Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-10-04
rHE oAMP cHLsE PRBOYERs AGAM.
From the Confederate UpioH
GOV. BROWNS REPLY TO GENERAL SHERNAN'S
MESSAGE

GOV. bkOMNS hEfLt ~ NENEhAL DhEhAAN
MESSAGE
IA much has been said Gbru' The informal message
cent BY General Sherman 10 Governor B.oWn, Vice
Presteut s plels aud Senator JJtnson inviting them
to visit the General in Atiana, for conference IN re-
,reucs 10 che state Of she ctuntry win view TO ns-
c-,i2lCus Tor peace and the public mind has been
mech -Ic.ttd uaOn ire euN'o some saying that it is
hs day o. thase c-tcu'g TO RcGsp. the Gaue. sls ia
vii ion and make effort 70 settle our difficulties By
no ots,iol others cone1dUy :h1. IL was the duty OF
tie YsFror to have seized the Genersls messenger
and have 0rdeCi him burg a5 q traitor, We have for
tbs grAtfc4 ,On Of on, own aud tho curiosity OF our
readers c-lled upon tie Governor and Inquired alter
tee faCtL
The Governor, in reply TO our uquidsF, stated that
H. Wm. EUE, Who represented himself as the bearer
f q message from General Sherman, called upon him,
AID rta'ed in substance, thai General emAn had re-
ulot him 20 say 10 the Governor, tlst be would be
Ueald to receive a via rom him and other Gst!n
cuisaed Geo gans with q view 20 coDfCrerc9 upon
tle state Of tn county ana the settlement Of cur off
fculie-ttal he would give he Governor passport
through his lines with escort II dssired 10 90 aud
&c ur az such time as might b. agreeable TO hm-t5at
he (GarerG ShermtnJ rec gu zei lin Governor B'oW)
aa Inc Governor of the who a'e, AID az over one
huncred miles OF the territory toe Safe snoW be-
bind lis lnse, he eaersl 3 would ALLOW he Governor
% 10 aad visit rs people IL tho rear if no dssucd 20
lgok afer their condition. end return a. hi5 p.essu't-
t1a he would receive him and the other dstinsu ished
Gecrgaus &c bis headquarters and treat hom with The
e. sptc AID consideration due their positions during The
cJlfei egCs which be iIVtet hat he did not vish TO
be Compe led overrun and desoa.e mere Of the terri
tory OF tle STATE, 81.
Aaor hearing the statements of Nj. King the Gov
sruor replied:
Please m.ksto General Sherman an acknowledge
msut Of nv obligation !oy the psrsonal oOurtess which
YOU say DO proposes ia cod Bat he is ony
General commanding al army 10 the field, and tie
Governor o, Sia.e neither the Constitution of his
country nor CT my oWa ccnteTs upon aug power 10
negotiate frosty ot peace. We p,Ooa6lo Old bu few
seq ineugs IL common; DuS, We should sgree In every
particular Wo Wcu have EOsec 20 bind no one by any
couplc. We might make. As cur interview could there.
fore ru7ut in nothing practical NUT decline the il
vtaticu. Wills The p2rion OF tee State now in the
rear Of Ger. SlermanS army i3 held by him, and the
eHsCusicu o. the laws OF tho State u5peBdsd by armed
force know Of no service which cOu render 20 the
people OF tUai sectiOn by personal Wait. II could
ostt their CONDITION or m.tfae tbeir sufisings,
would on their Jul cheeriuy 20 aJ the expense Of
a-y inconvenience personal sacrifice which the trip
might cos ms.
T. sac remark that General Sherman does not wish
20 be compelled 70 Overrun ana sCll,e more of the
terriory Of Georgia reply that no lomlusitn rests
uIou BIN as:smp. Tale, unless Il b. tn cuel orders
o. lis " rumsnt Il 10 makes the efJr, he will fl6
Uuca g attr fi37lties in the say OF Lis advance for
sc Il II "a iTed miles than those encountered during
his marcl from Dalton to A l4ntR Georgia may pussi
oy DO over M bus never be sutjqgated, and her
ogulls will yer treat vita col querOr upon her soil
: a sovereign Ss.e, she bad the undoubted right TO
dissolve her connection WIKI the G5vsEnmens OF the
Uai,d S.ies, wien he compact had been violated oy
ma CHER States OF The ooufcderacy, and TO form new
ccr,pset which she has done. Sle 10 soversgn O.
DIV - she was the dag shs sceded from the old Union,
am has tae power, by convention OF her people,
bch she hen hsd to resume eli oefgaod poWers, snd
I'll tie attributes OF sovereignty aud then 70 declare
var nsro.sts treaties OF peace, aud do ell Other cis
which q sovereign State may Go. While this power
.csss IN her pscDo who the original source OF all
soyereg-t7 her Constitution formed by them has con-
Esrret n such power upon her Go'eraor
The Q. nus not be overlooked, however, ttst while
Geo -n Possesses tie sovereign power 10 act separately
rr ft which never has snd rus! neV,r srl be Vo
yd is fsdg by strOug implication, 10 her Southern
s..rs tast ths viii not exercise chs power Withou.
c,sut on their part aud concert Of action with them
In esrue Whh her Sou hsrn sister States, she entered
into this meet with full kuosledgs o. all the respon
abilities " ich attached 10 the scs; and come veal
woe. she will never sit1dsaE rom il ia dishoDor -
| HlWsver unequal may bs the proportion o. suffer-
/ ing or racridce which her people may have 10
| endure, she WI never make SepdrGs terms with
| t,s e-emy whiol may FREQ her terrJoEy from liz
sion and leave her c0atedaratos in the lureh What
eve may DO The option Of her people as to the lsce
done her By the CUn.edera.e administration she will
tip1nb sith her Confederate sisters, shs will click
vi-b ihrm il one common ruin. Toe inseligenS PEG
nj, cf Gs.rgia already understand and our enemy will
,on lesrc that the ind pendent expression OF oonGem-
Ito, tae aimini lrsron It thing, and dsO!
slty 10 cur sacred eau e. ia another and quite dei-
eny thing While the people Of Georgia think for then
sslyes t1i vii not bindy applaud the acknowledgement
Of heir ru r. they will violate principle Tor e1'
| DedsroY, nor accept disbOCor for reward.
| e foundat on Ofcur Government aud the Liberties
OF the people rest upon the Sovereignty OF the States
IS their chief corner stone. Destroy tho sovereignty
Oft Sta es snd the WI ole fac ic lal5 to the ground
ana GENITAL zed power with tAry despoism takes the
| lace Of OJnstiu ional liberty.
| When tho passions Of tho people North and South
have stfi GENTLY subsiied may make peaos By nc
| Octiaf;on bat never by the sword.
| II H. Lincoln would Rave peaoo and property re-
e. sLlshod upon Im bssi7'e him stop the war and,
planting himself upon tho principles Of the Declaration
Of Iud D ndsnos Of 1873 let him recognise the soVe
regnty Of the States aud agree " leave each sovereign
STATE 70 determine for herself BY q convention Of her
PEOPLE whose delegates shsl be fairly chosen by the
legal voters Of tho State, without military interference
or intimidation what shall be her future connection
WHISTLER sns will remain IL, If out return to the old
Union, or adhere 60 her present league.
Thsre may DO doubts whether Kentucky, Missouri,
and probably other States, desire 70 continue their con-
pesson wits the United States or 10 cast their lot with
ne Confederate satss The only Just mode Of solving
thO,e doubts i tie one AbpIp Indicated theaa %