The sun., 1891-06-23
stanton. Sherman. and wolssley.

We published yesterday an article Of ex-
traordinary ability and value from tho pom
Of tho Hon. G. @. GoRHAM, defending tho
reputation Of EDWIN II. STANTON against
an attack made upon him BY Lord Wo1sH-
LEY. tho well-known English Genoral. who
has lately become . frequent contributor to
magazines and newspapers in this country.
In writing for our esteemed eontempo-
rary. tho Pkiiadslphio Press. an article in
praise Of the late Con. W. T. SHKRMAN,
Lord W0LslLEY took occasion to assail Mr..
ErAHToN on account Of the rejection by
President ANDREW JOHNSON of Gen. SHBR-
MANS noted convention with Con. ]. E.
JoHsToN on April IS. 1855, in which Gen.
BHKRMAN undertook to receive tho surren-
der Of the Confederate army Of the Tennes-
zee, and to settle some Of the most impor-
tsnt questions of the war. That rejection
Lord WoLsELEY attributes to Mr.. STANTON;
but Mr.. GoRHAM shows beyond question
that the order proceeded from the President,
order issued q fortnight previous by Presi-
dent LINCOLN to Gen. GRANT. directing him
to have no conference with Gen. LEE, except
for the capitulation Of his army. and mot
to decide. discuss, or confer on any political
VuOOsaOn6. CuCu quc6tlOuop bstlu MI LINZ
COLIN. "the President holds In his own
hands, and will submit them to no military
conference or convention"
Tho directions thus given by President
LINCOLN to Gen. GRANT express long con-
sidorcd and carefully determined policy Of
the Government at that time; and this
policy Gen. SHERMAN would have set aside
and annulled. establishing instead of 1t his
own ideas and measures. OF course. such an
attempt Of q successful military commander
to set aside the civil authority. could not be
tolerated; and. although President JOHNSON
was not the same man who had issued tho
order to GRANT. he was perfectly alive to
the necessity of maintaining 1t. Tho rejec-
ton Of SHERMAN's convention with JOHN
0roN followed Immediately. Not for an in
slant did President JOHNSON hesitate.
All this and moro is made out with entire
elesrness by Mr.. GoRHAM; but there is one
point upon which he does not dwell as fully
- wo could wish: and that point We will
now attempt briefly to consider.
When tho war ended by tho enforced sur
render Of the Confederaoy. the United States
had under arms, as We suppose. something
more than million Of soldiers. Most OF them
wore veterans practised in war during three
Or four years Of constant service. They had |
over them Generals whom they had followed |
and fought under. and whom they regarded |
with natural confidence and attachment. |
Those Generals were able men, many OF them |
ambitious, many Of them probably convinced |
that In tho qualities requisite for conduct
ing tho business Of government, they were
superior to those whom the then reoent |
election had put In charge Of that business.
We do not believe that there was a man
among them who know the wish or con-
ceived tho thought Of conspiring against
his country; but none the less the
supreme question Of tho time was the
OF that immense army,
and the return Of soldiers and officers
10 the walks OF peace. without any friction
Or any danger to the republic. To maintain
The superiority of the civil spirit over the
military was one OF the great cares OF Mr..
LNooLN's mind, and 1t was the great care
of Mr.. STANToN's. The war was over; tho
need for armies was gone; and II this mil
Ion veterans could only be merged and lost
b the MAS Of citizenship, Q critical dim
sulty would be removed and dissipated.
This was one reason why Con. SaxRMAN's
was so promptly and emphati-
ally repudiated; and 1t is to the glory OF
aen. GRANT that he saw this necessity as
,learly as Mr.. STANTON himself SHERMAN
vas perhaps his nearest friend; but he
Igreed heartily In the order the President
ssued to him to 20 down to North Carolina
md take charge Of the surrender which
InxHnAM had 80 perilously mismsnaged.
Ths great work IVES finally accom-.
Ilinho41 ths Amy was brought back 10