Helena weekly herald., 1880-08-05
TELEGRA NJ s,
sRpoETED SPECIALLY FOR THR HERALD RY
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY.


Mo-, December 20, 1876, In reply to two lie,
tiers from General Sherman on the situation
is given to the public. After acknowledpin,
General Sherman's letters and excusing tn
delay in answering the first, and some re
marks on the weather, in which he says "
Louis is the coolest place in winter and th.
hottest in summer of any he had encountered
in the tempe, ate zone, he goes on 10 say:
"When heard the rumor that | was or
dered TO the Pacific coast thought it proba
bly, true, considering the past discussion as
TO that subject The possibilities seemed to
me to point that way. Had it been true
should of course have presented no COM
paint nor made any resistance OF any kind.
would have gone quickly, if not prepared
to 90 promptly. | certainly would have been
relieved from the responsibilities and anx-
ieties concerning presidential matters which
may fall to those near to the throne or in au-
thoTty within the next four months. as well
8s from other incidents or matters which
could not control and action concerning
which l might not approve. | was not ex-
acty prepared to 60 to the Pacific, however.
ard therefore felt relieved when received
your note informing me that there was no
truth in the rumor. Then did not wish to
appear to be escaping from responsibilities
and possible dangers which NAV cluster
around the military commands in the East
especially in critical period fast approach
ing. All Is we'll that ends well. The whole
matter of the presidency seems to me to be
simple and to admit of peaceful solution. The
machinery for such a contingency as threat
ems to present itself has been all carefully
prepared 1t only requires fabrication owing
to dsuse. The army should have nothing to
do with the election or Inauguration of Presi
dents The people elect the President. and
Congress declares in joint session who he is.
We of the army have only to obey his man
dates, and are protected in 80 doing only so
far as they may be lawful. Our commissions
express that.
like Jefferson's way of Inauguration. 1t
suits our system. He rode alone on horse
back to the Capitol, q fear it was the old
Capitol,) tied his horse to rail fence, en-
tered and was duly sworn, then rode to the |
Executive Mansion and took possession He |
inaugurated himself simply by taking the |
oath OF Office. There is no other legal in
auguratlon in our system. People or poll
ticians may institute parades in honor of the
event, and public officials may add to the pa
geant by assembling troops and banners, but
all this only comes properly after inaugura-
ton, not before, and it is not part Of it.
Our system does not provide that one Presi-
dent should inaugurate another. There might
be danger in that, and it was studiously left
out of the charters. But you are placed in
an exceptionally important position in con-
nection with coming events. The Capital is
in my Jurisdiction also, but am subordi-
nate and not on the spot, and if I were, SO
also would be my superior in authority. for
there is the station of General-in Chief. Onthe
principle that regularly elected Presidents
term of office expires with the 3rd of March,
OF which have not the slightest doubt, and
which laws bearing on the subject uniformly
and in consideration of the possi-
bility that the lawfully elected President NAV
not appear until the 5th of March, a great
ieal of responsibility may necessarily fall
Upon you. You hold over. You will have the
Dowerss of prestige to support you Secre- ,
aries of War probably hold over, but if no
President appears he may not be able to ex-
9rclse his function in the name of the Presi- {
lent, for his proper acts are those of q $
Known superior, u lawful President. You !
Ict on your own responsibility and by virtue +
II commission only restricted by law. +
The Secretary of War is the mouthpiece of the r
resident; you are not. If neither candidate !,
las constitutional majority of the Electoral h
jolege, or the Senate and House on the oc- y
SSASA Va
ONE person legally elected by the people,
here is lawful machinery already provided I
meet that contingency and decide the ques-
On peacefully. 1t has not been recently
sed, no occasion presenting itself, but our
Oretathers provided it. 1t has been eXer-
lsed and has been recognized and submitted
as lawful on every hand. That machin-
ry would probably elect Mr.. Tilden Presi- N
ent and MIR. Wheeler Vice-President. That to
ould be right enough, for the law provides r.
lat in failure to elect duly by the people, -
e House shall Immediately elect the Presi- III
ent and the Senate the Vice president. Some re
lbunal must decide whether the people have tr
lly elected a President. l presume, of =,
,urse, that it is in the joint affirmative action -
the Senate and House, or why are they 'e
resent to witness the count if not to see that sV
is fair and just? If failure to agree tn
lses between the two bodies there can be no ar
Wtul affirmative decision that the people
I'VE elected President and the House must ia
en- proceed to act, not the Senate The mi
nate elects the Vice Presidents, not the mi
residents. Doubtless in case of failure oi,
the House to elect President by the 4th e.,
March, the President of the Senate, if ',~
ere be one, would be legitimate person to Gle
ercise Presidential authority for the time eli
Ing, or until the appearance of lawful tht
esident, or for the time laid down by the n
institution. Such courses would be peace -
!, and have firm belief lawful. have ira
doubt Governor Hayes would make an ex- SUI
Nent President. / have met him and know prs
him for brief period. He served under ON
command, but as the matter stands can't o,
any likelihood of his beirg duly declared WI
cled by the people unless the Senate and try
'use come to be in accord as to that fact, mai
The House would of course not otherwise Pa
CT him. What the people want is peace W
c.