The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-30
STANTON WITHOUT MANHOOD HONOR OR
SELF-RESPECT.

When the tenure OF office bill was before
the United States senate, and the question
was raised about extending its provisions to
cabinet officers, it was treated as but of little
practical importance. 1t was said that the
sense of honor among gentlemen would regu-
late the matter. 1t was not conceivable that
any man would remain in the cabinet as
confidential adviser of the President after it
was known to him that he was no longer
welcome.
gon, said:
81 have no doubt that any cabinet minister
who has a particle of selfrespect land can
hardly suppose that any man would occupy so
responsible Off &c without having that feeling
would decline TO remain in the cabinet after the
President had signifed to him that his presence
was no longer needed"
Mr.. Howard, Of Michigan, the same sena.
tor who now reports the resolution for main,
tanning Mr.. Stanton in office, after the Presi.
dent turned him out, expressed his entire
concurrence with these sentiments when they
were uttered by Mr.. Williams.
Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, repealed with ex.
pressions Of utter scorn the imputation that
any man with decent self-respect would stay
in cabinet against the expressed wishes of
the President. He said:
al take it that case can arise, or is likely to
arise, where a cabinet minister will attempt TO
hold on TO his Office after his chief desires his
removal. can scarcely conceive such case. l
think that gentleman. with
of honor, would hold a position as cabinet officer
after his chief desired his removal"
He grew stronger in language as he pro,
ceeded. His Indignation at the suspicion
that man could be found among the me IN
bers Of President Johnson's cabinet so lost
as to be willing to place himself in such a
degraded position, found vent in these terms
"If supposed either of these gentlemen was
SO wanting in manhood, in honor, as to hold his
place after the slightest intimaton by the Presi-
dent of the United States that his services
longer needed, I, certainly, as a senator, would
consent to his removal at any time; AND SO
WOULD WE ALL.
$50 would we ALL said Mr.. Sherman for
self and friends While the virtuous fit was
| on him, he did not anticipate the possibility
| that Mr.. Stanton, his own familiar friend
could descend to those depths where "man
hood and honor" could not go.
But Mr.. Stanton did go down; and wher
the question next came up in the senate on
this topic, it was Mr.. Howard, one of the
speakers We have quoted, who made the mo
ton to compel the President to take back
Mr.. Stanton, after having turned him out
and Mr.. Sherman, who consented, and the
whole radical phalanx responded, $50 WILL
WE ALL"
There must have been some sckening
qualms when these senators allowed them.
selves to be tied to political carcass reek
ing with odors from which they had turned
away in disgust when it was long way off
1t is told, as good convivial story of jolly
Duke of Norfolk, that at the end of de-
bauch, when his lost companion sank under
the table, he said to him, cheerily, II wish ]
could help you up; but as can't do that
I'll do the next best thing, I'll lie down with
you"
A bath and a shave and soda-water, mex,
day, could fit out clean bill for the ROSTER
ing duke; but what will ever sweeten man
to his own consciousness after the soil of ly-
ing voluntarily down in this ditch with Stan
ton.