Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-04-11
b, the government. These reasons were
that General Sherman exceeded his au'

bl the government lneec ieaooho w.
that General Sherman exceeded his au-
thority; ,aat 10 was 4 practical acknowl
edgemsat OF the rcbsl government; that IL
urdertook 20 re-establish the rebel state
governments, and placed arms and muul-
tion, ~ war in the hands OF rebels. which
ed a.. u-,,l 10 corG1"~ the loyal states;
To. 7. would enahl '''els to re- estab-
lish slavery; that u s make the fed
eral government i.,,,ou lble for rebel
debts; that il woul put IL dispute the ex-
istence OF loyal stat govvI lmeuts; that IL
practically relieved the rebels from all
penalties for fhci, cri mes; gave terms re-
peatcdly rejected by Mr.. Lincoln esd
formed no lasting basis Of peace.
The publication of these reasons. says
Mr. Corhani. was absolutely demanded in
the interest % the public slfcty. The ex-
pectaiions which General Sherman had
raised in the minds Of the army aud the
people that our soliiei's only awaited the
presidents order 10 return rejoicing to
their honi :, could not be realized under
his terms consistently with the dignity or
the safety Of the country. This had to be
made evident 10 the people and the army
to prevent serious and perhaps dangerous
discomfort.
Hon. Jacob Collnmer, then senator
from Vermont. in a letter To Mr. Stanton
said:
To rG jeu that arrangement was clearly neces-
cary. and 10 do IL without stating any reason
for it would have been q very dangerous ex-
pertinent both TO the public and the army.
Indeed, many had serious apprehe nsions of it's
effect On tho army ever with the conclusive
reasons which were given.
MIR. Gorham says that no one in his
senses will question the good intentions
Of 6, :eral Sherman in agreeing To the
terms. but il is the truth OF history that
they were rejected by the Union people Of
the country n, unanimously as they were
by ie prsidC mt and cabinet Mr. Gorham
then quotes a letter written TO Mr.. Stan
ton hy Senator Sherman himself on April
-, 1885. in which the senator saws:
Ialn dist ressed beyond measure at the terms
granted Johnston by General sherman They
are luadmissiblc. There should now be liter
ally terms granted. We should not only
brand the leading rebels with infamy, out the
whole rebellion should wear the badge CT the
penitentiary. so that for this generation, at
least, no man who has taken part In " would
dare Justify or palliate IL.
The senator also says that he feels gross
injustice has been done General Sherman,
especially by the press The most that
can be said about him IL that he granted
the rebels too liberal terms General Sher-
man did not understand the political
bearing Of that agreement He had be-.
leved the promises OF those men and
looked upon the whole contest in SIM
Pile military view. The senator further
says.
do not wish Geileral sherman TO be un-
Justly dealt with IL, and know that you will
not permit IL, and especially do not want
him driven into fellowship with the copper
heads. His military services have been too
valuable to the country 10 be stained by any
such fellowship.
Mr. Gorham in conclusion says he hon
ored and admired General Sherman, and
enjoyed his friendship. No more patriotic
American, no braver or more faithful
soldier, ever lived. But no also honored
and admired Mr. Stanton, and he cannot
remain silent when one OF the greatest
and wisest OF his official acts is misstated
and perverted in useless effort to show
that General Sherman was right, when he.
himse II admitted with the concurrence of
Senator Sherman) that he was wrong.