Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-30
That "BIt Of Secret History"

Considerable interest has been manifested
in q scrap Of history reported to the Boston
Globe by its correspondent in attendance
upon the Democratic national convention at
Cincinnati. The story of the reporter is to
the effect that "soon after the electoral COM
mission had promulgated its decision, Cen
eral Hancock wrote TO General Sheridan
that he believed that Governor Tilden had
been elected president of the United States,
and being so elected he had right to take the
oath of Office elsewhere than at Washington,
wherever he might be that General Grants
term of Office expired at midnight Of the Sd
of March, and if, after that hour, he received
any orders from Mr.. Tilden as president
Of the United States, he should obey them.
As is well known, Mr.. Tilden did not take
the oath of Office and General Hancock was
not called upon to take the steps which he
undoubtedly would have taken If called
upon. | do not know whether Governor
Tilden was ever apprised of this resolution
of General Hancock or not, but the publica-
tion now ought to apprise his friends among
the delegates that he had no drawer or more
determined supporter than General Hancock
at the time when the great fraud was con-
summated."
The Boston Journal copied the above ex-
tract and commented on it editorially, dis
crediting the alleged bit of history which, if
true, would cast an imputation on General
Hancock's loyalty to the government under
which he held an important command. The
Journal is the popular daily newspaper in
Vermont, and in due time the above extract
was read from that paper in the village Of
Waterbury. Upon hearing it, certain
Democrat, who was present at the meeting
of the Democratic state committee held in
Waterbury on the evening of April LIST, at
which was present General w. +. Smith of
New York, remarked with an expression Of
interest "Why, that's just what Badly
Smith said at the meeting here in April"
The facts, as narrated by this gentleman
and corroborated by the statements of other
persons who were present on that occasion,
would seem to indicate that General Smith
is the author of the above astounding state
ment of General Hancock's intentions in a
certain contingency, aud that this "bit of
secret history" was first divulged in the
Democratic conclave at Waterbury where
General Hancock's candidacy received its
first important impulse That this incident
did not appear in the published reports of
that meeting is explained by the fact that
an injunction of secrecy in regard to it was
placed upon the reporters. OF the fact that
General Smith made this or similar state
ment in regard to General Hancock at this
meeting, there would seem to be no room to
doubt, and it was evidently regarded as en-
HANGING his qualifications for the position
to which the Democracy have since nomin-
ated him. The question which naturally
suggests itself in this connection is, was
General Hancock the head of conspiracy
to seat Mr.. Tilden had the great defrauded
had the daring to take the oath as president
Of the United States. Republicans will not
wish to believe such things of soldier who
has always held high place in their regard,
and will await with interest the result Of
the very general demand for further infor-
nation before forming any conclusions, ex.
cept those which are in favor of the gallant
general.