Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-10-04
From an American Paper.
F.. M, Stanton.

cred that at least twice in its progress
our country was saved from absolute
destruction by one man alone, and
that man, Edwin NJ. Stanton. The
first would have occurred through the
of James Buchanan; the
second through the treason of Andrew
Johnson.
The first incident alluded to may
perhaps be already outlined without
breach of confidence.
1t will be remembered that, in the
month Of December, 1860, Lewis
Cass, then Secretary of State, resign
ed his position, at that Attorney-Gen-
eral Black was prompted to fill the
vacancy. The exit of Gen. Cass left
but one loyal man in the Cabinet;
viz, Postmaster General Holt. Floyd,
the Infamous, was Secretary of War;
Thomas, the bond-chief, was Secreta-
ry of the Treasury; and Toucey, the
renegade, was Secretary of the Navy.
Treason ruled the roost. With a
majority in the Cabinet, the Supreme
Court, and the Senate, everything
seemed to indicate plane sailing, and
a sure thing for the success of the
rebe! schemes. In all human proba-
bility, it would have been a sure thing
but for an intervening circumstance.
The Confederacy was already sub
stantially organized, and only await
ed full Inauguration until the prelim-
mary programme of transferring the
United States forts. arsenalS, etc,
could be completed. Full arrange
ments had been made with France
and England for the immediate re-
cognition of the Confederacy, as soon
as the seizure of the city of Washing
ton should indicate a de fdctO power
of sufficient strength to justify such
recognition to other nations. 1t is
true, a little hitch had occurred in the
meantime, and the denouement delay
ed by the unexpected action of Major
Anderson, in moving into Fort Sumter
but this was not considered serious
as Floyd was Secretary of War, anC
could manage the matter. "All went
merry as a marriage bell. But just
l here, as before stated the office of
Attorney General became vacant, anC
] somebody had to be appointed to fiji
t it. The office, apparently, did no
amount to very much in the way of
= furthering or lettering the rebe
schemes, and therefore it did not re
! ceive very much attention from tn,
4 conspirators. Possibly they may hav
thought that Stanton was in sympath
d with them. He was a Northern dem
n ocrat, and was understood to hav
e supported Breckenridge as President
e and probably this was considered
h sufficient guarantee of at least, net
T trality on his part. However thi
h may be, Mr.. Stanton was appoiute
4 Attorney General, and entered upo
+ the duties of his office. Unfortunate
u " for rebellion, the new Secretar
d had programme of his own, antagt
II nistic to theirs; and he also had tn
e pluck and will to back it. What hi
It programme was NAV be Surmised frol
d a single remark made by him at til
is time, to a confidential friend (no
1t dead who was about to leave II
N city: Tomorrow" said the Secrets
nv, Il meet, in Cabinet Council, for til
Of first time, Mr.. Floyd. Secretary
d War, and it will be the last time: |
D. or must go out.
d All the circumstances attendir
n, that Cabinet meeting, it is not possib
,e now to give. Suffice it to say, Il
st subject OF the abandonment or rel
forcement of Fort Sumter was und,
lie discussion. The new Secretary W;
in asked his opinion, and he quietly gay
i'd it. Ofcourse that opinion was hv
st tile to the cOnspirators, and the win
Id blew at once. Floyd sprang to h
Sc feet, and arrogantly sought to squei'
ly the intruder. He stated that he hi
= pledged the faith of the Governme
We to his friend Gov. Pickens, of Sou
Carolina, not TO reinforce Fort Sumtc
T. and that The existing status of affai
d, should be preserved, at least un
r. the Crittenden Conference negoti
v tons were over, &c, &c. AS he we
ry on, the storm blackened. The Pre-
is dent saw and tried to quell it. Il
to policy was peace, and the eXiStil
o. status, until am out. After me t
he deluge. Stanton, however, was n
ar the man to be purred into docility
lie such time. On the contrary,
on poured upon the President, in tn
pd hour, all the pcnt up patriotism of
lis nation.
he He charged him, as his legal adv
st, er. and as the law-Officer of the &c
lie eminent, that it was his sworn duty
tie reinforce and stand by Fort Sumtt
and, in addition, to bring to bear eN
rywbere, against treason and traito
all the powers Of the nation. |
Mt charged home upon Floyd and Thorn
os the crimes Of which they had be
guilty, and branded them to thu
ei' very faces as traitors and scoundre
ra Poor old Buchanan, in the meantin
sank back helpless in his arm-cha
and blubbered like a sick child
nd Stanton rode the storm. The res
w was, that the next day Floyd resign
:" and Holt took his place. A few de
om later Thomas followed, and Dix ca
ere 10. Then, with Stanton and Dix a
lde Holt to guide the helm, the old sh
lot of-state swept through the rapi
,dO sound in her hull, and the coun
on was saVed,-Am: paper.
,au A SMART OLD LADY.-The Sou
o ), bridge Journal says Mrs. Prudel
+I,o+ TOWN 1in1 IN H. -