The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-03-02
GEN. SHSRMAN'S POLICY.
fsaraanah Republican l'Uniof,} Jas. II
eHEADoUARrsEs MILITARY DIVISION J
oF<THE MISSISSIPPI. IN THE FIELD
SAVANNAH. Ga, Jan s. 1865.

oFzTHE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIELD
SAVANNAH. Ga, Jan s. 1865.
n W, Esq county, Ga
DEAR SIR-Yours of the Sd instant is
received, and in answer TO your inquiries.
I beg 10 state:
/ am merely military commander,
and can only act in that capacity; nor
can L give any assurances of pledges
affecting civil matters in the future.
/ They will be adjusted by Congress when
I Georgia is again represented a. of old
t> Georgia is not ont of the Union. and
therefore the talk of .'reconstruction"
appears To me Inappropriate Some Of
+ the people have been and still are in
state Of revolt; and as long as they re
main 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 organizations and return to their
homes, | take it they will be dealt with
By the civil Courts. Some of the reb-
! els in Georgia in my judgement de
serve death, because they have committed
murder and other crimes which are pun
ished with death by ali civilized Gov
ernments on earth. l think this was the
course indicated BY General W ashington
in reference to the " Risky Instruction.
and a like principle seemed to be re-
cogniZed at the time of the Burr con-
spiraey.
As to the Union OF the States under
our Government, we have the high au-
| thority of Gen. Washington, who babe
US to be jealous and careful of it, and
the still more emphatic words OF Gen.
Jackson, the Union 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 necessary, force has been used
to carry ont that end, and you may rest
assured that the Union will be preserved,
cost what it may. And if you are sensi-
BILE men YOU Will conform TO this order
of things or else emigrate to some other
country There is no other alternative
open to the people of Georgia
My opinion is that no negotiations are
necessary, nor commissioners, nor con
MENTIONS, nor anything of the kind
Whenever the people of Georgia quit re
belling 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 i'll the Union.
These are merely my opinions, but in
confirmation of them, as | think, the
people of Georgia may well consider
the following words relating to the peo
pie of the rebellious States, which |
quote from the recent annual message
of President Lincoln to Congress at the
present session:
They can at any moment have peace
simply by laying down their arms and
submitting to the national authority
under the Constitution. After so much
the government could not if it would,
maintain the war against them. The
loyal people would not sustain or allow
it. If questions should remain we would
adjust them by the peaceful means of
legislation, conference, courts and votes. /
Operating only in constitutional and
lawful channels some certain and other
possible questions are and would be be
yond the Executive power to adjust, as,
for instance, the admission of members
intoCongress, and whatever requires the
appropriation Of money
The President then aliudes to the gen
eral pardon and amnesty offered for
more than year past, upon specified
and most liberal terms to all except /
certain designated classes even there /
being .'still within contemplation of
special clemency," and adds:
1T is still SO open to all, but the time |
may come when public duty shall de
mand that it be closed and that in lieu, |
more vigorous measures than heretofore /
shall be adopted
1t seems TO me that it is time for the /
people of Georgia to act for themselves, /
and return in time to their duty to the /
Government of their fathers.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
W. I. SHERMAN, Maj Gen.