Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-11-21
T. w 'JII Il NM II N,
Brigadier- General Commanding.
GEN. sHERMAS's PROCLAMATION TO THE PEo-
PIE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

GEN. sHERMAs's PROCLAMATION TO THE PEo-
PIE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
After landing and taking possession of
the forts, Gen. Sherman issued the fol-
lowing proclamation:
To the people of South Carolina:
In obedience to the orders Of the Presi-
dent of these United States of America,
| have landed on your shores with small
force of National troops. The dictates
of duty. which, under the Constitution.
| owe to great sovereign State, and to
proud and hospitable people, among
whom have passed some of the pleasant
est days of my life, prompt me to pro-
claim that we have come amongst you
with no feelings of personal animosity
no desire to harm your citizens, destroy
your property, or interfere with any OF
you lawful laws, rights, or social and To-
cal institutions, beyond what the causes
herein briefly alluded to may render una.
voidable.
Citizens Of South Carolina: The civil
zed world stands appalled, at the cours'
you are pursuing! Appalled, at the crime
you are committing against you own mo
ther, the best, the most enlightened, anc
heretofore the most prosperous of nations
| You are in a state of active rebellion
against the laws Of your country. Yol
have lawlcssly seized upon the forts, ar
senals and other property belonging to oul
common contry, and within your borders
with this property your are in arms. and
waging ruthless war againstyou Con
stitutional Government, and thus threat
enng the existence OF a government which
you are bound by the terms of the solemn
compact to live under and faithfully sup
port. In doing this you are not only
undermining and preparing the way for
totally ignoring your own political and
social existence, but you are threatening
the civilized world with the odious senti-
ment that self-government is impossible
with civilized man.
FeHow Citizens: implorc you to pause
and reflect upon the tenor and consequen-
ces of your acts. If the awful sacrifise
made by the devastation of our property,
the shedding Of fraternal blood in battle,
mourning and wailing of widows and Or
phans throughout our land, are insufficient
to deter you from further pursuing this
unholy war, then ponder, | beseach you,
upon the ultimate, but not less certain
result which It's further progress must ne
cessarily and naturally entail upon You
once happy and prosperous State. Indeed
can you pursue this fratricidal war, ant
continue to imbrue your hands in the loya
blood OF your countrymen, your friends,
your kinsmen, for no other object than
to unlawfully disrupt the Confederacy
of a people-a Confederacy established
by your own hands, in order to set uf
were it possible an independent Govern
ment under which pou can nev,r live III
peace, prosperity or quietness.
Carolinians. We have come anon!
you as loyal men, fully impressed witt
our constitutional obligations to the citi
zens of your State. Those obligations
shall be performed as far as is in our pow
er, but, be not deceived; the obligation o.
suppressing armed combinations against
the constitutional authority is paramount
to all others.
II, in the performance of this duty,
other minor but important obligations
should be in any way neglected, it must
be attributed to the necessities of the case;
because right dependent on the laws oi
the State must be necessarily subordinate
to military exegcncios, created by insur-
rection and rebellion.
w. SHERMAN, Brig. Gen. Com.
HEADQUARTERS, G. c., Pr ROYAL, Nov.