National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-09-20
GENERAL sHERMAN,s LETTER.



WASHINGTON, d. G., Sept 10, 1873 p. m
Hon. GEO. c. GoRHAN, NATToSAL REruBLicAN;
4 My DRAR SIR: You and have been comrades
lin civil broils and strife in California, when
3ylgance committees assumed rule, and we know
Aor think we know, how good, honest people have
done some acts Of violence under an honest convic
tion that they were doing the right thing, and we
tbeicve that Time, the great physician, Will cure all
4thngs to the patient.
il have occasionally and recently heard the same
arguments OH the streets, the same scraps of wis
Idom enunciatcd, and now, at this dread hour,
k,wheu our noble, brave President ia lying In the
livery agonies of death at Long Branch, and the
4cowardly, miserable wretch Guiteau is,oowering
lin his cell at the public jail, II occurs TO me that
&you and should in our respective spheres make
4pronlable use OF our past experience.
\ No man on earth holds in higher esteem tho
noble qualities of James A. Garfield than myself
was on the point Of starting for Chattanooga to.
Knight TO do honor to the heroes OF of
fwhom he was one most prominent, but was stayed
aby the unfavorable report from his bedside OF
anoon, and shall remain here at my post Of duty
1til the last moment Of hope. At Chckamauga,
eighteen years ago, Garfield was chief Of staff TO
General Rosecrans, whose right wing was broken
Y bnck by the vehement charges of Braggs forces,
Hand was carried along with tho broken masses
Salmost into Chattanooga, when lie begged for the
privilege Of returning to join General George II.
sThomas, whose guns told him that that heroic
amnn still stood fast with his len wing. Cen
Neral Rosecrans gave him leave aud he did return.
drunning the gauntlet, joining General Thomas and
1serying close to his person till night enabled them
.Ito fall back in good order TO Chattanooga. That
was General Garfields last fight in which he felt
fcspecial pride: and know that he intended TO be
stnt Chattanooga next Wednesday to celebrate the
ievent But II Is ordered otherwise for he now lies
Hby the seashore on his deathbed from wound
Hnnicted by the miserable wretch Gulteau.
"a For this man Guitcau ask no soldier, no citizen
ato feel one particle of sympathy. On the contrary
ScOuld make my will the law, shooting or hang
Ming would be too good for him. But do ask every
Ssoldicr and every citizen to remember that We
Hprofess 10 be the most loyal nation on
Aearh to the sacred promises OF the law.
aTherc Is no merit I'm obeying an agreeable
but there Is glory and hcrolsm In submitting
gracefully TO mn oppressive one. Our Constitution
3rCads: No person shall be held 10 answer for u
4capi0l or otherwise infamous crime unless on n
u prcscntment or Indictment Of grand jury" and
II" in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall
81 enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by ar
aimpartial jury OF the State and district wherein
Il sthe crime shall have been committed" This |:
n the solemn contract of Government, binding o,
n the conscences of all. Should our President di,
the murderer is entitled TO n speedy trial By jury
s3and hope he will have justice done him.
81 But II Is not my office or yours or anybodys ex
&cept the regular courts of this District, which ar,
,4ln undisputed power. Violence In any form vii
dbring reproach on us all-upon the country a
alargc and especially on us OF the District Of Co
'alumbia
u All the circumstances ofthe shooting of the lonl
'Hhcroic struggle for life impress me so stronpl!
,Sthat would be ashamed ofmy countrymcn II the!
ismingled with their feelings of grIefany thought o
txvengeance. vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.
81 l trust .he public press will use its powermlln
'Snuence to maintain the good order and decorun
(which have prevailed since the saddest Of all day
shin Washington, July ., 1881. Sincerely your friend
iG w r. SHERMAN