The National tribune., 1903-02-05

itants to go away, and 1 can only renew
my offer of services to make their exodus
in any direction as easy and comfortable
as possible.
''You cannot qualify war in harsher
terms than l will. War is cruelty, and
you cannot reire it; and those who brought
war into our country deserve all the curses
and maledictions a people can pour out.
know l had no hand in making this
war, and know 1 will make more sacri-
fees today than any of you to secure
peace. But you cannot have peace and a
division of our country. If the United
States submits to division now, it will
not stop, but will go until we reap the fate
of Mexico, which is eternal war. The
United States does and must assert its au-
thority, wherever it once had power; for,
if it relaxes one bit to pressure. it is
gone, and l believe that such is the Ma
| tional feeling. This feeling assumes vari-
Gus shapes, but always comes back to
| that of Union. Once admit the Union,
| once more acknowledge the authority of
| the National Government, and, instead of
devoting your houses ana streets and
roads to the dread uses of war, and this
| army become at once your protectors and
| supporters, shielding you from danger, let
| it come from what quarter it may.
know that few individuals can not re-
| sist torrent of error and passion, such
as swept the South into rebellion, but you
can point out, so that we may know
those who desire Government, and those
| who insist On war and its desolation.
| 'You might as well appeal against the
thunderstorm as against these terrible
hardships of war. They are inevitable,
and the only way the people Of Atlanta
can hope once more to live in peace and
quiet at home, is to stop the war, which
can only be done by admitting that it be.
| gan in error and is perpetuatcd in pride.
1--WE don't want your negroes or your
horses, or your houses, or your lands, OF
anything you have, but we do want and
will have a just obedience TO the laws OF
the United States. That we will have
and, if it involves the destruction of your
improvements, We cannot help it.
| ''You have heretofore read public senti.
ment in your newspapers, that live by
faisehood and excitement; and the quicker
you seek for truth in other quarters, the
better. repeat that then, by the original
| compact of Government, the United States
had certain rights in Georgia, which have
never been relinquished and never will be
that the South began war by seizing forts
arsenals, mints, cnstom-houses, ETC.
long before Mr.. Lincoln was installed, and
before the South had one jot or title OF
| pIoSoCdtiou. myself nave Setu III NILS
souri,, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missis
sippi hundreds and thousands of women
and children fleeing from your armies anC
desperadoes, hungry and with bleeding
feet. In Memphis, Vicksburg and Missis
sippi, we fed thousands upon thousands OF
the families of rebel soldiers left on Oul
hands, and whom we could not see starve
"Now that war comes home to you, you
feel very different. You deprecate its hor
rcrs, but did not feel them when you sent
carloads of soldiers and ammunition, and
moulded shells and shot, to carry war into
Kentucky and Tennessee, to desolate the
homes of hundreds and thousands of good
people who only asked to live in peace a,
their old homes, and under the Govern
ment of their inheritance. But these com
parsons are idle. l want peace, and be
lieve it can only be reached through I'm
ion and war, and l will ever conduct wal
with a view to perfect and early success
But, my dear sirs, when peace doe:
come, you may call on me for anything
Then will share with you the last crack
er, and watch with you to shield youl
homes and families against danger from
every quarter.
snow you must go, and take with you
the old and feeble, feed and nurse them
and build for them, in more quiet places
proper habitations to shield them against
the weather until the mad passions of meu
cool down, and allow the Union and peace
once more to settle over your old homes
ut Atlanta. Yours in haste,
wv. T. SHERMAN,
Major General Commanding"