The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-07-20

CarneaAh Emmaty e. Manceek-
soa1H O. III vorrs on akRvIE1D THAT
WILL AsEoEIsH THE BOYS n ntuR.
On ksisth II Decsmber, 1857, Prssi-
dent johnson sent special message %
Congrsss, ID which he highly lauded the
course Of General Hancock in the Fifth
District, and especially because he had
re-asserted the great guarantees OF the
Constitution and declared that the civil
law should be supreme in times Of pesce.
The last two paragraphs of the message
read:
liam far from saying that General Hancock
b the only Cf1cef Of the American army who ID
Doubtless thousands Of them are devoted to the
principles for which the men Of the revolution
laid down their ives But the distinguished honor
belongs to him Of being the first of1cer In high
command south Of the Potomac since the close
Of the civil war, who has given utterance to these
noble sentiments In the form Of military order.
Al respectfully suggest to Congress that some
public recognition of General Hancocks patriotic
conduct IL due, II not to him, 70 the friends OF
law and justice throughout the country. Of such
an act as his, at such time It IL but III that The
dignity should be indicated and the virtue pro-
claimed, 90 that It's value as an example may not
be Lost TO the nation ANDREW JOHNSON"
When the message was laid before the
Senate, the following report is made of its
reception:
Mr. Wilson said the Committee on Military
Affairs had had referred to them resolutions OF
thanks to Generals Sheridan, Sickles and Scho-
field for their administration Of law In the South,
and moved 10 refer this communication to that
committee.
Mr.. Doolttle-And printed.
Several Sepators-No, mol
Mr. Doolittle said Of course it should be
printed.
Mr. Conkling-Whys
Mr. Doolittle-We never saw a Presidents
message that was not printed.
Mr.. Conkling said that in the history of the
government they had never TO his knowledge
sent message like that one, showing such
spirit as that showed. He did not know but that
the proper disposition was to refer it TO the Com
mittee on Military Affairs. but he thought il
would strike majority of the Senate when they
read and reflected upon IT, that something more
or less than that should be done. He therefore
proposed TO lay it on the table for the present.
Mr. Ramsey insisted on his motion TO adjourn,
which prevailed, and the message was never re-
ferred to again in the Senate.
In the House it is stated that the read
ing of the message created some amuse-
ment on the Republican side of the
House."
Mr. Covode rose and said he was anxious to
know whether the document was genuine or a
hoax.
Mr. Eldridge attempted to offer resolution of
thanks TO General Hancock, but was cut off by
motion of General N P. Banks to lay the mes
sage on the table and print lit, which motion pre-
| vailed.
THE RESOLUTION TABLED.
On the 9Th of January following Mr..
Eldridge offered the following:
"ResOlced 6y the Senate and House of Represent
dtires ip Congress assembled, That the thanks of
| Congress are hereby rendered 10 Major General
t-Winfleld 8. Hancock for his wise, patriotic and
timely Recognition of the first rights of the citi
Zens and of the great principles of the constitu-
tional liberty expressed in the order issued by
| him assuming the command of the Fifth Mil
itary Distfict,' so-called, and for his prompt de-
| termination TO restore and maintain the suprem-
| acy of the civil law within the limits of his
| command"
There was some flibustering by the
Republicans, and finally Mr.. Framework
moved to table the resolution. The yeas
and nays were demanded and the resolu-
tion was tabled by vote of SO yeas to
% nays-General Garfield, Blaine and
all the other Republicans called voting to
table this tribute to Hancock.
TRYING TO BREAK HANcoCK's WORD.
General Garfield was not satisfied with
this vote, which, on the part of himself
and his fellows, was intended TO be a vote
of censure. On the 18th day of January,
1868, he appears in the Globe as follows :
Mr.. Garfield Il ask unanimous consent TO offer
| for consideration and action bill to reduce and
improve the military establishment by discharg-
ing one Major General.
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois-Read the BILL
The bill was read. 1t provides that the army
of the United States shall be reduced by the dis
charge from the military service of the Major
General who was last commissioned in that grade
before January, 1885, TO take effect from its pas
sage, there shall be but four Major Generals in
| the army.
Mr.. Garfield hope the bill will be allowed to
| come in, and then we Can act on it in the morn
| ing.
Mr.. Randall object.
Mr.. Garfield moved TO suspend the rules.
| Mr.. BROOKS demanded the yeas and nays.
| Mr.. Randall moved that the House adjourn,
and demanded the yeas and nays
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr.. Randall move that when the House adj
| journs it adjourn to meet ON Wednesday next,
and demand the yeas and nays. You cannot
rush this through tonight.
| Mr.. Garfield am not trying to- | withdraw
my motion and give notice that will bring it up
the first thing on Monday next.
The next day, however, Senator Thayer
introduced in the Senate similar bill,
perhaps at Gar6eld's instance, which was
referred and never again brought to light.
The idea of the effort to break Hancock's
commission was Garfeld's, and it now re-
turns to plague its inventor.
| -------------
| General Perrv's address to his old