The Union and journal., 1864-09-30

division now, 1t will not stop, but will so on
till we reap the fate Of Mexico, which Is eternal
war. The United States does and must assert
its authority wherever Il has power IL IL re-
lakes one bit to its pressure II Is gone, and
know that such Is not the national feeling. This
feeling assumes various shapes. but always
comes back to that OF Union.
Once admit the Union. once more acknowl-
edge the authority Of the National Government,
and instead of devoting your houses and streets
and roads TO the dread uses OF war, and this
army become at once your protectors and sup
porters, shielding you from danger. let II come
from what quarter IL may. know that o few
individuals cannot resist torrent Of error and
passion such as has swept the South into rebel
lion but you can point out, SO that We may
know. those who desire government and those
who insist on war and its desolation.
You might rs well appeal against the thun-
der storm as against these terrible hardships
OF war. They are inevitable. and the only way
the people Of Atlanta can hope once more to
live in peace and quiet at home is to stop this
war, which can alone be done by admitting that
II began in error and Is perpetuated in pride.
We don't want your negroes, or your horses,
or your houses, or your land, or anything you
have but tre do tcant and tciii haze q just obe-
dence to the laws of the United States. That
we will have, and II II involves the destruction
have heretofore read public sentiment in your
newspapers, that live by falsehood and excite
meut, and the quicker you seek for truth in
other quarters the better Tor you.
repeat then, that by the original compact
Of government the United States hal certain
rights in Georgia which have never been relin-
auished, and never will be (; that the South be-
gan war by seizng forts. arsenals. mints, Gus
tom houses, &C., &C., long before Mr.. Lincoln
was installed. and before the South had one jot
or :ittle Of provocation. l myself have seen in
Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi,
hundreds and thousands Of women and children
fleeing from your armies and desperadoes. hun
cry and with bleeding feet In Memphis, Vicks
burg and Mississippi, We fed thousands upon
thousands Of the families of rebel soldiers left
on our hands, and whom we could not see
starvc. Now that war comes home to you. you
feel very dfferent-y0u dcprecate its horrors,
but did not feel them when you sent car loads
of soldiers and ammunition and nodded she'll
and shot To- carry war into Kentucky and Ten
nessee, and desolate the homes Of hundreds and
thousands of good people, who only asked tn
live in peace at their old homes, and under the
Government Of their inheritance. But these
comparisons are idle. want peace, and believe
Il can only be reached through Union and war,
and will ever conduct war purely with view
to perfect and early success
But, my dear sirs, when that peace does come,
you may call on me for anything. Then will |
share with you the last cracker, and watch with
you to shield your homes and families against
danger from every quarter. Now, you must
go, and take with you the old and feeble feed
and nurse them. and build for them in more
quiet places proper habitations to shield them
against the weather, until tho mad passions of
men cool down and allow the Union and peace
once more TO settle on your old homes ut At
lauta. Yours, in haste,
w. r. SHERMAN,
Major General.