Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-08-05
A MASTERLY LETTER.
Hancoek's Reverence OF Civil Law.

THE FULL TEXT OF HIS LETTER TO snER'
MAN IN THE TRYING TIMES FOUR YEARS
AGo-CoNGREss THE TRIBUNAL.
FAITH IN PEACEFUL soLU'
TIoN OF THE TROUBLE
FUNCTIONS OF THE
AMY.
From Mondays Philadelphia Times.
Shortly after the nomination of Gen.
Hancock at Cincinnati, it was charged
against him that during the electoral
crisis of 1861 he had written II letter
TO General Sherman in which he had
made known his opinion on the disput-
ed election aud declared his intention
to support Mr.. Tilden's claim if the
latter chose to take the oath of office.
1t was claimed by the Republican press
that this letter was little short of revo-
lutionary in its declarations and that
its publication in full would greatly
damage his chances for the Presidency.
General Hancock from the first said
when questioned about the matter, that
anything he had ever written TO General
Sherman might be given to the public.
General Sherman was out West when
the story came out. On hearing OF it
he said that he had received no letter
from General Hancock upon which any
such construction as is indicated above
could be placed Since then, General
Sherman having come within reach, the
New York World has finally obtained a
copy of the letter from his files, with
the permission of both parties, and it
was printed in that journal and the
Times yesterday.
General Hancock being spoken to by
a Herald reporter on Saturday had this
to say on the subject:
81 hardly remembered writing the
letter." he said, until | saw reference
to il in some of the newspapers. When
| wrote it | had no idea that il would
ever be published. was in a Western
town on private business, with no
secretary or member of NV staff with
me. wrote it frankly and with no
constraint."
"And stick by what you wrote! :"
al never wrote anything | am afraid
of having known and that | would not
stick to-"
And you desire this letter to be pub.
lished?n
IL only waited for the consent OF
General Sherman, and that having been
given there is no obstacle against its
publication"
The following is the full text of the
letter:
CARoNDELET, P. o.. ST. LOUIS,
December %, 1876.
Ny DEAR GENERAL: Your favor of
the 4th inst. reached me in New York
on the 5th, the day before | left for the
West. intended to reply TO it before
leaving, but cares incident to my de.
parture interfered. Then again, since
my arrival here have been so occupied
with personal affairs of business ma.
ture that have deferred writing from
day to day until this moment, and now
| find myself in debt to you another
letter in acknowledgement OF your fav.
or of the 18th, received few days since.
| have concluded to leave here on the
29th tomorrow p. NJ, so that may be
expected in New York on the 3lst inst.
1t has been cold and dreary since my
arrival here. have worked like a
Turk" II presume that means hard
work. in the country in making fences,
cutting down trees, repairing buildings,
etc, etc, and am at least able to say
that st. Louis is the coolest place in the
winter and the hottest place in suhl.
ofany that l have encountered in tenn.
perate zone. have known st. Louis in
December to have genial weather
throughout the month; this December
has been frigid and the river has been
frozen more solid than | have ever
known 1t.
When I heard the rumor that was
ordered to the Pacific coast thought
it probably true, considering the past
discussion on that subject: The posi-.
bilities seemed to me to point that way.
Had it been true, should, of course,
have presented no complaint nor made
resistapce of any kind. | would have
gone quickly, If not prepared to go
promptly. | certainly would have been
relieved from the responsibilities and
anxieties concerning Presidential mat.
ters, which may fall to those near the
throne or in authority within the next
four months, as well as from incidents
or matters which | could not control
and the action concerning which
might not approve. | was not exactly
prepared to go to the Pacific, however,
and therefore felt relieved when re.
ceived your note informing me that
there was no truth in therumors. Then
did not wish to appear 10 be escaping
from responsibilities and possible dan.
gers which may cluster around military
commanders in the East, especially in
the critical period fast approaching.
."Alrs we'll that ends we'll"
The whole matter of the Presidency
seems to me to be simple and to admit
of peaceful solution. The machinery
for such q contingency as threatens to
present itself has been all carefully pre-.
pared. It only requires fabrication,
owing to disuse. The army should have
nothing TO do with the election or in.
auguration OF Presidents. The people
elect the President. The Congress de.
clares in . joint session who he Is. We
of the army have only to obey his man.
dates, and are protected in 30 doing
1. ~. =