Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-08-14
TnE RAFTsmAn's JOURNAL,
The Position of the Secretary of War.

Inc Position OF the Secretary of War.
The following brief but expressive cor
resPondenee passed between the President
of the United States and the Secretary of
War on the 5th inst:
THE PRESIDENTS NOTE
Executive MANSION, WASHINGTON.
August, 5.-To Edtcia N. Stanton. .Secre
ta,y Of Var Sir Grave public consid-
erations colstrain me to request your resig-
nation as Secretary of War
ANDREW JOHNSON,
President of the United States
SECRETARY sTANToN's ANSWER
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Au-
gust 6.-1o His Ercellency, Ardre,o John
son, President of tie United States SIR:
Your note informing me that grave public
considerations constrain you to request my
resignation as Secretary of War has been
received. In answer, L have to state that
grave public considerations constrain me to
continue in the Office of Secretary of War
until the next meeting of Congress.
EDWIN NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
Edwin M. Stanton has unquestionably
been of great t.use to the country during the
time he has been the Head of the War De-
partment. His great administrative quail
ties, his infexible adherence to justice in
the discharge of what he conceived to be his
duty, his amazing fortitude in the face of
disaster, his unmeasured zeal, his great skill
in forming combinations to ensure the sue
cess of projects decided upon-are all known
to the country, and now constitute large
portion of what We call the glory of the war.
But Edwin NJ. Stanton will be remembered
longest and most gratefully by all truly loyal
men, for having written the letter we print
above, in answer to the insolent insult
couched in the single sentence composing
Andrew johnson note asking him to retire
from the War Der artmen' 1t is request
as full of mischief as was the demand of the
rebels when they seeded from the Union,
to be let alone; and when Secretary Stanton
declined to accede to it, he showed not only
grave regard for the interests of the coun-
try, but just appreciation of the wants of
the public service. The tenure of Office law
is not only on the side of Mr. Stanton, le-
galizing his hold on the War Department,
but the tenure of the Government itself,
the peace of the country, tranquility in all
its sections aud credit abroad, require that
he shall remain where he is until the assem-
bling of Congress. We repeat, therefore,
that for the boldness of writing his reply to
the President insolent request, for the un-
sel6shness of determining to brave the in
suits of corrupt Chief Magistrate, and for
his courage to stand by the honor and true
authority of the Government, Edwin NJ.
Stanton will be remembered and honored
while loyal men have country to love.
Mr.. Stanton is the admitted obstacle to
reinstatement of rebels to power. He is
the only man in the Cabinet who opposed
the Presidents vetoes of measures passed
in Congress by constitutional two-thirds
vote. These simple facts make the Secre-
tary of War the only loyal representative
In the Executive branch of the Government
Were he to resign, the commanders now
contending with traitors in the South would
at once have a fire opened on their rear.
Sheridan and Sickles, without Stanton in
the War Department, would be fanked-
registration in the South would be made
farce-the ballot box would be polluted, and
the lives of Union men made more unsafe
than they were when JEFF. Davis ruled as
the head of the Confederacy 1t is the Gre
alton of such a condition of affairs that Mr..
Stanton seeks to avoid by refusing to retire
from the War Department until the meet
ing of Congress. The safety of the country
rests on the resolution of the
Secretary of War to be firm in his determi-
nation. We do not doubt his fortitude
He cannot be intimidated. He knows his
duty and will perform it. Never had 10y
al people more reason to rejoice in the pos
session of faithful public servant, than |
have the true men of the country to con-
gratulate themselves on the attitude of Ed |
win NJ. Stanton. -7eiegrdph