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


roach the ear of President johnson to
interrede for her mothers life, General
Hancock assisted her to the extent 0!
his ability in carrying out her WISHES.
But in vain. He hoped for pardoi
for Mrs Surratt through the prayers oi
the unfortunate Woman's, danShter'
and on the day of the execution he sta
toned mounted soldiers on the iliie
from the White House to the Afsehai
grounds. where the execution was to
fake place. so that if the pardon were
GRANTED even at the last moment, lie
should know it promptly and in time 10
save Mrs, Surratt from the halter. NO
messenger of mercy came, ana the IN
delible disgrace WAS attached 10 the
Government of the United States Oh
banging a woman innocent OF crime.
Later in July General Hancock was
transferred to the Middle Department..
His headquarters were at Baltimore.
He remained in command of this De
partmcnt until July, 1866, when he
was nut in command of the Department
of Missouri. About the same time he |
was made Major in the regular
army, having already been breveted to
the same grade for "gallant and merit
orious services at Spottsyl"ania."-
While in the West he conducted several
campaigns against hostile Indians in
the Indian Territory, Kansas and Colo
RADIO. His subsequent commands have
been those of Louisiana and Texas, Of
Dakota and of the Department of the
East-the last his present charge, with
Headquarters on Governors Island.
We have shown above the record that
General Hancock has made for himself
as q soldier, but it is not as soldier
that the Presidency of the United States,
if that honor be in reserve for him, will
be conferred on him. The eyes of
| thousands of his fellOW-countrymen are
turned to him because, being soldier
himself, he has stood boldly and brave
ly forward in emergencies in defense OF
the civil law when threatened in time
of peace by the military law. While in
command of the "Military District" OF
Louisiana and Texas, with headquar-
tiers in New Orleans, in November,
1867, he found himself met by difficult
ties arising out of the results OF the
war. With admirable tact and keen
sense of Justice to the laws of the coun-
try as well as to the people of Louisiana
aud Texas, he recOnciled the differences
that had previously prevailed and which
had had their origin in the abominable
carpet-bag governments that since the
close of the war had blighted those
States. Instead of an oppressor, the
Louisianians and Texans found in him
q governor inspired by motives of the
purest patriotism and of the highest
Justice. On assuming command, No
vember 20, 1867, he issued his we'll
known General Order, No. 4O,' in
which he laid down his programme as
Governor of the District. This docu-
ment was revelation to an oppressed,
robbed and humitated people. In it
he expressed his convictions that the
people of Louisiana and Texas desired
peace, and he declared his purpose to
ensure it, by allowieg the civil authors
ties to carry out the civil laws. There
was everything in this "Order" to pro-
duce profound sense of gratitude in
the hearts of those to whom it was ad-
dressed. Followlngi it came for while
the blessings of peace and prosperity,
and but for the fact that the Admins
|
Hancock from his sphere of just and
. beneficent government the period OF
!, misrule in Louisiana and Texas would
have come to an end ten years ago.
J How honestly, how impartially and
i. how prudently he conducted the affairs
Of those two States is shown in the case
, of his controversy with the carpet
Dagger so-called Governor Pease of
Texas. This individual had arbitrarily
, removed the judges and county officers
, whom he found I'm office and had ap-
: pointed his own creatures to fill their
places,
General Hancock's first act on assn.
ming command was to redress the in.
, justice that had been done to the people
of Texas, and in his "GeneIal Order,
, No. 40" he repaired the wrong that
= Pease had committed. He declared
= that "the right of trial by jury, the
G habeas corpus, the liberty of the press
: the freedom of speech, the natural
s rights Of persons, and the rights o.
= property, should be respected"-nobie
4 sentiments that have never been for.
e gotten by the American people. Again
e in letter to Pease he said that "Or
them (the laws of Texas and Louisiana)
j as on foundation of rock, reposes al
: most the entire structure OF social order
G in these two States. Power
: may destroy the forms, but not thu
S principles of justice; these will live il
e spite even of the sword.''
II The just course of General Hancocl
: in the South offended the carpet-bag
e gers and their Radical friends in Con
: gress who endeavored by hostile legis
h lation, directed against him, either tt
j. have him retired from the military ser
d vice or to make his position as cOmman
der of the Fifth Military District irk
1t some and embarrassing. Finally tn
e issue of obeying wrong or resignin
e his Governorship was presented to him
:. He chose the latter course, and in
d letter to a friend, in which he spoke G
e his difficulties, he said: Nothing ca
n intimidate me from doing what | be
e lieve to be honest and right" H
g made application to be relieved fror
:, his command on February 81, 1868,
l. victim of Radical partisanship, who's
u name had become a tower Of strengt
J. in the land.
b General Hancock was brought out |
d 1868 as candidate for the Democrat
II nomination for the Presidency. l.. tn
y National Convention of that year he re
: ceived l4il2 votes. Again, in 1876, h
s received at tie st. Louis Conventiun !
If votes for the same nomination..
e In the coming Presidential elet