The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-19
A Confab with Gen. JOhnston...His
Private Views Publicly Expressed.

A correspondent of the New York ,1ri-
bune having been favored with an inter-.
view with Gen, JOHNSTON, writes as fol-
lows: -, . -. - - 20. -
he speaks in a low tone of voice, slow.
ly, and with that deliberation which inn
presses you with the idea that each word
is well weighed-fcr it. always the best
word, and fully expresses bis idea. He is,
about fifty; say five feet nine inches high,
with full silver and grey beard and mus
tache, dark, hazel eye, which flashes DUR
ing conversation with a peculiar express
sion. His complexion is bronzed, but
fresh and healthy, and the expression of
his features benevolent, mixed with firm
ness and great solidity of character. He
hasa way of cutting off each word with a
marked precision. His forehead is high
and intellectual, and his figure slight, with
bust well and firmly knit. He impresses
every one as /" high souled, benevolent
gentleman" and soldier, which is the char
acter ascribed to him by Mr.. w. W. Hol-
den, of Raleigh. ei a.o-.a-r ,s7.-..9..o
+ "The surrender of Lees army termi-
mated the war" he said, and nothing re-
mained for us but to make the best terms
we could" This view he expressed to Mr..
Davis, who sent for him to meet him at
Greensboro, shortly following that event.
He he'd noticed that the papers were se-
verely criticising General Sherman.
said, Yes, the Government, we think;
and the public share the idea that General
Sherman had been overreached in the ne.
gotiatiOns that they were more liberal
than were ever asked for, and such as
would have been gladly accepted by the
South at any time during the past two
or three years-that they looked to a re-
cognition OF, all the rebel State Govern
ments, which involved the possible pay,
ment of the rebel debt, and a. re-opening
of the whole question of slavery, which all
feel the war has definitely settled T" He
replied 1t was the basis made of q set
tlement intended for the approval or re.
lection of the respective Governments
not a final convention. Generals in the
field had often terminated wars in that
way; and Napoleon, during his Italian
campaigns, settled affairs in a similar man
ner. There were but two methods of pro-
ceecing with the South-to pacify or pun
ish He thought, there had been punish
ment enough for both parties, in the war
itself. There had been bloodshed enough.
General Sherman thought it would be best
for the country and all concerned that the
Union should be restored at once, and not
by slow degrees. ''''
A member OF the staff said, assI notice
they talk of breaking down every man of
respectability in the South by taking away
his property and running him. 0std :.
lreplied, "I think the chief indignation
OF the people lies against the original insti-
gators-the political leaders Lfiore than
toward those who have incurred the risk
and exposure of the war; there 10 nothing
like vlndicitivness, even towards them,
only they wish to see the law vindicated." !"
During breakfast General Johnston ex-
pressed much regret that Booth could not
have been taken alive, so as to draw out
ofhim the whole plot, The Southern peo-
pie could not certainley be connected in
the minds of the people with the transac-
ton. The single argument that Mr.. Lin
coin was,better for them9thSn Mr.. johnson,
was sufficient proof on that point, if there
were no other. t-g
Gen. Johnston said he had no doubt the
people of the South would acqiesce in the
abolition of slavery. The members of bis
staff spoke of having seen many prominent
gentlemen in the South who fully under
stood that the institution had gone up, and
would accommodate themselves to the
new organization. He believed they would
find it more profitable to hire free labor
than to employ slave labor. The only
fear he had on the subject was the work