The Van Buren press., 1871-05-09
Gen. Sherman on the Situation.
NEw ORLEANS, April %, 1871

AHANsS <Aplu 1911
EDITOR MEMPHIS AVALANCHE: Gen.
w. 1. Sherman, with Col McCloy, Of
his staff, and Gen. Marcy, inspector gen.
eral of the United State army, arrived
here last week en- route to Texas and the
western frontier.
The arrival of the general of course
created stir among the federal officers,
civil and military, and set the Radical
politicians to thinking Of how they
might, individually and collectively,
make some capital out of his visit 1t
was arranged that the American Union
club should tender him reception, with
toasts, music, speeches and all the usual
incidentals. The general, when advised
of the fact and invited to attend the af.
fair, inquired pointedly if the club was a
political one, intimating that if it was he
would prefer to be excused. He was in
formed that it was not political in its
character, but social organization Of
gentlemen, many of whom were ex- Off
GERS and soldiers of the Union army
Upon this assurance he accepted the in
vitation, and on Thursday evening the
reception took place at the rooms of the
club, No. l3 St. Charles street. The fact
is that the club is composed chiefly Of
ultra Radical politicians of large expec-
tations and correspondingly small intel
lectual force.
THE ToAsT5 AND SPEECHES.
Were what mi ght be expected Of such
an organization, on such an occasion,
with the exception of the generals re-
marks, which fell like wet blanket on
the spirits Of the nianipulators. He de-
clined reveral times to speak, and at
length very reluctantly responded. 1t
was very evident that he did not wish to
speak, but "Sherman !" sherman" re-
sounded again and again over the room,
and finally, after begging repeatedly to
be excused, he responded substantially
as follows:
GENERAL sHERMAN's SPEECH.
l believe this government will keep on
growing until it spreads itself over the
entire American continent; but in order
to gain this much desired end, and to
maintain ourselves as free and inde-
pendent republic, we have got to show
MORE CHARITY TOWARDS EACH OTHER
1t has been remarked by some gentle
man who has preceded me, that it was
generally conceded by the soldiers of
both armies at the close of the late civil
war, that if the questions and all matters
Of the settlement Of the differences be-
tween the North and South were left to
tho armies, it would be settled at once,
and everything would become quiet and
orderly. so believed, and before sign
ing the agreement with Gen. Joe John
son | called together all the generals un
der my command, and without dissent
ing voice they agreed with me. l be
Iieved they surrendered ia good faith,
and would have lived up to the very let
ter of the agreement, and In my opinion
il there had been
Nc RECONSTRUCTION ACTS OF CONGRESS,
And the armies been left at the time to
settle all questions Of different sections
Of the country, the people would have at
once become quiet and peaceable. l
probably have as good means Of infor.
nation as most persons in regard to
what is called
THE KU-KLUX
And am perfectly satisfied that the thing
is greatly over-estimated; and If the
Ku- Kluc bills aoere kept out Of congress,
and the al my kept at their legitimate d.
lies, there are enough good and true men
in all southern states to put dorm all Ru
Hlur or other bands Of marauders.
EFFECT OF THE GENERALS REMARKS.
These were just about the remarks
that his entertainers did not want him to
make, aud there were many who doubt
less concluded that they had made a
blunder in insisting so presistently upou
having speech from the general Of the
army.
It's difficult to convey through let
ter the exact impression made by the
manner as we'll as by the words of the
speaker, but it was very clear that he
had no faith in the legislative mosaic
called reconstruction acts and that he did
not consider the Ku.klux Of sufficient
strength or consequence to require the
repres,ive agency Of the United States
army. In fact, he spoke rather contempt
uously Of the achole business IN and out
Of congress.
ABOUT SAN DOMINGO.
In private conversation he was even
more emphatic and unreserved. Speak
ing of the San Domingo scheme he said
to me:
"We have territory enough, more
than we have use for. We can hire a
coaling station in the West Indies for
three thousand dollars year, and we
had better do that"
t,,.a,.,, -, -, C,,,on Hn,ycv 10, an