Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-03

HkNN mitted them toSecretary
SIh.ENHy Stanton. The Secretary
HA Immediately advised the
President, who in coun-
Gil with his cabinet that
night disapproved of the terms. and Gen. Grant
was ordered to Raleigh to assume command,
SET aside the terms, and give battle. The set
ting aside of the terms of surrender was a mo-
mentous matter, for it meant continuance of
grim war after peace had been practically at
tanned Some person had to advise the people
OF the loyal states who we're hoping. praying
and waiting for the war to close Of this extra
ordinary affair, and Mr.. Stanton assumed the
responsibility and wrote the Nine Reasons
which were to inform people why at that time
when peace was in sight and actually attained
after four years Of appalling war the truce
should be ended and the grand army of Sher-
man move on TO battle. After the lapse of
twenty-seven years Mr.. Stanton has recently
been denounced in the press for his acts in this
matter, and for publishing the .'Nine Reasons
by two eminent and distinguished persons
Lord Wolsley, general in the British army,
and by United States Senator John Sherman
THE NINE REASONS.
1t is in connection with these public denunci-
atoms that wish to give TO history the facts
and circumstances attending the writing and
PRONUNCIATION Of the "Nine Reasons" They
were as follows:
i. 1t was an exercise Of an authority not
vested in Gen. Sherman and on its face shows
that both he and Johnston knew that Gen. Sher-
man had no authority to enter into any such
arrangement.
2 1t was practical acknowledgment Of the
rebel government
g. 1t undertook to re-establish the rebel state
governments that had been overthrow at the
sacrifice OF many thousand loyal lives and an
Immense Treasury and nlncod md
munitions OF war in the hands of the rebels at
their respective state capitals, which might be
used as soon as the armies of the United States
were dlsbanded and used to conquer and sub
due the loyal states.
a. BY the restoration Of rebel authority in
their respective states they would be enabled to
re-estnbish slavery
g. 1t might furnish a ground Of responsibility
for the federal government to pay the rebel
debts and certainly subject the loyal citizens Of
rebel states to debts contracted by rebels in the
state.
6. 1t would put in dispute the existence Of
loyal state governments and the new state of
West Virginia, which had been recognized by
every department Of the United States govern
ment.
T. 1t practically abolished the confscation
laws and relieved the rebels of every degree,
who had slaughtered our people, from all the
pains and penalties for their crimes
g. 1t gave terms that had been deliberately,
repeatedly and solemnly rejected by President
Lincoln, and better terms than the rebels had
asked In their most prosperous condition.
g. 1t formed no basis of true and lasting
peace. but relieved the rebels from the pressure
OF our victories and left them in condition to
renew their efforts to overthrow the United
States government and subdue the loval states
whenever their strength was recruited and any
opportunity was offered.
CONSIDERING THE TERMS OF SURRENDER.
In Transmitting tho Yary NJ H. ~,
Secretary, Gen. Grants letter states that he
thought the dispatches were of such import
ance that immediate action should be taken on
them by the President in counsel with his
whole cabinet. The Secretary at once went to
see the President, and after his return to the
department he dictated the Mine Reasons"
The cabinet meeting called for that night,
but Mr.. Stanton had already determined the
orders and the instructions Of that cabinet
meeting Of which he was the master spirit and
was impatient to send them off and to advise
the people.
1t was indeed momentous and startling mat
ter TO Mr.. Stanton as his great brain took in the
situation, the results and the consequences of
the mistake OF Gen. Sherman in the terms he
gave Johnston. To him these terms were mex
plicable.
THE ORDERS TO GEN. GRANT.
1t was about o'clock at night, April 81. 1865.
when Mr.. Stanton returned to the War Depart
ment from that cabinet meeting and he at once
wrote the order and instructions and called in
Gen. Eckert, now of New York city, from the
telegraph room and said to him. Hold the tele-
graph offices open until midnight Gen.
Grant then came into the Secretary's room and
after some conversation received from him the
letter Of instructions and the orders to 60 TO
Raleigh and to take charge of the army In
handing Gen. Grant these orders heard Mr.
Stanton tell him that his (the Secretary's)
carriage was at the door, and Gen. Grant started
that night for Raleigh in the steamer which
brought the dispatches from Gen. Sherman. l
felt that night, from what saw and heard, and
believe now, that Gen. Grant did not want to
go. and that he felt hurt in having to co. That
night after the cabinet meeting Gen Grant
wrote letter to Gen. Sherman that he had
carefully read the bases Of agreement and felt
satisfied that it could not possibly be approved;
that he would give his reasons at another time;
that the bases OF agreement had been dsap-
proved by President johnson and his cabinet.
and gave orders to Gen. Sherman to terminate
the truce and resume hostiities against john
ston at the earliest moment. This letter
reached Gen. Sherman by the same steamer
that carried Gen. Grant, thus showing that
Gen. Grant did not expect to go to Raleigh.
now THE NEWS SPREAD.
The "Nine Reasons were sent that night to
Gen. Dix, at New York, together with copy of
the terms Of surrender, for publication. Mr..
Stanton had sent bulletins to Gen. Dix Of the
capture Of Richmond, of the assassination of
President Lincoln, and of the attempted assas-
sination Of Secretary Seward land his son
Frederick and an sttendant), and Of every i'm
portant thing Transporting at this time in the
capital. In fact all during the war Mr., Stanton
was the only person who kept the people in
formed Of every important war matter by Off
cial bulletins to Gen. Dix.
When Mr.. Stanton received and read the dis
patches Of Gen. Sherman he was in q condition
Of great excitement and impatience and paced
his room in profound thought looking at the
terms Of peace, as II they might come nm To
trouble the government in the reconstruction
Of the states In rebellion. He wanted to make
short work Of that cabinet meeting.
The press took up the matter and with sinpu-
lar unanimity sustained the "Nine Reasons and
the extraordinary position Of MIR. Stanton In
the matter, notwithstanding Gen. Sherman was
popular and brilliant soldier and had only a
month before raised the United States flag over
the ruins Of Fort Sumter that had foated over
its bsttlements and which, in the rebel bonn
bardment four years before, had been shot
down.
wHAr GEN. GRANT SAID.
OF this Hherman-J Johnston surrender Gen.
orsnt says: "When some days after my return
to Warrington (after Lees surrender) Presi-
dent Johnson and the Secretary of War
received the terms which Gen. Sherman had
forwarded for approval, . cabinet meeting was
Immediately called. and I was sent for. There
seemed to bs the greatest CONSERVATION lest
Sherman would commit the government TO