Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-04-11
EXCEPTIONS TAKEN
To Sherman'S Story
About His Brother.
SURRENDER OF JOHNSON.
Terms Proposed by "Old Tecumseh''
Bring Forth an Open Letter.

isIINGroN, April li.-IIou. George L.
Gorham, a. custodian Of the papers of Sec
retsr stanton and now engaged upon his
biography, has written an open letter to
Senator Sherman The letter quotes from
the senator's recent address ia New York
on G,n'ral Sherman the following refer
encc 10 the terms proposed by General
sherman for the surrender Of the forces OF
General Joseph Johnston and other COM
man leis at the close of the civil war:
General Sherman believed In aud sought 10
carry out the policy OF Mr.. Lincoln. The
terms OF surrender were tentative. and the
conditions were entirely subject to the super
vision OF the executive authorities: but in
stead OF being submitGed 10 the generous and
forgiving patriot who had fallen, they were
passed upon IN the shadow of great crime by
stern and releni less. .enemics, who would not
have consented 20 the conditions imposed by
General Grant upon General Lee, and would
have disrcgarde them had not General Grant
threatened 10 resign upon their refusal to
carry out his terms.
When the arrangement with General Johns
ton Was submitted TO President Johnson and
Mr.. stanton Il as rejected with the insulting
intimation thatf proceeded from either cow
ardise tr treachery. Tho old cry against Gen.
eral sherman was again started. IL was even
imputed that he would attempt TO play the
Tnrt Of Il Cromwell or a military usurper The
generous kindness of Grant came to his relief.
New terms were agreed upon and the war
closed.
Mr. Gorham states that the senator
would have IL understood that while Gen.
eral Sherman wts engaged in praise
worthy military act, which President Lin
coin would have desired him TO perform,
he was insulted and his arrangements set
aside by President Johnson and Secretary
Stanton in a mean and narrow spirit Of re-
vcnge because Of the assassination Of Lin
coin, and that the kindness of General
Grant interposed between him and these
alleged enemies and that the two generals
agreed on new terms and ended the war.
Mr.. Gorham then says:
Whatever policy Mr.. Lincoln might have
recommended TO congress for the restoration
Of the Confederate states to their relations
with the Union, none know better than You
that he would never have undertaken to
Usurp the Powers of Congress
on the subject much less 10 allow n military
subordinate to guide him in the work by an
authorized arrangement made under the
supervision of jefferson Davis and his cabinet.
To show that Mr.. Lincoln left no room
for doubt on this point Mr. Gorham quotes
the following, sent 10 General Grant by
Secretary Ttanton a fortnight before the
The president directs me 20 say TO you that
he wishes YOU TO have no conference with
General Lee, unless il be FOR the capitalization
of Lees army, or solely minor or purely
military matters. lie entreats me to say to
yIu that you are not 10 decide, discuss, or
cbnfer on any political question; such ques-
tons the president holds In his oWnhands and
will submit them 10 no military conferences
or conventions. Meantime you are to press TO
the utmost your military advantages.
Mr.. Gorham remarks that. though Gen.
eral Sherman had not seen this order
when he made his arrangement with
Johnston, it is none the less absolute
proof that Mr.. Lincoln would have dsap-
proved the arrangement. The general, he
declares, needed no such admonition to
teach him that the discussion Of public
policies in military convention was an
invasion of the civil authority ard wholly
outside the powers and duties of mill
tary commander. Mr.. Gorham also states
that General sherman, in n letter to Sec
retary stanton, written after receiving the
governments disapproval of his terms
said: IL admit my folly in embracing in a
military convention any civic matters"
Mr. Gorham refers to the account of the
Negotiations with Johnston
contained in General Sherman's "me-
moirs" The Confederate secretary of
war. john G., Breckenridge participated in
arranging the terms. These terms CON-
pretended an armistice TO continue until
forty-eght hours after notice of either
side for its termination. The Confederate
armies were to disband; their arms and
munitions Of war TO he turned over to the
several states of the Confederacy, the gov
ernments Of which were TO be recognized
by the president, and the inhabitants OF
the south were to be guaranteed all their
rights of property Including slaves). and
all the political power they possessed be-
fore the rebellion, and TO be relieved OF all
consequences Of the rebellion by a procla-
nation Of general amnesty. The arrange
ment concluded with the following words:
Not being fully empowered by our respective
principals To fulfil these terms,we individually
and officially pledge ourselves TO obtain the
necessary authority and TO carry out tho above
program
a messenger was sent TO Washington
with the proposed agreement. General
Sherman wrote to the commanding gen
eral of the armies in Virginia:
have agreed With General Joseph Johnston
for n temporary cessation Of active hostilities,
20 lay before our government az Washington
the agreement made between us, with the
sanction of Mr.. Davis. and In the presence Of
Mr.. Breckenridge.
Mr.. German, continuing, says that Gen
eral Grant condemned General Sherman's
act before consulting either President
Johnston or Secretary stanton. lie wrote
at once to General Sherman acknowledge
Ing receipt Of the agreement, and said:
read II carefully before submitting Il 10
,he pre- ident and secretary Of war, and felt
satisfied that 10 could not possibly be ap-
proved.
In the same letter he states that upon
his suggestion ~ cabinet meeting was
called. the result Of which was the "disap-
proval by tho president Of the basis laid
down. and the disapproval Of the negotia-
tions altogether, except for the surrender
Of tie army commanded by General
Johnston, and an order for the termina-
tion Of the armistice 5snd the resumption
of hostilities."
General Grant started Immediately after
the cabinet meeting for Raleigh 10
execute the presidents order Under this
order Sherman gave notice that hostilities
would lie resumed, whereupon Johnston's
army was surrepded upon the terms nc
corded by Grant 20 Lee As matter OF
prudence and necessity Mr. Stanton tele-
graphed 10 General John A. Dix. then in
New York, with permission to publish the
same, copy Of the Sherman-J ohns ton
agreement with reasons for its disapproval