Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-11
SHERMAN AND STANTON.
A CONTROVERSY OVER THE CLOS
ING ACT OF THE WAR.
Secretary Stantons Biographer Contra
diets Part of Senator Sherman's Late
Speech in Ealogy of His Brother-No
Insults Heaped on Old Tecumseh.

WASHINGTON, April 10.-Hon. Geo. G.
Gorham, custodian OF the private papers
of Secretary Stanton, and engaged on
his biography, has written an open
letter to Senator Sherman, dealing with
the striking portions of the senator's
address in eulogy of the memory of
Gen. W. T. Sherman, and embodying
sundry important historical documents
not before published. After repeating
the reference Senator Sherman made to
the terms of the surrender made by
General Sherman, in accordance with
Lincoln's policy, for the forces of Gen.
Joseph Johnston and other command
ers at the close of the wer, Gorhan says: :
\''You would have it understood that
General Sherman was set upon and in
suited, and his arrangements set aside
by President Johnson and Secretary
Stanton, in mean and narrow spirit of
revenge, and that General Grant inter-
posed, and that the two generals agreed
on new terms and ended the war.
Whatever Lincoln's policy, none knew
better than you that he never usurped
the powers of congress or allowed mil.
itary subordinate to guide him by an
authorized arrangement made under the
supervision of Jefferson Davis and his
cabinet. A fortnight before the Sher-
MANI Johnston negotiations, Lincoln di-
rected Grant to have no conference
with Lee, unless for the arrangement of
Lees capitulation or purely military
matters. This is proof that Lincoln
would have disapproved' Sherman's ar
rangement. General Sherman. after
receiving the governments disapproval
of his terms, said: 4 admit my folly
in embracing in a military convention
any civic Matters
"Your reference to Grant coming to
Sherman's relief would lead to the sup
position that Grant approved the agree
ment. On the contrary, he condemned
it before it was submitted to the presi-
dent or Secretary Stanton" 80
Gorham quotes letter from Grant to
Stanton, in which the former advises
him of the receipt of Sherman's dis
patches, and requests cabinet council
at once, as they are of such Importance.
In note to Sherman, Grant advises
him of the disapproval by the president
of the negotiations, except for the sur
render of Johnston's army, and the or
der for the termination of the armistice
and the resumption of hostilities. Grant
Joined Sherman, and Sherman gave no.
! tice of the resumption OF hostilities.
Johnston thereupon surrendered on the
terms accorded Lee by Grant. AS a
matter of prudence and necessity,
| Stanton telegraphed to General Dix in
| New York to publish the same with
copy of the Sherman-J Johnston agree
ment, and its disapproval by the gov
eminent. to which was appended the
reasons of disapproval, which were that
Sherman exercised authority not vested
in him, and made a practical ac-
Acknowledgement of the rebel government,
that the agreement undertook to re-
establish rebel state government and
placed arms and munitions of war in the
hands of the rebels. which might be
used to subdue the loyal states, and the
restoration of rebel authority enable the
re-establishment of slavery; that the
agreement would permit the federal
government to pay rebel debts and SUBJ
iect the loyal citizens of rebel states to
pay rebel debts; would put in dispute
the existence of the government OF the
loyal states and the new state OF West
Virginia; would abolish the confiscation
laws and relieve the rebels OF penalties
for crimes that it gave terms repeatedly
rejected by Lincoln, and better terms
than the rebels ever asked, and formed
no basis for true and lasting peace"
Gorham says publication of the dis
approval had to be made to prevent
serious and perhaps dangerous discon
tent, but no one will question the gooo
intentions of General Sherman in max
ing the agreement.
4 In conclusion Gorham quotes one
more authority, supporting Stanton ane
condemning Sherman-no less than
letter written by John Sherman from
Cleveland, April ~, 1865, to Secretary
of War Stanton, saying he was dis
tressed beyond measure at the term
granted by General Sherman, and tina
they were inadmissable /; yet he felt tina
gross injustice had been done Genera
Sherman, who, at the worst, grante'
the rebels too liberal terms; but thu
same could be said OF Lincoln and Gran
: in the Lee arrangement. General Shel