The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-09-15
G1LLRNWATERS MENDAC1TY

GILLEN TIERS MENDACITY.
In his harangue last Thursday
| Gtllenwaters shamelessly charged
that Gen. Hancock was influenced
| by Southern Democrats in announc.
ing the suhordination Of the military
to the civil authority in Louisiana
Tia 1857. The World of the 7tb pub
| fishes a letter which Gen. Hancock
wrote to the Mayor of Scranton, Pa,
in 1877. The riote which ensued
upon the strikes Of 1877, or were.
threatened by those strikes, fortu-
nately never became matters Of pol.
itics.. There was no dispute nor any
partisan excitement concerning the
means to be used to put down The
riots, though there was very gen
eral and somewhat clamorous de-
mand that the riots should be put
down. General Hancock anuouRc.
ed and enforced precisely the same
view of the relation of the military
TO the civil power in Pennsylvania
in 1877 which he had announced and
enforced IN Louisiana in 1867. He
thus proved, what NO intelligent per.
son has ever doubted, that his course
in Louisiana was not influenced in
the least by any consideration Of
the exigencies of politicians or of
political parties, but solely by such
clear perception of the nature of
our Government and of the func--I
tions of the army under it as no Re-
publican statesman" from 1865 to |
1880, has ever shown himself to pos.
sess. This new letter of Gen. Han.
cocks was addressed to R. H. Nc |
Kune, Mayor of Scranton during
the railroad riots OF 1877, who gave |
to a World reporter this history of |
the circumstances under which it
was Writtsn: ---
HAt the time of the riots, which be- |
gan on August 1, 1877, had posse CO.
nastatls composed of thirty-f1Ve citizens |
which had been summoned by my COM
nand. as I believed had powers equal
to those Of the Sheriff. My posse went
en-duty on August /. On the morning |
Of the second two regiments of State
troops,arrived, aad one the third one or
two companies Of regulars. BY the 10th
of August there was a regiment of State |
troops and regiment of regulars sta
toned at Scranton by Governor Hart
ranft for my assistance if they should
be needed.--The fact that there WerS
Federal and State troops stationed in
the town raised q question with me as
to how should use them. Major Nor |
row commanded the Federal troops, and
he did not feel willing to give me such
information regarding my right to call
upon his troous as | deemed satisfactO-
~. Therefore on the 18th of August l
wrote to General Hancock requesting
him to give me such information as 70 1
my status as Mayor of the city in rela-
ton to the Federal troops stationed in
the city as would enable me to perform II
my duties. In ansWerhe sentyme the
following letter.: - #1 81 ~
HEADQUARrERs
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ATLANTIC,
NEW YORK, August 90 1877. J
60 To Hon. r. Il. McRIt1le, Mayor Of IScra79- t
ten, Pa
"'SIR: have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your communication
Of the 18th inst. I
"'The United States troops were sent
20 Scranton, on the application of the G
Governor of the State, to assist In pre- '
serving the peace. They were reported 4
% the Governor and are subject to the
anne legal service as the State troops
here. They should not BE called upon, t
however, untH 4he civil posse and the v
State troops have proved insufficient, n
II unless they are insufficient without
he assistance of the Federal troops. Y
"'The commander of the Federal I
roops en- the spot is responsible for his Il
egal action in the premises. He has fl
zen advised on the subject heretofore "
nd is no doubt fully aware of his du-
les under all circumstances. / do not a.
7ish to embarrass him by giving him T
nv further advice or instructions, di- re
ectly or indirectly. If he wishes such it
e will doubtless call upon me for them. p
" As the preservation of order is pri-
larily in the hands of the Governor of sc
he State, think it would be better for bI
on to communicate with him when the pS
are net of so imperative ct
ature as to make it necessary for you til
communicate directly with the COM
ander of the troops onStile spot. IL til
"'Who may be the legal conservator te
the peace in Scranton whether the G.
.ayor or Sheriff, or both) cannot say. la
hat is a question of law, and you and p.
of the troops can readi- CT
determine il. Either the Mayor or CT
lie Sheriff, or both (if they have CO. ID
Iual power under. the law in that re- do
'ect iu'the' city, haYe legal authority
call upon the United States troops in yo
srtain contingencies to assiet in the be
of the peace. / am, sir. sal
cry respectfully, your obedienta ser an
INT, WINFIELD s. HANCOCK, ST
1AaJor-General v. 5. A, Command rel
g Division" ga