Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-10-28
"REMINISCENCES OF 1881.
How Stanton, Holt and Dix Saved
- Washington.

from Diapers History of the Civil War.l
During these dark days the fortunes
of the Republic depended On the firm
ness of the Attorney General stanton:
When the cabinet of Buchanan had
become disorganiZed through the res
igRatiOn Of 50 many of its members,
there were three things Of supreme
Importance to the nation TO be done
lst, to secure the Secretaryship OF
War; 2d, to secure the Secretaryship
of the Treasury; Sd, 20 mako Wash
ington safe from seizure.
As respects the War Ofiee, when
the defalcation IN the Department OF
the Interior was detected, and FlOyd's
acceptances found'iR place Of the stO-
len Indian, bonds, it became impOssi-
bic 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
exelaim; He can not have done it,
he cannot have done itn' When
Flayj's letter Of resignation was hand
ed TO him, forseeing its import, his
emotion could not be concealed. His
trembling hand set the crisp and
crumpled sheet nearer and then far
ther from his eyes, which seemed to
refuse their Office. With diffieulty he
deciphered the well known but now
may and swimming characters. The
fortunate star Of the republic was for
the moment in the ascendant, and at
the earnest recommendation of the At
torney General, Joseph Holt, a Ken
who was true to the nation,
received the vacant appointment.
The peril of the Republic would
have been extreme had the War Office
and the Treasury passed into the
hands of men connected with the Sc
cessiOn conspiracy. As respects the
latter on the resignation of Cobb, Of
Georgia, December l01, Mr.. Thomas,
who had been Commissioner of Pat
ents, was placed in his stead; but
there was reason to apprehend that
regarding this as a atempOra-
~ arrangement, might confer the Of
fee on some one who. could not be
trusted. The bitter alterations going
on increasingly around him perfectly
him. Thus when news
came of the movement into Fort
Sumpter, he was sitting at the fireside
in a faded dressing gown, his slippers
On his feet. At once he tnrned ghast-
" pale With outstretched hands and
IN tremulous voice, he piteOusly i'm
Dlored fOrbearance. SOME of the con-
lpirators were in an adjoining room.
For once, the financial embarrass-
nents of the nation proved to be its
salvation. The condition Of the Treas
lry was deplorable. The Govern
=
Md of the capitalists of New York.
Again the influence Of the Attorney
General came to the public stiecor
Instructed partly by their own pat
.iOtism, and partly by his clear infOr-
nation of the existence Of Imminent
hanger, deputatiOn of those capital
sts hastened TO Washington to give
he President to distinctly understand
hat the Treasury Department must
De placed in charge of one in whom
hey had confidence, and that they
ihould not be satisfied unless John A.
Dix, Of their State, was selected.
dereupon Buchanan gave him the ap-
A French writer tLaugel) says:
stanton, Holt and Dix saved Wash
ngton to the UniOn.D And so, in
ruth it was. The obligations of the
epublic to these three Ministers, and
specially to the first, can never be
epaid. Had the Virginians succeed
d in their intention and seized the
ity nothing could have prevented
ne MexieanizatiOn of the nation.
But the resOlute action Ofthese three
men was signally aided
" the course of the Governor of Ma
yland. 1t was the plan Of the con-
piratOrs to use in their movements
he Legislature of the border States.
Hicks, the Governor of Maryland, de-
iring to steer middle course, refused
o call an extra session of his Legisla-
ure, though yehemently urged 10
hat step. While he was dreaming
hat the great conflict might be COM
,Osed through the meditation Of for
ign ambassador, and when he did
all his Legislature together, declar-
d to them that ''the safety Of Mary
and lay in maintaining a neutral pO-
itiOn,' events were rapidly march
ng on, Maryland, as a State, could
lot be brought to act Virginia would
lot act without her. During this con-
litiOn of indeeision and impediment,
he three energetic Cabinet ministers
Ound means to make the capitol Of
he nation secure.