The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-23 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPT. 23, 1865.

A letter which has just been published in 'an
American journal, written by General SHERMAN in
the August of last year, is full of interest. It was
written during The eventful months that preceded
the close of the war, and the final break up of the
Southern power. General SHERMA,N'S march was
certainly not characterised by any great tenderness
or humanity, yet it is evident from the tone of his
remarks that be looked upon the SOuth with very
different feelings from those which actuated the New
England party in the North. When planning his
march or ordering his attack General SHERMAN
thought of nothing but the subjugation of his
enemy. Ile did not pause to remember the com-
mon origin of North and South, or the common
interests which might be involved, but he considered
the shortest and most effective means of reaching
the end he set-before him. Still be had lived long
enough in the South, he had mixed freely enough
among Southern people to know that their rebellion
vi as no mere temporary outbreak, no evanescent
display of feeling,
Right or wrong, it was the re-
sult of years of smothered resentment, of deep and
stubborn resolution, and the sincerity of their re-
solves and of their grievances was plainly shown
in the vigour and the courage with which
the Confederates battled for their iudepen_
deuce. • SHERMAN declares that in 1861, when
he resigned his post in Louisiana, he did
so because of the seizure of the United States'
arsenal at Baton Rouge, and that he then obtained
lucrative employment at St. Louis, " hoping that
some change would yet avert the war." When
these hopes were disappointed, and war was actually
declared, he asserts that he and all brought up to a
military life were forced to make their choice, but
that even then lie bad " as much love for the honest
people of the South as any man living." Slavery
troubles him very little. Tie would have been wil-
ling to have protected their slave rights had the
Confederates remained in the union, but since his
part of the country was challenged he felt he could
do no less than take up the gauntlet. General
SH F.RM AN, at least, did not fall into'the error of Mr.
SEW ARD and Gen. GRANT ; he never supposed that
the contest would be a brief one. " I have never,"
he says, " uuder'rated the iiagtiitule of this war,
for I' now the siLe of the South, and the dneuity
of operating in it. But I also know that the

Northern races have, ever since the war began, had
more patience and perieverave than the Southern
races." It was in patience and perseverance that
the South failed at last. The planters were un-
willing to sacrifice their slaves, the Congress was
unwilling to own itself in the wrong, and the people
were tired of the war and disheartened at their
prospects. President DAVIS and his advisers
had to p!ay a desperate game, anti unfortu-
nately they had not the power or the
determination to play it. It might be he-
roic to hold out till the last moment, but there
lacked the spirit and determination amongst the
people which could alone have united them in one,
and presented a resolute front to the invader, and
have secured conditions of peace that would have
left the South still a powerful and united body •
Without this it would have been better to have
come to terms with the Federals at Fort Monroe, to
have arranged the principles of peace with LINCOLN
himself—always one of the most temperate of the
Northern Cabinet, and to have avoided giving even
a temporary triumph to the extreme and vindictive
party in the North, whose two receipts for the sup-
pression of a powerful people are confiscation and
the gallows. But now the first fury of the hour is
over, the words of men like SHERMAN will have
weight. While, naturally enough, laying all the
blame of the war on Southern shoulders, he still
speaks of the Confederates as countrymen, and de-
clares that he would willingly sacrifice his wealth
and his honours and begin the world anew if the
Southern people would cease the war, elect their
own representatives, and settle the slavery
question and all other matters by argument
instead of by the sword. It must be remem-
bered, in General SuEEMAN's honour, that
these words were penned in the autumn of 1864,
and if they seem to be inconsistent with the cruelty
he permitted his men to exercise during his march
southwards, it must also be borne in mind that,
when the opportunity of making terms was offered
him, he showed so much magnanimity and libera-
lity that he drew down upon himself the reproof
'of the extreme party in the Cabinet. Happily
President JOIINSON has learned wisdom and mode-
ration by responsibility ; and he may be sure that,
though bigots and fanatics may exclaim against
his forbearance, the most able and honourable
men of every party will cordially support him in
the only course which promises to heal the wounds
of their sorely distracted country.

The Preston Art and Industrial Exhibition was
opened on Thursday at the Corn-Exebange-rooms.

Lord DERBY was expected to deliver the inaugural
address, but was unfortunately prevented from ill-
ness from being present. The Mayor expressed
the great regret which he felt at the unavoidable

absence of the noble Earl, and made a few remarks
on the general object of the undertaking. It has
been originated by working men, and there seems

no reason to doubt its success.

Colonel WiLs ON

PATTEN addressed the Assembly, and also alluded to
the absence of Lord DERBY in terms of regret. He truly
said that it was the more unpropitious, because the

noble earl had interested himself so much in the state

of the county, and would therefore have rejoiced
greatly at the present happy illustration of the
blessed change that has taken place. Nobody bet-
ter than Lord DERBY can appreciate the fortunate
alteration that has occurred, and it is certainly the
more to be deplored on that account that he should
not have had the satisfaction of appearing to inau-
gurate so striking an instance of improvement. In
no part of his eminent career has Lord DERBY won
for himself more heartfelt admiration and more deep
respect than in the noble and disinterested manner
in which he came forward at the time of the great
distress in Lancashire on account of the cotton
famine. His zeal and ability did good ser-

vice to the cause, and while he renderer

great benefit to the distressed operatives, he vindi-
cated his order from the calumnies which some of

the democratic orators are very prose to cast upon
the aristocracy. Colonel PATTEN remarked upon
the great advantages which accrued from the
inauguration of Exhibitions such as those before
them. They have for end and object the purpose
of affording the working classes of the country the
means not only of " mental improvement and in-
creased intelligence, but also of rational recreation
and amusement." There was justice in the obser-
vation made by the Colonel on the affinity which
these minor affairs bear to the Great Exhibition of
1861, and other striking undertakings of the like sort.
Nothing of the sort can be done without labour and
also great self-denial on the part of those who con-
tribute to these Exhibitions, however lowly they
may be in their character, and however limited in
their scope. They therefore deserve every encour-
agement that can possibly be afforded to them, and
it is greatly to be rejoiced at that so many influen-
tial personages should have come forward to lend
their aid, and promote by their influence these
interesting and important undertakings. The
Marquis of lIARTINGTON expressed his great satis-
faction at the aspect of affairs as represented in this
Exhibition, and trusted that its opening might
prove to be an earnest of industry restored
and comfort re-established among the inhabi-
tants of Lancashire. No doubt this Preston
Exhibition possesses an individual interest, and
bears about it a distinctive attraction which other
affairs of the sort have not presented to us, on
account of its being as it were the type and shadow
of better things to come, and of being also the
illustrated and fair presentiment of dangers past
and sufferings turne 1 into rejoicings. Truly did
the noble marquis declare that some two or three

years ago when they were in the midst of the hor
rors of the Cotton Famine, it seemed impossible to
believe that such an affair as that day presented
itself to notice could take place. A more
appropriate allusion than this could not have
been made, for many who ought to have known
better were very prone to give way to despair,
and prophesy all kinds of horrors instead of look-
ing forward with a brave spirit, and looking up-
ward with a trusting heart. Much has been done
for the Lancashire operatives, but much More has
been done by them, and they were exactly in that
position when people must help themselves or be
utterly lost. England has had, indeed, good reason
to be proud of her sons of toil, aud, sharp as the
trial Was to them, to their country it was a glory,
and to their
their noble cenodauurtar3Lmceeannadn
ceotnlcsotauiritagnektinnednst. arough
Lord ILAr.TIN GT crs gave a wise counsel at the
conclusion of his speech
when
he said that pros-
perity was nob always a period of unmixed good
for the; labouring classe3, for thoy spent their
money sometimes in a very unprofitable manner.
ft follows, then, that all that induces or disposes to
the enjoyment of more intellectual tastes and the
cultivation of more refined habits was of great
im-
portance, and foremost among such good works
must be ranked the Exhibitions such as are now
being inaugurated through the length and breadth
of the land. To spend a few pleasant hours will
be the chief object of those who frequent such
places, and this in itself is a very desirable thing,
for it will be at any rate innocent recreation that
they enjoy, and harmless relaxation from hard toil
and :Acme: labours. As Mr. BAYLEY s id. it is a great
thing that the labouring classes of ► reston should