Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-24


and not merely terms of surrender
which the telegraph gives as those recently
agreed upon between Sherman and John
ston, are by no means such IS we should
expect to be made by General of sher-
mans reputation Tor ability and patriotism.
They win rouse the people of the entire
North with indignation and alarm, which
only she announcement that they are
unanimously disspprOyed by the Presi-
dent, BY the Cabinet, and by. Lieutenant
General Grant can sIlsy. The very pos
sibility that by the mere agreement of
subordinate military officer the whole
power of the Government might bs par
elyzed, the whole suffering and
sacrifice Of the war come 10 nsught, the
crime Of murder and treason be left uD-
punished, and the murderers and traitors,
protected by amnesties and agreements,
permitted 20 unis-rule the South sgain, and,
when they please, to raise renewed
rebellion, knowing from The psst thst even
should they fail they will not be punished,
suggests that our duty is not yet done, and
fhat the rebellion Is not yet crushed
Thank God there is no danger of such 8
eonsummation and spOtheosis Of treason
now.- Two weeks ago there might have
been. The nation and its great
leader were relenting and merciful. But
the rebellion has N urdered Mercy and
Justice with drawn sword now contronts
them. The assassination Of the President
has opened the eyes Of the nation TO the
horrible wicksdness of the Southern trail
tors, and they are determined not only to
crush it, but to extirpate its seeds and wipe
away from the earth all possibility of fu-
ture insurrection. They will do nothing
for vengeance, but everything for the sec
urity of the future And so they demand
thAt justice be done to traitors-that such
an example be made of them that in all
future time no man shall dare to raise his
hand against the national life.
We have said that, two weeks sgo, the
nation was in lenient mood. But even
then such terms As Sherman has agreed
upon would have shocked and startled 1t.
Saying nothing of theiI spirit, of the un-
precedented protection they give to Grim
insls, of the premium they offer for future
insurrection, the very impudence with
which a subordinate officer, commanding
only part of our grand army, usurps the
functions not only of the executive but Of
the legislative and Judicial departments of
his government, is most astonishing. Gen
ersl Sherman does not, as did his great su-
perior In rank and genius, Gen. Grant, con
fine himself tomilitary matters, but grAvely
proceeds to decide Judicial questions IN 5
manner that would be ridiculous were it
not alarming. He coOlly grants amnesty,
not only to JohnstOn's soldiers, (even that
would be stretch of his prerogstive,) but
TO the entire people Of the South, JEFF.
Davis and all. Not only this, but he
pledges the Government TO recognize the
rebel officials now in charge of State Gov.
erupents in insurrectionary States. These
propositions are not only utterly abhorrent
70 the sense of justice of the North but
they are, unless authorized by the Presi-
dent 8 most impudent and dangerous
usurpatiOn of the whole functions of gov
ernment for which an officer of less dis
tinctien and merit than General Sherman
would have been eashiered.
There is no need for us to discuss these
propositions. They are revolving to the
free North. They are terrible injustice
TO the Union people of the South. They
offer premium for future insurrections.-
The people will rejoice to know that they
are unanimously condemned by the gov
eminent, snd that Grant has gone down
70 superintend matters in person.