The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-30


September. IL, 1861.
James N. Calhoun, Mayor, Z. E. Ra,cso. and
$. c. Wells. representing tie City Council Of
AUdntd:
GENTLEMEN-I have your letter Of the 1lth
In the nature OF petition to revoke my orders
removing all the inhabitants from Atlanta. I
have read it carefully, and give full credit to
your statements of the distress that will be oc.
casioned by it, and yet shall not revoke nv or
der, simply because my orders are not DESIGNED
to meet the humanities of the case. but to pre-
pare for the future struggles in which millions
yea hundreds of millions of good people out
side of Atlanta, have deep interest. Wemust
have peace, not only in Atlanta, but in all
America. 10 secure this we must stop the war
that now desolates our once happy and favored
country. 10 stop war, we must defeat the
rebel armies that are arrayed against the laws
and Constitution, which all must respect and
abey. To defeat these armies we must prepare
the way to reach them in their recesses, pro-
vided with the arms and instruments which en-
able us to accomplish our purpose.
Now, l know the vindictive nature of our
enemy, and that we may have years of military
operations from this quarter, and Therefore
deem it wise and prudent to prepare in time.
The use of Atlanta for warlike purposes is
not consistent with its character as q home for
families. There will be no manufactures
commerce or agriculture here for the mainte,
nance of families, and sooner or later want
will compel the inhabitants to 20. Why not 90
noso, when all the arrangements are completed
for the transfer, instead of waiting till the
plunglng shot OF cOntending armies will re-
new the scenes of the past month? OF course
l do not apprehend any such thing at this mo.
ment, but you DO not suppose this army will
be here till the war is over. I cannot discuss
this subject with you fairly, because I cannot
impart to you what propose to do, but | as
sert that my military plans make it necessary
Tor the inhabitants to go away, and can only
renew my offer of services to make their exc
dus IN any direction as easy and comfortable as
possible. You cannot qualify war in harsher
terms than will.
War is cruelty, and you cannot define it ::
and those who brought war on our country de-
serve all the curses and maledictiops a peonle
can pour out. know had no hand in max
ing this war, and l know will make more
sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure
peace. But you cannot have peace and d.
vision of our country. If the United States
submits to division now, it will not eton hnt
90 on till we reap the fate of Mexico which is
eterna! war. The united States docs and must
assert its authority wherever it has power: if
1t relaxes one bit to preserve it, it is gone and
l know that such is not the national feeling.
This feeling assumes various shapes, but al.
ways cones back to that of Union. Once ad-
INIT the Union, ones more acknowledge the au-
thority OF the National Government, and in
stead OF devoting your houses, and streets. and
roads to the dread uses of war, !. and this
army at once become your protectors, and sup-
porters, shielding you from danger. let it come
from what source it may. know that few
Individuals cannot resist q torrent of error and
passion such as has swept the South into re
bellion; but you can point out, 60 that we
m nj k<A
those who insist on war and its desolation'
You might as well appeal against the thnn-
der storm as against these terrible hardships of
war. They are inevitable, and the onlv wav
the people of Atlanta con hope once more to
live In peace and quiet at home, is to ston this
war, which can alone be done by admittin0
that it began in error and is perpetuated in
pride. We don't want your negroes or YOUR
horses, or your houses or your land, or any,
thing you have; but we do want and will have
Q just obedience to the laws of the United
States. That We will have, and if i, involves
the destruction OF your Improvements we can.
not help it. You have heretofore read public
sentiment in your newspapers, that live bv
falsehood and excitement, and the quicker Won
seek for truth in other quarters, the better for
you. '
repeat, then, that, BY the original CON-
pact Of government, the United States had
certain rights in Georgia which have never
been relinquished and never will be; that the
South began war by seizing forts, arsenals
mints, custom houses, etc. etc. lOnp before
Lincoln was installed, and before the Sonth
had one jot or title of provocation. /. myself
have seen in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee
and Mississippi, hundreds and thousands of
women and children fleeing from your armies
and desperadoes, hungry, and with BLEEDING
Ieet In Memphis, we fed thousand nnon
OF the families OF rebel soldiers left
on our hands, and whom We could NOT see
starVe. NOW, that war comes home TO Won
you ieei very dl1erent-you dcprecate it's hor
rOrs, but did not feel them when Won sent car
lCaos OF soldiers and ammunition and moulded
smells and shot to carry war into Kentucky and
and desolate the homes of hnn3reds
and thousands OF good people, who only ask to
live in peace At their old homes. and under the
government OF their Inheritance. But these
comparisons are Idle. wan, peace and he
ieve it can only be reached through Union and
war, and will ever conduct war purely with
\ view to perfect an carly success.
But, my dear sirs when that pence does
come, yen may call on me for anything. Then
will l share with you the last cracker. and
watch with you TO shield your homes and fam
lies against danger from any quarter Now.
you must 90, and take with yOu the old and
feeble; feed and nurse them, and build for
them in more quiet places proper habitations
10 ehield them against the weather until the
mad passions OF men cool down and allow the
Union and peace once more to settle on your
old homes ut Atlanta.
(Signed) W. r. SHERMAN.