Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-09
Sherman's Blunder.

We deem it, on the whole, almost fortunate
for the country, that Gen. Sher man made SC
startling bluuder in his agreement with John
ston respecting the terms of peace. It there
has been any one political doctrine to which
the Democracy have been devoted more than to
aOy other for the last four years, and in the elu
cdation and ampllfcation Of whic they have
expended more words in speeches, editorials and
resolutions, ii has been the doctrine that the
status Of the rebel states has not been changeo
| by the rebellion, and that, when the rebels LAID
down their arms and submitted to the constitution
and the laws, they were to have their old plac
| IN the Union. And this was not alone pet
lea of the Democrats but there have been very
many conservative Republicans who have per.
suaded themselves that there was no such thing
as state committing suicide, or 10 conducting
itself as to become anything different from the
same organized body it had been since its first
have been something more than fortuitous 10
Sherman's putting these pet theories upon pa
per and making them the b,sis Of the peace
which bo thought he was negotiating, at the
moment when the nation found itselt approach
ing the end Of armed treason. Sherman s articles
we're, without any disguise, the expression OF
the Democratic and conservative" idea Of the
iaius Of rebel States and .rsbel citizens return
Ing to their allegiance. The party cry" the
Union as it was, and the Constitution as it is F"
was there elaborated into treaty Of peace, and
held up to tho inspection OF the triumphant
North ; and the unsnimIy with which Demo-
Gratis and Republicans and conservatives de-
clared it unsafe and impractcable, proves how
the theories Of partisans arc often shattered and
destroyed when confronted with theslern neces-
sites Of such u gigantic revolution as that
through which we have just gone. Eight
months ago Sherman's plan would have found
a whole party for lite supporters but now, when
the moment for It's application is actually pres-
ent, there is scarcely an individual who is pre-
pared to approve it.
And the reputation OF the agreement oil
Sherman and Johnston by the government il
an untsuivocsl declaration that the rebelious
States have no standing in the Union, and nc
rights as States, except 80 far as the government
deems 1t safe to give them such standing AND
rights 10 tact, 10 practical and substantial
endorsement Of Summers theory of the effect o.
rebellion upon the States agreeing to it. The
government declares its purpose of determining
the qualification Of voters and tho methods Of
reconstruction in the southern States, not leay
ing those questions to be settled by the people OIL
the States and in dong 80 il takes from the
State for the time being, every attribute o.
sovereignty And this is the only safe COURSE
1t can now pursue towards these recently rebel
lious and still refractory and i'll disposed com
muuties. The power must there be put in thu
hands Of honestly loyal men, and oil politica
theories that. stand in the way Of such resul
are necessarily wrong. And it is most favor
able augury for the future Of reconstruction, tina
men of oil parties are so nearly agreed, in fact
upon the. necessity of withholding from all men
who have been rebels and are still unrepenteni
political influence and power in restoring orde
and resuming the functions of government ii
the insurgent districts and Shermsns blunde
and Booths crime bave.hsi considerable to d
n producing this substantial agreement,