Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-02

- ~ 80 49, Nf9NAJ 49,
amazed and pinned beyond measure, on learning
thst Con. Shermll had entered into peace nego-
tiatons with the rebel Gen. Johnston and Gen.
Breckenridge, and had agreed to an armistice and
to terms of peace, which were not only unsilisac-
tory bl, were dsgracetui 10 the North and which
could no. have been more claningy devised to
that end, if their whole purpose had been to re-
store, 10 every southern STATE, tho rebel leaders
to their old supremacy. There was hardly another
union commander in the d-ld from whom we
should not sooner have expected such stupendou3
b a-der than from Gen. Sherman, From the
moment he has had conmlnd in the wesl he has
acted wholly upon the belief that war is cruelty
and you cannot rehne il, - aud that rebellion is
the greatest Of crimes deserving no consideration
or mercy. While marching through South Car
DINA his army marked It's way by the ferce,t fires
Of war to show It's utter hate of the state in which
secession had its origin. Ills letters and public
orders have all been stampe with the most intense
adherence Of the rebel cause, the most fierce de-
tesalion Of the shallow articles Of historic a1d
/ log c and lying by ahich traitors have attempted
70 justify it to the world, the most whitening and
sco'cdiog scorn Of the appeals to humanity made
BY the men who had committed every enormity
Of crime which could disgrace race of ayages
lie has nowhere, until this negotiation shown the
least tenderness toward treason or traitors, or the
slightest disposition to mitigate in any degree the
consequences which rebellion has brought, and
ooght 70 bring on the men who plotted and inaug-
urated It, and carry il on. And after his brilliant
military career, proving himself one Of the fore
most Generals Of the world, whose sword ard
whose pen were alike keen in piercing even to the
ylding asunder Of the joints and marrow Of trea-
son, It was most unexpected, most startling, and
most deplorabIe that he should thrs sully the
brightness Of bis fame by practically, so far as he
could do so, surrendering to the rebels everything
which his sword had won from them from Chat
tanooga to Raleigh.
We are not yet disposed to judge Sherman Sc
vetely in this matter,-altbough the terms agreed
upon are not admissible FOR moment. As far
as yet appears, he seemed to ac, from good mo-
tyes. Only two days before he entered into this
agreement, and while, undoubtedly, he was hold
iog conferences respecting il, he issued an order
10 reference to the assassination Of the President
which has the old ring about it, and 10 which be
soys
at is believed by persons capable Of Judging,
that other high officers were designed to share
the same fate. Thus it seems that our enemy,
despalrIng OF meeting US in manly warfare, begin
to resort To the assassin's tools. Your General
does not wish you 20 infer that this is universal
for he knows hat the great mass Of the cOnied
crate army would scorn to sanction such ac's, but
ne believes II the legitimate consequence OF re-
belllon against Iightu authority. We have met
every phase which his war has assumed, and mus.
now be repaired fer II IN It's asst and worst shape,
that Of assassns and guerrI.Ias but woe unto tne
people who seek ~ ex end tier Wild PASSIONS IN
such manner, or there is bl, one dread result
10 treason ia arms Sherman has always b. en-
relentless. But he is by education and pr,Jldc,
pro'shyery h. believes the negro an Inferior
being, and he has no sympathy with the fmauc.
patton policy Of the nation and when the cum
ming Breckenridge came to hin and told him that
rebellion was dead, that the rebel armies were
ready 70 dsband ard 90 home, and thai all they
asked Vas that their arms might he returned 70
tLer respective State ciptaIs, where their * .l-
lures would again assemble, Ike the o4h Of
allegiance o the federal government, and resume
their functions as OF old, Sherman undoubtedly
thought be saw the luIl realization Of that orce
famous political shibbOelb, "Tre Unon as il
was, aud the Constitution as il is, and WIN Il, as
he expressed it, "peace from the Potomac to the
Rio Grnde," and he seized the opportunity OF
making THE, as be believed, desr'ble pcece rri,
seems to usafuil exphuatiou--not lustfcnion-
OF tbs astounding occurrence, except SO flr IS
sherman transeended bis authority as a military
Commander IN negotiating re.pecuas be sidiu,
OF insurgtnt States and Whether 10 THIS respect
he disobsyed orders or MOI, /, now perhaps too
soon to safely Judge, although it should be horne
III mud tait he claims to have had no authority
for the specific agreement, entered into.
The public will probl5Iy soon learn whether
Saerman will offer anything in his defence beg ond
what t facts thus far known suggest. At pres
en-, it does not appear that he was actuatel by any
unworthy mo i've, but that be only made very
serious error 10 judgment an error into which, no
doubt, he was led by his political opinions and by
his earnest desire to see peace once more visit the
country. His reputation as soldier is yet bright
but as statesman and a peace maker he makes,
we regret to be compelled to say, very sorry
figure.
Tho End of Rooth the Assassin