The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-06-05

that shadow il should be read. 1t will soon |
be made public, and the writer of this VEN
lures 70 predict that every fair-minded man
who contributed to the clamor will, on read
ing it, regret his part.
The rejection of the convention and the
reasons of Stanton were gwen TO the public
at the same moment They had the appear
ance OF contemporaneous acts; but they
were entirely distinct and separate. The
fact of disapproval was sent by Grant, and
was entirely legitimate, and resulted well.
Grant even did not know these 'reasons."-
Not a shade of discomfort could have arisen.
Why, then publish these reasons! The an
swer of Mr.. Stanton is, that Gen. Sherman's
order announcing the truce TO his army made
it necessary; that he could not disappoint
the hopes of the army, based upon this order.
without giving the reasons that be got
copy of the order after Grant LETT, and Thea
penned these reasons. The gloom OF the
public mind, and his own escape from assas-
sination, no doubt colored his statement, and
suspicion, aroused by desperate crime Ii;
upon the most conspicuous person, who, at
the moment, seemen TO thwart the national
cry for vengeance. Sherman's arrangement
breathed the spirit of the dead president;
but il came one week too late or one month
too early In either contingency Stantpn's
reasons would never have been issued. They
were his alone, and are plainly marked with
passion, but may have been published with.
out malice.
But, it is said, why did Sherman issue this
order to his troops! Why did he assume
that peace was 10 exist from the Potomac to
the Rio Grande? Why not wait till tho ar
rangement was approved? The answer is,
that it was necessary to announce the truce
to the army to prevent collision and loss of
life. The order was to the army only, and
expressly stated that the truce depended up.
on the approval of the president. Without a
knowledge of the truce how could officers or
men perform their new duties, and in what
better terms could a conditional truce be
expressed? Sherman talked TO his army
alone, merely for their temporary action
Con any man read the order now without ap-
proving 1t?
Then followed the advice of Halleck to ie-
more Grant, TO insult Sherman, and to arrest
the movements of subordinate officers, not
only without the knowleig e, but in defiance
of both of them. And this accompanied by
the military offence of Halleck's disregardins
truce an" actC 'ly invading another mill
tary "a Yartment TO assault an enemy under
terms OF surrender. 1t was fortunate that
this order was countermanded in time or an
actual collision might have occurred in vio-
lation of a truce between two armies of our
noble heroes. For this, Gen. Halleck alone
ought to be held responsible. If he was Of
any service at all, other than an expensive
luxury, tied and labelled away where 1t wa.
supposed ne wa harmless, he should, as
writer on military law, have been the last
man to advise the breach of a Nuce-the sol
Giers' higher law" He knew that John.
ston had surrendered, was awaiting the ac-
ton OF the president upon that surrender,
and that Grant, his superior officer, was con-
veying that action to Sherman, and yet be
advised a course that could only be justified
| by the clearly ascertained fact that both
Grant and Sherman were traitors 10 their
country.
And then why publish this order? What
motive could possibly induce this IF some
grave exlgency justified the order it should
have been kept secret as the grave. If they
found Sherman was playing she traitor, their
! precautions should have been concealed In
any aspect, the publication of this paper
seems the grossest folly or the meanest NAL
ice. If justified by events, il was blundeT
to publish their plans but when viewed by
the light OF events, il was most gross pub
lie insult heaped upon a soldier while in the
successful discharge Of the highest duties -
The writer of this does not know that either
Stanton or Hslleck authorized its pubIica
tion but be does know the whitening effect il
what was alleged in it, but for what was
fairly Implied from it. Why is not this ex
planned Who published it? Where was the
public censor then Why not now announce
in an eqaily specific order that the fears upon
which 1t was based proved utterly ground
lessr If Mr.. Stanton published this order
and will not now openly acknowledge that it
was founded in error, he continues an insult
and evinces malice Then he must expect
open defiance ana insult, and neither his
person nor his rank can shield him.
1t cannot be denied that after this order
was issued, while the telegraph was under q
strict military censorship. the public mind was
poisoned against Gen. Sherman by kilograms
since shown TO he false as that he refused 10
obey the summons of the congressional COM
mittee, and that facts relieving him from
blame were not stated, as that the order of
Gen. Weitzel was approved by Mr.. Lincoln,
but afterwards withdrawn. And this, too,
while, Gen. Sherman was beyond the reach
of letter or telegraph, actively engaged in his
official duties. 1t is true that Mr.. Stanton
neither can or ought to control the press, and
is often roughly handled by it. Yet had not
an officer in Gen. Sherman's position the right
TO expect some effort on the part of his de
partment 10 stay the tide of ealumny the
very moment the return of Gen. Grant with
the unconditional surrender Of Johnston
proved how gruundless and foolish had been
the idle fears at Washington.
Now, 1t is plain that the true course is TO
publish the official repOrt;to respect the Batur-
al resentment of a soldier sensitive on account
OF palpable wrong; to avoid mIngling per
sonal feelings with the general Joy of over
great triumphs; to neither force or oppose
public judgement upon the merits of a con-
trovesy no longer important to the nation, and
leave to the country and history to settle the