Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-11

public safety. The expectations which Gen.
eral Sherman had raised In the minds OF
the army and the people that our soldiers
only awaited the Presidents order to return
rejoicing to their homes could not be real
lied under his terms. consistently with the
dignity of safety of the country. This had
to be made evident to the people and the
army, to prevent serious and perhaps dan.
gerous discomfort. Hon. Jacob Collamer,
then n Senator from the State of Vermont,
in n letter to Mr.. Stanton, dated June "a,
1866, expressed his opinion on this point as fol.
lows: general Sherman promulgated to his
army and the world his arrangements with
Johnston. Indeed, the armistied could not
in any other way be accounted for, and the
army was gratiied with the expectation OF
an immediate return home. To reject that
arrangement was clearly necessary. ana 70
do it without stating any reason for 1t would
have been a very dangerous experiment. De-
tween the public and the army. Indeed,
many had serious apprehensions OF its
effect on the army, even with the con.
elusive reasons which were given. Should
not this view be presented in any and every
true manifesto of the case?"
1t is not necessary here to discuss the
terms. No one in his senses will question
the good intentions of General sherman IN
agreeing to them, but it is the truth OF
people of the country at the time as unani-
inously as they were by the President and
the Cabinet.
Old Letters Sometimes Inconvenient.
In conclusion, allow me to quote one more
authority in support of Mr.. Stanton's view,
and in condemnation of General Sherman's
fearful mistake. The authority will not be
seriously questioned by you. 1t reads as
follows: ...-
"CLEvELANp, O.. April %, 1865.
my DEAR SRI am distressed beyond
measure at the terms granted Johnston by
There should now De literally no terms
granted. We should not only brand the
leading rebels with infamy, but the whole
rebellion should wear the badge of the pen1-
tentiary so that for this generation at least
no man who has taken part in 1t would dare
Justify or palliate it. Yet with these views
l feel that gross injustice has been done
General Sherman, and especially by the
press. The most that can be said about him
is that he granted the rebels too liberal
terms. The same may be said, but in less
in their arrangement with Lee. General
Sherman had not understood the political .
bearing of that agreement. 1t is his mis-
fortune that he believes the promises of
these men, and looks upon the whole con-
test in a simple view. He thought the dis
banding of their armies is the end Of the
war, while we know that to arm them with
the elective franchise and State organiza-
tions is to reform the war.
81 feel so troubled at this matter. follow
ing so closely upon the death of MI. Lincoln,
that 1 WAS inclined to drop everything
and go to Raleigh, but 1 promised to join
the funeral correse here and on Saturday
we have agreed to deliver a eulogy of Mr..
Lincoln at Mansfield. This over, 1 will
gladly go to Washington or anywhere else
where can render the least service.
81 do not wish General Sherman to be un-
Justly dealt with and k'so,O that you sUiu not
permit ii, and especially do not want him
driven into fellowship with the Copper
heads. His military services have been too
valuable to the country to be stained by
any such fellowship. If you can in your
multiplied engagements drop me line,
pray do so. You can, IL YOU choose, show
this to the President. or, indeed, to anyone.
Truly YOURS JOHN SHERMAN.
"HoN E. NJ. STANTON"
No Reference to Any Insult.
I do not find in this letter any reference
to the insult with which you now assert
that General Sherman's terms were rejected
by President Johnston and Mr.. Stanton.
But do find in it an assurance from you to
Secretary Stanton that you knew he would
not permit General Sherman to be unjustly
dealt with. You could not have said this
had you thought Mr.. Stanton himself had
already dealt unjustly with him by publish
ing the treasons above quoted. and which
had been in print in every leading newspa-
per of the country four days before you
wrote your letter.
l honored and admired General Sherman.
1 knew him personally, and enjoyed the
honor of his friendship. No more patriotic
American, no drawer or more faithful sold.
Ter ever lived. But also honored and ad-
mired Mr.. Stanton. whose biography have ,
undertaken and whose private papers are
in my keeping; and l cannot remain silent
when one of the greatest and wiSest of his
official acts is brought forward. misstated
and perverted IN useless effort to show
that General Sherman was right, when he,
himself, admitted with the concurrence of
Senator Sherman) that he was wrong.
Verv Truly Yours,
GEORGE c. GoRHAM.