The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-10 00:00:00

" THE BASIS OP AGREEMENT.

"The memorandum or basis of what was agreed
upon between Generals Johnston and Sherman : the
results are as follows :

" Memorandum or basis of agreement made this
18th day of April, A.D. 1865, near Durham's

air- -

Station, and in the State of North Carolina, by
and between General Joseph E. Johnston, com-
manding the Confederate Army, and Major-Gene-
ral William T. Sherman, commanding the Army
of United States in North Carolina, both present.
" ' 1. The contending armies now in the field to
maintain their status quo until notice is given by the
commanding General of either one to its opponent,
and reasonable time—say 48 hours—allowed.

" ' 2. The Confederate armies now in existence to
be disbanded and conducted to their several State
capitals, there to deposit their arms and public pro-
perty in the State arsenals, and each officer and
man to execute and file an agreement to cease from
acts of war, and abide action of both State and
Federal authority. The number of arms and
munitions of war to be reported to the chief of ord-
nance at Washington city, subject to future action
of the Congress of the United States, in the mean-
time to be used solely to maintain peace and order
within the borders of the States respectively.
"' 3. The recognition by the Executive of the
United States of the several State Governments in
their officers and Legislatures, taking oath pre-
scribed by the Constitution of the United States,
and where conflicting State Governments have re-
sulted from the war, the legitimacy of all shall be
submitted to the Supreme Court of the United
States.

" < 4. The re-establishment of all Federal courts
in the several States, with powers as defined by the
Constitution and laws of Congress.
" ' 5 The people and inhabitants of all States to
be guaranteed, so far as the Executive 'can, their
political rights and franchise, as well as their rights
of person and property, as defined by the Constitu-
tion of the United States and of States respectively.

" ' G. The Executive authority of the Government
of the United States not to disturb any of the people
by reason of the late war so long as they live in
peace and quiet and abstain from acts of armed
hostility, and obey laws in existence at any place of
their residence.

"In general terms, war to cease; a general
amnesty, so far as the Executive power of the United
States can command, on condition of disbandment
of the Confederate armies, and the deposition of
arms and the resumption of peaceful pursuits by
officers and men hitherto composing the said armies.
Not being fully empowered by our respective prin-
cipals to fulfil these terms, we individually and
officially pledge ourselves to promptly obtain neces-
sary authority, and to carry out the above pro-
gramme,

"'W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General Com-
manding the Army of the United States
in North Carolina.'
" J. E. Johnston, General Commanding Con
federate States' Army in North Carolina.'

" This proceeding of General Sherman was un-
approved for the following, among other reasons :-
1: It was an exercise of authority not vested in
General Sherman, and on its face shows that both
he and Johnston knew that he (Gen. Sherman) had
no authority to enter into any such arrangement.
2. It was a practical acknowledgment of the rebel
Government. 3. It undertook to re-establish the
rebel State Government, that had been overthrown
at the sacrifice of many thousand loyal lives and
an immense treasure, and placed arms and muni-
tions of war in the hands of the rebels at their re-
spective capitals, which might be used as soon as the
armies, of the United States were disbanded, and
used to conquer and subdue the loyal States. 4. By
the restoration of the rebel authority in their respec-
tive States they would be enabled to re-establish
slavery. 5. It might furnish a ground of responsi-
bility by the Federal Government to pay the rebel
debt, and certainly subjects loyal citizens of the rebel
States to the debt consummated by the rebels in the
name of the State. 6. It puts in dispute the existence
of loyal State Governments and the new State of
Western Virginia, which had been recognised by
every department of the United States' Government.
7. It practically abolishes the confiscation laws, and
relieves rebels of every degree, who had slaughtered
our people, from all pains and penalties for their
crimes. 8. It gave terms that had been deliberately,
repeatedly, and solemnly rejected by President Lin-
coln, and better terms than the rebels had ever
asked in their most prosperous condition. 9. It
formed no bases of true and lasting peace, but re-
lieved rebels from the pressure of our victories and
left them in condition to renew their effort to over-
thrown the United States' Government and subdue
the loyal States, whenever their strength was re-
cruited and any opportunity should offer."

The following order had been promulgated by
General Sherman :

" Headquarters, Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field, Raleigh,
North Carolina, April 19.
" Special Field Order—No. 58.

" The General commanding announces to the
army a suspension of hostilities, and an agreement
with Gen. Johnston and high officials, which, when
formally ratified, will make peace from the Potomac
to • the Rio Grande. Until the absolute peace
is arranged, a line passing through Tyrrell's
Mount Chapel-hill University, Durham's-station,
and West Point, on the Neuse River, will separate
the two armies. Each army commander will group
his camps entirely with a view to comfort, health,
and good police. All the details of military discip-
line must still be maintained, and the General hopes
and believes that in a very few days it will be his
good fortune to conduct you all to your homes.
" The fame of this army for courage, industry,
and discipline is admitted all over the world. Then
let each officer and man see that it is not stained by
any act of vulgarity, rowdyism, and petty crime.
The cavalry will patrol the front of the line. Gen.
Howard will take charge of the district from
Raleigh up to the cavalry ; Gen. Slocum to the left
of Raleigh, its right and rear ; Quartermasters and
Commissaries will keep their supplies up to a light
load, for the waggons and the railroad superinten-
dent will arrange a depot for the experience of each
separate army.

" By order of
" Major-General W. T. SHERMAN.
t, L. W. Dayton, A.A.G."
The following announces the termination of the
truce :

" War Department, Washington,
10 25 p.m., April 25.

" A despatch is just received by this department
from Gen. Grant, dated Raleigh, 9 a.m., April 24.
He says :—' I reached here this morning, and de-
livered to Gcn. Sherman the reply to his negotia-
tions with Johnston. Word was immediately sent
to Johnston terminating the truce, and information
that civil matters could not be entertained in any
convention between any commanders.'

" EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
" Major-General Dix."

A Washington despatch of the 24th says :
. , Advices received here to-day direct from Raleigh
state that the conference between Sherman and John-
ston took place at Chapel-hill, some 15 miles west of
Raleigh. Johnston's army, composed of about 30,000
men, including Hampton and Wheeler's cavalry, lay
30 miles from the city on the road running to Char-
lotte. On the second interview Breckenridge, the
rebel Secretary of War, was present, and partici-
pated in drawing up the already published memo-
randa of terms of capitulation. During the conver-
sation he freely admitted the failure of the rebellion,
and declared that peace was almost at hand ; and
in alluding to the constitutional amendment, he said
that it was strictly the legal way of abolishing
slavery, and he predicted its ratification by more
than two-thirds of the States. It was understood
that during this conference, which lasted two days,
Jeff. Davis was at Hillsborough, and in telegraphic
communication with Breckenridge, at Johnston's
headquarters. The men of the rebel army, with the
exception of now and then some officer, were
anxious for peace, and desired to go home.
Throughout North Carolina there have been most
earnest exhibitions of loyalty."
A Washington correspondent of the Areit, York
Daily News gives the following report of the pro-
ceedings at the Cabinet meeting by which General
Sherman's truce was repudiated :
" The highly important intelligence from General
Sherman was known by me shortly after it reached
the Government, but its transmission over the wires
being forbidden, I made no attempt to send it. Be-
i lieving that the authorities desired that it should not