The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-08-14
Z 1lT,S THE TRUTH THAT HURTS
Weston, West Virginia August IA, 1880.
co,ln1,plicatc-not to decide or over


army to enter upon such questions
and::even if it might be so in any
event, If tho civil authority is su
preme, as the Constitution declare:
It to be, tho South Carolina cast
was ono in which tho army hat
. plain duty.
his COURSE TOWARD GEN. RueER
Had General Ruger asked mi
for advice, and ifI had given it,
should ofcourse have notified yor
of my action Immediately, so thai
it could have been deemed advisa
bic by yen or other superior in a'!'
thority. Gen. Rugcr did not ask
for my advice, and I inferred froln
that and other facts that he did mol
desire it, or that, being in direct
communication with my military
superiors Mt the seat ofgovernment
who were nearer to him in time
and distance than l was--hc deemed
itunnecessary. it As General Rugel
had the ultimate responsibility o.
action and had really tho greater
danger to confront in the final nc
ton in tho matter, | did not ven
turo to embarrass him by stlgges'
tions. ITe was n department com,
mandcr and the lawful head Of the
military administration within the
limits Of the department; but be
sides, I know that ho had beer
called to Washington for consulta.
ton before taking command, and
was probably aware Of the views o.
the administration ms to civil af
fairs in his command. l knew that
he was in direct communication
with my superiors in authority in
reference to the delicate subjects
presented for his consideration, OF
had ideas of his own which be be.
lieved to be sufficiently in accord
with the views Of our common s,l,
periors to enable him to act intelli,
gently according to his judgment
and without suggestions from. those
not on the spot and not as fully
acquainted with the facts as him,
sell. Tle desired, too, to be free tc
act, as he had the eventual greater
responsibility, and SO the matter
was governed as between him anc
myself.
1LLEdAIl!ASD USw1sR.
As I have been writing thus free.
ly to you, Tmay still further un.
bosom myself by Estating that ]
have not thoughtitlnwful or wise
to use Federal troops in such mat,
tors as have transpired east ofzthc
Mississippi within the last few
montlls.sayc SO far rs they may
ho hl,wi.7;:4to l,ro,,en;7S:4t action untler the
article Of the Consti...sil WV .
contemplatcs meeting armed re-
sistance, or invasion Of a State
more powerful than the State au'
thorities can subdue by the er1i.
nary proccsses-and then only
when requested by the Legislature
or, if it could not be convened in
session, by tho Governor, and when
the President of the United States
intervenes in that matter it is
state Of war, not peace.
The army is laboring under dis.
advantages, and has been used
unlawfully at times in tho judg'
ment of tho people lin mine Ger.
tainly,) and We have lost great
deal Of the kindly feeling which
the community at large once fell
for us. at is time to stop and un'
load.'
TIE DIFFICULTIES UNDER WHICH OF
FIcERs LABOR.
Officers in command OF troops
often find it difficult to act wisely
and safely when snperiors in author
ity have different views of the law
from theirs, and when Legislation
has sanctioned action seemingly ii
conflict with the fundamental law
and they generally defer 10 tlle
known judgment Of their superi.
ors Yet the superior officers oi
the army are 50 regarded III sucl
great crises, and are held to such
responsibility, especially those al
or near tho head Of it, that it's nee
essary on such monontous occa'
sions to dare to determine fol
themselves what is lawful and
what is not lawful under Our sys'
TEN, if the military authorities
should be invoked, as might pos
sibly be the case in such excep'
tional views rs to the correct re-
suit. The army will suffer from lis
past action if it has acted wrong
fully. Our regular army has little
hold upon the affections of the
people Of to-day, and its superior
officers should certainly, us far as
lies in their power, legally and
with righteous intent aim to de-
fcnd the right, which to us is TIE
LAW and the institutions which
they represent. 1t is "A wcll-mcan.
institution, and it would be well il
it should havc an opportunity ia
be recognized as u hulwark of the
people and Of THE LAW.
lam truly yours,
WINFIELD S. HANCOCK.
To General w. r. Sherman, Command.