The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-07-15
A "Reminiscences of the Last Prcsidcn'
tial Struggle.
WASHINGTON, July 6, 1880.

tial Struggle.
WASHINGTON, July 6, 1880. +
The statement of what General Han
cock said he would do in the event of a
division of the House and Senate inlS76
on the manner in which the electoral
vote should be counted is deprived of
much, if not all, of its Importance in
view of the actual facts. General Sher.
man in the latter part of November be-
gan concentrating troops in Washington,
for what purpose is not definitely known
TO this day. Only the day before the ar.
rival of the artillery companies, and
while they were en- route t" this city, he
emphatically denied that troops were
coming here. Their movement was in
obedience to his own orders. He had q
suspicion that another rebellion was go
ing to take place and that the Presiden-
tial issue might be undecided on the 4th
of March when President Grants term
would expire. In this dilemma it was
General Shcrman's opinion that he
should be prepared to protect and defend
the will of Congress. 1t is not even un.
derstood here that Congress had assem-
bled when Genernl Sherman wrote a
personal letter to General Hancock ask
ing his views upon the situation. The
reply, it is said, gave General sharman
greater scare than he ever before ex'
perienced, for having asked an expression
of opinion, General Hancock hypothet-
really answered that if the Senate was to
assume that Mr.. Hayes was elected and
the House should declare that MIR. Tilden
was elected, and the limit fixed by law
for the term of General Grant had ex-
pired, then if Mr.. Tildeu should take the
oath of office he would respect him as
the President of the United States.
Having obtained this expression from
General Hancock personally and conf
dentially, General Sherman could do no
more than lock it up among his private
papers. 1t complicated matters, howev'
er, here in Washington, and all that was
heard was that, in the event of trouble.
General Hancock could not be relied
upon. 1t was not pretended that the in.
clination of General Sherman to MIR.
Hayes was right, but as Geneaal Sher-
man is reported to have said the govern.
ment had got to be preserved and some
body bad got to act promptly, and up to
the 4th of March he was certain of Pres.
ident Grants support: Still it was a
matter of political preference whether n
citizen should stand by the course of the
Senate or the action of the House. 1t
was General Sherman's opinion that il
force had to be used then the side which
had the most effective army would be
recognized and order and good govern.
ment would follow. Still, the presence
of General Hancock in New York surely
troubled General Sherman. 1t WAS pro.
posed to relieve him of the command OF
the military division of the Atlantic
and order General Mcdowell to New
York, transferring General Hancock to
San Francisco. While this was under
consideration the Electoral Commission
bill was first suggested and the necessity
for the change was believe to have pass
ed.
In this connection another story is
revived, that which contemplated the alb.
duction of Mr.. Tilden in the event he
should attempt to assert himself as
President States, which act was to be
executed by the civil authorities with q
force of marines, the draft to include
those at Boston, Philadelphia and
Washington as we'll as those at Brook
lyn. which force was to be ready to
answer the United; States Marshalps call
for aid. The United States troops were
not to be called.
It is understood here among the per.
sonal friends of General Hancock that
he will, prior to the publication of his
letter of acceptance, tender his resigna-
ton to the President as Major General
of the United States army. The reason
assigned for this proposed course is that,
pending the election, General Hancock,
if he remained in the army, would be
restrained by the rules and customs
governing army officers, who are sup,
posed to be men without political
preferences. Another reason is an
objection which his candidacy presents
in a person being elected to the highest
civil office in the land while still an
officer of the regular army. The case OF
Scott and Grant, it is contended, were
different from that of General Hancock.
The nomination of the latter was
distinctive partisan selection, whereas
with the former distinguished services in
Mexico and during the rebellion gave
them some claim upon the gratitude
of their countrymen regardlesspoliti-
cal views. 1t is also said in expla-
nation that General Hancock does not
wish to embarrass or in the slightest
degree retard the success of his party,
and as citizen he will be wholly free
and on an equality with the republican
nominee. Having the greatest conf
dcnce in the success of the canvass his
retirement will, in his opinion, it is said,
be anticipated only few months. The
example of General Grant, who did
resign until short time before bisin:
auguration as President, has no Influence
with Gen. Hancock. Besides, it is al
legged that this step will increase the
popularity of the democratic candidate
and make success doubly certain. While
the propriety of the step has been duly
regarded, those who are familiar with
Gen. Hancock's circumstances say that
in the event of defeat he would no longer
care to serve on the active list of the