The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-19
Letter from Gen. Sherman.

New Orleans papers publish a letter from
Gen. Sherman, in reply to one from Gov.
Hahn, inclosing him the resolutions of the
Louisiana Legislature, applauding Sher-
man and his army. The following is the
reply:
HEADo'Rs NIFTY Div. OF THE MIssIssIPPI,)
In THE FIELD GoLDsBoRO. N. c., =
April s, 1866.
To His Ercellency Michael Ham, Gorernor of
louisiana New Orleans:
r DEAR SIR: had the honor to receive your
letter of March 3, inclosing the engrossed copy
of the resolutions of the Legislature of Loulsi-
ana, approved March 8, 1865. l will publish
them In General Orders to the army, and think
that it will be source of pride for the officers
and men to see the deep interest that is felt in
them by tie constituted authorities of your
favored State.
thank you kindly for recalling to me the
events that attended me at Alexandria, at the
outset of this war. No man not actually pre-
sent at the South can comprehed the tolls and
snares laid by old, willy and mischievous trait
ors to ensare the young and credulOus. Truth
was perverted, prejudices kindled into o wild
passion. and q false pride begotten, calculated
to mislead the youth and even old men into
belief that the whole fabric of our Government
was weak and tottering, and was about to fall
with crash that would ruin all who chung to
its fortunes. I cannot pretend to superior
wisdom, but In the retirement Of the pine woods
of Rapides Parish my day dreams still rested
on the high seas, in California, in the broad
plains of Kansas, the majestic Valley of the
Mississippi and the Atlantic slopes, with their
busy, industrious people, where had roved in
former days; everywhere realizing the fact that
our General Government was kind and pater-
nal and its faults, If any, arose from an excess
of leniency and forbearance, and could not
be made to believe that 1t should yield the des.
tiny of our future to the guidance of the few
discontinued demagOgues of the South, or its
conceited cotton planters or negro owners.
am willing to say, however, that re-
garded the constitution as bargain; that we
Of the North should respect slave property,
without going into its abstract merits or de-
fects; and had the Southern people abided by
the common laws and tribunals, would have
fought to maintain such property; but the
moment they ignored the contract and APP
pealed to war; we were no longer bound in law
or honor to respect that obnoxious species of
property.
As soon as the war is over, I believe that
good men can readjust the affairs of the coun.
try, so that slaves will never again be bought
or sold, and yet the labor of all be directed
again to the development of the vast agricul.
tural wealth that lies in the firtie fields Of the
South.
Accept my hearty thanks for considering me
still citizen OF Louisiana and l beg you to
foster aud encourage all its native population
to adapt their thoughts and feelings to the
new order of things, which will soon efface the
dread ravages Of war, and make Louisiana
once more the guardian of the outlet of the
mightiest river on earth.
With great respect. your friend and servant
w. T. SHERMAN, Major General.