American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-08-28
Change in the War Department

elected him, he has suspended tho Hon.
Edwin M. Stanton from the office of
Secretary of War, under the provisions
of the Tenure of Office act passed by the
last Congress, and has appointed Gen
eral Grant to the Office ad interim, that
is until the meeting of Congress, which
is about all he can do under the pro-
visions of the act. We part with Mr..
Stanton with sincere regret, for during
all the long and ardurous term of his
service he has teen bold, brave, pat
riotic and really useful public man,
bringing to his high Office conscien>
tious devotion and strict integrity as
rare as the ability with which he
brought order out Of the chaos that
reigned previously in the War Depart
meIt.
1t is not the duty of the Secretary to
plan campaigns, though from the neces.
sity of the case he must be informed of
them and exercise no small control in
carrying them out or modifying them.
How much Mr.. Stanton did in this line
we may easily see by reference to hiss
tory. During the term of his predsces-
sor, Mcclellan was allowed to enjoy his
ease in Washington and do just as he
chose without consulting the Depart
ment in any respect. His plans were
visionary and none knew whether he
would take the field or not. No sooner
did Stanton become Secretary than all
this was changed. All the vague sus,
picions as to contemplated relationships
disappeared Mcclellan was ordered to
present plan, and up to that moment
he appeared to have had none, But
necessity compelled him and he presents
ed plan of operation which was mod
iied and ordered to be executed. This
was the great point at which Lincoln
aud all his followers had been aiming
1t renewed the war instead of continuing
an armed peace. 1t put Mcclellan to
the Fractional test of field operations and
took him away from political intrigues
at Washington.
| Mcclellan having at length been
driven to put himself at the head
of the army the determined influence of
Stanton was again shown in the order
to organize the forces into corps ddrmee
in the European style, in direct defiance
of McClellan's decision. The exposure
of McClellan's ineficiency was Stanton 5
work. All the subsequent effort to evoke
success from defeat, the dismissal of in-
competent commanders, the trial of new
generals, the immense lines, the great
armies, the inexhaustible supplies, all
were the result OF his heroic perseyer-
ance.
Men in these times are apt to forget
these achievements and ignore the il
lustrious services of Mr. Stanton in their
glorifcation of the commanders under
whose immediate orders the victories
we're won. They no longer feel the
pressure of the civil war; they do not
see the Secretary making and unmaking
commanders, recognizing armies and
rendering generals confident of success
in consequence eofinsxhaustible of lines and
supplies. They know that Meade won
Gettysburg and Grant captured Vicks-
burg and Richmond, and it is convent
ent to forget the great Statesman who
enabled them to do these wonderful
thing. But who can ever tell the half
of his great services Who can enter
into the detail of his troubles and strug.
giles and portray to the world what was
really the share he had in our triumph?
In another respect we owe Mr.. STAN
ton vastly more than is generally be-
lieved. We kllude to the organization
and woaking Of the Freedmen's Bureau,
by the instrumentality Of which the
eman ncipated slaves have been protected
in their rights, aud enabled to maintain
their freedmen and immunities against
the leagued despotism of their former
masters. In the hands of Mr.. Stanton
this Bureau has saved the country from
an amount of disorder and strife of
which no man can now form any esti-
mate. 1t has overcome the antagonism
which began to show itself between the
planters and their hands, and 1t has
aided both in harmonizing their re-
lations.
Why, then, with all these services to
attest his eminent worth, has Mr. Stanton
been suspended Plainly because he
was bent on faithfully enforcing the re-
construction laws passed by Congress.
Mr.. Stanton has remained in the cabi-
net from no love of Office. He was ar
IDENTIFY desIrous of leaving the whole
country at peace aud free from strife at
the termination of his official career.
For this reason he supported Johnson's
policy while it seemed fair. aud that of
Congress when the error of tho former
had been demonstrated. He was faiths
fully enforcing the reconstruction laws,
and with SO much effect that johnson
saw that if he remained in Office the
triumph of the Congressional policy was
inevitable. Mr.. Stanton resolutely OPP
posed the removal of Sheridan and Sick
les while johnson was bent on ousting
both of them.
Now that Stanton has been suspended
the question is whether johnson is any
nearer to the accomplishment of his pur-
poses. General Grant is brave and
patriotic soldier and has exhibited also
in civil life remarkable discretion. He
is as firmly opposed to the removal of
Sheridan and Sickles as Stanton was,
But he is soldier who always obeyed
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