The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-06

fore most earnestly request that Con
gress may take prompt and ethaent
measures to investigate this matter
fully. Not only is this due TO them
selves and TO the reputation OF the
United States army, but TO justice and
10 truth. Trusting that you will par
don N for troubling you,
am. etc. WADE HAHPToN.
Mr. F,sseBden said the practice OF
reading in the Senate letters from pri-
vate persons. and having them entered
As part OF the proceedings, should be
stopped. This was a question of We
iacity between two generals, one OF our
army and the other Of the rebel army.
1t was a question with which the Sen
ate had nothing TO DO, and he entered
his protest against the continuance of
the practice.
Mr.. sherman said the letter Of this
most impudent rebel was a Islander
upon our whole army. The Senator
from Maryland b1r. johnson had al
luded to his previous good character,
but in his opinion it was not OF such
nature SIS 10 inspire confidence in his
statements The charge msde by Gen.
Sherman was IN an official report
Gen. Sherman did not assert that Wade
Hampton set FIRE to Columbia or order
ed IL 10 be set on fire, but simply that
his orders caused it to be fired. The
citizens Of Columbia fired it The let
| ter of Uampton's does not deny that
be was the cause of it. lie (Mr. ).
had the official papers to show that this
| Wade Hampton did cause the burning
of Colombia. The only opposition he
/ made TO the march Of Gen. sherman
| through the Wanted State OF South
| Carolina, except one slight skirmish,
was the burning of cotton. Mr.. 5. read
| from q letter OF Mai. Gen Howard de-
scribing the aspect of affairs on his en-
! trance into the city, the burning OF cot
ton, etc, and also from private letter
of Gen Howard to Gen. sherman as TO
the causes of the firing of the city, etc.
! Mr. Sherman continued Wade lamp
tons letter was more ike politician g
than that Of a candid man Ike he had
supposed him to be. He does not deny
that he burned cotton elsewhere, but
only that he did not burn 1t in Column
bia. He 81 S wished to place the
guilt where it belonged, although he
confessed that he had not shed many
tears over the result Whisky was dis.
tributed 10 the negroes before a Union
soldier had entered the city cotton
was scattered all over it; and it Is not
unlikely that the blacks, delirious with
! i0y at their new-iound freedom, lighted
the conasgratiOn. The impudence OF
| this whole thing surpasses Imagination.
F! He writes to this Senate that the State
of South Carolina is excluded from
representation in this body. And why
Is she excluded? Because they violated
their oath, and for years have been
/ trying 20 get out of the Union, and now
that they ere beaten and defeated they
| whine like whipped ours to get back.
Mr. johnson said he had shown the
letter TO the honorable member from
Ohio, (Mr Sherman and he advised
him to present it.
Mr. Sberman-For the purpose oil
refuting it.
Mr. Johnson-IIe was as far as any
one from iustifying the course of Wade
Hampton He thought that with al
others who had participated in the re
bellion he had sinned. lie did not
! look upon the letter as whining be-
cause The State of South Carolina was
not represented here. The writer had
only alleged that as a cause for send
ing the letter TO him, (Mr J
Mr. Fessenden asked what question
was before the Senate
The Chair stated that the question
was on motion 10 refer the petition to
| the Committee on. Military Affairs
Mr.. Fessenden hoped it would not
be received at all 1t had no business
here
Mr.. CONFESS said he could net vote
to send this petition to .sny committee
of this body, and he was only surprised
that the Senator from Ohio (Hr Sher.
MANI should think it necessary TO vim
dictate tho character OF our distin-
guished General against the assaults OF
such a man as Wade Hampton. lie
agreed with the Senator from Maine
| (Mr Fessenden) that this letter should
not be referred or laid on the table.
Let these men exPiate their crimes be-
fore they come here with their COM
plants
Mr. Wilson hoped the Senator from
Maryland would withdraw the petition
and let the business be proceeded with.
Mr.. Johnson withdraw it.