Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-24
GEN. SHERNAN'S SPEECH

m.
Ala splendid dinner given to this distinguished officer
At Memphis, on the 24th of January, he replied As
follows 10 the regular toast" The guest OF the oy
thank the city of Memphis, and you Who are present,
one aud all for the honor you have conferred upon me-
Words cannot express all feel fear that you have
gyen me character for courage which DO not posse@
have often felt fear and doubt, have betrayed my
feelings by nv actons but will not differ with you
on poias in themselves uDsssenta The thought tast
YOU will remember my past actions will sustain me and
carry me through whatever the future may have IN
store.
we'll remember the frat morning cams among you
Az rode through your city with few members OF my
S yor stores and places of business 6losed and
your streets silent and deserted Tae pesence was not
abroad Everything bore evidence OF corquered and
SubugIted people, But We bad not come to destroy we
came 10 restore that which lost. found you tied
down by rules and laws more rigorous than had ever
besn imposed by the Government. relaxed these;
gave life TO your commerce; opened your places OF
Amusement and sent the life blood h)Wing through your
veins and arsries. Perhaps did wrong, but think
MT But whatever of good was performed Was done
incidentally. What tine Iremiined here, was drlng
and preparing my troops fer new and ardaous duties IN
the fLd.
Gentlemen am MOI conscious Of one prhcle OF
pride in any sue that may have attended my Efforts
but take delight in tacng the events OF history TO
their cause Three hundred and fifty years ago band
OF Soaniards stood where For Pickering now stands.
nation. rs WAS searching for gold aud died disap-
pointed. Afterwards French families appeared, AID
Germans and Yankees; lastly the African was brought
here brought here because labor scarce brought
here as q mere matter Of Epeculauon-to make money
no more than cotton Spectators OF the present day
are doing Alter time the colonies declared them
selves capable of self-government, and threw On the
authority of the mother country. The question OF State
rights arose and caused for time, disunon. At length
articles Of confederation were agreed upon precisely
such form OF Government as Jen. DAVIS has orga-
Esd. UJder this, the people lived very lew yeare-
jut about as many as the JEFF Davis Goysrnm 'nt would
exist provided it was left alone. They needed central
power. They needed a Constitution. They needed
ruler We all need ruler. The United States pro-
crossed in power and attsinments The South profess
cd to be particularly careful about points OF honor
An election cane. The man legally elected wss not
the Iayorite of the South. The point Of honor was
waived. Toey, III honor, should have aoided by al
election into which they had entered Twas in Lonbi.
ana a. the lime brave soldier, Major Haskins, was
in comms nd Of guard of foity6ye men at the Arse
MI in Baton Rouge. When Bragg came With six
hundred men and demanded the surrender oil the place,
the Major scorntuy refused AT lss by false p'omiles
hs was induced to give it up When the gallant Asjor
was brought prisoner up the river, why did you not
rice 10 the rescueI
If VIC we're to wipe out every vestige Of civilization
in Louisiana it would atone for the disgrace heiped
upo1 Haskins. 1 would not have blamed Hurlbut II ne
had ciuhed you to the earth. could not have done
Is nyss still could not and would not have blamed
Huribu: had he done 81 when think Of the gnominy
heaped d BON the brave Major Haskns by the popua-
ton of the city, when he passed through here pri-
souer.
wish to make issue on the point of honor alone
But back Of that there is another principle OF right.
believe id tle right OF TO secede. They can do so
by leaving the county, bet not foot OF land can they
take with them. We must obey the laws. Gentlemen,
thank you"