MANSFIELD, OHIO, Nov.
16, 1862.
Dear Brother:
Two matters now excite attention among politicians. What is
the cause and what will be the effect of the recent elections, and what are we
to do about our depreciated paper money. No doubt many causes conspire to
defeat the Union parties. The two I will name were the most influential, and
yet the least will be said about them.
The first is, that the Republican organization was
voluntarily abandoned by the President and his leading followers, and a
no-party Union was formed to run against an old, well-drilled party
organization. This was simply ridiculous. It was as if you should disband your
army organization because it was tyrannical, and substitute the temporary
enthusiasm of masses to fight regular armies. Political as well as military
organization is necessary to success. Ward meetings, committees, conventions,
party cries are just as necessary in politics, as drills, reviews, &c., are
in war, so the Republicans have found out. If they have the wisdom to throw
overboard the old debris that joined them in the Union movement, they will
succeed. If not, they are doomed.
The other prominent reason for defeat is, the people were
dissatisfied at the conduct and results of the war. The slow movements on the
Potomac and worse still in Kentucky dissatisfied and discouraged people. It was
a little singular that the Democrats, some of whom opposed the war, should reap
the benefit of this feeling, but such is the fate of parties. Lincoln was a
Republican. He put and kept in these slow generals and we shall be punished for
it by having an organized opposition limiting appropriations. No doubt the
wanton and unnecessary use of the power to arrest without trial and the
ill-timed proclamation contributed to the general result. The other matter I
allude to is demanding careful consideration. As it is my line of official
duty, I have formed certain theories which may be all wrong; but as they are
the result of reflection, I will act upon them. My remedy for paper money is,
by taxation, to destroy the banks and confine the issue to Government paper.
Let this only issue, as it is found to be difficult to negotiate the bonds of
the government. As a matter of course there will a time come when this or any
scheme of paper money will lead to bankruptcy, but that is the result of war
and not of any particular plan of finance. I watch your course closely and take
great interest and pride in your success.
Affectionately your
brother,
JOHN SHERMAN
SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The
Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837
to 1891, p. 167-8
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