We have received Northern papers of Thursday, the 5th instant.
The Yankees in Savannah — what they are doing to blind the people — public meeting of citizens — Adoption of resolutions — Sherman Permits them to send North for provisions.
The Yankees are playing a new game in Savannah, which they hope will succeed. We copy some of the statements relative to the position of affairs there, and some of the new expedients adopted to support the people. They are from the New York Post. We may also state here, from Southern sources we know that Sherman has taken the first step to "taking charge of the banks," (robbing them of their money, of course,) and that he has also notified the citizens that those who, in fifteen days, do not take the oath, will be sent into the Confederate lines. This is but the beginning of another Butler rule. On the 25th ultimo. Sherman issued the following order "for the government of Savannah": Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, in the Field, Savannah, Ga., December 26, 1864.
Special Field orders, no. 143.
the city of Savannah and surrounding country will be held as a Military post and adapted to future Military uses; but, as it contains a population of some twenty thousand people who must be provided for, and as other citizens may come, it is proper to lay down certain general principles that all within its Military jurisdiction may understand their relative duties and obligations.
- I. During war, the military is superior to civil authority, and where interests clash, the civil must give way; yet where there is no conflict, every encouragement should be given to well disposed and peaceful inhabitants to resume their usual pursuits. Families should be disturbed as little as possible in their residences and tradesmen allowed the free use of their shops, tools, etc. Churches, schools, all places of amusement and recreation, should be encouraged, and streets and roads made perfectly safe to persons in their usual pursuits. Passes should not be exacted within the line of outer pickets; but if any person shall abuse these privileges by communicating with the enemy, or doing any act of hostility to the Government of the United States, he or she will be punished with the utmost rigor of the law. Commerce with the outer world will be resumed to an extent commensurate with the wants of the citizens, governed by the restrictions and rules of the Treasury Department.
- II. The chief quartermaster and commissary of the army may give suitable employment to the people, white and black, or transport them to such points as they choose, where employment may be had, and may extend temporary relief in the way of provisions and vacant houses to the worthy and needy until such time as they can help themselves. They will select, first, the buildings for the necessary uses of the army; next, a sufficient number of stores to be turned over to the treasury agent for trade stores. All vacant store-houses or dwellings, and all buildings belonging to absent rebels, will be construed and used as belonging to the United States until such times as the titles can be settled by the courts of the United States.
- III.
The Mayor and City Council of Savannah will continue and exercise their functions as such, and will, in concert with the commanding officer of the post and the chief quartermaster, see that the fire companies are kept in organization, the streets cleaned and lighted, and keep up a good understanding between the citizens and soldiers.
They will ascertain and report to the chief commissary of subsistence, as soon as possible, the names and number of worthy families that need assistance and support.
The Mayor will forthwith give public notice that the time has come when all must choose their course, viz: to remain within our lines and conduct themselves as good citizens, or depart in peace. He will ascertain the names of all those who choose to leave Savannah, and report their names and residence to the chief quartermaster, that measures may be taken to transport them beyond the lines. - IV. Not more than two newspapers will be published in Savannah, and their editors and proprietors will be held to the strictest accountability, and will be punished severely in person and property for any libellous publication, mischievous matter, premature news, exaggerated statements, or any comments whatever upon the acts of the constituted authorities; they will be held accountable even for such articles, though copied from other papers.
Peace meeting of citizens.
The Savannah Republican says that, in pursuance of a call from Mayor Arnold, a large meeting of influential citizens of Savannah was held on the 28th ultimo for the purpose of taking into consideration "matters relating to the present and future welfare of the city." On motion, Dr. Arnold was unanimously called to the chair, and addressed the meeting. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to report resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting, viz: Colonel Rockwell, Alderman Lippman, Dr. Willis, Alderman Villalonga, Martin Duggan, J. G. Mills, W. D. Weed, Alderman Lachison and Alderman O'Byrnes; and, after a brief absence, reported the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted: Whereas, by the fortunes of war and the surrender of the city by the civil authorities, Savannah passes once more under the authority of the United States; and, whereas, we believe that the interests of the city will be best subserved and promoted by a full and free expression of our views in relation to our present condition, we, therefore, the people of Savannah, in full meeting assembled, do hereby resolve,- 1. That we accept the position, and in the language of the President of the United States, seek to have "peace by laying down our arms and submitting to the national authority, under the Constitution, leaving all questions which remain to be adjusted by the peaceful means of legislation, conference and votes."
- 2. Resolved. That, laying aside all differences and burying bygones in the graves of the past, we will use our best endeavors once more to bring back the prosperity and commerce we once enjoyed.
- 3. Resolved, That we do not put ourselves in the position of a conquered city, asking terms of a conqueror, but we claim the immunities and privileges contained in the proclamation and message of the President of the United States, and in all the legislation of Congress in reference to a people situated as we are; and while we owe, on our part, a strict obedience to the laws of the United States, we ask the protection over our persons, lives and property recognized by those laws.
- 4. Resolved, That we respectfully request His Excellency, the Governor, to call a convention of the people of Georgia, by any constitutional means in his power, to give them an opportunity of voting upon the question whether they wish the war between the two sections of the country to continue.
- 5. Resolved, That Major-General Sherman having placed as military commander of this post Brigadier-General Geary, who has, by his urbanity as a gentleman, and his uniform kindness to our citizens, done all in his power to protect them and their property from insult and injury, it is the unanimous desire of all present that he be allowed to remain in his present position, and that, for the reasons above stated, the thanks of the citizens are hereby tendered to him and the officers under his command.
Resolved, That an official copy of these resolutions be sent to the President of the United States, the Governor of Georgia, General Sherman, and to each the Mayors of Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Atlanta.
The secretaries were directed to furnish Brigadier-General Geary with a copy of the resolutions.
Mayor Arnold's Speech at the peace meeting.
The following were the remarks of the Mayor of the city on taking the chair at the public meeting of citizens: "Fellow-citizens of Savannah: At the request of the aldermen of the city of Savannah, and of a large number of the citizens, I have convened you together this day for you to give expression to your views and sentiments in the trying state of affairs in which you are now placed. It is for us no longer a crisis. The crisis is past; and it is for you to decide upon the particular line of action each and all of you may determine to pursue. "Our action is to be determined solely by our situation, as we have no authority or power to speak for others outside of our limits. But we are the judges of our own situation, can speak for ourselves, and ought so to do by all the considerations of prudence, and, I will say, common sense and humanity, to mitigate, if we can, the effects of the heavy blow which has fallen upon us. "Our city contains twenty thousand inhabitants without food, without fuel, without any remunerative industrial pursuits, without any place of refuge, cut off from all connection with the country. The heart sickens at the sight thus presented. "It is our duty to mitigate, as we cannot avert, the terrible suffering by all the means which reason and common sense may dictate, regardless of all abstractive views. I have weighed the matter anxiously, and have arrived at a positive conclusion that there is but one course to pursue. But it is not my province, as calling the meeting, to say more at present. When the city was taken, through me, as chief magistrate, you asked protection. You all know that it has been granted to you, and we all feel deeply indebted to Brigadier-General Geary for his conduct as commandant of this city. Having convened you, and expressed in part my views, it remains for you to appoint a chairman of this meeting."Feeding the poor.
Mayor Arnold has divided the city into wards, for the purpose of distributing food to the destitute, and seems to be doing everything in his power to ameliorate the condition of the citizens. General Geary, commanding the city, holds frequent conferences with him, and complies with all reasonable requests for the benefit of the population. Colonel Julian Allen has been sent North by the Mayor and Common Council of Savannah, and with the consent and authority of General Sherman, to purchase for the city certain articles of food, to a certain amount, for distribution to the necessitous families. The city authorities of Savannah propose to barter a quantity of rice for these provisions. The following are copies of the commissions he brings from General Sherman, the Savannah authorities, and the United States treasury agent:The provisions Needed.
you will please purchase for the city of Savannah and ship to this port the following named articles of provisions, leaving to your discretion to make such changes as circumstances may direct, the city to reimburse by shipment of rice for the value thereof, or in case of any deficiency of that article, arrangements for reimbursement to be made satisfactory to Mr. Allen, the city hereby binding itself for the action of the committee, as per resolution unanimously passed in council on the 30th of December, 1864, as per records of the proceedings of council, viz:- 50 hogsheads bacon,
- 100 barrels pork,
- 50 barrels lard,
- 20 hogsheads middling brown sugar,
- 500 barrels good Irish potatoes,
- 500 barrels kiln-dried corn meal,
- 25 barrels white beans,
- 350 barrels hard bread.
[L. S.] R. D. Arnold,
Mayor of Savannah,
H. C. Freeman,
John S. Villalonga,
H. Brigham,
Committee.
Attest: James Gugel, Clerk of Council.
"Savannah,December 31, 1864.
"Whereas, Colonel Julian Allen having offered his services gratuitously, this is to certify that he has been appointed special agent by the Mayor and Aldermen of the city of Savannah to proceed to New York for the purpose of negotiating the exchange of rice for other provisions, for the use of the suffering and destitute inhabitants of this city.
This certificate is endorsed as follows:
"Treasury Agency, Fifth Special District, Savannah, December 31, 1864 Mayor of Savannah,
H. C. Freeman,
John S. Villalonga,
H. Brigham,
Committee.
Attest: James Gugel, Clerk of Council.
Approved by Albert Browne,
"Supervising Special Agent.
"Treasury Department."
The document contains General Sherman's authorization, as follows:
"The bearer of this, Colonel Julian Allen, is hereby authorized to proceed to New York, under the above authority, and the quartermaster may give him transportation in any chartered steamer. The Collector of the Port is also requested to grant clearance for provisions for the use of the people of Savannah, to any amount not exceeding fifty thousand dollars in value.
W. T. Sherman,
"Major-General commanding."
"Supervising Special Agent.
"Treasury Department."
The document contains General Sherman's authorization, as follows:
"The bearer of this, Colonel Julian Allen, is hereby authorized to proceed to New York, under the above authority, and the quartermaster may give him transportation in any chartered steamer. The Collector of the Port is also requested to grant clearance for provisions for the use of the people of Savannah, to any amount not exceeding fifty thousand dollars in value.
W. T. Sherman,
"Major-General commanding."
