New-York tribune., 1880-09-27
PERIL OF ELECTING HANCOCK
LETTER FROM J. WATSON WEBB.

LETTER FROM j. WATSON WEBB.
| THE yETrPAN REPUBLICAN TOO Ill TO TAKE THp
| FInLD-THE DANGERS THAT TBREATsS THE
C0uNTRY-BY HANcOcK's ELECTION TUE sOUrh
WOULD GAIN MORE THAN Ir LOST by wh
-ANALYZING HANCoCX's RIGHT TO rHE TILL
"HEEo or GgTTYsBURG'-PLAS OP The SOLE
SOUTH To COMPLETE THE OVERTHROW OF wf
IssUEs-rBE NEW RAID on TIE GOVERNMENT
AND PUBLIC TREASURY.
General j. Watson Webb IL in poor
bodily health, and unable 10 take an active
part IN the campaign but the following vigor.
ous letter, shows that his mental powers are un-
impaired, and that he Is warmly solcitous az
ever, for the welfare of the Union. Fciends OF
General Hancock have sought to spread the
impression, that General Webb favored tie
Democratic candidate and that Lis silence in
the canvass, should be SO construed. He now
breaks that silence to saT, that while he re-
sDects General Hancock as n soldier, he does
not think that he is fitted for the Presidency;
and he also lays bare the Democratic claim,
that Hancock deserves the credit of the
victory OF Gettysburg. But his chief objection
to General Hincock is that he is the
straw candidate of the " Solid South y which
hopes, with the aid Of puppet President and
an enlarged Supreme Court, to gain more than
it lost by war; and TO reimburse itself for the
cost of rebellion, out of the National Treas
ury.
SHALL TIE UNION CAUSE BE OVERTHROW!
TO the Edtfor Of The Trt5Nne.
SIR: In my letter of the sth inst, correcting cer-
tam nisstatements III regard to myself, quoted
one, which. with your permssiOu proposed to an-
swcr at length at early day. II was n follows;
and very probably originated IN kindly feeling:
General j. Watson Webb. now an ocfoeenarian, for
the first tine than na a century take 40 part
III tine pending Pfcsdenuli contest te.ole heit.h ~
said be the cause Unt incline 10 THINK he has no
Regular Army; and lett It TO become leading Jackson
Democrat m 1927 HIS military predictions msde
bim advocate Jackson Harrison, Taylor ana scott Tor
ib Presidency and the same feeling very probably pre-
vents bis opposing Hancock"
Never there a greater misconception. III IL
not want of inclination which has prevented my
taking, as usual, active part in ondeavoring 10
secure n Republican triumph in the approaching
contest; but absolute physical inability 10 do so.
That | cannot. is Il matter OF great regret: but
scrutinize closely every phase OF the pending con-
test and am cheered by the convection that so ably
and theoretically is the battle for the right,
waged by The TRBUHE and the Republican press
generally and the great body of the patriotic Re-
pubcans of the country, that my voice wonld be
scarcely heard, and but little needed If were able,
as heretofore TO devote my time and energies. 10 the
most important Of all the great political contests
which have been waged for the freedom OF the
peopie and in tho defence of republican ns.itu-
tions, SINCE the adoption of our Constitution.
The writer says / once a leading Jackson
Democrat" Ncvcr Ny father was an dide-de-
camp of Washingtou and neither lie nop-any of
his sons could by any possibility, bc a Democrat.
We were all Federal.sts. General Jackson was a
Federalist was elected to the Presidency through
the influence of the leading Fcleraliss and when
In place called about him leading Federallsts tor
counsel. | left the army TO support hm for Pres-
dent and NAV have been denominated ." Jackson
Federast' some sixty years ago; but never was
| a Democrat On the contrary. when James
Buchanan declared, in the Legislature of Pennsyl-
vania that il We thought he had in him any Demo-
cratic blood he would open vein and let it cut,
being but 4 boy, in common with other federaists
synpathizcd with him in his foolish declaration.
And when General Jackson, an avowed Tariff
man. abandoned - Protection" to please the DEM
ocracy and opposed the rccharter Of the United
States Bank, which he had taught his friends to
believe in and when hc ed from its vaults,
tn, United States funds in defiance OF law and
public faith : and to do 80, was compelled to remove
| from the Treasury Department that honest man,
Ingham and subsequently. the distinguished Fea-
eralist. Louis Mclean and appoint III ms stead
Taney with the promise of the Chief Justiccship.-
In short when h. abandoned the two leading prjn-
cipIes uDon Which, rs "A Fedcraist, he was placer
in the Presidency by the leading Federliss of tho
country then abandoned him and then it was,
that bandIug together all the clements of oppo-
stion, / gave TO them the Maine oi wing. And
rs Wings, and subsequently, as Republi-
cans they have battIcd against Democracy and cor
rupton: and wagcd war against Southern arro-
gance slavery, treason, and rebellion.
MEADE THE REAL HERO OF GETTYSBURG.
With these sentiments and my past political
history evidenced by thirty four years of political
" warfare as the responsible cdiior OF The Courier
and Esgnirer,-it is idle to suppose. that can
have any other feeling for Hancock than respect
for trio, soldier who believe, all occasions,
co,scieniously discharged his duty to the country.
At Gettysburg where he was in command of tho
left centre, occupying line quite mile in extent.
Pickettjs and Armstcad's assault on his right
found him on his left because it was there be eX
pccted and was ready TO meet tho enemy. or
course he hastened to the scene OF conflict but only
arrived on its outskirts To be severely wounded and
was carried from the field but not until no was
assured of the defeat of tho assailants In tho
meantime those who had received. and in ha I'd
TO hand conflict, rcpulsed and captured the leaders
Of Longstrsets $4,000 picked Contederates, won
the Chief hol0rs OF this desperate struggle; winch
terminated one of the greatest battles of the war,
and virtually, crushed the Rebellion.
To General Meade. has ever been awarded the
honors of hat three days battle aud he political
friends ot General Hancock guilty of great folly
as well as injustice to both the living and the dead.
in setting up at this late day the utterly untounded
claim that Hancock the battle and Is right.
fully the hero of Gettysburg. At the time,
neither Hancock nor any OF his friends pref, nled to
make any such claim. He had the cool fortune to
bs in command of the left centre. quite q milo
in extent and the misfortune, not TO be the
trcmc right of that line where the great assault
WAS made, which had crst threatened his left !;
Cr...a;...x