JANUARY 18, 1861.
GOVERNOR ThomAs O.
MooRE,
BAToN
ROUGE, LA.
SIR—As I occupy a quasi-military position under this State,
I deem it proper to acquaint you that I accepted such position when Louisiana
was a State in the Union, and when the motto of the seminary was inserted in
marble over the main door, “By the liberality of the General Government of the
United States. The Union, Esto Perpetua.” Recent events foreshadow a great
change, and it becomes all men to choose. If Louisiana withdraws from the Federal
Union, I prefer to maintain my allegiance to the old Constitution as long as a
fragment of it survives, and my longer stay here would be wrong in every sense
of the word. In that event, I beg you will send or appoint some authorized
agent to take charge of the arms and munitions of war here belonging to the
State, or direct me what disposition should be made of them. And furthermore,
as President of the Board of Supervisors, I beg you to take immediate steps ~
to relieve me as Superintendent, the moment the State determines to secede; for
on no earthly account will I do any act, or think any thought, hostile to or in
defiance of the old Government of the United States.
With great respect,
&c.,
w. T. SHERMAN.
SOURCES: Charles B. Richardson, Our Great Captains: Grant, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, and Farragut,
p. 90-1; Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 341-2
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