The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-20
"REMINISCENCES OF 1861.
How Stanton, Holt, and Dix Saved
Washin gtOn,

uO" StantOnS ana S0Veu
Washington.
We take from Draper's History of the Civil
War the following extra ct referring to the actions
OF stanton, Holt. and Dix, then Democrats but
now Republicans
During these dark days the fortunes of the
Republic depended on the hrmness of the At
torney. General, Stanton.
When the Cabinet of Buchanan had become
disorganized through the resignation of SO
many Of its members there were three things
of supreme importance to the nation to be
done:-lst. To secure the Secretaryship of War;
I'd. To secure the Secretaryshp OF the Trea-
sury; Sd. To make Washington safe from
seizure.
AS respects the War Office, when the defalca,
tion in the Department of the Interior was de-
tected, and Floyd's acceptances found In place
of the stolen Indian bonds, 1t became tmpossi-
bic for that minister to continue any longer in
the Cabinet With the deepest reluctance was
Buchanan constrained to admit Floyd's COM
plicity. Often was he heard by his friends to
exclaim. HE cannot have done 1t; he cannot
have done iJp When Floyds letter of resigna-
tion was handed 10 him, foreseeing It's Import
his emotion could not be concealed. His trem-
bling hand set the crisp and crumpling sheet
Learer and then further from his eyes, which
seemed TO refuse their Office. With difficulty
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 Attorney. General. Joseph Holt. Ken
tuekian, who was true TO the nation. received
The peril OF the republic would have been
extreme had the War Once and the Treasury
passed into the hands of men connected with
the secession conspiracy. AS respects the latter,
on the resignation of Cobb, OF Georgia (Decem-
ber 10y, Mr.. Thomas, who had been Commts-
sioner Of Patents, was placed in his stead; but
there was reason to apprehend that Buchanan,
might confer the offs On some one who could
not be trusted. The bitter alterations going on
INCREASINGLY around him perfectly unnamed
him. Thus, when news came of the movement
into Fort Sumter, he was sitting at the freslde
in faded dressing gown, his slippers on his
outstretched hands and In tremuIous voice,
he piteously implored forbearauce. Some of
the conspiratOrs were In an ad joining room.
For once, the financial EN- ADVERTISEMENTS of the
nation proved to be Its salvation. The condi-
eminent could do nothing Witho9t tue me aid EiS of
the capitalists of New York. Again the influ-
, enee OF the came M to tne
patriotism, and partly by his clear Information
of the existence of imminent danger, a deputa-
tion of those capitalists hastened to Washing
ton to give the President distinctly TO under
stand that the Treasury Department must be
placed in charge Of one in whom they had con-
hdence. and that they should not be satisfied
unless John A. Dix of their State, was selected.
Hereupon Buchanan gave him the appoint
ment.
A French writer (LaugeD says:-"Stauton.
Holt. and Dix saved Washington to the
nation" And so, In truth, IL was The oslga-
| lions Of the republic to those three Ministers,
and especially TO the first, can never be repaid.
Had the Virginians succeeded in their inten-
tion and seized the city, nothing could have
prevented the Mexcanizaticn of the nation.
mined men was signaliy aided by the course OF
the Governor of Maryland: IL was the plan of
| the conspirators to use in their movements the
| Legislatures of the Border States. Hicks, the
Governor of Maryland, desiring to steer q
middle course, refused TO call an extra session
| OF the Legislature, though vehemently urged to
that step. While he was dreaming that the
great conflict might be composed through the
mediation of foreign ambassador, and when
| to them that "the safety of Maryland lay In
maintaining neutral position" events were
rapidly marching on. Maryland. as a State,
| could not be brought to act. Virginia would
not act without her. During this condition of
| indecision and impedimen the three energetic
| Cabinet ministers found means to make the
| capital of the nation secure.