Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-03
raE sass INAUGURATION aGHEE-
MENT

THE SIS e 70 uAN.JoBN>gOS AsHhf'
MENr.
The splendid military services OF General
sasRrss should have spared him the hssty cen
sure Of the secretary Of vr for be tfst arrange
ment With the rebei General Johnston for the
surrender Of be srnJ and the restoration OF
peace He mar have exceeded bis authority s.
military commander tine Transaction reported.
bet must not be forgotten that the agreement
was not binding unless Il received the approval
Of the president And the result shows that
nothing vas los, by the cessation oil noss'iinss'
A soou a. General SaEsxss vas advised that
shs govern ncat would not sanction bis proposed
Agreement With Joaxsrox other terms we're a.
once usds which received the approval Of Gene
raj Gsaxr and the administration. The facts 10
the case give no room whatever 70 question tho
integrity and patriotism Of General SHERnsS.
IL he erred at all In his agreement with the rebel
commander. II vas only az error OF jsdg-
mert. and even that only consisted in
proposing terms OF settlement, which. in his
judgment. we're best to restore peace and union
upon the most enduring basis. We do not pro-
poss 10 Justify or defend the arrangement OF
General SEAMAN. but We question the proprieiy
ofSecrstsry SrAsroSs prompt. severe. and uh-
called for rebuke Of that gallant officer In
giving his reasons for rejecting the first sgree-
ment between SHERMAN and JOHNSTON. the secre-
nry Of war makes the following point;
"It gave terms that had been deliberately.
repeatedly. and solemnly rejected by Mr.. Lax
coLx, and better terms than the rebels had ever
- sh..-
Did not the late president frequently suggest
terms fpeace az favorable as those proposed by
General SHERMAN, if not more soy IL i. stated
By q contemporary tina. duplicate ofthe memo
rsads in which Mr.. LfScoLs set forth his terms
Of reconstruction to the citizens OF Richmond
was sent by courier. Immediately after its com
position, TO the Confederate Government. and il
IL probable that tbs document nas in JoHSsroS's
haDds At the tine OF his negotiation with Gene
raj SHrRnAy. Ifsuch tho fact. was it not =
sufficient authority for General SHERMAN TO
make the arrangement that be ddf Aud
there is no question but Mr.. LINCOLN lad often
expressed his willingness even than this.
his anxiety, to grant terms of peace. equally "a
l.bsral Is those proposed by srrax.S In tho
Hampton Roads conference he only insisted upon
union and the adjustment OF slavery as cond-
tions of peace. and those conceded, he informed
the rebel commissioners that upon all other ques-
lions the most liberal arrangements would be
made. -
As further evidence that the reason Mr. STAN
TON offers for the rejection OF Gen. SHERxAS's
agreement. az lit gave terms that had been de-
Ebsrately, repeatedly and solemnly rejected by
Mr. LINCOLN" is historically untrue, We quote
the following extracts from .he letter Of the ia,
ter 20 HoRAcs GREELEY:
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WA-HISGrox. April -. 1862
Hon. Horace Greeley:
As to the policy "seem TO be pursuing "a
you say, / have not meant TO leave any one in
DOUBT I would save the union rorid sare
IL ~ THE SHORTEST WAY under the constitution.
The sooner the national authority can be re
stored the nearer The anton riA be-fhe union as
IL
Ii there be those Who would not save the union
unless they could at the same time save slavery.
do not agree srifh them. ....
Iithese be those WAC would no. save the union
unless they could tho same time destroy
slavery. do NOT agree tcih THAN
Nv paramount obIec, is to save the union. and
either save or destroy slavery
If could save the union without freeing
.ny slave. | would do il: IL could save il by
freeing all the slaves, I would do il; and II
could do j, by freeing some and leaving Others
alone, | would also do that.
What 1 do about slavery and ths colored
rsce. | do because believe il helps TO save
this union. and what l forbssr. ] forbear be
cause do not believe il would help 20 cave the
union
shall do less whenever 1 shall believe what
l am doing hurts the cause. and shall do more
whenever | believe doing more will help the
.4Itis.
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