The Portland daily press., 1865-01-24
Tuesday Morning, Jan. "a, 1866.
General Sherman on Reconstruction.


The following is the letter of General Sher-
man on the question OF Reconstruction, ad-
dressed to citizen of Georgia, to which ref.
erence was made in our telegraphic despatch.
es some days ago; sls
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION
OF THE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIELD, a.,
sa SAVANNAH, Ga, Jan. s, 1865. } N
"N. W, Esq, - County, Ca; IA
Dear Sir: Yours OF the 30 instant is re-
ceiyed, and in answer to your inquiries, l beg
to state that l am merely military comman-
der, and act only in that capacity; nor can j
give any assurances or pledges affecting civil
matters in the future. They will be adjusted
by Congress when Georgia is again represen-
led there as OF old. ~
Georgia is not out of the Union, and
therefore the talk of reconstruction appears
to me inappropriate. Some Of the people nave
been and still are in astate of revolt; and as
long as they remain armed and organized, the
United States must pursue them with armies
and deal with them according to military law.
But as soon as they break up their armed Or
ganizations and return to their homes, take
it they will be dealt with by the civil courts.
Some of the rebels in Georgia, in my judg-
ment, deserve death, because they have COM
mitted murder, and other crimes, which are
punished with death by all civilized govern
ments on earth. But the great mass probably
will never be noticed. think this was the
course indicated by General Washington, in
reference to the Whiskey Insurrection, and a
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
General Washington, who bade us be jealous
and careful OF 1t, and the still more emphatic
words of General jackson, The Federal
Union, it must and shall be preserved Ger
tainly Georgians cannot question the authori-
ty OF such men, and should not suspect our
motives, who are simply fulfilling their COM
mands. Whenever necessary, force has been
used to carry out that 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, or
else migrate to some other country. There is
no other alternative open to the people OF
Georgia.
"My opinion is that no negotiations are nee
essary, nor commissioners, nor conventions,
nor anything of the kind. Whenever the peo-
pie OF Georgia quit rebelling against their gov
ernment 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-
firmation of them, as / think, the people Of
Georgia may we'll consider the following
words referring to the people Of the rebelIious
States, which quote from the recent annual
message of President Lincoln to Congress at
its present session: 7 ~ i8'5s. .asi
sThey can at any moment have peace SIM
ply by laying down their arms and submitting
to the national authority under the constitu-
tion. After so much, the government could
not, If it would, maintain war against them
The loyal people would not sustain or allow it.
If questions should remain, we would ad-
lust them by peaceful means ofiegislation,
conference, courts and votes. Operating on
ly in constitutional and lawful channels, some
certain and other possible questions are and
would be beyond the Executive power TO ad-
Just, as, for instance, the admission Of mem
bers into Congress, and whatever might re-
quire the appropriation of money! s5aea 551
.sThe President then alludes to the general
pardon and amnesty offered for more than a
year past, upon specified and more liberal
terms, 90 all except certain designated classes
even these being still within contemplation
of Especial cIemency,' and adds: IT is still SO
open to all, but the time may come when pubs
lie duty shall demand that it may be closed,
and that in lieu more vigorous measures than
heretofore shall be adopted
at seems to me that it is time for the peo-
pie of Georgia to act for themselves, and re-
turn in time, to their duty to the government
of their fathers. 20 ba os eatia wasl
"Respectfuly, your obedient servant
"W. T. SHERMAN, Maior-General.