustration of the wisdom, patience and
executive judgment, as we'll A. Of the
true aid law abiding spirit Of General
Hancock. 1t shows him acting in the
North 10 he acted in the South, With
single eye to the public peace and majes>
ty of the law
To the Editor of the Inquirer:
SIR: The comments of the Inquirer
upon the nomination Of General Han
cock have been SO courteous that am
sure that space will be given to brief
paragraph or two in reference to one cpl
sodc in his career which has been quite
unnoticed.
In the summer of 1877 he was in cons
mand in this department and cams to
Philadelphia to take direction of the
movement OF troops to put down the
rioters. The events of that time are now
pretty much forgotten, and it would he
difficult to recall the alarm and anxiety
which then prevailed.
The question wa, gravelv discussed
whether our sytem of government could
maintain law and order abroad as well
as ut home. 1t was contended that life
and property would never he safe with
standing army "f only 10000 men. and
that. after all, We should have to resort
to "strong government" The clamor
on every side was tor the use Of f'rce,
and any measures, however merciless,
would have been justified and applauded.
When General Hancock reached the CITY
the road to Piitshurg was not yet opened.
and the lines through the Schuylkill and
the L.high valleys were closed. and it
WA. feared that the rioters would set fir.
to every breaker throughout the anthIa-
cite recions. The force at the command
Was very inadequate, but the call tor
prompt action was so pressing that he
WIS urged to move at once. This he de
clined until he was satisfied that he could
make such demonstration that there
would he no resistance, and thus quell
the disturbance without further blood
shell
Those who met him Mt that time will
recolect his constant anxiety on that
point, and the emphasis with which he
ins; sted upon the necessity for the Ut
most caution and prudence in the use OF
armed soldiers to put down any popular
outbreak. 1t will lie remembered that
Governor Hartranit had called upon the
President, under the act of Congress, for
assistance in putting down the "insur-
rection," and it was in answer to this
call that Inc United States troops were
sent. The temporary absence of Cover :
nor Hartrantt in the West might have
excused some assumption OF authority,
out General Hancock never forgot nor
permitted any one else to forget that lie
was here in subnrdination to the State
authorizes to assist them in restoring
order, and, after Governor Hartranft's
return, the two cordially co-operated in
the movement which finally resulted in
the re establishment OF order without
firing a shot.
Under these circumstances an order
was obtained from Attorney General
Deycns that General Hancock should
render all proper assistance in enforce
meut of the process of the United States
Circuit Court. In this capacity his troops
were to act as posse comitatus in con-
ncction with the United States Marshal.
and their deputies, and it may be truth
fully said that not only could no or.
have understood and appreciated more
fully every requirement and condition o
the Constitution and of the law regulat'
ing the use of the military in such cases,
but he was most conscious and conserva
tive in all his directions.
1t was not enough that the letter o
the law justified action. IT it were pos
sible to get along without putting tn
troops in motion he insisted that it shoult
be done.
He pointed out over and over agail