New-York tribune., 1868-05-28
FDRIN n. STANTON.

The retirement OF Edwin Nj. stanton from
the War Office is an event of national import
ance. The Lincoln Administration passes into
history with the resignation of the last member
of it who remained true to freedom. 1t is long
since the Secretary of State was our lost
"leader." Mr.. Stanton carries into private llfe
all that remains of the glorious War Govern
ment He will seek in the quiet of hOme the
restoration of his feeble health, and in the
nractice of his profession the repair OF his
neglected fortune. This is not the time to
give him his place in history. We shall be
much mistaken if, when that history Is written,
he will not be regarded as among that eX-
traordinary class of men which Providence
seems at times to call up for the deliverance
of people. We know what President LIN
coin thought of his War Secretary-how thor
oughly he trusted him, and the earnestness
with which he insisted upon his remaining III
Office after the war. Mr.. Seward has publicly
COMMUNICATED him as the CarnOt OF the war
the brain that organized victory. Mr Chase
attributes TO him more than to any one man
the successful end of the strife, and Gen.
Grant has officially expressed the obligations
he owed to the Secretary for his support and
pncOUla0efnenI.
can well afford to dismiss Mr. Stanton's con
duct of the war 10 the colder and more formal
verdict of history.
There are two events in his career which
strengthen his claims upon the atlectlOnate
and lasting remembrance OF his cOuntrymen
The first is his struggle with the treason OF
Buchanan; the second his struggle with the
treachery of Johnson. 1t seems to have been
his peculiar destiny to stand between the
country and its foes at the time when ITS
liberties were sOrely mcnaced. When the
traitors sought to dsmantle the Republic ana
surrender it TO Davis and his followers, Mr.
Stanton. As a member of the Buchanan Cabi-
net assailed them with sagacity and courage.
When Mr. johnson endcavOred to betray tn
umphant Republic into the hands of its enemies,
Mr.. Stanton fought him as earnestly as he
fought Mr.. Buchanan. Believing that the Presi-
dent contemplated treason, and feeling that all
his efforts in that direction would be vain so
long as he was under check in the War Of
flee, Mr. Stanton resisted every hint, sugges-
ton, threat, or entTeaty to retire from the war
Office The position was painful and ungra-
cious He did not want the office. He had
vainly begged release from Mr. Lincoln, and
certainly he found no comfort and no honor in
the councils of Mr. Johnson. The country de-
manded the sacrifice, and he made it. Nothing
i'm his public life shows so much sclf-denial rs
this resolute performance of IN ungracous duty
We had hoped that the Presidents removal
would be his vindication; but the verdict,
tainted as it is by fraud, dishonor, and treach-
cry does not in the least detract from his
moral vindication by a large majority of the
Senate.
The Administration passes into the hands OF
Messrs Chase, Fessenden & Co.. and Mr.. Stan
ton retircs from office. Men who under oath
voted to keep Inn there have also under oath
voted the deed which makes his retirement
necessary 1t would probably be wise for Slr.
Stanton to have remained until his successor
was confirmed, thus compelling a good ap-
pointment He no doubt feels that he has
made all the sacrifice that can be expected at
his hands, especially by gentlemen whose votes,
whatever they may have been, and whatever
they may promise to be, seem now to he gov
erned by the deliberations of Mr.. Thurlow
Weed, Mr. Sheridan Shook, and Mr.. Hugh j..
Hastings in the back parlors of the Astor
House, as much as by any other human ana
palpable considerations.
This we are proud to say because we have
never been among the eulogists of the War
Secretary. We criticised him in the days of
his power, and we can the more heartily and
frankly commend him when his power is at an
end. Whatever may have dspleased us-fault
of manner, impulses what seemed at the time
to be injustice, harshness and impetuosity-all
fade before the luster of his splendid service.
For the present his work is done; but not, we
trust forever done. 1t only remains for us to
honor him as a good and faithful servant, and
to wish him in his retirement all the prosper
ity that should follow one who has lived Il
noble and illustrious career.
THE PROOFS or CORRUPIION.
10 n,timntn the exact effect of the Testimony