Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-01

The following shows up Radicalism in
Kentucky:
From the Cincinnati Commercial.l
LEXINGTON, KY, December 25, 1867.
The beasts of rebellion having ceased to
howl over my Hog Order" letter, and
being eminently right and proper that
the animals should be frequently stirred
rp, / will now proceed with my defense
of General S. G. Burbridge's military
administration in the State of Kentucky
have been much pleased with the pain
and annoyance my letter seemed to give
to the rebels; for, next to hanging one,
think Union man ought to take most
delight in punching a rebel until he
squealed. The china-shop rebel bulls of
Kentucky have alarmed no one, but in
reality much amused the public with their
charging a1d believing, and no one
more than myself There is such a
thing as telling lie so often that the liar
may come to believe his own lie, and so
the rebels of Kentucky have lied about
General Burbridge and his friends until
they really believe in the truth of what
| they tell.
SO successfully had they slandered the
excellent General that they believed no
man would dare to stand up in his native
State and defend him; and when pro-
posed to do so, their rage and abuse
knew no bounds. If the rebel liars and
thieves knew how utterly | despise them
they would save their breath to cool
their broth, and turn their attention to
some Union man who is more thin
| skinned than Northern Yankee.
l do not hope by any process of reason
| ing to convince the rebels of Kentucky
that General Burbridge is an innocent
man, for one might as well cast pearls
before swine as to attemptto reason with
a Kentucky rebel. The only way to treat
a rebel is as you would any other porcine
hit him over the suout, and if you can t
turn him or stop him with hard licks you
will have to let him go. / have always
been of the opinion that the word rebel
should only have been spelled with three
| letters.
Having said this much by way of in
PRODUCTION, l will proceed to show " that
the persons sent out of Kentucky by
| Gen. Burbridge and imprisoned in the
State by his order, for disloyalty, were
so treated in obedience to orders emana-
ting from lis superiors, and that Gen.
Burbridge was in no way responsible.
Permit me first to call attention to the
following highly omplimentary letter,
indorsing the military administration OF
Gen. Burbridge while in command in
| Kentucky. 1t is from Gen. Sherman,
who, until recently, was the favorite can
didate of the Kentucky rebels for the
next Presidency. 1t will be found very
| interesting, and will furnish food for re
Election, not only for rebels, but class
of dirty, dough-faced, weakened crea-
lures, who are one degree lower than the
brute creation, and call themselves con-
| servative Union men.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Dec. 10, 1867.
| Gen. s. G.. BurJridge, Lexington. Ky:
DEAR GENERAL: now have the plea
sure to iuclose you copy of the letter |
addressed you on the 2lst of June, 1864,
when you were commanding in Ken.
lucky, subject to my orders.
The instructions contained in that let
ter we're commands to you, binding on
YOU under the Articles of War, and for
/ which you were no more respousioie than
for the execution Of any other order. 1
alone am responsible, and | have no
fear but my orders we're right and appro-
| priate.
l hear the people of Kentucky blame
you for your acts under my orders. Ii
so, they are very foolish, for some OF them
should be thankful that you were too
| lenient.
recall with pleasure your early efforts
in the cause of our country in 1861. You
we're cne of the first Kentuckians to take
up arms in,defense of our common ma
tionality. | remember you, also, when
commanding a brigade during all the
operations at Vicksburg; and also when
commanding in Kentucky while | was
engaged down in Georgia.
For these services you are entitled to
the thanks and gratitude of every we'll
wisher of his country, and doubt not
you will yet receive them.
Very truly, your friend,
w. 7. SHERMAN, Lieut.. Gen.
Those rebel editors who thought it in
famous in me to sign myself the friend