Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-25
TUESDAY MORNING. APRIL 2;
..sENEsAL SHEA PEACE cor.
VEHTuOyu

vEyTI0N."
Under this caption The Cincinnati Gazette. in
commenting upon the arrangement or under
standing between General SHErxAx and The IN
surgent Cerersi JOHNSTON. remarks:
.Happ;ly for the republic, the extraordinary
powers which crest civil var has placed IN ne
hands Of the executive. we're 10 the bands OF
man vho vas never in the least pulled up oi
them SO the power OF the general IN chief OF
20 great an army. and the popular iasof "hicn
fell 70 the great victor Of the war. ieil upon
man vho uses his power aud wears DIS hohofs
modestlv. and In strict subordinsron 10 the con
sttuted authority. And We are assured by that
regard which the new executive has always
shown for the source OF all power in this govern
nens--thst respect for the people, which with
him is . fixed and governing principle. that pow
er in his hands will not be an incentive 20 usurp
ing strokes OF state and that all military pow
srs will be kept in subordinstion to the consttu-
tional authority"
We do not propose 10 justify OF apologize Tor
any Of the acts Of General sHrKxas. The Ca
zette, however. remarks, 'that all military pow
ers viii be kept 10 subordinstion to the constitu-
tional authority" Has this been dones Has not
the military power. in almost numberless in
stances usurped the constitutional authority. or
in other and more appropriate words. the civil
authority. for that according to the constitution.
is the supreme authority But il is we'll to in
quife vha, have been the protested objects of the
warf On the 22i day Of July. 1861. the fol
lowing resolution was adopted by the United
States House Of Representatives. almost unsni
mously. the vote being yeas l2l. nays2:
"Resolced. By the House of Representatiues Of
the Congress Of the United States Tba, the pres
ent depiorablc civil war has been forced upon the
countr- By the dsunionists Of the southern states
now in arms around the capital: that in this ns
tioaal emergency, congress, bzGishing all feel
ings Of mere passion resentment. will recollect
only its duty to the whole country: that the war
Is not waged on their part in any spirit OF op
preston, or for any purpose of ccrquest or sub
jugation, or purpose of overthroving or.interfer
ing with the rights established Institutions OF
those states. bat 20 defend and maintain the ga
premacy OF the constitution. and TO preserve the
Unien with all the dignity, equality and rights Of
the several states unimpaired; and that as soon
as these objects are accomplished the war ought
to cease"
This Is the platform on which the war was to
be conducted, and il received the unanimous
sanction OF the representatives of the party in
power in the popular branch Of congress. Now
the question arises whether the terms agreed upon
by General SIBERIAN in snywise conflicts with
the solemnly declared objects for which the war
vas TO be waged? whs, were those declared
purposes?
TWAS not to be waged with feelings Of passion
resentment:
II was no. 10 be waged ia any spirit of Cypress
ion. or for any purpose OF conquest or snbluga-
ton. or purpose of overthroring or interfering
with the rights or established institutions Of the
states But the sole svowed object to de
fend and maintain the supremacy Of the constitu-
ton. AMI to preserve che union. with sill the die
nifty. equality and rights OF the several states IN
impaired. And when these objects were accom-
.pished, the House, composed OF a large MAORI
ty of the now dominant party. expressed the con
viction that the wax should cease
We now inquire in what respect General SHEE
MANS agreement With the rebel ehief;ain conhcti
With the resolution We have quoted. which set'
forth the purposes for which the war 10 have
been eonduciedl
II is charged that General SHERMAN went be
yond his Instructions or authority in his contract
with JOHNSTON; but is it hardly possible that he
would have assumed the responsibility OF srraDg
ing terms of peace without some understanding
with those in civil authority an indication that
such settlement would be sceeptable2 IL Gen
SHERMAN acted upon his own responsibility. how
ever. and without consultation with the civil an
thorities in his negotiations with the rebel gener
al 1t was exercise of military power, howev
er we'll intended it may have been. which Is dan
geraus In the extreme to civil liberty and th
maintenance Of the supremacy Of the eonstitu