Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-12
GREENsnonoUau, April 30, 1868.

\ - ---- GREEEsBORoUGH, April 20, 1861.
/ To his Ercellency Joseph B. Bfdton, 4azpssta,
- Ca; a. O.. Mdgrdth, Governor Of gS64th Cdf-
olina Spartansburg, via Chester, fSo,fh Oar
oltnd; John Milton, FIofidd:. -.
The disaster in Virginia; the captufeby
the enemy of all our workshops for the pre-
PARTON of ammunition and repairing arms;
the impOssibility of recruiting our little
army, opposed by more than ten times Its
number, or of supplying 1t except by rob-
bing our own citizens, destroyed all hope
of successful war, X hayef therefore, made
a military convention with Gel! SHERMAN
to terminate hostilities in North and South
Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
made this convention to spare the blood
of the gallant little army committed to me,
toprevent further sufferings of our people
blythe devastation and ruin ineyitable from
the marches of invading armies, and to
avoid the crime Of waging hopeless war,
,,.-, j. E. JoHNsT0N, General.
Upon parting with General Johnston,
one feels that Providence must, ,hayeord
ed that men of such marked character
should have become identified with the Re-
bellion to giyeit that vitality without which
1t could never have been prolonged for the
time necessary to achieve the great purpose
Heaven had in view, w.,a-,.., f.,-,. -
He had noticed that the papers were Be-
verely criticising Gen. Sherman Il aeaid,
i"Yes, the Government, WE think, and 1the
, public share the idea that Gem Sherman
F, had been oyerreached In the negotiatiOnb-
that they were more liberal than were ever
asked for, and such as W ould have been glRd-
lyaccepted by the South at anytime during
the past two or three years that they look
ed to q recognition of all the Rebel State
Governments, which Involved the possible
payment of the rebel debt and aireopening
of the whole question of slavery, which ali
teel the war has definitely settled, He re-
piled: TT was the basis made, of q settle
meent Intended for the approval or rejection
OF the respective OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES q final
convention. Generals in the field had often
terminated wars in that way; and ,Napo-
leon, during his Italian campaigns, settled
affairs in similar way. There were but
two methods of proceeding with the South
TO pacify or punish. He thought there
had been punishment enough for both par
ties in the war itself. There had been blood
shed enough. Gen. Sherman thought it
would be best for the country and all con-
cerned that the Union should be restored
70 ut once, and not by slow degrees.
A member of the staff said, 81 notice they
talk of breaking down every man OF respec-
tabilityin the South by taking away his
d property and running him. Il replied, ~
q think the chief Indignation of the people
lies against the original instigators-
political leaders-more than toward those
who have incurred the risk and exposure Of
war THAT there is nothing like vindctive-
less Icy even toward SilI' them only they wish to
During breakfast Gen. Johnston express
d much regret that Booth could not have
been taken alive, SO as to draw out of him
he whole plot. The Southern people could
OF certainly be connected in the minds of
he people with the transaction. The sin
sle argument that Mr.. lincoln was better
OF them than Mr.. Johnston, was asufficient
proof on that point if there were no oth,r.
| -. .r. -. .... ON SLAVERY.
Gen. Johnston said he had no doubt the
people of the South would acquiesce In the
abolition of slavery. The members of bis
! staff spokeo 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 Tabor than to
employ slave labor The only fear he had
ON the subject was In the working of the
system on the large rice plantatiohs Of the
Gulf States. r...-,.,,f-..
On these and many other topics Gen.
Johnston expressed the most enlightened
views. j, -ily lii g a. iga9Zo sTdissor
adjust as l was about to take leaye,t tall
officer approached the General, with hat In
hand, and with speech evidently prepared,
said: al came to bid you good byy General;
i hope when we draw our 'claymees'it it will
be under more favorable circumstances"
at is too late for me to think OF thatnow,"
the General promptly replied, with an en-
phasis which half conveyed rebuke for
the officer. ''Ihen you want 70 return to
peaceful pursuits, General" "Yes, that Is
now my only, ambition" he said. ana TAX
ing the officer BY the hand,T said [: ~ shall
always be glad to seeyou.rebn9r ed
Soon afterward the preparations for NOV
ing were far advanced, and after obtaining
the Generals autograph, and that of the
members of his immediate staff, 1 took
leave, impressed with the conviction that
the South had at least one safe man to fol-
low as well as good Geheral.oS sf.i