The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-10-22
"Reminiscences of 1861.

sxemfniscences OF 1861.
hsLs-A 5G.li7..J 90 1aa d53f IIIfX
The subjoined extract is from Draper's
History of the Civil War; "a IN
During these dark days, the fortunes of
the Republic depended on the frinness of
the Attorney General, Stanton
When the cabinet of Buchanan had bs- /
come disorganized through the resignation
of SO many of its members, there were
three things of supreme Importance to the I
nation to be done +: LIST, to secure the Sec
retaryship of War I'd, to secure the Sec
rctaryship of the Treasury; Sd, to make
Washington safe from seizure
As respects the War Office, when the
defalcation in the Department of the Inte-
rior was detected, and Floyd's acceptances
found in place Of the stolen Indian bonds,
it became impossible for that minister to
continue any longer in the Cabinet. With
the deepest reluctance was Buchanan con-
strained to admit Floyd's completely
Often was he heard by his friends to
exclaim, sHe can not have done it, he can
not have done it ~ When Floyd's letter
of resignation was handed to him, foresee-
ing its import, his emotion could not be
concealed. His trembling hand set the
crisp and crumbling sheet nearer and then
farther from his eyes, which seemed to re-
fuse their office. With difficulty he deci-
phered the wellknown but now may and
swimming characters The fortunate star
of the republic was for the moment in the
ascendant, and, at the earnest recommen-
dation of the Attorney General, Joseph
Holt, Kentuckian. who was true to the
~
The peril to the Republic would have
Treasury passed into the hands of men
connected with the secession conspiracy
As respects the latter, on the resignation
of Cobb, of Georgia, December 10,) Mr.
Thomas, who had been Commissioners of
Patents, was placed in his stead but there
was reason to apprehend that Buchanan,
regarding this as a temporary arrange
ment, might confer the office on some one
;, who could not be trusted The bitter al
, tercations going on increasingly around
him perfectly unnamed him. Thus,
when news came of the movement into
Fort Sumter, he was sitting at the freside
in faded dressing gown, his slippers on
his feet At once he turned CHASTITY pale.
!, With outstretched hands and in tremu-
: lous voice, he piteously implored forbear-
ance Some of the conspirators were in
an adj lining room.
For once, the financial embarrassments
of the nation proved to be it's salvation. =
The condition of the Treasury was deplor-
able The Government could do nothing
without the aid of the capitalists of New
York. Again the influence of the Attor-
, ney General came to the public succor-
, | Nv +hair
5 and partly by his clear information of the
s existence of imminent danger, a deputa-
: ton of those capitalists hastened to Wash
/ ington to give the President distinctly to
4 understand that the Treasury Department
D must be placed in charge of one in whom
t they had confidence, and that they should
e not be satisfied unless John A. Dix, OF
E their State, was selected Hereupon Bu
chanan gave him the appointment.
f A French writer (Laugel) says "Stan
1 ton, Holt and Dix saved Washington tt
n the Union And SO, in truth, it was
i The obligations of the republic to those
h three Ministers, and especially to the first
; can never be repaid. Had the Virgin
y ians succeeded in their intention and seiz
e ed the city, nothing could have prevented
i the Mexicanization of the nation.
it But the resolute action of these thre'
e determined men was signally aided by tn
IS course of the Governor of Maryland. /
o was the plan of the conspirators to use II
% their movements the Legislature OF tn
border States Hicks, the Governor Q
1T Maryland, desiring to steer middle course
y refused to call an extra session OF his Leg
G islature, though vehemently urged to tha
l. STEP While he was dreaming that tn
st great conflict might be composed througl
7, the meditation of foreign embassadol
ID and when he did call his Legislature tc
y gether, declaring to them that "the safet
ell of Maryland lay in maintaining neutrs
at position" events were rapidly marehin
ie on. Maryland, as State, could not b
is brought to act. Virginia would not az
is without her During this condition of il
rs decision and impediment, the three enc
i'd getic Cabinet ministers found nleaas /
/ make the capital Of the nation secure.
r PUNCE says he once saw father knoc
,y down his boy, and he Thoughts it the mo,