Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-08-27
SHERMAN TO HANCOCK.
lis LETTERS REG ARDING THE CRISIS.

SHERMAN TO HANCOCK. :
Ills LETTERS REG ARDING THE CRISIS
Expressing Dislike to Having tho Army
Used. hut ObeyinE the Pres.dent,
ofthe Situation Brought About
by tho Election Of 1876.
The "Life of General Hancock" pub
lished by ID. Appleton & Co., contains his
correspondence with General Sherman of
December, 1876, and January, 1877, in the
course of which the letter already given to
the public, written at Carondelet, Mo-,
December %, was addressed to General
Sherman. The latter wrote December 4,
granting General Hancock S application for
leave of absence to 90 to CarOndelet and
in his letter made the following allusion
(thc only one) to political affairs. Refer
ring to the orders sent by the president to
General Ruger, commanding the depart
mcnt in tho South, General Sherman said :
"The political orders to Ruger at Col
umbia preferred should 90 from the presi-
dent to him through the Secretary Of War.
They were not military. disliked much
to have our soldiers used in connection
with a legislative body, but orders coming
from the president have to be obeyed. They
form precedent, but thus far have pre-
vented collision of arms between inflam'
cd partisans.
A letter from General Hancock (nOt in.
cluded in the published correspondence) ex-
presses some uneaSiness ON account of q
newspaper report he had seen stating that
lie was to be ordered from New York, and
appears to have furnished the occasion for
the following letter from General Sher-
man:
"IIEADQUAR's ARMY OF THE u NITED STATES, !
WASHINGTON, d. c., December IL. 1876.
My DEAR GENERAL: Lest your peace OF
mind may be disturbed by the foolish re-
port banded in the newspapers about
your being ordered from New York will
tell you that there is not word of truth
in it. Neither tho president nor secretary
of war has ever intimated to mo such q
purpose and know I have never said u
word or written a syllable to the effect.
SEQ in tho Republican, of St. Louis, that
not only was the order made, but that
destroyed it and tore out the leaves of my
record book containing tho copy. The
whole thing was and is an invention by
| somebody who wanted to create sensa-
ton. Tho same is true about John Sher-
man intriguing to be president of the Sen
ate that he might be president ad interim.
He has told mo that he has never heard
the subject broached; that he would not
accept the place, as he prefers to be what
he is now, chairman of the Senate commit
tee on finance.''
Tho letter concluded: "NO serious
changes in command are being contcm-
plated, and when they are you may be
sure that will give you the earliest notice.
There are men ON mischief intent who
would gladly SOW the seed of dissension
among us of tho army. Truly your friend,
w. T. SHERMAN"
This letter is followed by the Carondelct
letter, to which General Sherman replied
as follow
"ILEADQUAR's Army OPTHE UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON, January 2, 1867.
GENERAL w. S. HANCOCK, New York:
interesting letter of December 25, from
Carondelet, Missouri, till yesterday. I am
very glad to have your views in extenso
upon subjects of such vital importance.
Our standard opinions are mostly formed
on the practice of our predecessors, but a
great change was made after tho close Of
the civil war by tho amendments of the
Constitution giving to the freed slaves GER
tain civil and poll tical rights and empower
ing Congress to mako the laws necessary
to enforce these rights, This power is new
and absolute and Congress has enacted
laws with which we arc not yet familiar and
accustomed. Sec pages 34S, $40 and $50
revised statutes (section 1,9S9,) edition
1874-74. As matter Of fact dislike to
have our army used in those civil conflicts,
but the president has tho lawful right to
use the army and navy, and has exercised
the right as he believes lawfully and right
fully, and our duty has been and is to sus-
tain him with zeal and sincerity.
AS to the Presidential election, VIC arc
in no manner required to take the least
action, but to recognize him as president
whom the lawfully appointed officers de-
clare to DO such person. I hopo and pray
that the Congress will agrco on some
method before the day and hour arrive.
But in case Of failure to elect by or before
the 4th of March there will be 4 vacancy
in "both" offices of President and Vice
President, in which event the President of
the Senate becomes President pro tcmporc,
and q new election will have to be held,
under the law of 1902. Sec tito 3, chap
ter /, pages 81, % and 23, revised statutes.
1t is we'll VIC should compare notes and
agree before the crisis is on us !; but l
surely hope We may pass this ordeal safely
and peacefully.
1 will be pleased to hear from you at any
time. w. r.. SHERMAN"
The next letter published is from Cen
oral Hancock to General Sherman, dated
New York, January 2. It is as follows
"GENERAL w. T. SHERMAN, United
States Army, WASHINGTON, ID. c.:
GENERAL: An anonymous communica-
tion to the secretary of war, dated Louis
villc, KY, December 16, 1876, reached my
headquarters on the 9th of that month
from the Office of tho adjutant general of
the army. 1t represents that in tho con-
templated uprising of tho people to enforce
the Inauguration of Tilden and Hendricks
the depot at Jcffcrsonvillc is to bo seized
and is expected to arm and clotho tho In
diana army of Democrats.
The Endorsement on this communication,
made at your headquarters, dated Dec. 26,
1876. is as follows " Official copy respect
fully referred to Major; General w. s. Han
cock, commanding division of the Atlantic
who may draw company from General
Rugcr, commanding department of the
South, and post it at the Jeffersonville
depot with orders to protect it::against any
danger.
The terms of the Endorsement imply an
exercise of discretion on my part, which
leads me to write you before taking action.
In my judgment there is no danger of the
kind the anonymous communication sets
forth or other kind at Jefferson depot to
justify movement of troops to that place.
IL -