, 1865-02-16
GEN. SHEE9HAN.E EOLICY.
[saranrah Republican {CnIon) Js7. ILL
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY Division OIL
TEE NtssIs:1rrL, II TIE Field. \
. SATAsHAu, Ga, Jan. s, 1861

oAFAshAus 9a.7 Jan. :, 1Sl- J
y. W., EST, - county. Ca:
DEAR S1a-}ours Of the Sd instant is re-
:e,ircd, and in answer to your Inquiries beg
i, n, merely military commando, aud can
tn.s At, in ihst capacity: nor can give any
aesl1ranccE Ut PLEDGES affecting civil matters
in the future ihry will be adjusted by Con-
grcss when Georgia is again represented as Of
Old.
Gcoreis is not out of The Union, and there
fare .he talk OF reconstruction" appears to
me inappropriate. Some Of the people have
bcc1. .sud still are in state OF revolt and as
'.ns as they reInain armed and organized,
tLc United States must pursue them with ar
mt, and deal With them according to mill
aimed organizations and return to their
homes, ! nike it they will be dealt with by
the civil Courts. Some Of the rebels in Geor-
gia, in NY Judgment, deserve death, because
fher have committed murder and other
e,imes which are punished with death By all
civilized Governments on earth. :hins this
t:nk 4Ir course indicated by General Wash
;ncluu ii reference 70 the Whisky 1usurrcc-
lion, aud like principle seemed to be re-
coguized ut !he time Of the Rurr conspiracy.
As to the Union Of The States under our
Government, VIC have the high authority Of
and careful ii It, aud the sill more emphati:
words Of Gen. jackson. a. The Union mnst
anc .l,all be preserved" :; Certainly Georsi-
ank cannot question the authority of such
men. and should nos suspect our motives,
aho ate simply fulfilling their commands.
Wherever necessary, .orcc has been used to
carry .ut ti,ut end, md yon may rest assur-
ID th"s The Union viii be preserved, cost
VIII. may. And il you are sensible n1an
you w4il conform to this order Of things or
Else rni.ra:c to some other country. There
ST" :,tlcr alternative open to the people Of
Georgia.
II, op'n:on S TINT no negotiations are ne
ccssary. !,or commissioners, no. conventions,
nc, any hing OF the kind. Whenever the
people Of Georgia quit rebclling against ::hctr
Government, and elect members Of Congress
and Senators, and these 90 and take their
seats, :hcn the State Of Georgia will hare re-
.l,yncd 'lei unctiSns In the Unicn.
These arc merely my opinions, bat IN con.
s:t1natio1' Of thcu,, as + think, The people Of
.ico1g': may well consider the following
words ,ei:A1ing tf shc people Of The rebe!lious
Statee, which quote IRON The recent annual
message OF Pl csidcnt Lincoln to Congress ut
u" resent session:
b. aging :!1wn i1.rlt arms aud submitting to
Tue national authority under the Constitu.
tiop. After 20 much the government could
not il it would. mqiptaiu the war against
them. The loyal people would not sustain
! o. rllow it. Il questions should remain we
! ANU4A l}Aab lAkA1 AAk fCAlEAAl AAs~AA9 NJ
! legislation, conference, cou' IS and votes.
Operating only in constitutional aud lawf il
| claneels, some certain and other possih ::
! questions arc and would be beyond the Exec
! uti7c poser to adjus:: as, for Instance, the
| ,..:1rission Of memba1a into Co .grcss, a1d
! y a'cver requires ths appropriation ol
! - W.
+! Ine President then a1ludes to the general
: :Tlrdon and amnesty offered for more than 9
yea, 2ast, upon specified and most liberal
term. to al except certain designated classet
! even these being ''stil within contemplation
| Of srecial c:e1neucy," and adds:
alt is still So open 10 al, bu. the lime may
] come " .:cn Fub:ic duty shall demand that il
| be closed and that IN Lien, more vigorous
! measures than heretofore ehall be alop
| ted"
Ii sec1ns to me that It is time for the .peo
| bic oi Georgia to act for themselves, ami re-
turn iu time to their duty.so the GoTernm mi
Of their 1athers. -Vety respectfully,
| Your obedlent servant,
" r SrJFRsIHE Hfnf Gnn.