Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-01-28
GENERAL SHERMAN ON % THE
iaans'h ~ WAR. .isf r-iniou =
His Views on the Negro question.


avWhen General Sherman was in COM
mand of the army at Black river, Miss,
a number Of wealthy planters held meet
ing. at which they drew upa petition, set
ting forth number Of grievances, and
praying for relief. They stated that their
property had been destroyed or carried a.
way by the soldiers, their negroes enticed
into the army. and themselves and their
families left destitute OF provisions. The
following is copy ofthe Generals reply
to the petition: sIioitziilgl
sas HEApoUARTERs 15TH ARMY Conrs,
nCAar on Bio BLACK, Sept Z, 1868.
FL. ~ Hill. Chairman of Meeting Of CHI
zens Of Warren County. Mss:
SIR: The communication addressed to
Gen. Grant. myself and ther officers, in
the nature OF a petition, is received. l
think it proper and right that the property
holding classes of Warren county, and, in
deed. of the whole State of Mississippi,
should meet in their capacity as citizens to
talk over matters, SO that they may take
any steps they deem to their interest;
and il such meetings be open, and
with the knowledge Of the nearest MIL
itary Commander, I will protect
them while SO engaged. Your preamble,
however, starts out with mistake. l do
not think any nation ever undertook to
feed, supply and provide for the future of
The inhabitants of an insurgent district
We have done so here and in other in
Stances of this war. but my reading has
discovered no parallel cases. If you know
of any, | will thank you for a copy of the
history which records them. know it is
the purpose Of the controlling Generals of
this war to conduct it on the most humane
principles Of either ancient or modern
times; and. according to them. contend
that after the fireing on our steamboats,
navigating our own rivers. after the long
and desperate resistance to our armies at
Vicksbufg, on the Yazoo and in Mississip-
pi generally we are justified in treating all
the inhabitants as combatants, and would
be perfectly justified in transporting You all
beyond the seas, ifthe United States deem
ed it to her interest. But our purpose is
not to change the population of this coun-
try. but to compel all the inhabitants to
acknowledge and, submit to the common
laws of the land. When all or part OF
the inhabitants acknowledge the Just rights
of the United States, the war as to them
ceases. 800 tit i1ff
But will reply to your questions in the
order you pnt on them.
/. The duty Of the Government to pro-
tect, and Of the inhabitants to assist, is
reciprocal. The people of Warren coun
ty nave not assisted the United States
much, as yet, and are, therefore not enti
lied 10 much protection. What future
protection they may receive will depend
much on their own conduct.
2. The negroes. former slaves by inheri-
tance or purchase, that now fill the coun
try, have been turned loose upon the worlt
by their former owners, who, by rebelline
against the only earthly power that insur.
ed them the righttul possession Of sucl
property, have practically freed them
They are poor. ignorant class Of human
beings that appeal for full measure Of
forbearance. The task of providing fo'
them at present dcyolves upon the United
States, because &c nccessitafe the United
States succeeds, by act Of war. to the for
mer lost title of the master, This task i
a most difficult one. and needs time fol
development aud execution. The, white
inhabitants of the country must needs b
patient, and allow time for the work. II
due season the negroes at Roach's ant
Blake's will be hired. employed by tn
Government or removed to camps where
they can be conveniently, fed; but. in tn
mean time, no man must molest them. o
interfere with the agents of the Unite'
cate task. Ii any Of them is armed it is 70
self defence; and if they mistake their jus
relation to the Government or to the peo
ple. we will soon impress on them th
truth. ~ ........
g. Your third inquiry is embraced il
above. don't know that any fixed and
determined plan is matured, but some jus
and proper provisions will be made 70
the negro population of this State.
i 4. Congress alone can appropriate pub
lie money. We cannot hire servants TO
the people who have lost their slaves, no
can we detail negroes for such. purposes :
.You must do as we do--hire your servant
and pay them. II they don't earn their hire
discharge them and employ others. Man
have already done this, and are satisfie
with the results. e,s.ss,- sso.,. =
5. / advise all citizens to stay at home
gradually put their houses and contiguou
grounds in order, and cast about for som
employment, or make preparations. on
moderate scale, to resume their former busi
ness and employment ,s.r -. - si.s
/ cannot advise any one to think 9
planting on large scale. for it is manifes
that no one can see far enough in the fu
ture to say who will reap what you SOW
} You must make Government before 20
can have property There is no sue
thing as property without government
OF course we think that our Goyernmer
(which is still yours is the best, and ca
e siest put into full operation here. Yo'
are still citizens of the United States. an
!. Of the State of Mississippi. You have or
ly to begin and form one precinct, then al
other. Soon, your country. will haS
such, organization that the military Of
e. thorilies would respect H., The exampl
of one county would infect another, an
/, that another in compound ratio. and
would not be long until the whole Sta