National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-09-20
GENERAL sHERMANs LETTER.
nc CounseIs law nnd Ordcr-Rennrt
Characteristic OF the Man.

WASHINGTON, D. Co. Sept. 10, 1873 p. m.
Hon. GEo. e. GoRHAN, NATIONAL REruBtfcAFi
MY DEAR SIR: You and have been comrades
gin civil broils and strife in California, when
6viglance committees assumed rule, and VIC Know
Tor think we know, how good honest people have
Sdone acts Of violence under an honest convc-
3tion that they were doing the right thing, and we
believe that Time, tho great physician, will cure all
Sthings to the patient.
a have occasionally and recently heard the same
arguments the streets, the same scraps OF wis
Sdom enunciated, and now, at this dread hour
fwhen our noble, brave President is lying in the
Every agonies Of death at Long Branch, and the
5cowardly, miserable wretch Guteau Is covering
Gin his cell at the public jol, II occurs to me that
4you and should in our respective spheres make
Hpro1Iable use OF our past experience.
4 No man on earth holds in higher esteem the
Bnoblc qualities Of James A. Garfield than myself
II ON the point Of starting for Chattanooga TO.
3nighl TO do honor TO the heroes ofChickamauga Of
fwhom he was ono most prominent, but was stnycd
zby the unfavorable report from his bedside nj
lnoon and shall remain here at my post of duty
ztill the last moment Of hope. At Chickamauga
eighteen years Hgo, Garfield was chief Of staif 10
General RoSecrans, whose right wing was broken
l back by the vehement charges of Braggs forces
Wand was carried along with the broken masses
Salmost int Chattanooga, when he begged for the
sprivilcgo OF returning TO join General George H.
1Thomas, whose guns told him that hat heroic
Imam still stood fnst with bis len wiug. Gen.
4cral Roseernns gave him leave md he did return
running the gauntlet, Joining General Thomas and
Serving close TO his person TIL night enabled them
ITO fall back In good order to Chattanooga. That
Twas General Garfelds last fight, in which he felt
3espccial pride; and know that he intended to be
Sat Chattanooga next Wednesday to celebrate the
Icvent But II is ordered otherwise for he now lies
Sby the seashore on his death-bed from wound
tinaicted by the miserable wretch Guiteau.
a For this man Guteau ask no soldier, no citizen
ITO feel one particle OF sympathy. On the contrary
&could make my will the law, shooting or hang.
Ming would be too good for him. But do ask every
5solder and every citizen to remember that VIZ
3profess to be tho most loyal nation on
earth to the sacred promises of the law
SThere Is no merit in obeying an agreeable
law, but there is glory and herUism In submitting
4 gracefully to an oppressive one. Our Constitution
breads: "No person shan be held to answer for Il
acapitRl or otherwise Infamous crime unless on q
n prescntment or indictment Of a grand jury" and
" in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall
enjoy the right to speedy and public trial by AZ
jury Of the State and district wherein
sthe crime shall have been committed" This q
q the solemn contract Of Government. binding OF
the consclences Of all. Should our President di,
( the murderer Is entitled TO speedy trial by Jury
fund hope he will have justice done him.
But II Is not my Office or yours or anybody's cx.
Scept the regular courts Of this District which
Yin undsputcd power Violence in any form vii
4bring reproach on us all-upon the country IA
Slargc, and especially on us OF the District Of Co
Islumbin,
All the circumstances of the shooting of the lonl
Shcroic struggle for life, impress me strongl!
Hthat would be ashamed of my cOuntrymen IL the!
smingled with their feelings of grefany thought o
Svengeancc. "Vcngeanccl Is mine, saith the Lord
"A Irdst she public press will use its powerful in
EHiluence to maintain the good order and deooruu
(which have prevailed since the saddest OF all day
Min Washington, July @ 1881. Sincerely your friend
III W. T. SHERMAN