Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-01-10
The Era Of Statesmen-Mr. Seward and
Mr. Stanton
From the. New YORK Times


/ From the New York Times.l
1t is happy Circumstance that we have
at length reached timein the history OF
our government in which 5, atesmen and or
ganizers appear In public affairs, and con-
| tinue their course of duty despite public
| clamor.
There were no ''better abused men" in
| the first two years OF our war than Mr..
| Seward and Mr.. Stanton. The scandals
that circulated against the Secretary OF War
could not be numbered He was crazy be
insulted all hisfriends; he was blood-thirs
ty radical tyranical Robespierre he
Knew nothing OF war or Its organization he
carried the preiudices of political life into
the service OF his country he 'worshipped
the negro, and violated the freedom of
the whites by lmprlsoning contractors. No
one could get on with him he must leave
his place or the national cause be ruined.
Deputatlon after deputatlon, individual al
| ter individual, waited on the President to
beg him to remove him. But Dir. Lincoln
saw that he had the right man in the right
place. Mr.. Stanton remained indifferent to
| the popular ciamor. He had his own plans,
and was determined to execute them. A
few friends continued constant to him; and
OF two things no enemy ever yentured 10
accuse hlm-irst. of the slightest suspicion
OF speculation, though he was handling
some FIVE hundred millions II year; and
secondly, Of any indifference to the hapiess
| sufferer from the war, the unfortunate
slave. He persevered in his Office, and
aimed at distant effects, not present popu-
larity-at duty, not applause.
The result has been a military admins
tration which will be the admiration Of all
time for Its Organization, and to whose
wonderful efficiency the Republic almost
I o@,.a fc c,oi Mr. Sranfon h.S -tonr
seen TO accomplish what no military leader
in Great Britain could accomplish in the
/ Crimean war with much smaller force and
under mueh fewer obstacles, the perfect
equipment, supply and transportation Of
great masses of men over vast spaces. Ma
peleon himself. with two-thirds of Europe
to draw from, did Lot effect so much, 50
speedily and with such perfect organization
of immense armies, as did this Pennsylvania
lawyer suddenly elevated TO the head of a
powerful military bureau. All men see
now his wonderful capacities for his task.
His very faults aided HIM His impatient
energy subdued all obstacles; his bIusqae-
ness was needed for meddlesome intIu-
ders, and his arbitrary treatment Of dishon-
est contractors was the only thing which
checked the terrible and increasing disease of
public corruption. ~
Mr.. Seward again was the centre of mGl {
| abuse and scanda. and attack than any other
man of the dav, except Blr. Lincoln himself
He was negotiating with the South he was
Indifferent to freedom he was trucking to
| Europe he had no earnestnesS in the con
test; he was given up TO intoxicatiou and
had lost his wits IF he continued to guide
our foreign relations we should have all
Europe Joining with the South.
The President was besought again and
- \, 81 Il
prominent men of his own party opposed
themselves to him. he was entreated to re
sign, and many most patriotic citizens be-
leved him 70 be the source Of all our mis-
fortunes. We do not propose to defend or
excuse all Mr.. Stewards sayings, or every
measure of his diplomacy Some of his
proceedings toward European powers we
should have desired to have seen otherwise;
| but we submit now TO all reasonable persons
that, Judging Mr. Stewards foreign policy
by its fruits, it has beco pre-eminently sue
eessiul ~
Possibly something of its success may
| have been due to accident, to the Jealousy
| of European Powers of one another and 10
the revolutionary fire and prodigious energy
| shown by our people. This may be, and
yet the result remains that in the great OPP
| portunity of many centuries for our rivals
and enemies In Europe to strike US weak
ening and damaging blow, in the midst of
the most perilous and conflicting questions,
| with constantly occurring proVocations and
unwise acts of subordinates, no opportunity
or temptation was offered by our Govern
ment for foreign interference, and not a
/ break of friendly relations occurred with
any European Power. If such result be
not evidence of wise craftsmanship, We
know not what proof can be offered of it.
! XIV pr her t,npIand and
France aever were presented with the chance
/ which they would so gladly have embraced
of interfering to break up the Union and
make the United States second rate power.
! 1t is true that some steps of Mr. Seward s
/ policy have been less bold and less confident
| In the assertion of principles than we would
1 have preferred Still the result justities his
caution If he had yielded to clamor, or if
/ Mr.. Lincoln had put in his place a more
! headstrong man. we might now be plunged
| in war with half the world.
! Mr. Seward name will go down-not as
i Of man who could well forecast the whole
struggle, or who fully understood Its bear
i ing-but as of a prudent and seli-contained
4 statesman. who never let present effect and
i popularity turn him from what he believed
i would be for the permanent benefit of the
1 country. Both of these leaders in our civil
war showthe power of independence and per-
4 sistence. in a course eonscientiously believed
right, though opposed to popular. favor.
They proved that our politics have at length
become so earnest as to compel public men,
or to leave the stage The Pierce and Bu-
chanan era is over. The dry of popular eff
feet, of acting solely for Influence on ''the
people, of, the headstrohg, clustering,
thoughtless. and superficial statesmanshlp
j is past-at least with our leaders. We may