Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-10

The public papers, which defend General
SaKnxas against the attacks made on him for
his transaction -ith JOHNSTON. including the
capture aud surrender Of the rebel army. gen.
orally assume it. ss . foregone conclusion, thai
tina, be made a m,stsks. ye, no one has shown
ss wherein the mistake consisted. and l venture
70 say no one can SHOW snythiog in the matter.
either 10 principle or detail. inception or result.
to which the most puDetiiious can object. re-
Or, as q matter Of course, 10 What be 10 fact
did. not TO what IL assumed for him or falsely
imputed to him. The actual facts. plainly told
are these
On the 18th OF April Sherman had, Johnston
so hemmed In that he must either fight or sur
render. On thatday, aud in this condition OF
things. the two generals met and discussed not
only the surrender Of the army under Johnston
but the othes rebcl forces 10 the south and west,
in the expressed hope that they might save
further efFusion OF blood. "A the proposed &C
ton, eycepf 90 far a. concerned forces under the
command Of each. Was beyond their power. they
agreed 70 q suspension Of hostilities. their armies
remaining in sfsfu quo, until each coald consult
With, add obtain the Instructions Of. those in
powsr-Sbermsn. Of course, that Of the presi-
| dent Of the United States and bis cabinet.
He reported IT once. and received instruction.
to confne himself 20 the mere military surrender
Of the rebel troops Ia his power. He according.
" received The surrender of Johnston with hi:
~ 900 men. with their arms and munitions OF
var; precisely What be would have done had tho
cabinet directed him not 20 negotiate. but with
out any attempt TO excite 9 public clamor. Thi:
is all Sherman did. and all be proposed to do
until he should receive instructions from the de
| psrtment. HI held Johnston and his army firm
"; he lost no advantage which be could have
gained had be attacked Johnston immediaiel,
without negotiating, but saved, no doubt, the ct
| fusion Of blood. e.
Nov, / am at a loss To End the mistake
W as il in the propositions which we're sent Il
| the president and the cabinet2 Thew are great
" misrepresented 10 the .secret,ry's bulletin
But il 10 no matter what they were, they Cant
~ith no authority. Sherman assumed none. bu
simply sept the proposition TO be passed upon oy
| the cabinet. Sigma" . very able writer in Th'
| Commercial. and one who represents the cas'
| fsirlv, is OF opinion that the propositions were
themselves the best practical. Ii may be so
md probably IL, but a years experience vii
show US
But, ia this matter. General Sherman coul'
hardly be charged with thinking tor himself
| The propositions submitted we're conceived IL
he spirit Of Mr. Lincoln's last speech. wbicl
General Sherman TO doubt had seen, "a il was il
al the public prints: aud there is no proof. aud
'ndeei. no ~pretense. that he had seen Mr.. Lin
,dln's Instructions to General Grant, with whicl
| the propositions are 30 elaborately contrlsted il
the secretsry's bulletin. The propositions ma,
&c the best. or the worst possible; but. in eithe
case. | have yet To learn that there vas a mis-
take in making them known TO the president.
L. EWING.