Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-02-03

Georgia: ..I
HEADo'Rs MIL. Div. OF THE MIss'rI,
In THE FIELD, SAVANNAH, Ga,
January 8, 1865.
N. W. - Esq, - County, Ga:
DEAR SIR: Yours of the Sd inst. is received
and in answer to your enquiries beg TO state:
am merely a military commander and can
only act in that capacity; nor can give any as
surance or pledges affecting civil matters in the
future. They will be adjusted by Congress
when Georgia is again represented there as of
old.
! Georgia is not out of the Union and therefore
the talk of Reconstruction" appears to me in
appropriate. Some of her people have been
and still remain in a state of revolt and as long
as they remain armed and organized, the Uni
ted States must pursue them with armies. and
deal with them according to military law But
as soon as they break up their armed organza-
| tions and return to their homes, 1 take it they
will be dealt with by the civil courts. Some of
the rebels in Georgia, in my judgement, deserve
death, because they have committed murder
and other crimes, which are punished with
death by all civilized Governments on earth
But the great mass probably will never be no.
| ticed. think this was the course indicated by
General Washington with reference to the Whis-
| ky Insurrection, and like principle seemed TO
be recognized at the time of the Burr conspir-
acy.
! As to the Union of the States under our gov
ernment we have the high authority of Gener-
al Washington, who bade us be Jealous and care
| full of it, and the still more emphatic words of
Gen. jackson, "The Federal Union, it must and
shall be preserved" Certainly Georgians can
not question the authority Of such men, and
should not suspect our motives, who are simply
| fulfilling their commands. Wherever neces-
sary, force has been used to carry out this end;
and you may rest assured, that the Union will
be preserved, cost what It may. And if you
are sensible men you will conform to this order
of things else emigrate to some other coun-
| try There is no other alternative open to the
people of Georgia.
My opinion is that no negotiations are neces-
ary, nor commissioners, nor conventions nor
anything Of the kind. Whenever the people OF
Georgia quit rebelling against their government
and elect members of Congress aud 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 confr-
nation of them, as think, the people of Geor-
gia may well consider the following words, re-
ferring to the people OF the rebelliOus States
which quote from the recent annual message
of President Lincoln to Congress at its present
session:
~They can at any moment have peace simply
by laying down their arms and submitting tC
the national authority under the Constitution
After SO much, the Government could not, if il
would, maintain war against them. The loyal
people would not sustain or allow it. Hques-
tions should remain, we would adjust them by
the peaceful means of legislation, conference
courts and votes. Operating only in constitu.
tonal and lawful channels, some certain ant
other possible questions are and would be be
yond the Executive power to adjust, as for In
stance. the admission of members into Congress
and whatever might require the appropriation
of money"
The President then alludes to the general par
J don and amnesty offered for more than a yea
past, upon specified and most liberal terms, t
ali except certain designated classes, even tbes'
being "still within contemplation of specia
: Iclemency," and adds
at is still so open to all, but the time ma,
come-probabIy viii come-when public dut,
shall demand that it be closed, and that in lieu
more vigorous measures than heretofore shal
be adopted"
, 1t seems to me that it is time for the peopl
r of Georgia to act for themselves, and return, i
time, to their duty to the Government of thei
Fathers. Respectfully your obt servant
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major (IaDoral