The mountain Democrat., 1865-06-17
General shormaa.

endorsed bis genius and patriotism, are
now foremost in impuiing to him the
worst Of motives and the basest of pur.
poses. With remarkable unanimity these
syeophants and hits&DgA all unite in de-
claring him to be insane or "disloyal,'
and cry out with one voice. "crucify
him I" Ills eminent services and un.
swerving and unSelfish fidelity to his
country, are referred to with q sneer, by
creatures who are destitute OF honor or
patriotism. By his arrangement with
General Johnston for the disbandment Of
all the armies Of the South, aud the sub
mission Of the seeded States to the au.
thority Of the Constitution, he has incur
red their bitter ccnsure-the cenSure Of
men who are at the same time extrava-
CANT in their praises Of the late President
Lincoln. The fellows seem to have forgot
ten the latest entries upon Mr.. Llncoln's
official record, and in censuring him they
reflect upon Mr.. Lincoln. Mr.. Lincoln,
in his last message TO Congress, after dis.
cussing the position Of Mr.. Davis and
himself-the one committed to separation,
the other equally committed to maintain
the Union-snys:
"What is true, however, Of him who heads
the insnrgent cause, Is not necessarily true of
hNNmA rtrr1a toll, A.. L..
cePt the Union. they can. Some of them We
know desire peace and reuniOn. The number
of such may increase. They can have peace at
any time, b. simply laying down their arms
and submitting TO the national authority under
the Constitution. After 50 much, the Govern.
ment could not, IL it would, maintain war
against them. The loyal people would not
sustain or allow it. II questions should remain
we could adjust them BY the peaceful means Of
legislation conference courts and votes opera
ting only IN Constitutional and lawful chan.
nels."
Here Mr.. Lincoln distinctly announced
that the rebels-'can have peace at any
time, by simply laying down their arms
and submitting to the national authority
under the Constitution. Remembering the
language Of Mr.. Lincoln General Sherman
in his negotiations with General Johnston,
adopted the policy enunciatrd by the
President, supposing that il would be ap.
proved by the Administration and he sat.
isfactory TO the people. He could not
think otherwise. Again, still later, in his
instructions to Mr.. Seward in his confer.
ence with Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and
Campbell. President Lincoln said:
"NO cessation Of hosiiliiiee, short Of an end
OF the war, aad the disbnndment Of ell the
forces hostile tn the Government. Ynu will
inform them that all propositions If theirs not
incnnsisteut with the above. will be consider
ed and passed upon in spirit Of sincere liber.
ality."
General Sherman'S agreement with
General Johnston wSs certainly mot in.
consistent with the above; and it is rea
sonable TO presume that he had these ex.
preSSicns Of the views Of President Lin.
coin in mind, when he signed the agree.
ment with Johnston 70: IAN end Of the
war, and the diSbandment Of all the forces
hostile to the Government" No blame
can possibly attach to him; he merely
carried out the openly expressed views Of
the President. He thought, very correct.
ly, that Mr.. Lincoln was sincere in his
message and in his instructions to Mr..
Seward. lie could not think otherwise
without casting n reflection upon the sin.
cerity Of the Chief Magistrate Of the ma.
tion; and in thinking 20 and in acting in
conformity with the expressed views Of
the President he acted judiciously. and
deserves praise and not censure. To con.
demn him for carrying into effect Mr..
LIncoln's views is singular way to man.
ifest respect for the iluStrious dead.
The Administration knew and by keep.
ing him in command. endorsed. General
Sherman's policy. Long before his agree.
ment with General Johnston he told the
people Of Georgia that he should fght
them until they laid down their arms and
returned to the Union declaring, at the
same time, that he entertained no unkind
feelings toward the Southern people, and
that he would divide his last crust with
them after their submission IL the author.
ity Of the Federal Govern ment. Here is
an extract from one of his letters, which
vas published in oil the leading papers
of the Union, and which the President
and the Cabinet must have seen:
"My opinion Is that no negotiations are ne.
cesSAry, nor commissioners, nor conventions
nor ANYTHING Of the kind Whenever the pen.
pie of Georgia quit rebelhnR against their gov.
eminent. and elect representatives and senator's
in Congress. and these 60 and take their seats,
then this State of Georgia will resume her
functions in the Union"
Is there anything inconsistent in his
agreement with Johnston with his policy
as here avowed! Was any objection,
from any quarter, made to it At the timer
II We mistake not, many of the papers
which now condemn him, then commend.
ed him for his able craftsmanship, a.
well as for his military skill. If his views
we're not in harmony with the purposes
Df the Administration, he would have
been notified by removal or rebnke in
some form. That he was neither removed
nor rebuked is sufficient evidence that
Mr. Lincoln fully approved his views.
VOTED FOR IT. T.-Andrew johnson, the
new President Of the United States, voted
or the Crittenden ComprOnise in 1881.