The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-06-16

A FrieHdly English View OF General
Sherman's Negotiations In North
Carolina, snd Of His character as q
Soldier.
From the London Star, May Is.
The surrender of Johnston was re-
eeiVed by Sherman, acting, it is true,
under the directions of Grant, but on
that very account all the more memo-
rable Here was a brilliant and sue
cessful soldier, at the head Of a victori-
Gus army of 10000 men, rebuked open.
ly and sharply for interfering with the
civil power in a matter beyond his pro-
vince as q General, and the Command
er-in-chief dispatched to the scene to
rectify the blunder, but the victorious
soldier neither attempts to resist, nor
throws up his commission in disgust,
nor refuses to carry out the terms die
tated by the Government, but as qui-
city proceeds TO obey the order COM
inundated 10 him as if he had been
q clerk in the War Department at
Washington. The Southern BFeekin-
ridge, who resisted his sGovernmentand
took up arms against bis country and
his State because his views of slavery
were not permitted to predominate, had
done nothing to render his country
grateful, or raise him beyond the mass
of common politicians. He, netherthe-
less, expected his eountrymen to yield
obedience to his behests, and when
they took different view OF the duty
they owed to themselves and posterity
he drew the sword against them.
Sherman, on the other hand, had |
done yeoman service, such as few men |
have either the opportunity or ability |
to perform. He is described by Grant !
as being the first field officer in a coun-
try where the exigencies Of war have I
produced many men competent to com
mand great armies. At the head /
Of an invincible force, he swept the 1
Southern foe before him ffom Caatta-
nooga to Atlantis; he fairly won that
important stronghold, and, while the
two hemispheres watched his progress
With Amusement, he marched hundreds
Of miles through the very center of the
territory, capturing cities and
st every stride. Elated, prob
ably by his success, and evidently ig-
1orant of the purely political element
IF the contest, he fell into ths snare
aid for him by the rebel negoiators,
md proposed to grant terms Of peace
which would have rendered useless all
lis own brilliant triumphs.
The civil officers of the Government,
he President and the Cabinet, at once
iisown his act, rebuke him promptly,
md even harshly, for his blunder, and
rider him to resume hostilities forth
With. Sherman never dreams of dis
outing the authority of the new Presi-
lent, who represents tie majesty Of the
aw and the popular will, and with per-
ect docility executes his orders This
5 true patriotism, although it Is q pa
riotisul which some of the political
instructors of the English people have
agerly expected to be repudiated by
he Northern Generals How often
AVE we had, during the progress of the
var, prognosticstions from special cor
and others, that Sherman
Eould dictate terms at Washington;
hat Mcclellan would seize the Govern
aent; that the republic would be de-
troyed by one or other of the success
ul soldiers. Like many other similar
'lunders, they were based upon the
most profound ignorance Of the charac-
er alike of Northern men, Of the
Union armies, and of American institu-
ions
IL Shermans army had been compos-
d Of hireling mercenaries, as the up
folders of slavery have contended, am
irious designs might have been eom-
but composed as that army
J of the sons of American freeholders,
hemselves voters, and having the
of the law committed to
hem along With their fellow country
nen, any proposed treason would have
Ound in the common soldiers its most
desperate opponents Grant has
exhibited a single-hearted
Ieyotion to the cause of his country,
lis character as unstained with the
uspicion of personal ambition as his
onduct toward his subordinates has
'een manly and generous. And the
node in which Sherman has at once
ubmitted TO correct his blunder gives
mother instance of the supremacy of
aw and the civil power in the free
'tstes, and an example of patriotism
nd submission to the constitutional
representatives. of the country, 30 diff
rent from the lesson afforded by the
areer of Mr.. John G Breckenridge,
hat the admirers of Southern chivalry
nay well make it the theme of profta-
lie study.