The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-11-23
Gen. ShermaA's Proclamation to the PEG.
ME of South Carolina.

After landing and taking possession oil
the forts, Gen. Sherman issued the follow
| ing proclamation
| To the People Of South Carolina In ODE
dience to the orders of the President OF
these United States of America, | have
| landed on your shores with small force
of National troops. The dictates of a
duty which, under these circumstances,
owe to a great sovereign State, and to a
proud and hospitable people, among whom
have passed some of the most pleasant
days of my life, prompt me to proclaim
that we have come among you with 10
feelings OF personal amnesty; no desire
to harm your cities, destroy your property,
or interfere with any of your lawful rights,
| Or your social and local institutions, be-
yond what the causes herein briefly alluded
to may render unavoidable.
Citizens Of South Carolina, the civilized
world stands appalled, at the course you
are pursuing; appalled, at the crime you
are committing against your own mother,
the best, the most enlightened and, here
tofore, the most prosperous OF nations.
You are in a state OF active rebellion against
the laws of your country. You have law
los.ly seized upon TIE forts, arsenals, and
other property belonging to our common
with this property, you are in arms an
waglng ruthless war against your con-
stitutional Government, and thus threat
ening the existence Of q Government
which you are bound by the terms of
solemn compact to live under and faith
fully 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 Threatening
the civilized world with the odious senti-
ment that self government is impossible
with civilized men.
Fellow citizens-I implore you to pause
and reflect upon the terror and conse-
queues of your act. II the awful sacri-
fees made by the deva. tation of our
property, the shedding Of fraternal blood
in battle, the mourning and wailing OF
widows and orphans throughout our land,
are insufficient to deter you from further
pursuing this unholy war, then ponder, |
beseech you, upon the ultimate, but re:
certain, result which its further progress.
must necessarily and naturally entail. upon
your once h@@irgy and prosperous State
Indeed, can you pusue this fratricidal war,
and can you Undue your hands in the
loyal blood Of your countrymen. YOUR
friends, your kinsmen for no other object
than to unlawiully disrupt the Confederacy
OF great people, q Confederacy establish
ed by your own hands, in order to sci up,
were 1t possible, an independent Govern
ment, under which you can meyer live in
peace, prosperity and quietness? Carroll
mans we have come among you as loyal
men, fully impressed with our constitu-
.ional obligations TO the citizens Of your
State. Those obligations shall be per
formed so far as in our power; but be not
deceived, the obligation of suppressing
armed combinations against the constitu-
tional authorities is paramount to all
others. If, ii the performance Of this
duty, other minor but important obligl-
tious should be neglected, it must be at
tributed 10 the necessities of the case, be-
cause right, dependent upon the laws Of
the State, mast be necessarily subordinate
TO military exigencies created by insurrec-
ton and rebellion f. W SHEgKAy
Brsadcr General Commanding