The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-08-21
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THE REMOVAL OF SECRETARY STANTON

The removal of Stanton from the position Of
Secretary of War; by President Johnson. excites
considerable comment. We subjoin some extracts
from the remarks of the press:
1From the New York Times, Republican.
While we are sorry to see Mr.. Stanton out of
the Cabinet, where he has long been very useful
we hold that the Chief Executive must in the gen.
cral interest, and for the proper administration of
the public SERVICE have the control of his subor-
dinates. If he uses his power and place to defy
or defeat the laws Congress can impeach and re-
move him, and if Congress does not choose to ex-
crcise that constitutional power then the people
at the next election can punish tae delinquent Of
iccr by dccreeing his removal and putting better
man in his place.
TFrom the New York Tribune, Radical.
Although the Presidents action is unjustifed
and likely to have evil results, yet on the whole
the country may gain by it. Mr.. Stanton's pres
ence in the Cabinet may have restrained the Presi-
dent, but did not change the policy of his admins
tration. 1t was q negative protection. AT the
same time Mr.. Stanton shielded Mr.. johnson from
great deal of indignation that justly belonged to
him, and prevented his policy from fully working
out its own destruction. Now We are to have the
lines deeply drawn. The Senate will determine
whether his suspension was legal; and in the
meanwhile Mr.. Stanton has put it on record that
he has yielded only the superior force. He could
not resist the combined aashorify Of the comman-
der-in-chief OF the army and the general of the
army. When General Grant agreed with the Presi
dent, and sent word to the Secretary that he had
accepted from the President the position, Mr..
Stanton had no choice left. Had Gen. Grant re-
fused to have anything to do with the arbitrary
and possibly the illegal suspension of an officer
whose only crime has been fidelity to his duty,
Mr.. Stanton might have taken another course. As
it was, resistance would have been useless
From the New York Herald.
Stanton has been displaced, and General Grant,
in stepping into the vacancy, takes his popular in
fuencc with him from Stanton, and his radical
facion, over to the side of the administration.
This is an important point gained. But it is only
the beginning of the work required of Mr.. John
son to clear the track of radical distractions. We
have heard enough within the last few days of the
want of backbone and harmony in the Cabinet to
satify that the suspension of Stanton will only
weaken the administration if not followed up by
other suspensions. "ln for penny, in Eoy
pound" From the State Department down TO the
Attorney General, a new Cabinet is wanted to
tain and strengthen General Grant and the Presi-
dent in this new political departure. The Cabinet
under Mr. johnson has been patchwork Cabinet
long enough md. having broken ground for q de-
cisivc reconstruction, he ought to make of it
clean piece Of work, beginning, if not already
written, with courteous letter, embracing many
thanks, requesting Mr.. Seward to retire. That
old Paul Pry, Thurlow Weed, among other things
to he considered will thus be got rid of, in SINH
lar step whereby "Houcst Old Abe" was relieved
of the annoyance of the Blair family.
Next, in regard to the FIVE commanders of the
five Southern military districts We have renewed
guarantees that Sheridan's head will soon be
brought to tho block-a necessary proceeding. per-
haps, TO defeat the game Of Stanten But is not
the programme of reconstruction adopted and pur
sued by the other four commanders substantially
the same as that of Sheridan, and equally, or to
greater or less extent, in disregard of the Presi
dents wishes and suggestions Why, then, make
fish of one and flesh of another To meet the
case fairly and fully, Mr.. Johnson must have a
new set of military commanders, from first to last
IFrom the New York Sun, Independent.
So far as public interests concerned, this
change is of but little consequence. The duties of
Secretary of War arc not apt TO be very onerous
in time of peace and in any event the country will
feel easy with General Grant in the position which
Mr.. Stanton hog just vacated. The political
phrase of this sujcct, however, presents more in
tcrcstinc picture 1t is noticeable that Mr.. Stan
ton refused TO be driven out Of his place by hints,
sights or insults. lie patiently awaited his first
kick, and then hurredly took his departure. His
undoubtcd object in thus awaiting this ndignity
which he received was to throw the responsibility
of removal entirely upon the President, and at the
same time make of himself first class martyr. If
ho had resigned there might have been less chance
to make political capital against the President and
likewise his chance for himself to get up the repu-
taton of q martyr, for he then could not have
showed, rs he now can, the impression of the
Presidents boot toe. There is no evidence, how
ever, that the President was in the least tmorous
about taking the responsibility of removal, and
the probability that he put much lower estimate
upon the Importance of that act than did MIR.
Stanton In considering the consequence of this
removal it is not difficult to see, in the first place,
that Stanton will at once become one of the Radi-
cal idols and conspicuous candidate for the Presi-
dency General Grant, on the contrary, is politi-
enllv doomed so far as the Radical road to the