Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-08-12
HANCOCK TO SHERMAN.


This letter was written in reply to
two letters on the situation received
from Gen. Sherman:
!" Carondsl<f r. o., 81. Louis, Dec.
IS, 1919 -My Dear General: Your fa-
v0s of the 4ih instant reached me in
New York on the 9th, the day before
lett for the West. intended to reply
to II before leaving, but cares incident
TO departure interfered. Then again,
since my arrival here I have heen so
occupied with personal affairs Of bus
mess nature that have deferred writ
ing from day to day until this moment.
and now | find myself in debt to You
another letter in acknowledgment Of
your favor Of the 18th, received a few
days since.
III have concluded 10 leave here on
the 29th (to-morrow) p NJ. so that ]
may be expected in New York on the
31si instant. Ithas been cold and dreary
since my arfisal here. have worked
like a Turk N presume ..at means
hard work. in the country. in making
fences, cutting down trees, repairing
buildings, ETC.. and am at least able to
say'-that st. Louis is the coldesi place
thr winter end II = Tbs hottest p1ats
IN the sumner of any that have en-
countered in temperate zone. Ihave
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 il.
"When heard the rumor that was
ordered to the Pacific coast thought il
probably true, considering the past DIS
cussion on that subject. The possibill-
ties seemed to me to point that way.
Had il been true, | should, Of course,
have presented no complaint nor made
resistance Of any kind. ! would have
gone quickly. IL not prepared TO 60
promptly. 1 certainly would have been
relieved from the responsibilities and
anxieties concerning presidential mat
ters which may fall TO those near the
throne or in authority within The next
four months, as well as from other in
cidents or matters which could not
control, and the action concerning which
| might not approve. was not exact
ly prepared 10 go 10 the Pacific, how
ever, 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 escaping
from the responsibilities and possible
dangers which may cluster around milf
tary commanders in the East, especial.
~ 10 the critical period fast approach
ing. Ais 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 contingency as threatens 10 pre-
sent itself has been all carefully pre-
pared. II only requires fabrication ow-
ing TO disuse. The army should have
nothing to do with the election or inau-
guratIon Of Presidents. The people
elect the President. The Congress de-
csares in q joint session who he is. We
Of the army have only to obey his man
dates. and are protected IN 30 doing only
so far as they may be lawful. Our
commissions express that. like JEFF
ierson's way of Inauguration; il suits
our system. He rode alone on horse
back 10 the Capitol. (T fear il was the
sold Capssol.'') tsed his horse to rail
fence, entered and was duly sworn,
then rode 20 the Executive Mansion
aud took possession. He inaugurated
himself simply by taking the oath ofof-
iice. There is no other legal inaugura-
ton in our system. The people or poll
isieians may institute parades in honor
Of the event. aud public officials may
add 10 the pageant BY assembling troops
and banners, but all that only comes pro-
perly after the inauguraf1on-not before
and il il not part Of IL. Our sys-
TEN does not provide that one President
should inaugurate another. There
might be danger 10 that. and it was stu
diously left out OF The charter. But YOU
are placed in an exceptionally impor-
tant position in connection with coming
events. The capital is in my iurisdic-
lion also. but ] am subordinate and
not on the spot. and If were 50 also
would be my superior in authority, for
there IS the station of the generai-in-
chief. On the principle that regular
ly elected Presidents term Of ofIice ex-
pires with the 3sd Of March. lef which