The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-07-07


the nations way"
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GEN. GRANTS MISSISSIPPI ORDER.
The following letter, written by Gen.
Rawlings in reply to az, inquiry from a
gentleman at Louisville. explains the
ground upon which Gen Grant issued an
order expelling Jews from the lines Of
the army. For this letter, we are in
debted to Mr. Dembitz:
H'DQUARTERs ARMY OF HE q. STATES,
F WAsHINGToN, NJ az 6, 1868.
SsE: Your letter relati ng to the order
of Gen Grant, dated Oxford, Miss,
December II, 1862, expelling Jews as
class, from his department, is before me.
You are doubtless aware that Gen.
Grant has never, Meth er by himself or
through the aid of friends, attempted to
defend any military order which the
emergencies Of the service seemed at
the time TO require. However, as my
name is attached 10 it as Assistant, Ad-
.jutant General, it may not be improper
to state that at and previous to its date,
our military affairs was in a most critical
condition, and important movements
were transporting. Gen. Sherman was
collecting forces at Memphis and Hele.
ma. Gen. Grant vas moving steadily
against Pemberton, at Grenada, keeping
up appearaaces OF immediate attack, to
divert his attention from Sherman; and
in CO operation with 6 rant, Dodge was
moving south from Corinth. The sue
cess Of Grants plans depended in keep
ing the enemy in ignorance of his real
purpose, namely the surprise and cap
ture Of Vicksburg by Sherman and it
was therefore of the utmost Importance
that every avenue Of information to the
enemy should be clos ed.
The most stringent orders had previ-
ously been published forbidding persons
going or coming through our lines, linn
ling traders to certain boundaries. and
prohibiting the passage Of coin South,
or the payment of it for Southern pro-
ducts. Persistent violation of these or
ders by persons prdncipally of the jew
.ish race, were the sabjects of constant
reports by many of General Grants sub
ordinates, some of whom had even is
sued orders cxpelling them from the
lines, but which Gen. Grant had prompt
ly revoked. Reports of the same char
acter were also received from other than
military sources. At length. on the
eveniag of December 18th, 1862 1.-THE
date of the order), the mail brought
from w ashington a large number OF COM
plants, officially referred 10 him by the
General in Chief of the army, against
this class of persons, for violations of
the above mentioned orders The Gen
eral felt, on reading them, that some
immediate action was demanded of him.
He realized to its full extent the critical
| condition of military affairs, and judged
| whether wisely or unwisely, sasat to meet
| the eXigency action must be immedTste,
| thorough and'ina form not to he evaded-
The order you refer to was the result 1t
| was written, and telegraphed to his sub
! ordinates, without revision. leaving all
/ persons not justly amenable to its
1 terms to be relieved oH their individua
application. 9z#ag s5a7+a7z
The idea that it was issued on accourss
/ of the religion of the Jews can not be
seriously entertained by. any one who
knows the 6 eneral's steadfast adherence
to the principles Of American liberty and
religious federation. ~ v,ut+.s.s..,, 4 e. 81
Veryrespeesfly,yo robedientserv't
| HZfs 5as1na sdf = JOHN A. RAwLINs.
To LEWIS N. DEMeIrz, Louisville, KY. b
HoMEsTEADs "A Bill, introduced by Mr.
Julian, from the Committee on Public
Lands, has passed relieving soleidrs and
sailors, who have been phonorably dis
charged from the q. S. service. from
paying fees of IS for entering 80 acres
or elO for entering I6O acres, under the
operation of the several homestead acts.
This exemption does not include the
usual land Office fees.
There were five sudden deaths in