The Portland daily press., 1865-05-19
General Sherman.

!
This gentleman, who has made 50 good
lighter but SO miserable diplOmatist, Is dlspos'
| ed to quarrel with Gen Halleck and Secreta-
ry Stanton because they snubbed his late
movement torestore the rebels to their ancient
power and to give them chance to over
ride the Union men of the South. The Wash
IN oton correspondent Of a New York paper
saws Gen. Ha leck recently wrote to Gen.
Sherman as follows:
GAS you will be in Richmond in few DAYS,
allow me TO offer you the Inequalities of my
house here, where shall be gratihed to re.
ceive you and contribute to make your soiourn
here agreeable"
According to the same authority Sherman
TESTIFY replied as follows: RNAAAA3G Il
"Your proffered hospitality is respectfully
declined. had hoped to pass through Rich
mond without the painful necessity of meet
ing y0u.t Your recent advisory dispatch to
the War Department is a sufficient explana-
tlon.' ttIl#e H92eAHAM
Gen. Halleek would have been justified in
taking no further notice of the waspish Cen
eral, but he betrayed conciliatory spirit, and
said in reply;
I alsI regret your declining my invitation, and
the unfriendly spirit manifested ia your note.
III you knew the feeling in Washington and
at The War Department in reference to your
agreement with Johnston, you would appreci
ate tie motive of my despatch to which you
refer. Permit me to assure you of my kind
feeling toward you personally, and my high
admiration for your serVices.h sas toa
Gen. Sherman replied to this as follows
securing no laurels for his own brow. and
leaving Halleck master of the field in all that
relates to the gentleman and the courteous
officer:
81 think understand both the circumstan.
ces and the men sufficiently well to appreciate
the motives OF your despatch. Both you and
Mr.. Stanton sent me warning to beware of as
sasins. l did not then know that the authors
Of the warning were themselves the assassins
| had to fear" T~as 40
Gen. Sherman may live to learn that In ve-
tcing his sngularly strange transaction with
Johnston, Mr.. Stanton only reflected the al
most universal sentiment Of the country, and
did an act for which the nation will hold him
in lasting remembrance. Il was he, when the
terms Of that unfortunate negotiation was laid
before the people, who presented ia brief terms
the simplest and strongest replies that could be
made to them. The nine propositions expos
ing the seven conditions of the so-caed .ba-
sis of peace"-terse, strong, and well-consid
ered-have furnished arguments to all men,
and were particularly valuable coming at a
time when the whole country was astounded
by the extraordinary announcement that Gen.
Sherman was willing to give more to the rebels
than ihey themselves had asked, and almost to
conclude peace without first consulting his
| Government.
Had not Secretary Stanton published
ed this information, VIC should have had the
disloyal men justifying the understanding be,
tween Sherman and Johnston, and thus a
party would have been raised which it would
have been necessary 10 contend with aid diff
| fcult to put down. 1t is to The characteristic
promptituGe, energy, courage, and High-souled
patriotism of Secretary Stanton that we are
indebted for this, as we have been for many
other exhibitions of devotion to his country