The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-07-02

II the Confederate HxiRadie1 can
stand itsAs Nosth can, z says ths iSlsa AID
Press. 4 = cessainly gratifying 70 know
that our estsemsd coeemposary looks the
inevitable squarely in the face. Hancock's
election Is reasonably certain, and no one
is better capable of experimenting this
great truth than the editor of the San
and Press but when all ID over it will
add much to the pleasure of the triumph
to find that he ISLANDS it " as well as
the Confederate Brigadiers" do. We
like to zee man submit gracefully to
what he can't help. The Brigadiers !"
have been submitting for nearly . score
of years, but the trouble all this time has
been, not that they did not accept an In
destructible Union," but that they insisted
as the best means for preserving such q
Union on a sisterhood of indestructible
States" They showed their loyalty in
1858 by supporting Seymour, and in 1872
their support of Greeley was the most
conclusive proof of conversion they could
possibly offer short of identifying them
selves, as the manner of some was, with
the party of plunderers who were holding
high carnival with the property and re-
sources Of the South. Again, in 1915,
their sincerity was exempli6ed, and now
once more, in their cordial support of Gen.
Hancock, they vindicate themselves from
even the sneers of the malignants, whose
hatred is all the more intense for the rea-
son that they see in the wise action at
Cincinnati a complete Illustration of their
hopes. The "bloody Shirt" like the
Conquered Banner" will have to be
folded and laid away and this it is that
hurts. But Gen. Hancock is not accepted
by the South alone because he was bril-
liant Union soldier If this was all there
is to commend him to the sufrages of
great party, he would not have been its
nominee. But he is more than mere
soldier. He is, TO use the language of
Thurlow Weed, can exceedingly able
man" No one can consider his course
while in command of the Military Depart
ment of Louisiana and Texas without
being convinced that he has been close
student of our peculiar system of govern
ment, and is one to whom it would be
both safe and wise to commit the powers
of the Presidential Office. OF all the
great commanders the war developed on
the Union side, Gen. Hancock is the only
one who, on the close of the struggle,
placed the civil power above the sword.
His celebrated Order No. 40, which will
be found printed on the fourth page Of
the FLoRIDIAN, was a second declaration
of independence. 1t enunciated principles
which are the foundation of American
liberty. ain war;" said he, " it is indis-
pensable to repel force by force and over
throw and destroy opposition to lawful
authority. But when the insurrectionary
forces have been overthrown and peace
established, and the civil authorities are
ready and willing to perform their duties,
the military should cease to lead, and the
civil administration resume its natural and
rightful dominion" Solemnly impressed
with these views, the General announces
that "the great principles of American
liberty are still the rightful inheritance of
this people, aud ever should be. The
right of trial by jury, the ha6eas corpus,
the liberty of the press, the freedom of
speech, the natural rights of persons, and
the rights of property, must be preserved. "
President johnson called the attention of
Congress to the utterances of Gen. Han
cock in special message as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and Of the House of Rep
resentGtiCes
An official copy of the order issued by Major
General Winfield 8. Hancock, commander of the
Fifth Military District, dated headquarters in
New Orleans, Louisiana, on the 20th day of No
vember, has reached me through the regular
channels of the War Department, and herewith
communicate it to Congress for such action as
may seem to be proper 10 view of all the circum-
stances.
1t will be perceived that General Hancock
announces 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, and that he will use his military
power only TO preserve the peace and enforce the
law. He declares very explicitly thai the sacred
right of the trial by jury and the privilege of the
writ of hGbeds 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 inher-
| lance of this people, and ever should be.
When great soldier, with unrestricted power
in his hands to Cypress his fellow men, volunta-
rily foregoes the chance of gratifying his selfish
ambition, and devotes himself to the duty of
building up his 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, and
first in the hearts of his counrymen," is founded
on the great fact that in all his illusrious
he scrupulously abstained from violating the
| legal and constitutional rights of his fellow
citizens When he surrendered his commission
| to Congress- the President of that body spoke
his highest praise in saying that he had always
regarded the rights of the civil authorities
through all dangers and disasters" Whenever
| power above the law courted his acceptance, he
| candy put the temptation aside. BY such mag
unanimous acts Of forbearance he won the
universal admiration of mankind, and left a
name which has no rival in the history of the
| world.
am far from saying that General Hancock Is
| the only officer of the American army who Ia in