The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-07-14

ShOrtly alter General HANCOCK {
memorable Orler No. 40 was issued
the then President Of the United
States thought it necessary to sene
to Congress message aprlaudins
and affirming the concurrence Of tht
Executive IN the doctrine laid dowr
by General Hancock. This message
lis we'll worthy Of repetition at tie
present time:
WASHINGTON, D. C..l
Dec. Is, 1867.
Gentlemen of the Senate and of tht
House Of Representatives:
An official copy of the order issued
by Major General Winfield s. Han.
cock, commander Of the Fifth Mill
tary District, dated headquarters il,
New Orleans, Louisiana, on the 10Th
day of November, has reached me
through the regular channels of the
War Department, and / herewith
communicate IL to Congress for such
action as may seem to be proper in
view of all the circumstances.
It will be perceived that General
Hancock announces that he will
make the law the rule of his cor
duct; that he will uphold the courts
and other civil authorities in the
performance of their proper duties,
and 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 habeas corpus shall not
be crushed out or trodden under
foot. He goes further, and, in one
comprehensive sentence, asserts that
the principles of American liberty
are still the Inheritance of this peo
pie, and ever should he.
when great soldier, with unre
strained power in lis hands to op-
press his fellow men, voluntrily fore
goes the chance of gratifying his
selfish ambition, and devotes him
self to the duty of building up the
liberties and Strengthening the laws
of his country, he presents an exam.
pie of the highest public virtue that
human nature is capable of practi-
sing. The strongest claim of Wash
ington to be "6rst in war, first in
peace, and first in the hearts Of his
conntrymen," is founded on the
great fact that in all his illust,ious
career he scrupuiously abstained
from violating the legal and consti,
tntional rights of his fellow citizens.
When he surrendered his commisa
sion to Congress-, the President
that body spoke his highest praiss
in saying that he had "always rd
garded the rights o. the civil aE-
thorities through all danger and dist
asters." Whenever power above the
law conrtcd his acceptance, he calm
~ put the temptation aside. BK1
such magnanimous acts of torbeark|
ance he won the universal admira.
ton of mankind, and left name
which has no rival in the history o&|
the world. Al
II am far from saying that Gen,
Hancock is the only officer of the
American army who is Influenced by
the example Of Washington. Doubt.
less thousands Of them are faithfully
devoted to the principles for which
the men Of the Revolution laid down
their lives. But the distinguished
honor belongs to him of being the
first officer in high command south
Of the Potomac, since the close of
the civil war, who has given utter
ance to these noble sentiments in the
form of military order.
II respectfully suggest to Con.
gress that some public recognition
of Gen. Hancock's patriotic conduct
is due, if not to him, to the friends
of law and justice throughout the
country. Of such an act of his at
such a time it is but fit that the dig.
nifty should be vindica.ed and the
virtue proclaimed, so that it's value
as an example may not be lost to the
nation. ANDREW JOHNSON.
N~>sN
-CARFrrsSNrse With r,otoho. a.