Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-11-04
"REMINISCENCES OF 1851.
How Stanton, Holt and Dix Saved
Washington.
Iron Draper's History of the Civil War

Iron Diapers History of the Civil War.l
During these dar kEdays the fortunes of
the Republic depended on the frmness
of the Attorney General, Stanton.
When the Cabinet of Buchanan had
become disorganizod through the resigna.
ton Of so many of its members, there
we're three things of supreme Importance
to the nation 10 be done: 1st, to secure
the Secretaryship of War; I'd, to secure
the Secretaryship of the Treasury; Sd,
to make Washington safe from seizure.
AS respects the War Office, when the
defalcation in the Department of the In
terror was detected, and Floyd's accept
ance. found in place of the stolen Indian
bonds, it became impossible for that min,
lister to continue any longer in the Cabin
ct. With the deepest reluctance was
Buchanan constrained to admit Floyds
completely. Often was he heard by his
friends to exclaim, "He can not have
done it he can not have done it p
When Floyd's letter of resignation was
handed to him, foreseeing its import, his
emotion could not be concealed. His
trembling hand set the crisp and crump-
ling sheet nearer and then farther from
his eyes, which seemed to refuse their of
fee With difficulty be deciphered the
well-known but now may and swimming
characters. The fortunate star of the re,
public was for the moment In the ascen-
dant, and, at the earnest recommendation
of the Attorney General, Joseph Holt, a
Kentuckian, who was true to the nation,
received the vacant appointment.
The peril to the republic would have
been extreme had the War Office and the
Treasury passed into the hands of men
connected with the secession conspiracy
AS respects the letter, Oh 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 temporary arrangement
might confer the Office on some one who
could not be trusted. The bitter alterca-
tons 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 outsfretched hands and in tremul-
Gus voice, he piteously implored forbear-
ance. Some of the eonspirators were in
an adjoining room.
For once the financial embarrassments
of the nation proved to be its salvation.
The condition of the treasury was deplor-
able. The Government could do moth
ing without the aid of the capitalists of
New York. Again the influence of the
Attorney General came to the public
succor. Instructed partly by their own
patriotism, and partly oy his clear inform
alton of the existence of imminent dan
ger, deputstion Of these capitalists has
tened to Washington, and gave the Pres
ident distinctly to understand that the
Treasury Department must be placed in
charge Of onein whom they had confd-
ence, and that they should not be salts.
fed unless John A. Dix, of their state,
was selected Hereupon Buchanan gave
him the appointment.
A French writer GaugeN saws
"Stanton, II oft and Dix saved Washing
ton to the Union" And so, in truth, II
was. The obligations of the republic to
those three ministers, and especially to
the first, can never be repaid Had the
Virginians succeeded in their intentions
and seized the city, nothing could have
prevented the discrimination of the ma
ton.
But the resolute action of these three
determined men was signally aided by the
course of the Governor of MARYLAND. 1t
was the plan of the conspirators to use in
their movements the legislatures of the
Border states. Hicks, the Governor Ct
Maryland, desiring to steer a middle
course, refused to call an extra session OF
the Legislature, though vehemently urg.
ed to that step. While he was dreaming
that the great conflict might be com posed
through the mediation of a foreign EN-
bassador, and when he did call his Legis
lature together, declaring to them that
"the safety Of Maryland lay in maintain
ing a neutral position, events were rapid
~ marching on. Maryland, as state
could not be brought to act. Virgins
would not act without her. During this
condition of indecision and impeachment
the three energetic Cabinet ministers
found means to make the capital of tn e
nation secure.