The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-30
Unjustifable Severity 10 General
Sherman

UnjuStifable Severity 10 6eneral
Sherman.
The evident purpose Of the War De.
partment 20 rum Gen. Sherman. seems
- Us such q display Of Injustice, that
VIC recur to a sui ject on which we had
not intended any further comments.
Gen Sherm8n's conditions Of paci-
fcation are, in our own opinion clearly
ina6missible President johnson was
right in his refusal TO give
them his sanction. But the attempt Of
Secretary Stanton to iastsn. p stigma
upon Gen. ShermSn's character. and
render his name odioUs TO his country.
men, deserves the repro5ation Of hon
oTable men.
Men cool enough to discriminate viii
distinguish between the political and
consequences Of Gen. Sher-
mans agreement If 1t shall appear
that no military loss or hazard results
from the armistice, it viii be demon
strable that no injury has been done.
nor any public interest put in jeopardy
by the political part Of the transaction.
Before discussing its military aspects.
let US look the political consequences
IN the face, and determine precisely
what they are. AS Gen. Sherman as
sumed TO exercise no other authority
than that of submitting certain terms
10 the consideration of the Government
for lie approval or rejection, it is clear
that his action in no way committed
the government He was an attorney
drawing a deed; il had no more bind
ing force than piece Of blank paper
unless signed, sealed, and delivered. by
the legal owner OF the property. The
faith Of the government Is not pledged.
IFS honor Is IN nO way implicated, its
perfect freedom Of action in no re
spect abridged, by anything that Gen.
Sherman has done. P0HFcaht, then. no
actual harm has ensued LAYING the
military part Of the Transaction out of
view,.and considering only its political
bearings, there Is nothing in IL TO Jus.
uty the severity of cerFure with
which it has been visited IL may
show, indeed, that Gen. sherman is a
raw statesman, novice in coustitu.
uonal Law, an unwary diplomatist: but
IT does not show, nor 60 the first step
toward showing that he Is ANYTHING
else than q tried and Jealous patriot
whose praises have 30 long been the
theme OF every loyal tongue.
We undertake 10 say that. viewed on
its political side, there H. not only NO
loss, but q manifest advantage In the
abOrtive transaction which has raised
such storm Of obloquy. General Sher-
man has succeeded in procuring-what
nobody has eEtOrtcd beiore-au official
acknowledgment Of tie pr0s'r1,lga o. the
Southern CouIedrc-V The memoran-
dunn containing the terms Of this agree
ment has gone forth 10 the world il
viii, in few days, be circulated through
Europe and wherever it 10 read. IL Will
la looked upon as a confession of fail
uTa made by the rebels themacIree; an
oilcia! remuneration by them OF all the
objects for which they undertook the
war. The effect on the South itself
VII be 10 exuugUish the last glimmer
iuE OF hope. Ibwiil be put out of the
power Of the rebel leaders to re5usci.
tate the confidence OF their followers
By asserting so this arrangement they
have made en- offend declaration that
southern independence Is vanished
dream.
Unless, therefore General Sherman
t0g lgss mshtE7gl 01ggutg7es by his consent
20 an armisuCe, II affords no proper
handle 70 Secretary Stautous msIir-
uaIt ate npt 20 brand HIM q traitor.
Tie charge that he has offered TO jeff.
Davis an opportunity TO escape, Is ridi-
cuious II the agreement had been
ratified, Davis would be under 10 neces-
slty of flying if 1t furnished an oppor-
tunity,it took away the motive. BUTT
rs IN insult 10 common sense 10 say
that it gave him sn opportunity. jeff
Davis was never in the power OF Gen
eral sherman, nor ever likely to be, 80
long as he vas an UBpardoued rebel
There could be no difficulty in the es-
cape OF one man through q region
which the inhabitants were friendly.
ready to give him aid and succor in his
route, and to conceal bis tracks.
The question of military ADVANTAGE.
then, comprehends only the chances
by the armistics for Gae es-
cape Of JOhDston.s 7Imy. This danger
is not unreal, but let ne attempt to es-
innate its extent 10 Is selfeyident
that, so long aB Johnston entertained
the hope or expectation that the ar
raucement would be ratified, his mo-
tives for staying were much stronger
than his motives for going. IF bis off.
GERS and men scatter, they are not une
der the protection of a parole, and re-
main exposed 10 the penalties Of trea-
con. If the head OF the War DEPART
ment had acted with discretion in this
matter, he would not have fallen into
n towering passion and proclaimed TO
the four winds Of heaven the indie-
naut rejection Of this agreement ItI
should have been conveyed with Sc
crecy and dispatch 70 Gen. Sherman
alone SO that If he had inadvertently
neglected any precaution, he might
take the neeoiUl steps before the re,
lection could reach the ears Of the re-
bells. The Premature publicity given
L 10y the War Department wilL how
aver, no doubt, be rendered harmless
BY the soldierlv forecast of Gen. Sher
man. In the first article Of the agree |
nent 10 is stipulated thatthe military
.rE.ss g'.o shall be maintained, on both |
ades, during the armistice.
jr this stipulation Is observed. no |
military advantage viii be gained OF /
ost; and no prscioal hsrm OF any de- |
criptiou onsue, beyond the Nero de- /
NY As we h8vo remarked, Johnston /
rad no motive 20 yiolSte faith 30 long 1
Is he expected q ratification of the /
and DObody has q right /
o believe, without evidence, that Gen /
sherman failed, 10y scouts and other /
Fisc, 10 keep q sharp eye on the enc
ny, with "a view 10 promptly redress
nv violation Of that psrt Of the stinu
alton which relates to the STATES g,.o.
Measuring this transaction then, tg
IS gt+. az consequences, there is nothing |
b il 90 csll for such a display of feel
~ as il has excited. We have gained
" il an official confession that the
is a failure; and The whole
{ orr actual loss by it is the loss Of the
me consumed by the armisice.
neither the official confession OF fail
re j. worth the price paid 10Y IL, is
uesjiou on which opinions may differ:
~ surely the damage has not been
efficient to justify the aoerbsty Of feel
y which has been displayed. much I
.ss the inconsider8hle assaults upon ,
he reputation OF g great and brilliant
,idier whose fsme Is the property Of
is country. and his achievements the Z
imiration Of the WORLDLY T. World
o.
LooEovr fo- the auction sole 60 Ho-ca's.
rner of Church ana Market streets. COM