Speeches
September 24, 1867
Misrepresentation and misconstruction arising from the passions of the hour, and spread by those who do not know that devotion to duty has governed my actions in every trying hour, may meet me, but I fear them not. My highest desire will be to perform the duties of my new sphere, not in the interest of parties or partisans, but for the benefit of my country, the honor of my profession, and I trust also for the welfare of the people committed to my care.
I ask, then, citizens, that time may be permitted to develop my actions. Judge me by the deeds I may perform, and conscious of my devotion to duty and my country, I shall be satisfied with your verdict, and if a generous country shall approve my actions in the future as it has in the past, my highest ambition will have been achieved. As a soldier I am to administer duties rather than discuss them. If I can administer them to the satisfaction of the country, I shall indeed be happy in the consciousness of a duty performed.
I am about to leave your city, the capitol of our country -- bearing the proud name of Washington. As an American citizen, the rapid development and increase of its wealth, beauty and prosperity, is a matter in which I am deeply interested. But far beyond this, citizens of Washington, I rejoice with you that in the trying hour of the rebellion the capitol of the nation contributed as fully as any State in the Union to the brave volunteer army which has demonstrated to the world the strength and invincibility of a Republican form of government. I shall carry with me the recollections of this occasion, and when I return may I not hope that none who are here will regret their participation in the honor you have done me to-night?
According
To
Hancock
Speech