The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-01-14
4 QUESTION OF HISTORY.

In recent article we have referred
to the feeling commonly supposed to
exist between General Sherman and
ex-Secretary Stanton, in regard to the
surrender of Johnston. The history of
that transaction has never been written.
In Justice to one now dead, we presume,
General Sherman has maintaineda chiv-
alric silence i'll regard TO feature of the
transaction which, we are sure, Mr..
Lincoln himself, could he speak from
his grave, would be quick to disclose.
We know of no reason why Others
should not state what the departed Pres
ident would surely make known, were
that possible, and justice 10 the living
can never be real injustice to the dead.
We shall state what we believe TO be
facts, only promising that no part ofthe
statement has come to us from General
Sherman or by his knowledge, and, so
far as we know, he has never suggested
to anybody the explanation which we
have reason to believe the true one.
When Lee surrendered, President
Lincoln, in his great, honest heart be-
lieved that the glory and completeness
of the victory would only be increased
by magnanimity on the part of the vic
tor; that the Southern people were in
the mood to voluntarily accept just such
nation, and that a prompt display of
confidence in the sincerity of their sub
mission more complete and hearty. We
all know that subsequent events have
proved that Mr. Lincoln was very near
~ right in one respect-that the temper
of the Southern people, just at that time.
was far better than il ever has been
since. Whether he was altogether right
in his policy or not, it is certain, how
ever, that he made grave mistake III
details. He forgot that the then exist
ing organizations at the South were not
and could never be anything but rebel
governments, and in a moment of haste
authorized the assembling of the rebel
Legislature of Virginia. This order
was never executed. Mr.. Stanton, then
Secretary of War, quickly perceived its
fatal consequences, and as soon as he
could reach Mr.. Lincoln convinced him
of its error. l
But in the meanwhile Mr.. Lincoln
had given certain instructions in regard
to the surrender of the other army of
the rebellion. lie had entered Rich
mond Oh Monday, April Sd land before
he returned to Washington had given
the orders i'll regard to the meeting of
the Virginia Legislature. But just be-
fore the final movement, March 9th,
bhO hsalA l1Sb al
with General Grant, at City Point, and
General Sherman having there received
instructions, went back at once to COM
mencc the movement which ended in
the surrender of Johnston. Is il unrea-
sonable TO suppose that iii that inter-
view, giving directions as to the terms
of surrender, the President made some
what the same mistake that he did in
his order to Gen. WeitZel regarding
Virginia? We have reason TO believe
that the terms given by Sherman to
Johnston were in the most essential
point warranted by the instructions of
President Lincoln himself. And ii is
certain that in the most essential point
regarding the existence and validity
of State governments, they went not at
all beyond the order actually given by
the President in regard TO Virginia.
There was no opportunity for further
communications with General Sherman
before the surrender. And if President
Lincoln, upon his return to Washington,
became satisfied of his mistake as to the
details of the situation, he had barely
time to correct it as to Virginia and no
time to reach Sherman before he was
assaSsinated.
That one event changed the whole
situation. 1t reused terrible feeling
at the North, and made every public Of
ficer at Washington feel that the very
existence of the nation might yet de-
pend on firmness in adjusting the
terms of surrender. just at the dark
moment came the news of the agreement
between Sherman and Johnston, SUBJ
mitted to the President for approval.
The nation instantly rel ected it, and
rightly. The President and Cabinet
disapproved it, and of neccssity-just
as Mr. Lincoln himself had revoked his
Virginia order. Instant explanation
was necessary TO satisfy an excited
people that the rights of the victorious
mutton would not be sacrificed. That
explanation was given by MFR. Stanton
in a card, written, we have no doubt. in
ignorance of any instructions to Gener-
al Sherman from the President whose
murder had excited all.
What is fact :? Is it probable that
General Sherman would have sent to
Washington such an agreement for ap-
provaI, if be had not had some reason
to suppose that it would be approved?
Ifhe had such reason, we do not know
that he has ever opened his mouth about
it. Mr.. Lincoln was gone. Had he
lived, the agreement would have been
no doubt, but in a differ
ent manner. Mr. Lincoln would have
known how to account for some fea-
lures in it which seemed inexplicabIe
coming from General. Indeed, had
he lived, neither the country nor the
Cabinet would have been called upon
to consider such proposition in time
of intense excitement. gloom, and bit
terness of wrath against the spirit which
had struck down the forgiving and
President in the very hour
when his heart was fun of Kindness.
1t came unexplained, upon a people
by that murder. 1t would
in any case have been rejected, but
would it not have been less harshIy re-
ceived if it had been supposed that
General Sherman was not entirely the
author of it?
We have reason to think that its most
serious mistake was not his oWn-rea-
son in information not derived from
him in any way. For aught we know.
he has always been silent about it. But
If We are not mistaken, his silence suf-
fers public opinion to do some injustice
TO him rather than to cast a share of the
upon President Lincoln. |
Democrat.