Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-11-22

parlor table than on the Indians foot, COW
cred with dust, patched, and a coppcrhead
looking toe poking out through a worn
hole. Cor. Ral. Sentinel.
From the National IntelliSeucer.
Position Of our Generals al the FaIE OF the
| South.
It has frequently been intmated that
between Generals Grant and Sherman
there is substantial identity Of political
views and sentiments respecting public af-
fairs, particularly touching the South, its
people, and the PR 1ciples which ought to
regulate all measures having for their OBJ
iect the restoration of the Union. Grant
is proverbially reticent, while Sherman is
equally noted for frankncss aud freedom of
expression. Perhaps the communicative
ness Of the one belts tho reserve OF the
other, if it is true, as we do not doubt,
these two distinguished chiefs mutually
/ enjoy warm and confidential friendship.
! Unless some change has come over this
nutuality since April, 1866, there is, there.
! fore, great significance III some quotations
! winch we propose to subjOln, as they ap-
! pear 10 have met, coming from Sherman,
| the Learty Teci procity of Graz at the time.
! Indeed, unless General Sherman has re-
| formed ali the ideas under which he led
/
! Sher1nan-Johnson project reflect now, as
! then, the views of both chieftains upon the
| true spirit OF the cause and the recOnCiIia-
| tion and though both Generals may be
! eXOnerated from any particular details,
| whether Of projecting or of approving, in
! connection with that celebrated negotia-
! ton, since it was officially disapproved,
| yet it will not be supposed by fair-minded
! men that the spirit OF it-sO frankly, and,
We may assume, so acceptably laid before
! Grant by Sherman-was ever meant to be
rctracted by either of these magnanimous
men. That Spirit--and we are concerned
| now by nothing else in it-WaS explained
| by General Sherman in his report. It is
needless to add, to Well-informed men,
| that this spirit was the express inspiration
of Mr.. Lincoln himself. Speaking of his
| assassination, in his report to General
Grant, General Sherman says:
"I was duly Informed Of its horrible atrocity
and probable effects on the country. But when
the property and interest Of millions still living
were involved, l saw no good reason why to
change my sc, but thou=ht ather to manifest
real respect for his memory by following after his
death that po!lcy which, if living, tet certain he
would hare approved, at least noi rejected with
disdain.''
Again, after referring to the fact that
certain letters of his, including that to the
Mayor of Atlanta, and another TO d gentle
man in Savannah, IN both which the spirit
in question was broadly and frankly
broached, were not reprOyed by the Gov
ernment for, indeed, no ust person on
this side of the Potomac would then have
dreamed of saying it was too lenicnt he
says;
My letter TO Mr. --, Of Savannah, was
shown by me TO Mr. Stanton before its publication,
and all that NV rnemorv retains of his answer is
hot he It-C1 al 4llfni
ciently emphatic and would not be misunderstood.
Both these letters asserted my belief that accord
ing to Mr.. LlncO!ns proclamation ana message,
when the pc #ple Of the South h>d laid down their
arms and submitted to the lawful powers of the
United States, ipSO tdctO, the Mar was over as
to them and furthermore, that II any State III
rebellion would conform to tho Constitution of the
United States, cease war, elect Senators and Rep
rcsentatives to Congress, if admitted, (Ot which
each House of Congress alone is the judge), that
State becomes instanter as much IN the Union
New York or Ohio Nor rebuked for these
expressions, though it was universally known and
commented on at the time. And again. Mr.. Stan
ron, in person, at Savan ah, speaking Of the ter
tine expense Of the war and difficulty Ct realizing
the money for the daily wants Of Government,
impressed me most forclbly with the necessity of
bringing the war to q close as eOOn as possible.
for financial reasons.
In the same spirit was the special field
order issued the day after Johnston's sur
render, over The signature of Sherman,
though not less the act of Grant, who was
on the ground, and, of course, technically
in command as superior officer. After an
nouncing that the ''agreement with Gen.
Johnston terminates the war as to the
armies under his command and country
east of tho Chatahooche," and requiring
that 'great care must be taken that all the
terms and stipulations on our part be full
filled with the most scrupuious fidelity,
while those imposed on our hitherto enc
mics be received in a spirit becoming a
brave and generous army" the order con
tinues
E'Army commanders may at once loan 10 the in
haStants such of the captured III les, horses,
wagons, and vehicles as can be spared from i'm
mediate use, and the commanding Generals OF
armies may issue proyisC rs, animals, or any pub
lie supplies that be spared to relieve present
wants, and to encourage the Inhabitants to renew
their peaceful! pursuits and to restore the rela-
tons OF friendship amonS our fellow-citlzens and
cOuntTymen.
',ForaGing will forthwith cease and when the nc
cessty or long marches compel the taking of for
age; provisions, any kind of private property,
| compensation will be made on the spot or when
the disbarsn2 officers not provided with funds,
vouchers will be given in proper 10 n, payable at
| the nearest military depot"
Doubtless Stanton read these orders Of
Grant and Sherman with the anguish with
which he is in inevitably afflicted whenever
| compelled to witness a magnanimous act.
But the country clapped hands with the
army in Joy that the '' war was over east OF
the Chattahooche.' Stanton, however,
must have gnashed his teeth in silence long
before they were issued, (which was not
until the 9th of April at the prospect OF
such for, on the 18th of April, three days
before the agreement, disaliowed so dis
honestly by Stanton, was entered into be-
tween Sherman and Johnston, it was fore
shadOWed in @ letter Of the former to Stan
ton, who never expressed a word of disap
probation until the horror and indignation
of the country at the murder Of the Presi
J dent (Which was on the 14th) had reached
a point almost of frenzy, whereat, for the
!, first time, Sherman's programme was dis
approved. In Shermans letter to Stanton
dated April Is, he says !:
! - have invited Governor Vance to return t.
Raleigh viii the civil officers of his State. have
met eX- Governor Graham, Messrs. Badger, Moore
Holden, and others, all OF whom agree hat thu
war is over, and that the South must resume thei
allegiance, subject to the Constitution and laws 0
Congress, and must submit to the national arms
the great fact is admitted, and the details are Q