Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-09
Hon. Thomas Ewing ON the sher-
mnm.JOhmstom Negotiation.

Hon. 1mOmHB EWhm& On INC ShAoh
man-JOhnston Negotiation.
The Cincinnati Commercial of Monday
prints the following communication from
Hon. THOMAS EWING respecting the SHER-
MAN-JoHNsToN negotiation: \
FROM THE HONORABLE THOMAS EWING.
The public papers, which defend Gen.
Sherman against the attacks made on MIN
for his transaction with Johnston, includ.
ing the capture and surrender OF the rebel
army, generally assume it, as foregone
conclusion, that he made Q mistake. yet no
one has shown us wherein the mistake con-
sisted. and l venture to say no sone can
show ANYTHING In the matter, either In
principle or in detail, inception or result, to
which the most punctilous can object. L
refer, as matter of course, to. what he in
tact did, not to what is assumed for him
or falsely imputed to him. The actual
facts, plainly told, are these: -,
On the 18th day Of April Sherman had
Johnston so hemmed in that he must either
fight or surrender. On that day, and in
this condition of things, the two gentlemen
met and discussed not only the surrender
of the army under Johnston, but the other
rebel forces in the South and West, in the
expressed hope that they might save fur
ther etfusion OF blood. AS the proposed
action, except so far as concerned forces
under the command OF each, was beyond
their power, they agreed to a suspension OF
hostilities, their armies remaining in stdta
Q7lo, until each could consult with, and obtain
the instructions OF, those in power1TSher-
| man, of course, that of the President Of the
United States and his Cabinet. He report
ed at once and received instructions to con-
| fine himself to the mere military surrender
of the rebel troops in his power. He ac-
lcOrdingly received the surrender OF john
| ston with his $4,000 men with their arms
and munitions OF war; precisely what he
would have done had the Cabinet directed
] him not to negotiate, but without any at
tempt to excite public clamor This is
all Sherman did and all he proposed to do,
until he should receive instructions from
the department. He held Johnston and
his army firmly, he lost no advantage which
he could have gained had he attacked john
ston Immediately without negotiating, but
saved, no doubt, the effusion of blood.
Now, / am at loss to find the mistake.
Was it in the propositions which were sent
to the President and Cabinet? They. are
greatly misrepresented in the Secretary's
bulletin. But it is no matter what they
were, they came with no authority. Sher-
man assumednone, butsimply sent the prop
ositions to be passed upon by the Cabinet.
"Sigma," very able writer in The Com
mercial and one who represents the case
fairly, is of opinion that the, propositions
were themselves the best practical. 1t may
be SO, and probably is; but years expert
ence will show us. i'''t 4
But, in this matter, General Sherman
could hardly be charged with thinking for
himself. The propositions submitted were
conceived in the spirit of Mr.. Lincoln's last
speech, which General Sherman no doubt
had seen, as it was in all the public prints; I;
and there is no proof, and, indeed, no pre-
tense, that he had seen Mr.. Lincoln's in
structions to General Grant, with which
the propositions are so deliberately contrast
ed in the Secretary's bulletin. The propo-
sitions may be the best or the worst, posi-
Bile, but, In, either case, have yetto learn
that there was Il ntstake in making them
known to the President.
-,.'.. ssrr T. EWING.