Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-01-26
asaelal shefmAn's Visvs On The Mature Of the
Rebellion,

6Snef1 Hhefman'e Views on the Mature Of the
Rebellion.
The following letter vas written By Gen.
Sherman, IN reply to certain inquiries from
citisen Of Georgia:
HEADQUARTERS NtLrrAHY DIVISION OF rRn
MrsslssIpI, IN rHR FIELD, SAVANNAH, GA
January 8, 1e65.-N. W. Esq,
county, Ga.-Dear sir: Yours Of the Sd in
slant is received, and in answer to your in
quiries, beg to state am merely military
commander, and act ouly in that capacity !;
nor can Igivs any assurance or pledges Affect
ing civil matters in the future. They will
be adjusted by Congress when Georgia il again
represented there So Of old.
Georgia is not out Of the Union. and there
fore the talk of reconstruction" appears to
me inappropriate. Some Of the people have
been and still are in . state Of revolt and a.
long as they remain armed and organized.
the United States must pursue them with ar
mics, and deal with them according to militia
~ law And As soon as they break up their
armed organisations aud return to their homes
l take it they will be dealt with by the civil
courts Some of the rebels in Georgia. in
my Judgment. deserve death, because they
have committed murder, and other crimes,
which are punished with death by al eivili-
Eed governments on earth. think this va.
the course indicated by Gen. Washington, in
reference to the Whisky instruction, and
like principle seemed to be recognized at the
time of the Burr conspiracy.
As to the Union of the States under our
government. we have the high authority of
Gen Washington, who babe US be jealous
and careful of it, and the still more emphatic
words of Gen. jackson. The Federal Union
it must and shall be preserved" Certainly
Georgians cannot question the authority Of
such men, and should not suspect our motives
who are smply fulfilling their commands
Wherever necessary. force has been used to
carry out that end and you may rest assured
that the Union will be preserved, cost VIII at it
may And if you are sensible men you will
conform to this order Of things. or else mig rate
to some other country. There is no other
alternative open to the people of Georgia.
| NY opinion is that no negotiations are ne
cessary, nor commissioners. Dor conventions
nor anything of the kind. Whenever the
people of Georgia quit rebelling against their
government and elect members of Congress
and Senators, and these go and take their seats
then the State of Georgia will have resumed
| her functions in the Union.
These are merely my opinions. but in con-
irmation of the, as think, the people of
Georgia may we'll consider the following words
referring to the people OF the rebellious States
which quote from the recent annual mes
sage of President Lincoln to Congress at its
present session
"They can at any moment have peace
simply by laying down their arms and sub
hitting to the national authority under the
Constitution. After so much the government
could not. if it would. maintain war against
them The loyal people would not sustain or
sllow it Ifquestions should remain We would
adjust them by the peaceful means of legisla-
tiou, conference, courts and votes. Opera
tin. only in constitutional and lawful chan
ncls some certain and other possible qucs-
tons are and would be beyond the Executive
power to adjust, rs, for instance, the admis-
sion of members into Congress and whatever
might require the appropriation of money"
The President then alludes to the general
pardon and amnesty offered for more than q
year past, upon specified and more liberal
terms. to all except certain designated classes
even these being still within contemplation
Of special clemcncy,' and adds:
1T is still so open to all, but the time may
come when public duty shall demand that it
be closed, and that in lieu more vigorous
measures than heretofore shall be adopted"
It seems to me that it is time for the people
of Georgia to act for themselves. and return
in time, to their duty to tho government Of
their fathers.
Respectfully. your obcdisnt servant.
W. T. SHERMAN, Major General.