, 1865-05-05
Is SIBERIAN REBEL The very liberal terms

Is SIBERIAN REBEL ?-The very liberal terms
which General Sherman agreed to give the reb-
els in the recent negotiations with Johnston and
others, in the event of their acceptance by the
powers that be at Washington, gives rise to
suspicion among the "Unionists' that Sherman
is infected with rebellious proclivities 1t
matters not that with single bold dash through
the South Gen. Sherman practically put an end
TO the rebel scheme of establishing their Con-
federacy it matters not that he led the best
disciplined and braTest army in the world to
victory, his glorious military campaigns have
been dimmed by his last and boldest negotia-
tions to establish peace "from the Potomac to
the Rio Graude." AT least his fair fame has
been ta-nlshed if not destroyed, in the estima-
tion of the New Nation loyalists, by his turning
his best energies toward adjusting terms for
lasting peace and the restoration of the Union.
1t is true that he had no authority to negotiate
with the rebels for peace, but it seems that he
undertook to negotiate no farther than to sub
nit propositions as basis of agreement to his
superiors at Washington. The order which
Sherman issued to his army, shows conclusive
ly that he was impressed with the idea that the
terms agreed upon between himself and John
ston would be favorably considered and acted
upon by the Federal authorities 1t looks us if
Sherman had an understanding with Mr.. Lin
coln that some such terms as he submitted
would be agreed to; for it is not likely that
- borr
to assume to dictate terms to the Commander
in-Chief and Executive. The terms of agree
ment, if they had been accepted, would have
simply placed the Southern States in the iden-
tical positions in the Union they occupied pre-
vious to the rebellion, with The rights of the
States and the rights of the people unimpaired.
1t would have been carrying out the doctrine
SO unanimously agreed upon by the Federal
Congress in the beginning of the rebellion,
that the war should be prosecuted in no spirit of
conquest or subjugatiop, but simply to put
down the rebellion, &C., &C. The slavery ques-
ton, no matter what terms are agreed upon,
seems likely to become dead issue Gen. Lee
says that the people of the South are anxious to
getrid of slavery, and he probably speaks the
sentiments held by the masses of the Southern
people-Jef. Davis and others to the contrary,
notwithstanding. The Southern States would
abolish slavery we believe if the whole question
should be left to the people of those States to
settle among themselves exclusively. The slave
power of the JEFF. Davis factionists is destroyed
forever, and when the war terminates and peace
nj hall
throughout the land, those factionists, who led
the South into rebellion, will be despised and
cast out by the people of their own section
The slave power will be destroyed with the an
Inhalation of that pet scheme of the rebel lead
ers: Southern Corfederacy.
Among the objections urged why Sherman's s
propositions as . basis of settlement were re-
jeeted, is the statement thai they ''gaye terms
that have been deliberately, repeatedly and SOL
emnly rejected by President Lincoln, and better
terms than the rebels ever asked in their most
prosperous Condition" Mark that down. Terms
tRathqd been repeatedly and solemnly rejected By
President Lincoln, and better terms than the rebels
had sper asked IN. THEIR MOST PROSPER
OUS CONDLZIONl The objections appear
among the dispatches, but whether they come
from an official source or not, we are not in
formed; but by they whomsoever were gotteaup
the truth seems to have been ignored entirely
1t is not true that the rebels in their prosperous
condition, ever asked for, or were willing to ac-
cept Union and submission to the Constitution
and federal authority, but on the contrary, it
is well established fact that they would con-
sent to no terms other than disunion and South
ern lndependerce. And as to the statement that
Mr.. Lincoln had repeatedly and 5olemnly reject
ed the terms agreed upon and submitted by
Sherman, we believe it is false. If true, the
facts would have certainly been made public
before this; and further, if true, the repeated
rejection of such terms by Mr.. Lincoln, would
have been more damaging to the craftsmanship
of that gentleman than to the rebel cause.
But little more time and information is need
ed to develop the facts in regard to Sherman's
actions, and when the truth comes to be fully
known, we have no doubt the public will be sat-
isfed that he has acted throughout with sim
cere desire to restore peace and Union to the
country.
-~-~-EE----
SURRESDERED.-Th dispatches announce that