Smyrna times., 1861-11-21
Proclamation TO the People of South
Carolina.

After landing and tekng possession Of the
forts, General Sherman issued the following
proclamation:
TO the People Of South Carolina:
Ia obedeuce 10 the orders of the President
of the United States OF America, have landed
on your shores mlth u small force of National
troops.
The dictates Of duty which under these cir.
cumsiances | owe to great sovereign State
and TO proud and hosplt0ble people among
whom ! have passed some Of the peasantest
days otmy iie, prompt me to proclaim that wo
hove come amongst you with uo feelings OF per.
sonal anm0s!ty, 10 desire to harm your citi.
zens, destroy your property, or interfere with
any of your lawful rights or your social and
local institutions, beyond What the causes here
in briefly alluded to may render necessary.
Citizens OF South CHrolinR-The civilized
world stands appalled, at The course YOU are
pursuing ppaled at the crime you are COM
mlttng against your own mother-lhe best, the
most enlightened, and heretofore the most pros-
petous Of nations.
You are in state ofactve rebellion against
the laws OF your country. You have lawlessly
seizet upon the forts, arsenals and other pro.
perty belonging to cur common country, and
within your borders, and with this property
you are in arms, and waging a ruthless was
against your constitutional government, which
you are buucd. by the terms of a solemn com.
pact to live under and faithfully support In
doing this you are not only undermining and
preparing the way for totally ignoring your
own political and social existence, but you are
threatning the civilized world with the odious
sentiment that sell government is impossible
W tn civilized men.
Fellow Citizens, implore you to pause and
reflect upon the tenor aud consequences of youE
acts. 1t the awful sacrifices made by tho do.
vastaroE c. our property. he shedding of fra.
ternal biSod in battle, the mourning and wall.
ing ofwldows and orphans throughout our Ia aHd,
are sufficient to deter you from further pursu.
ing this unhoY war, then ponder, beseech you,
upon the ultimate but not less certain result
which Its further progress must necessarily and
naturally entail upon your once happy and
prosperous State.
lRdeee, can you pursue this fratrisidal war,
and can you imbue your hands in the loyal
blood Of your cOuntrymen. your friends, your
kInsmer, .of no other object ;ban to unlawfully
disrupt the cOntedefscy OF a great people-a
cOntederacy established by your own hands-
IN order to set up, were il possible, indepen.
dent government, under which you can meyer
live IN peace. .rosperity and quietnass.
Carollnlans We have come among you %
loyal men, fully Impressed with Gus constitu.
tionai obligations to the citizens Of your State.
These obligation sna! BE- perf5rmed as far as in
our power. But be not deceived The obligation
OF tsupPresslng armed combinations against the
constitutional authorities is paramount TO all
o!aers. Ii 10 thc Performance of this duty
other minor but important obligations should
be in any way neglected, it must be attributed
10 the necessities Of the case, because rights
! dependent on The laws OF the State must be
necessarily subordinate TO the military exigen.
! cies created by iusurrection and rebellion.
(Signed) Il. w. SHERMAN,
Brgadier General Commanding.
Headquarters, Por; Royal, S. c., Nov. s, 81.