The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-03
LEADER.
WEDNESDAY, HAY 3, 1858.
RecrefarY sfanfon.


Secretary stanton.
1t has long been known to his intimate
friends and to g certain extent to the pub
lie, that Secretary Stanton Intended resign
ing his place in the Cabinet as soon as the
rebellion was so nearly crushed that he
could safely be spared from the admins
tration of the War Department. His
health, bis inclinations and his pecuniary
interests alike call upon him to lay aside
position which he has accepted from mo
tives of duty rather than preference, and
which has worn heavily upon his physical
and mental energies. The rum0r is now
repeated with more positivOness than ever,
and it is affirmed that the Secretary intends
to resign upon the first of July next, the
termination of the fiscal year. By that
time the rebellion viii not only be crushed,
but the armies will be reduced to one
fourth or one-eighth the present size. The
energy, the experience, the genius of Mr..
Stanton will no longer be essential, IS for
the last year it has been, in the administra-
lion of the Department,
But though the nation will not need
Mr.. Stsnton's services so greatly in the
future as in the past, there is no public
officer with whom it will part with more
regret. Among the most decided and
wonderful changes of opinion which have
occurred in this time Of change and devel-
opements, one of the most striking has
been in regard to the Secretary of War
A year sgo, Mr.. Stanton was q generally |
unpopular man. The Mcclellan and Buell.
order, of generals, and their sdherents
the Northern Copperheads, were of course
in open and bitter hostility to him, while
his impulsivensss, his brusque, decided |
manner, and his harsh treatment of indi-
viduals had made him many enemies
among loyal citizens. All this has been
forgotten in the splendor of fhissuccesses and
the integrity of his administration, and
10 day Secretary Stanton is regarded by /
the people as the pillar Of strength on
which the government is supported. He
is perhaps, if not the most popular, the
most admired and respected officer con-
neeted with the administration. No one
doubts his commanding genius, his Nspo-
leonic energy, his unsurpassed executive
ability or his strict integrity.
Recent events have developed Mr.. STAN
toms character very finely. His ''impulsive
temperament" has always been on the side
of liberty, his Revolutionary energy" has
frequently been necessary to save the
country from harm. When President Lin
coin was ssssssinsted and the whole Cab
met threatened-when all Washington
was in an uproar of excitsment-when
other leaders and officers of the Govern
ment we're stunned and paralyzsd by the
sbock-Secretary Stanten, though weep
ing at the Presidents bedside, retained his
entire seltpossession. Even here he was
master of the situation. Not neglecting
the usual details of his department work,
he devoted himself TO keeping the govern
ment running correctly. From the hour
when Lincoln was shot till that st which
johnson was insugursted, the real Presi-
dent-the man who counselled, suggested,
planned, who met the unprecedented and
horrible emergency as coolly as he would
his ordinary ofice-routine-was Secretary
Stanton. The nation owes it to his ready
intelligence and undsunted courage that
the government sustained no greater shock
in the murder of the President.
His recent prompt and trenchsnt state
ment of the grounds of disspproval of
Shern ans negotiations was another illus
trstion of his energy, fesrlessness and ca
pacity. It was just what the country
wanted.
But the highest glory of the Secretary of
War will be the need of his remark
able executive powers, in organizing
and administering his department Con-
trast Mr.. Stsnton's management of an az
my of sOO,OOO men with the arrsngemts
made for the transportation, feeding clo-
thing and srming of other armies, large or
small, and the excellence of the model Sec
rotary becomes most manifest. In all
the vast details of this work for
these years there has occurred no single in
stance of short supplies, irregular trans.
portation or defective clothing and arming.
All this is due to the organizing head and
aIl-permeating energy of Secretary Stan
ton. More than this the administration, of
his Office has been honest and eco
nomicAl. Noextravsgant expenditure mas
been permitted, and the bitterest enemy of
Mr.. Stanton will not charge him with the
slightest taint of corruption or venslity in
the administration of his office.