Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-28
MoNDAY#:#:::::::::::::;:AUGUsT 2s, 1865
SPEECH OF HON. MONTGOMERY
BLAIR-HIs ATTACHMENT OF
DISTINGUISHED CIVIL, JUDI
CIAL AND MILITARY OFFICERS
OF THE GOVERNMENT.


OF THE GOvERNMENT.
Elsewhere in to-day rpaper will be found
the brief telegraphic abstract Of Hon. MONT
ooxERY BLAIR's speech, delivered at Clarks-
vile, Howard county, Maryland, on Saturday
last, as furnished by the Agent of the Asso-
ciated Press.
Commenting upon this remarkable produc-
tion, the Baltimore American, of this morn
ing, makes the following generally acceptable
analysis and suggestions
Mr.. Blair is, as usual, critical and caustic
or members Of his own political household.
Secretary Seward, Chief Justice Chase, Judge
Holt, Secretary Stanton Thaddeus Stevens,
and Senator Cresswel are taken up SeTiatiRI
and dissected with the skill of proficient in
handling the political scalpel. Mr.. Seward
Is charged with having encouraged the rebel
lion in pledging to the rebel leaders before
the war that he would meet exaction with
concession, which surrenders no principle,
prejudice with conciliation, and violence
with the right hand Of peace" and with hay-
ing given promise in advance Of his accession
to the Premiership that Sumter would be sur
rendered without resistance. Mr.. Stanton
is alleged to have been brought into Buchan-
ans Cabinet to take the place Of Mr.. Cass,
who had retired in disgust, and with having
been in close affiliation with the rebellion un.
til the moment he was brought into Mr.. Lin
coins Cabinet.
Whilst we have but little admiration fol-
Secretary Stanton's personal characteristics
or his previous career, 1t strikes us that thi:
assertion is strong imputation on the mo.
tives and purity Of purpose Of President Lin
coin, who appointed him, and Of President
johnson, who still retains him in his Cabi
net. As to Mr.. Seward, we have and nj
ways shall regard him as having been th,
backbone of the Cabinet of Mr.. Lincoln-th,
man who had more to do than any other il
the country in shaping the course Of an ad
ministration that will ever stand pre-emi
nent in the history of the nation. Mr.. Sew
ard Is now held in the hearts of the Ameri
can people as next to President Lincoln
and is too near the end of his career rs an
American statesman to lose the position he
has obtained through long life of devotion
to the best interests Of his country. Mr..
Seward took the helm of State at u critical
period and has won not only the admra.
tion Of his own country, but of the whole
civilized world by the distinguished ability
with which he has conducted both the foreign
and domestic relations Of the country during
four years Of civil war
Mr.. Blair also asserts that Mr.. Stanton Is
now retaining ga vast and unnecessary mill
tary force, and that he is making "remark-
able movements" with portion Of it, in
yolying enormous expenditure" rs he be-
lieyes, "againa tie tcisles Of tie General
iN- Chief and tie TemOMstra,oes Of tie Sec
rotary Of tic TreasMry" His object is rep
resented TO be to thwart, with the aid of
Congress, the plan of the President for reor-
ganiIing the Southern States. Now, with all
due respect TO Mr.. Blair's superior ex perience
rs a Cabinet officer, we have too high an
opinion Of the astuteness, sagacity and iron
will Of President johnson TO suppose for
moment that In so important n matter as this
he would allow his War Secretary TO use the
military power Of the Government to thwart
the purposes Of his own administration. Nor
do we think that President Lincoln could be
justified in having kept in his Cabinet so un-
principled an intriguer as Mr.. Blair repre-
sents Mr., Stanton to be-
we confess that we have for long time re-
Balusu Mr' stanton as q most unfit man to
Wielu the power reposed in him by President
non' ;' Du' our confidence in both President
..nooin anu Johnson, distinguished as they
nav p1oh ior prudence honesty, and sa-
gacity, has led us to hope that We NAV have
placed wrong estimate on his character and
usefulness 'A
The speech of Mr. Blair will doubtless meot
WIN an extended Perusal and we are con.
WINGED that many Of his best friends will and
In II much to condemn, and but little Ia an.
prove In his support of the Government nh
loyal men will agree with him, and us to his
appeal for leniency and kindness to the masses
Of the Southern people, when they return to
faithful allegiance, there will be no antag
Onism.
All desire the return Of harmony and good
will, and when the Southern people extend
the hand of fellowship in good faith, it will
~ cordially grasPsd and fraternally received.