The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-07

TO an interview between MIN ana
General Sherman. When on the point OF
the appalling news Of Mr.. Lincoln's cow
ardly assassination. This complicated
very much the negotiations for Johnston's
surrender, for although, by his recent in
terview with the president, Sherman was
fully aware of Mr.. Lincoln's policy and OF
the terms he meant to grant the South.
he did not know how the vice presi-
dent-a man of very different type
and then very indicative in his
feelings towards the Confederates-
might regard those terms. There was no
really bitter feeling in the North against
Lee or Johnston, or their gallant troops;
but there did exist a very strong hatred
against Mr.. JEFF "Davis and his political
adherents." As Sherman puts it in his
memoirs, against Davis, George, Sanders.
and men of that stripe" Mr.. Lincoln had
given Sherman to understand he would be
glad if Mr.. Davis were allowed to escape,
and Sherman was now prepared to sanction
this, if Johnston asked for it.
At second meeting between the two
generals, terms that were eminentlv wise
in the interests of the great American re-
public, honorable to the South, and most
creditable to the North and to the North
ern general by whom they were condeded,
were agreed upon for the surrender of the
whole Confederate armies. There can be
y,
coin been alive he would have entirely en-
dorsed and approved of those terms. But
Mr.. Lincoln was wise. far-seeing, broad
minded statesman, which Mr.. Stanton,
the secretary of war. was certainly not.
The terms proposed by Sherman were dis
approved, and General Grant was sent
to Sherman's headquarters to direct
operations against the enemy" in other
words to supersede General Sherman.
What a return for all the great services he
had rendered to his country! But Mr..
Secretary Stanton was then in no mood to
admire or appreciate any generals SER
vices. His mind was filled with bitter
interests of his political party, and with
plans for his own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by
means Of its future supremacy. How was
his own personal future to be affected by
all these occurrences? This was the ques-
ton he put to himself. Mr.. Johnson, the
vice president of the United States, now
exercised all the full powers of president.
He afterwards turned round and became
strong Southern advocate, but he was at
this time bitter hater of the Southern
states. The Confederate newspapers dwelt
severely upon his declaration that treason
is a crime that must be made odious.
Any leniency then shown to the con-
quered was not. therefore, likely to meet
with favor in Washington, and Sherman
was soon made to realize this fact. The
government resorted to the unusual course
of informing the world in public minute
that the action taken by General Sherman
in his negotiations with General
Johnston was not approved. As
Sherman very justly terms it,
personal and official insult" He resented
it publicly upon the first opportunity af-
forded him. He claimed as Alright, as well
as on the score of courtesy, that he should
have been consulted before the Washing
ton ministry presumed to comment pub
licly, as had been done, upon the terms he,
as a general in the field, had proposed to
offer all the Confederate armies in his zone
of operations. He complained bitterly of
the injustice done him, by lacking on to
the published correspondence statements
which invited" he said, ''the dogs
of the press to be let loose upon
me-" 1t is no wonder that Sherman then
bitterly resented this treatment, and that
he did so still more later on, when it was
ascertained that Mr.. Stanton was alone re-
sponsible for it. Neither the president nor
any of the cabinet-beyond the secretary
of war himself-had any cognizance of the
outrageously insulting bulletins" in
which he thought TT TO censure the honest
and gallant general The Northern press
followed suit. and for some time endeav-
ored to hold up as traitor to his country
this loyal soldier and most useful public
servant.
In the next century the history Of this
war will be to the people OF the United
States what some of our great wars with
France are still to Us. In its pages little
mention, and that not over creditable, Will
be made of Mr.. Stanton; while the name
of General Sherman, the patriot, the able
leader of an army that helped so materi-
ally 10 bring this rebellion TO an end, will
be recorded in every volume of that his
tory in golden letters of honor. Fame
will be his portion for ever, while Mr..
Stanton will be consigned to oblivion,
with the hundreds Of other second
rate statesmen who have strutted
and fumed for q short spell on
the stage of public life in all countries.
Sherman's reputation with his country
men rested, however, on too firm a basis
to be long injured by the insults of this
secretary for war, and. before many weeks
elapsed, he was restored" as General
Grant says, "to the fullest confidence of
the American people, When. at the re-
view before the president in Washington,
the members of the cabinet shook hands
with him. he very naturally refused TO take
the hand which Mr.. Stanton extended TO
him.
So ended the great civil war in the
United States of America. and with it
ended General Sherman's active career as
soldier in the field.
Va, 49, siIx- sA.. ;s ,-h.-