The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-10
Secretary Stanton's PcrAdy and Du-
plfcEty.

OOmoOOuJ G3S cSSH cheated Mr.
Stanton has either been making false
professions to the President, or false
professions to the radicals; and the
personal problem of greatest interest
in Washington just now is-which?
The following despatch appeared in
yesterdays Tribune:
The CABINET MEET1NG-VIEws OF
SECRETARY STANTON little COM
ment has been had, to-day, upon the
anonymous account of the Cabinet
meeting of yesterday, generally cir
culated here among the Washington
papers, and sent abroad by the Asso-
ciated Press as o rumor. Here it's
authorship is accredited to the Pre-
sident. That portion of it alluding
to the Secretary of War is the only
portion of it that surprises any one
in the least. There is no doubt but
that he is incorrectly reported Gus
tom has made the details of what
transpired in Cabinet meeting con-
fidential, and the account given out
at late hour last night is somewhat
unusual. The general belief among
members of Congress, to-day, is that
the Secretary of War has made no
speech in material antagonism to the
Congressional policy of reconstruc-
ton, or in especial support of the
President, and that the anonymous
rumor is set afoat to induce him to
say or do something hat would
afford an excuse for his summary
removal from the Cabinet. The day
may not be far distant when the cur
tain may be drawn aside, and the
whole truth unequivocally spread be-
fore the people. In the meantime,
the Republicans will need more evi-
dence than any that has yet been
furnished them that Secretary Stan
ton is in favor of the Immediate adj
mission of the Southern delegations,
and that he is against the restoration
plan laid down by the committee of fif-
teen.
And this in the 7 .,adelphia Press:
The RECENT Ca NET MEETING
The statement telegraphcd by the
Associated Press yesterday, with re-
gard to the Cabinet meeting on Tues
day, is not belle we'd so far as Secreta-
ry Stanton is concerned. The most
intimate friends of Secretary Stanton
are firm in the conviction that he is
in favor of the Congressional plan of
reconstruction, and that he did not
support that of the President in the
Cabinet meeting. A prominent mem
ber OF Congress pronounces the whole
thing hoax, on good authority.
The despatch in question was sent
from the White House to the agent
of the Associated Press, and is un-
derstood to have been manipulated
by President johnson and Secretary
Seward
The radicals may have something
yet to learn in respect to the dcceitfuI
doublings Of Stanton; the President
himself may have something to learn
on the same score; but those ac
quainted with the arts by which
Stanton got himself appointed Secre-
tary of War, nothing. While Gen.
McClellan's star was in the ascendant,
las it was until after the close of Sec
retary Cameron's administration,
Stanton, then Washington lawyer,
with great deal of leisure, was in
the habit of hanging around General
McClellan's headquarters, protesting
for that officer the warmest friend
ship and admiration, and expressing
the most devoted wishes to be of SER
vice to him in forwarding his strategy.
General Mcclellan credited Stanton $
professions; thought we'll Of his abili-
ties; and on Mr.. Cameron's retire
ment, favored his appointment to the
head Of the War Department. Pre-
sident Lincoln's confidence in Gen.
Mcclellan was at that time mistaken,
and he deferred to his wishes the
selection of n Secretary. But no
sooner was Stanton in office than he
Immediately entered into an under
standing with General McClellan's S
enemies, and became the leading
spirit in their confederacy to ruin
him. General McClellan's friends
were as disappointed and astonished,
and, at first, rs incredulous, as the
radicals now seem to be at Stanton s
unexpected course. He professed dis
interested friendship for Mcclellan,
because he saw that was the likeliest
way to get Office; he Immediately
turned against him and joined the
conspiracy of McClellan's enemies,
because that seemed the likeliest way
to keep Office.
1t is perfectly evident that Stanton
has been pretending one thing to
President johnson, and another to