The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-09
the sHERmAR-sTANToH WAR.
Senator John Sherman's Review
Of the Difficulty. 1850 O.
veryCurious Facts Brought to Light
Stanton's Treachery and Halleck's
Malignity.

Stanton's Treachery and Halleck's
Malignity. e
From communication in the Washington Chroni.
Gle Court Journal, May Is.
A quarrel between two high officers OF the
government Is always unfortunate, unseemiy,
and usually injurious to each. This Is especially
90 when they are working in the same great
cause-and that cause brilliantly successful
crowned with q glorious peace. 1t Is Idle 70
conceal evidences of passion eagerly promuii,,
gated by the telegram and press, and II Is wen
for kindly lookers:on to take dispassionmahs e
view to see If all this heat is necessary. Tue
writer of this knows both parties and Ii GER
tainly friendly to each.
The commencement of any difference was
with the decentralization convention. Inns;
If approved by the President would have made
peace between the Potomac and the hlo
Grande. The objections made to this are IN
cluded in three propositions:
LIST. That Sherman had no power TO make
such treaty. The answer is obvious. that ne
never claimed or attempted to conclude the
arrangement. AL he did conclude" was
truce for o few days, and he then submitted tor
the approval or rejection of the President this
important offer of general peace Even IN
arranging the truce he had It all on his side.
Wilson was still moving and holding the onter
coils of the net, while Sherman was building
railroads and repairing roads and bridges,
ready for the final spring if the arrangement
was disapproyed. He gained everything by
the truce and lost nothing. Johnston was
.'corraled, and was kept so by this very truce,
while Sherman was never more active In pre-
pairing for future movements 1t necessary. IL
fs said generals have no business to make
truces. or deal with political questions. anc
that Grant was reproved for this but Sherman
had made truces before, and for year haa been
distinguished for his treatment of political
question, without word of caution or reproOt
from his superiors. The telegram to Grant.
now published as an official order of an old
date, was withheld from Sherman, and Sher-
man had been instructed 20 open communica.
tons with rebel civil authorities.
The second objection is that the arrangement
recognized the rebel State government and
officials This 10 the most serious objection,
and amply justified the government in reject
ing or modifying the arrangements out the
official papers show clearly that Sherman re.
fused to grant this in any shape or form. until
the order of Weitzel, Issued while Mr.. Lincoln
was present in Richmond, convened the rebel
Legislature of Virginia and recognized the rebel
Governor Smith. With this order before him,
without word OF the contrary tenor sherman herman
informed Johnston of the order, and waived
his previous objection 10 recognizing the rebel
State authorities. Why should Sherman be
denounced for submitting to the new President
proposition based upon this order, OF the re-
vocation of which he had not the least notice
How unjust to arraign him for this and then
conceal the fact that he was acting in pursu-
ance of the policy of the fJrmer administra-
ton.
The third objection is that he recognized
slavery and restored the old relation between
master and slave. This is simply absurd.
Sherman has repeatedly acted upon the valid
ity of the proclamation of emancipation and
the laws Of Congress abOlishiDg slavery,
and the idea of repealing or strengthening
them by q military arrangement between the
generals never entered his head. The official
papers show that he urged Johnston to an
nounce as q "fact" the extinction of slavery
"a "tact" that Sherman not only regarded as
fixed, but as unalterabe. The result was that
slavery was not mentioned. but was left pre-
cisely where it ought to Re left. The nervous
fear that this question could not be left to the
law and the Supreme Court did not disturb
purely military mind
This was the arrangement about which so
much has been said. IL disbanded the rebel
armies placed all their arms within our power,
made peace universal; and it was purely con-
ditional, having no life without approval of
the President. Now it is plain that the duty
of the government was simply to approve or
reject it, and give no reasons, but issue its pr
ders; and this is precisely what was done by
the President, and he did no more. Central
Grant was sent to convey this order, and did
his duty nobly aud well, with generous on
sideratiOn for his subordinate and fellOwfOl-
der. Sherman did not hesitate momtnt,
promptly terminated the truce, made Dew
arrangement with Johnston. and at bnce
started for Charleston and Savannah, to PEND
supplies to General Wilson, then far in Gefgia,
aud to close up the scattered links of his treat
command. His official report shows an anbunt
of zeal, activity. patriotism and wonderful
ability not surpassed by any portion 4 his
previous life. All this was going on VILE he
| was in utter ignorance of the wild stdm OF
denuuciatiOn that was sweeping over thewhole
country. While he was supplying WilSn, ar
ranging to catch Davis, bleaching armis from
his command, aud preparing for peae and
home, the press and the telegraph, thdpulpit
| and the rostrum. were ringing with d&uncia-
tions A letter of o rebel to the Londd Times
| was universally quoted as the revelabn of
| plot to overthrow the government. Qomwell
| and Arnold, all that was desperate andviolent,
was suddenly brought to public ndce. To
defend Sherman, and even to beg leople to
wait-let us hear from him." was 10 invite
quarrel and insult. Timid people WEI plying
him and all connected with him. Pbple who
| had slept soundy in their beds Alright and
made money every day during fhe war,
thought Gen. Sherman had joined The "cop-
perheads" and was no botter than Jeff. Davis,
and even limited that he Lad got some of JEFF.
Daviss gold.
Gen. Sherman first met this ''chillng wind
4 as he was coming northward artund Cape
Henry to meet his army and surrender his
command. He was then writing his official
report. He firmly believed that allthis fierce
and most unreasonable ca)amry was organized
by Mr.. Stanton and General Hallek with the
deliberate purpose to lbs lit, hunlilhte and ruin
him. He then first saw Stantons reasons and
Halleck's insulting order. He mixed all the
falsehoods and maHgnty with these two off,
cal acts No wonder that this gave tone to
his official report. and under this shadow it
should be read. 1t will soop be made public,
and the writer of this ventures to predict that
| every fair minded man whocoutributed to the
clamor will on reading it, regret bis part.
The rejection of the contention and the rea-
sons Of Stanton were given to the public at the
same moment. They had the appearance of
contemporaneous acts bat they were entirely
distinct and separate. The fact OF disapprovai
was sent BY Grant, and was entirely legitimate,
| nf Enn