Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-08-05
Hancock and English to the
Democracy.
HANCOCK TO SHERMAN
The Bloomfield H. Moore Estate---
An Earthquake in Asia Minor
Almost Another Maryland
Lynching.
A STRANGE CASE OF DISAPPEARANCE
H4NCOCK TO SHERMAN.

lished the muoh-talked of letter written
by General Hancock tn General Sherman
in 1876, touching the Presidential contro-
vorsy. The letter il an interesting CON
iribniion to the history of that momentons
period, and is as follows:
CAnoNDELET j.. o., ST. LOUIS No., Dec.
2S, 1876 My Dear GeneTdi: Your favor of
the 18th instant reached mo in New York on
the 5th the day before left for the West
intended to reply to it before leaving, but
cares incident to departure interfered. Then
again, since my arrival here | have been so
occupied with personal affairs of u business
nature that have deferred writing from day
10 day until this moment, and now | find
myself in debt to you another letter in
acknowledgement of your favor of the 18th,
received few days since.
have concluded to leave here on the Goth
(tu-morrOw) p. M. so that may be expected
i'll New York on the 3lst inst. 1t has been
cold and dreary since my arrival here. | have
worked "likc Turk" Il presume that means
hard work. in the country. in making fences,
cutting down trees, repairing buildings. &c.,
Ne, and am Mt least able to say that st. Louis
is the codest place in winter, as it il the hot
test in summer. of any that | have encount-
cred in n temperate zone Thave known st.
Louis in December to have genial weather
throughout the month this December has
been frgid, and tho river has been frozen
more solid than have ever known it,
When heard the rumor that was ordered
to the Pacific coast | thought it probably
true, considering the past discussion ON that
subject Tho possibilities seemed to me to
point that way. Had it been true | should,
of course, have presented no complaint nor
made resistance of any kind. I would have
gone quietly if not prepared to go promptly.
certainly would have been relieved from the
responsibilities and anxieties concerning
Presidential matters which may fall to those
near the throne or in authority within the
next four months, as well AZ from other
incidents or matters which | could not con-
troll, and the action concerning which might
not approve. | was not exactly prepared to
n go to the Pacific, however, and | therefore
felt relieved when ] received your note in
forming me that there was no truth in the
n rumors.
4 Then, | did not wish to appear to be escap-
ing from responsibilities and possible dangers
I which may cluster around military command
crs III the East, especially in the critical
period fast approaching. Ais well that epds
well. The whole matter of the Presidency
seems to me to be simple and to admit of u
peaceful solution. The machinery for such
contingency as threatens to present itself has
been all carefully prepared. 1t only requires
fabrication, owing to disllse. The army
should have nothing to do with the selection
or Inauguration of Presidents The people
elect the President. The Congress declares
i'll a joint resolution who he liz We of the
army have only to obey his mandates, and arc
protected i'll 10 doing only 80 far as they may
be lawful. Our commissions express that. /
liho m ocieieoii WY VI inau6urhtioli ~ sthts
nur % systeni' iie rnuo aloiie on horsopack 70
.hu Napitoi y ip"i " M"s .iio olu Sapitol ),
aud was duly sworn, then rode to the Execu-
tive Mansion and took possession. He inaugu-
rated himself, simply by taking the oath of
olhce. There ~ no other legal Inauguration
III our system The people or politicians may
Institute parades i'll honor of the event, and
public officials may add to the pageant by
assembling troops and banners, but all that
only comes properly after the Inauguration
not before aud 1t IL not part of it, Our
system does not provide that ono President
should inaugniatc another. There might be
danger in that, and it was studiously left ont
OF the chapter. But you are placed in an eX-
ceptionally important position in connection
with coming events. The capital is i'll my
jurisdiction also, but am q subordinate, and
not on the spot, and il ! We're, 10 also would
be my superior in authority, for there is the
station of the Goncral-in-Chiof.
On the principle that u regularly elected
Presidents term of Office expires with the Sd
of March (of which have not the slightest
dOubt), and which the laws bearing on the
subject uniformly recognize, and in oonsdera-
tion of the possibility that the lawfully
elected President may not appear until the
9th of March, great deal Of responsibility
may necessarily fall upon yon. You hold
over You will have power and prestige to
support yOu. The Secretary of War. too,
probably holds over but If no President
appears he may not he able to exercise fuuct-
tiuns in the name of n President, for his
proper acts are those of n known superior n
lawful President Nou act on yu"r og." "a
sponhlbility ana by virtue OF commission,
oniy RESTRICTED py tnc law. Inc Secretary
oi war III lhc lhulthpleee oi PRESIDENT. You
nre not IL neither candidate has y constltn-
toial majority OF the Electoral College,
or the Senate ana House on tile occasion OF
tile count do not unite III declaring some per
son legally elected by the people there is
lawful machinery already provided to meet
that contingency ana decide tho question
peacefully 1t has not been recently USED, no
occasion presenting itself, but our forefathert
provided II. IL has been exercised and hat
been recognized and submitted to as lawful
IN every hand. That machincfy would pro
bably elect MIR, lllden President aud Mr..
wheeler wee PRESIDENT. That would bt
right enough, for the law provides that III
u failure to elect duly by the people the
lionSe shall immediately elect the Presl'
dent and the Senate the Vice Presi-
dent. Some tribunal must decide whether
the people have duly elected q PRESIDENT.
presume, of course, that it is i'll the JONI
alilrmatiyo action OF the Senate and House,ol
why are they present to witness the count Il
not to see that It Ii fair and just II failure
to agree arises between the two bodies ther,
can be no lawful affirmative decision that th'
people have elected President, and th'
House must then proceed TO act, not tn
Senate. Ihe Senate elects Vice Presidents
not iresldehts. Doubtless IN case OF afallurl
by the House to elect President by the 4tl
'of March,th PRESIDENT OF the Senate Cif ther
be one) would be the legitimate person t.
exercise PRESIDENTIAL authority Tor the tlm
being, or until the appearance oi lawin
PRESIDENT, or lor the tlme lald down Ill TN
tonstltutlon. Sucll courses Wonlu DC peacelu
itnu, nave ilrm Denei, lawful.
nave no doubt Governor Hayes woul'
liu @ ~ @ "n ios,',V' nv my M ~
ana Know Oh nm. For priei period II
served Iihuer my command, pnt as the matte
stalus eni n's5 aiy li.eiiiiooi ol ms pe, y,
dnly declared elected Dy inc people unless tll
senate ,,'iu i n9se t I Io,o 10 Ut u, ~ accora as u
tit iael, n,u NY iioIS9 H2u oi c1uISe ~
i,.,'' % 80 *. Ha'
~ .is
iaar Hrtelila'io % s ptastH "au ,ia iam,u ,,
~ TSiiei ~ ',t ',, ~
.ie iost' inu II NIL io. rii.,'5Iu W . ~ nv il.
oN9iulioii MTtiu nuo1o p9oiui ,' uis ~ u"2
business "oiilu Iu1iB anu o'ii polus "'ui
come nome 70 lilu uepreclalga llarhet;
Was noI III layol ot tilu iiiiii.Iy ~ u1ton III
nonth taroliIih Ietehtly,"nu l, uelcIul nus
lau tele8rapheu 10 me OF hsheu Ior auvicu
Woulu nave advised nm nor 'iilaer any cil
istahces 70 ailow iiliisot or ms Iroops