The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-30

Weitzels invitation to the Virginia Legis-
lature, made in Mr.. Lincoln's very presence.
and failed to discover any other official hint
OF a plan OF reconstruction or any ideas cal
culated TO ailay the fears of the people of the
South, after the destruction of their armies
and civil authorities would leave them with
out any Government whatever
We should not drive a people into anarchy
and it is simply impossible for orr military
power to reach all the masses of their un-
happy country.
| confess ! did not desire to drive Gen
Johnston's army into bands Of armed men
going about without purpose and capable
only Of infinite mischief. But you saw, on
your arrival here, that had my army so dis
posed that his escape was only possible in q
dIsorganlZed shape; and, rs you did not
choose to direct military operations in this
quarter" i inferred that you were satisfied
with the military situation; at all events. the
instant L learned, what was proper enough
the dlsapproyal of the President | acted in
such manner as to compel the surrender of
Gen. Johnston's whole army on the same
terms which you had prescribed to Gen.
Lees army, when you had it surrounded and
in your absolute power.
Mr.. Stanton, in stating that my orders to
Gen. Stoneman were likely to result in the
escape of " Mr. Davis to Mexico or Europe. y
is in deep error. Gen. Stoneman was not at
Salisbury" but had gone back to Estates
VILE. " Davis was between us and, there
fore, Stoneman was beyond him BY turn
ing toward me he was approaching Davis.
and had he joined me as ordered | wouId
have had a mounted force greatly needed
for Davis's capture, and for other purposes.
Even now ] don't know that Mr.. Stanton
wants Davis caught, and, as my official
papers, deemed sacred, are hastily published
TO the world, it viii he imprudent for me to
state what has been done in that regard.
As the editor Of the Times has Ut may bel
| logically and fairly drawn from this singular
document the conclusion that / am nsubordi-
nate, can only deny the intention.
/ have never in my life questioned or dis
obeyed an order. though many and many a
time have | risked my life, health and repu-
tatlon in obeying orders, or even hints to ex.
ecute plans and purposes, not to my liking.
1t is not fair to withhold from me the plans
and policy OF Government (if any there be
| and expect me to guess Mt them: for facts and
events appear quite different from different
standpoints. For four years have been in
camp dealing with soldiers, and can assure
| you tlldt tHc CONCLUSION at which the Cabinet
arrived with such singular unanimity differs
from mine.
Ieonferred freely with the best officers in this
army as To the points involved in this contro-
versy, and, strange to say, they were singu-
larly unanimous in the other conclusion
They will learn with pain and amazement
that ! am deemed insubordinate and wanting
IN common sense; that |, who for four wears
have labored day and night, Winter and
Summer, who have brought an army of 70 900
men in magnificent condition across a country
hitherto deemed impossible, and placed it
just where 1t was wanted, on the day an
pointed, have brought discredit on our Gov
ernment
do not wish to boast Of this, but do say
that it entitled me TO the courtesy of being
consulted before publishing to the world a
proposition rightfully submitted to higher
| authority for adjudication, and then accom-
panied by statements which invite the dogs
of the press to be let loose upon me- 1t is
true that mono -combatants, men who sleep in
comfort and security while we watch on the
distant lines, are better able to Judge than
| we poor soldiers, who rarely see newspaper
hardly hear from our families or stop long
enough to draw our pay. l envy not the
task Of reconstruction" and am delighted