The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-13
Gen. Sherman's Method OF TREATING
the MebelliOn.

sNss ssS,s.ss---- ~
very interesting and important letter has
been recently addressed by General SHERMAN
commanding the Department of the Soutb
embracing General GRANTS late command to
his Adjutant General, in reply to certain inter-
rogatories propounded by him to the latter, in
relation to his duties under certain contingent
aes. The General displays a thorough ac-
qualntance with the laws pertaining to war, in
all ages and countries and the letter is intend
eu 10 nave reference particularly to the manner
vi treatment OF inhabitants known or suspect
eu " oe hostile, or 'secesh' which (says the
"ehe'''l) Is IN truth the most difficult business
Oh our army, as it advances and occupies the
| southern country. 1t is almost impossible to
lay GOWN rules, and | invariably leave this
"noie SUBJECT TO the local commanders, but am
"iiiiiis W give them the benefit of nv acquired
knowledge and experience
den. SHERMAN takes the ground that We are
to adopt the most lenient course suited TO the
occasion to accomplish the ends in yie,y--but
points out the cases, such as desertion of houses
and lands, and provender and food horses and
mules, &C., in which the rules of war Justify
| THESE being taken possession Of He saws that
the people having appealed to war. are de-
barred appealing to the constitution and if
they persist too far in hostility, lit NAV be
both polite and right that we should Danish
them, and appropriate their lands to more
| loyal and useful people, even if they should be
| OF foreign BIRTH" The General discussed the
question Of State rights and the right of self
| government, and other such claims as the
shareholders have in later years set up, and
| says that by skilful political handling, they
nave foolishly involved themselves, with the
whole South, in war; on the doctrines of er-
ror and prejudice-and that such is their feel
ing and prejudice in this direction, that with
some of them, nothing but death and ruin will
eXtlnguish it" But" he adds, perhaps as
the poorer and industrial classes of the South
realize their relative weakness and their de-
pendence upon the fruits of the earth and good
VIII OF their fellow-men, they will not only dis.
cover the error OF their ways and repent OF
their hasty action, but bless those who persist
entity maintained q constitutional government
strong enough to sustain itself, protect its Gill
zens, and promise peaceful homes to millions
| yet unborn
AM Soi1iHitLuW NCIGTd1 hectares ina.
whist claiming for the Government the high
est military prerogatives he is willing to bear
in patience the political nonsense these people
have been indOctrinated with, and which has
deluded the Southerners into bloodshed. and
war, and anarchy, and the foulest crimes that
have disgraced any time or peOple-and then
gives the following practical advice to his sub
ordinates, which shows that the alternatives
are to be accepted by the rebels of submission
to the laws of the country, and its just author
| ity, or the fate of impenitent rebellion, which
| has been experienced in all nations and ages
under similar circumstances. He saws:
would advise the commanding officers at
Huntsville, and such other towns as are occu-
pied by our troops, to assemble the inhabit-
ants and explain to them these plain, self
| evident propositions, and tell them that it is
for them now to say whether they and their
children shall inherit the beautiful land
| which, by the accident of nature, has fallen
| to their share. The Government of the Unit
ed States has in North Alabama any and all
| rights which they choose to enforce in war, to
take their lives, their horses, their lands, their
! everything, because they cannot deny that war
does exist there and war is simply power un-
restrained by constitution or compact. If
they want eternal war, well and good; we will
|
our friends in possession.
| know thousands and millions of good peo
| pie who, at simple notice, would come to
North Alabama and accept the elegant houses
and plantations now there. If the people of
Huntsville think different, let them persist in
war three years longer, and then they will not
be consulted. Three years ago. by little re-
Election and patience, they could had hundred
years of peace and prosperity, but they prefer
red war; verywell; last year they could have
| saved their slaves but now it is too late; all
the powers of earth cannot restore to them
| their slaves anymore than their dead grand
fathers. Next year their lands will be taken,
| for in war we can take them, and rightfully,
| too, and in another year they may beg in vain
for their lives. people who will persevere
in war beyond certain limit ought to know the
consequences. Many, many people. with less
pertinacity than the South, have been whip
ped out of national existence.
| My own belief is that even now the non-
| saveholding classes of the South are alternating
| from their associates in war. Already I hear
elimination. Those who have property left
should take warning in time.
| Since have come down here have seen
| many Southern plenters who now hire their
negroes, and acknowledge that they knew not
the earthquake they were to make by appeal
ing to secession. They thought that the poll
tlclans had prepared the way and that they
could part in peace. They now see that we
are bound together as one nation by indissolu-
BILE ties, and that any interest or any people
that set themselves up in antagonsm to the
| nation, must perish.
While l would not remit one jot or title of
this nations rights, in peace or war; 1 do make
allowances for past political errors and false
prejudices. Our national Congress and Su-
preme Courts are the proper arenas in which
to discuss conflicting opinions and not the
| battlefield.
To those who submit to the rightful law and
authority all gentleness and forbearance but
to the petulent and persistent secessionists why
death is mercy, and the quicker he or she is
disposed of the better. Satan and the rebel
| lious saints of Heaven were allowed continue
! apce of existence in He'll merely 10 swell their
| lust punishment. To such as would rebel
against a government SO mild and just as ours
was in peace, punishment equal would not be
unjust