The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-04-11

W N.lSIlINolONi ~ S.t Az
Hon. George C. Gorham, us custodian
Of the private papers OF Secretary Stan
Ton, and now engaged upon his bio
graphy, has written the following open
letter to Senator Sherman. 1t deals
with q striking portion OF tho senator's
recent address, and cmbodics sundry
important historical documents not
heretofore published: @
In your recent address iu.Now York
on the character and public, services OF
your illustrious brother, Gen. W. T..
Sherman, you made the following refer.
encc to the terms proposed by him for
the surrender OF the forces OF Gen.
Joseph Johnston and other commanders
at the close OF the civil war:
Gen. She rman believed in and sought
to carry cut the policy OF Mr. Lincoln.
The terms OF surrender were tentative,
and the conditions were entirely sub.
ject to the supervision OF the executive
authorities, but instead OF being submit
ted to the generous and ,forgiving
patriot who had fallen they were passed
upon in the shadow oil great crime by
Stern and relentless enemies, who would
not have consented to the conditions
imposed by Gen. Grant upon Gen. Lee,
and who would have disresarlcd them
had not Gen. Grant threatened to resign
upon their refusal to carry out his
terms. When the arrangement. with
Gen. Johnston was submitted to Prcsi-
dent Johnston and Mr.. Stanton, it was
rejected wilh the insulting intimation
that it proceeded from either cowardice
or treachcry. The old cry against Gen.
Sherman was again started. 1t was even
imputed that he would attempt TO play
the part OF Cromwell or 4 military
usurpcr. The generous kindness OF
Grant came 10 his relief. Now terms
were agreed upon and the war closed"
You would have it understood by this
that while General Sherman was en-
gagged in praiscworthy and purely mil
ltaly act which President Lincoln
would have desired him 10 perform had
he lived, he was set upon and insulted,
and his arrangements set aside by Pres
ldent Johnson and Edwin NJ. Stanton,
then secretary oi war, in 4 mean and
marrow spirit OF revenge, because OF the
assass.raton OF Mr.. Lincoln, and that
at this juncturc the generou, Kindness
Of General Grant intcrposed between
him and these alleged enemies, and
that the two generals agreed on new
.erms and ended the war.
You state all this as ii you had ap-
proved General Shcrman's course.
Whatever policy Mr.. Lincoln might
have recommended to Congress for tho
restoration OF the Confederate states to
Their relations with the union, none
Knew better than you that he never
would have undertaken to usurp the
powers OF Congress on the subject,
much less to allow q military subor-
dnate 10 guide him in tho work by an
authorized arrangement nGdo under
the supervision OF Jefferson Davis and
MS cabinet.
Mr. Lincoln LETT no room for doubt
CnthIs point, ior be gave the following
,GWeetion 10 General Grant fortnight
before tho Shcrman-Johnston ncgotia-
ti0ns: st
LltritaGr, GerdaI Grant:
The President directs me'to saw 10
you that he wishes you to have no con-
!sFeAce with General Lee unless it be
Tor the capitu!ation OF Lees army, or
ierS.
lie instructs me TO say to You that
you are not 10 decide, discuss, or confer
on any political question. Such ques-
IONS tho President holds in his own
!hands and will submit them 10 no mil
nary conferences or conventions.
Meantime you arc to press to the ut.
most your military advantages.
"EDwIN NJ. STANTON,
=. Secretary OF War"
ioil will say that General Sherman
had not seen this order OF Mr.. Iincoln's
%neh he mado his arrangement with
Johnson, but it is mono the less abso.
.'lie proof that he (Alr. Lincoln) would
nav nave disapproved tho arrangement.
i"e general needed no such admonition
70 teach him that the discussion OF pub.
nc policies in a military convention was
"1 INVASION oil the civil authority and
wholly outside the powers and duties OF
",Mi1ltnry commander. lie frankly ad-
Mlteu this, and in 4 letter to Secretary
"t"Aton, dated April %, the day after
.EEeiylng the governments disapproval
!" IN ms terms, ho said: 81 admit my
,G;my IN embracing in n military conyen-
"9n any civic matters"
You represented General Grant rs
S;omlhS to General Sherman's relief,
rom IRON which those not acquainted with
me history OF tho case would surposo
nat he approved tho agreement. When
you made this statement YOU must have
%noWn that General Grant condemned
;U"StW ;n, sherman's act before consult
,.-. ,"S e't!ier President johnson or SGcro-
S%'! stanton. llc wrote to General
T,hne'than, ,h acknowledged the receipt OF
ANV,n A =