Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-22
LAW AND ORDER.
A Letter from GEN. ShermRn-An
Appeal TO the People of The Union.

The following letter from Gen. Sherman
in the interest of law and order, In dealing
with the assassin Gulteau, appeared in Tues
day mornings Republican:
"WAsHlNGToN, d. c., September ~, 1881,
8 A Mon. Geo. C. GOrhGrn, National he
publican: Ny DEAR SIR-You and nave
been comrades in civil broils and strife In
California. when vigilance committees as
sumed rule, and we know, or think we
know, how good, honest people have done
some acts Of violence under an honest cor
viction that they were doing toe right thing,
and we believe that time, the great physi-
clan, will cure all things to the patient. l
have occasionally and recently heard the
same arguments on the streets, the
same scraps OF wisdom enunelateu,
and even at this dread hour, when
our noble, brave President is lying
in the very agonies of death at Long
Branch, and the cowardly, miserable
wretch, Guiteau, is covering In his call
at the public jail, it occurs to me that you
and l should, in our respective spheres,
make proftsble use OF our past experience
No man on earth holds In higher esteem the
noble qualities of James A. Garfield than
myself. was on the point OF starting Ior
Chattanooga tonight to do honor to the
heroes Of Chicksmauga, OF whom he was
one of the most prominent, but was stayed
by the unfavorable report from his bedside
at noon, aud l shall remain here at my post
OF duty till the last moment OF hope. AT
Chickamsuga, eighteen years ago, GARFIELD
was chief of staff to General ROsecrans,
whose right wing was broken back by the
vehement charges OF Bragg's forces, and
was carried along with the broken masses
almost into Chattanooga, when he begged
for the privilege Of returning to join
General Thomas, whose guns told him
that that heroic man still stood last
with his right wing. General Rosecrsns
gave him leave, and he did return, running
the gauntlet, joining General Thomas and
serving close to his person till night ena-
bled them to fall back in good order to
Chattanooga. That was General Gsrfeld's
Hast fight, in which he felt especial pride,
and know that he intended to be at Chat
tanooga next Wednesday 10 celebrate the
event. But it is ordered otherwise, Tor ne
now lies by the seashore on his deathbed,
from a wound inflicted by the miserable
wretch Guiteau. For this man Guiteau l
ask no soldier, no citizen, to feel one parti-
Gle of sympathy; on the contrary, could
make nv will the law, shooting or hanging
would be too good for him. But l do ask
every soldier and every citizen to re-
member that we profess to be the
most loyal nation on earth to the
sacred promises Of the law. There
able law, but there is glory and heroism In
submitting gracefully to an oppressive one.
Our Constitution reads: NO person shall
be held to answer for capital or otherwise
Infamous crime unless in presentment or
indictment OF grand jury; and In all crlmi-
nal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the
right to 8 speedy and public trial by an i'm
partial Jury OF the State and district wherein
the crime shall have been committed This
is the solemn contract Of government, bind
ing on the consciences Of all. Should our
President die the murderer is entitled TO a
speedy trial by jury, and hope he will
have Justice done him. But it is not any
Office of yours, or OF anybody except the
regular courts Of this District, which are In
undisputed power. Violence in any form
will bring reproach upon us all-on the
country at large, aud especially on US OF the
District Of Columbia.
IAN the circumstances OF the shooting,
and OF the long heroic struggle for life,
impress me so strongly that would be
ashamed of my countrymen If they min
gIed with their feelings of grief any thought
Of vengeance. Vengeance is mine, saith
the Lord l trust the public press will
exert it's powerful influence TO maintain the
good order and decorum which have pre-
vailed since the saddest OF all days In Wash
ington, July 2, 1881. Sincerely your friend,
''W. I. SHERMAN"