People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-04-15
G0RHAM AND SHERMAN.
Hon. G. G. Gorham Writes an Open
Letter to Senator Sherman.
He Takes Exceptions to Certain Portions Of
the Eulogy Upon Gen. W. T. sherman
and Defends Secretary stanton
War History Recalled.
Gorham to sherman.

WACHIYGTON, April 11.-Hon. Geo. c.
GOrham, who is engaged on a biography
of the late Secretary Stanton. has written
an open letter to Senator Sherman in
which he excerpts to the following in
the senator's late eulogy upon Gen.
Sherman:
"'Gen. Sherman believed in ana
sought to carry out the policy of Abra-
ham Lincoln. The terms of the surren-
der were tentative and the conditions
were entirely subject to the supervision
Of the executive authorities but instead
OF being submitted to the generous and
fOrgiving patriot who had fallen they
were passed upon in the shadow of a
great crime by stern and relentless enc
mics, who had not consented to the con-
ditions imposed by Gen. Grant and who
would have disregarded them had not
Gen. Grant threatened To resign upon
the refusal to carry out his terms.
When the arrangement with Gen.
Johnston was submitted to President
johnson and Mr.. Stanton, it was reject
ed with the insulting intimation that it
proceeded from either cowardice or
treachery. The old cry against Gen.
Sherman was again started. 1t was
even imputed that he would attempt to
play the part of a Crowell or a military
usurper.
The generous kindness of Gram
came to his relief. New terms were
agreed upon and the war closed
Mr.. Gorham says;
You would have it understood b,
this that while Gen. Sherman was en-
gagged in praiseworthy and purely
military act, which President Lincoln
would have desired him to perform had
he lived, he was set upon and insulted
and his arrangements set aside by Pres.
ldent johnson and Edwin Stanton,
then secretary of war, in a mean and
narrow spirit Of revenge, because of the
assassination of Mr.. Lincoln and that at
this juncture, the generous kindness OF
Gen. Grant interposed between him and
these alleged enemies and that the two
generals agreed on new terms and ended
the war. You state all this as though
you had approved Gen. Sherman's
course"
After quoting from many letters and
showing the error Of Gen. Sherman's
position the letter closed with the fol.
lowing:
in conclusion allow me to quote one
more authority in support of Mr.. Stan.
tons view and in condemnation of Gen
Sherman's fearful mistake. The
authority will not be seriously ques.
toned by you. 1t reads as follows:
SENATOR SHERMAN's LETTER.
MY DEAR SIR am distressed be
You'd measure at the terms granted
Johnston by Gen. Sherman. They are
inadmissible. There should now be
literally no terms granted. We should
not only brand the leading rebels with
lnfamy. but the whole rebellion should
wear the badge Of the penitentiary; for
this generation, at least, no man who
has taken part in the war dare Justify
Or palliate it.
Yet with these views | feel that
gross injustice has been done Gen. Sher.
man, 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 de-
gree of Mr. Lincoln and Gen. Grant in
their arrangement with Lee. Gen. Sher-
man had not understood the political
bearing of that agreement. 1t is his
misfortune that he believed the prom.
lses OF these men, and looks upon the
whole contest in simple military view.
lie thought the disbanding of their
armies is the end of the war, while we
knew to arm them with the elective
franchise and state organizations is to
renew the war.
u feel so troubled at this matter. fol.
lowing so closely on the death of Mr..
Lincoln, that was inclined to drop ey.
erything and go to Raleigh. but | prom.
ised to join the funeral cortege here.
and on Saturday week have agreed to
deliver eulogy in honor of Mr.. Lincoln
at Mansfield. This over, | will gladly
go to Washington or anywhere else
where shall do the least service.
II do not wish Gen. Sherman to be
unjustly dealt with, and | know that
you will not permit it. Especially | dc
not want him driven into fellowship
with the copperheadS. His military
services have been too valuable to the
country to be stained by any such fel.
lowship. If you can, in your multiplied
engagements, drop me line pray do so.
You can If you choose show this to the
president or indeed to anyone. Very
truly yours, JOHN SHERMAN"
Il cannot find in this letter anv ref.
erence to the insult with which Won
now assert that Gen. Sherman's terms
were rejected by President johnson and
Mr.. Stanton, but do find in it an rs.
surance from you to Secretary Stanton
that You knew he would not permit
Gen. Sherman to be unjustly dealt with.
You could not have said this had Won
thought Mr.. Stanton himself had al.
ready dealt unjustly by him. by pub
fishing the reasons above quoted and
which had been in print in every lead.
ing newspaper of the country for fou,
days before You wrote your letter. ]
honored and admired Gen. Sherman.
knew him personally and enjoyed the
honor of his friendship.
But also honored and admired Mr.
Stanton, whose biography l have un
dertaken andwhose private papers are il
my keeping; and | cannot remain silent
when one of the Orea+aS4 ord ,,-;.,. u