Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-07
ForT warsr. IsDlASA]


Nay 81. 1868
SIR: have read with The interest due 20 IL.
your General o der No. g. dated 25th uit.
In this order you say yog have no partisan feel
ines or interests you intend % advance, but de
sire TO confer freely nnd fully with the prominent
men Of al political parties. and invoke their
hearty CO operation in III the measures 20 restore
harmony and good feeling in the State This
sentiment i patriotic II seems to recognize the
fact that opposing political parties may still be
permitted TO exist. ami vet operate 10 restore
harmony and good feeling in the State In a
corresponding spirit, !. a citizen. though not
perhaps prominent one. IN the sense Of your
order. desire 10 confer freely with sou by way of
l. inquiry. the meaning Of a part Of YOUR order.
which do not fully understand. You will. OF
course. admit that if the people are 10 obey your
order. it i important they should know IL exact
scope and design.
Will YOU 90 me the favor 10 inform me what
you mean in your Injunction to ''All new spspers
or public speakers" by the term "or endeavor 10
bring the war policy of the Government into dis
repute:" and further. what you 10y the
phrase. actively opposed to the war policy Of the
Administration" or what YOU use a. n synony
nous expression opposed to the Government
Awaiting your reply. | am respectfully your
obedient servant JoshPn X EDGERroS
NJ ) Hascali. Brigader General
II will perhaps be well enough in order to Il full
understanding Of this matter. to reproduce that
paragraph OF order No g. which Is claimed con
tains ambiguous matter /. reads as follows:
IL The Commanding General is charged with
the duty Of carrying into effect the provisions of
General Order No. IS recently issued by NJ jor
General Burnside He purposes doing 20 I'm
mstakable evidence has reached him thar the
provisions OF this order have been. and are being
violated in various parts of the State This i
unfortunately done in many instances bv well
meaning men who are led astrav bv newspa pers
and public speakers These latter will therefore
be held TO the most rigid accountability. There
is no use in irving 10 dry the stream while It's
fountains are allowed TO flow. All newspapers
and public speakers that counse. or encourage Ie
sistance to the conScrpton act. or any other lar
Of Congress passed ,rqr meosHr, mat
deavor to bring the par policy Of the Government
into disrepute. will be considered As having VIC
lated the order above alluded 10 and treated nc
cordinglv. The country will have to be saved or
lost during the time that this Administration re-
mains in power. and therefore he who is fac
tiousiy aud actively opposed TO the mar policy Of
The Administration. Is as much opposed to his
Government
IL seems to me that taken as a whole, no one
need misunderstood anything in this paragraph.
unless they choose To do
What mean by the expression, cor endeavor
to bring the policy of the Government into
dlsrepute, is this: Certain measures have been
determined upon by the Congye>s of the United
States and the Executive. such ns the Internal
Revenue and Tax Bills necessary for the sup
port of the Government in time of war. the Con
fscation Act the Conscription Act the act au
thOrZng the President to use negroes in every
way possible TO cripple the enemy and assist Us.
the Proclamation of Emancipation in certain re-
hellinus districts and other measures having an
immediate hearing on the war; aud these call
the policy Of the Government, or Administra-
ton These measures. most of them have been
concluded upon after very mature deberatioa,
and discussion, and after more than n years ex
perience in actual warfare. Possibly they an .
not the wIsest AMI best that could have been en-
acted That, however. is a matter which does
not nou concern either of us. Enough for US to
| know. that they have been agreed upon bY the
only riqhfUt and proper authorities kR0urn 10 our
| GOrsrnmeRt. and that they likely to remain
in force until time and experience shall suggest
some modification and this, though YOU and |
should talk ourselves hoarse in opposition. The
only practical effect. then, of allowing news
| papers and public speakers to nveigh against
these measures. is to divide and distract own
people and thus give material laid and com
fort 10 our enemies. In this connection. allow
me TO call your attention. and that of the people
Of the whole State. to the following extract of a
letter written by Hon. Reverdy Johnson to Ger
tain citizens of Baltimore. who had invited him
to address them:
"The sole ministers of peace at present are our
gallant officers. soldiers and sailors. Let these
be used ss they NAV be, and the end will soon he
accompshed; and let as. in pressing the foe
not halt 10 criticise the conduct Of the Govern
ment. Let Us. or the contrary. give it n hearty.
Jealous support while the peril is upon us reserv
ing for period of restored peace whatever OF
censure we have to pass on the conduct Of the
men who are administering it,"
If such be the sentiments of Senator Johnson,
Southern man. il ought TO be no hardship for
i YOU and and all the citizens of Indiana TO live
+ up tn the requirements of General Order No. 9
Again. give it rs my opinion that this rebellion
will have 10 be either established or crushed be
tween this time and the Az day oi March, 1868
during this administration. and that therefore.
he who is factiouSly and acfireiy opposed to the
tcar policH of the Administration is IS much op
posed 10 MS Government. Ii nv premises are
correct the conclusion follows. never vet have
seen any one that thought this could endure
two Yeats longer If there are any snch IL mus
be those that intend To throw everything in thu
OF this Administration. in order that the WA
NAV he prolonged nv some possibility. anl
/ another Administration get the credit of settling
i il A. | value the lives OF our hundreds of thou>
ands of gallant soldiers in the field, ! regarc
the feelings bereavementS and suferngs OF ihei
T ANXIOUS families and friends ut home. ana rs
regard the true interests of our State and nation
+ am going TO see to 1t. that in Indiana at least
such men have abiding place.
Ii is more serious thing than many are won
10 suppose to divide aud distract our country an,
prolong the In putting stop TO such prac
tees, shall hold the leaders principally respon
sible As we'll might ! establish number o
small pox hpspir,ls the heart of the city. ans
then punishthe people for being infected with tina
losthsome disease. To allow newspa pers an.
public speykers to beich forth their disloyal ans
reasonable doctrines. and blame the people 10
becoming conta minated herewith. Such thin 2
win not % IN ttIrse times t. xiii The serFen
speeds il must he hit in the head Genera
+ Orler No 9 has been apFroved by Major Geners
Burnside. and The force placed az my disposal 4
enforce It | shall DO 81 in every where
pslpsble violation comes to my knowledge
Hoping | have made myself understood an,
thanking YOU for your frank and manly letter.
/ am yours, with great respect.
MlLo HasoALL,
Bricader General of Volunteers.
Con mandins District.
To Hon. JosEPR X EDGERroS. VI c.