The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-27
p;ailp argus.
,,,r nraTu or EDWIN M. STANTON.

THE DEATH OF 6UWA0 ~
Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary Of War un'
aar,wo successive administrations OF the
eoverp uen., and during the most eVenuui
ns,;od Of its history, is dead. We recognize
fuIly the propriety OF that rule which exacts
OF the living charity for the faults OF the
dead and Joins silence or praise. Mr'
Stanton's faults, however, constituted 90
fully the man. and his character was SO
monument and marked in the bloody period
from which we are just emerging, that II IS
difficult for one who cannot approve his
courae as u public man 10 obey TINS IN
junction in either part. We cannot praise
him, nor can we as a public journalist, de-
voted to the liberties OF the people and gu"
premacy Of law, allow the occasion ofthe an
nouncemant of his death to pass in silence.
A man whose fragrant offenses against these
were so conspicuous and repeated as were
Mr. Stanton 8, committed, toe, while acting as
q minister Of law and holding the balances
OF Justice, cannot be allowed to pass to his
fual account as the private citizen whose
ordinary life has been blemished by faults,
with here aud there virtue to excite kind
~ remembrance.
That Mr.. Stanton possessed qualities which
a good man might properly covet none can
deny. He was man of indomitable will and
unaagging determination. 1t would not be
too much to say that he possessed apower
full mind. He impressed everything and
everybody subjected to his influence, with
his mental stamp. His WAS 10 all respects
a positive aggressive nature; there was moth.
ing Of the negative or conservative ~ '"e
composition Of his mind. These qna'lues
necessarily made him marked, conSp'cu
Gus character His private lie may have
been graced BY social virtues, but during the
time that ha has made himself conspicuous
in the administration of the affairs OF the
government, we have failed to discover or
note virtue as pubic man which con
donss for his offences against law and juss
tice. If he has evinced activity, vigilance,
industry in Office and tenscity Of purpose,
these have all been marred BIZ the needless
ruin and wrong to others involved in the
result. He has been to the executive de-
partmeut Of our government what Jettres
was to the Judiciary of England. When
the pen of impartial and just history shall
in after years write the records Of these Ill
fated times, the name of Stanton will con.
stitute blot upon the scroll as Jelfries' now
is upon English jurisprudence. The reader
will wonder how such system Of govern.
ment as ours produced and nurtured to
power and honored such n fungus growth.
Had the President and Senate allowed
Mr. Stanton to remain in retirement aud
not placed him in position hardly second
in importance to the presidency itself, he
would probably have been permitted to pass
TO his final account without more than
charitable mention Of him, and q quiet feel.
ing of satisfaction on the part OF those poll.
ticaly opposed to him, that whatever might
be the future of the country, its history
would probably never produce another Stan
ton But his recent elevation to IA position
on the Supreme Bench, for ignoble and par
tizan purposes, and his death before putting
on the judicial ermne, will call forth
from one half the country ut least
expressions of satisfaction with the apparent
providential watchcare over the purity OF
our national Judiciary which has prevented
so unfit a pereon from occupying POSITION
which none but the purest IN life, most
impartial in Judgment aud most upright in
character should ever hold, He is probably
the only public man of this country whose
death has elected eulogies upon bis charac,
ter only from his violent partizans. In the
better natures Of the whole American people
in their hearts and atfsctions-he goes
down to the grave "Uuhonored, unwept aud
unsung.' His offences against law, against
the blood bought rights of personal liberty
ana 1ree speech, are TOO great ana 100 nh'
merous to be forgotten even around his
grave. While he could not plead as some
may, the influence Of early teachings upon
his life and character as an excuse OF
extenustion of his faults, we yet hope that
every American citizen whom he has
wronged will forgive him as we all hope to
be forgiven, and that he may be forgiven
by his final Judge, who alone judgeth
righteou5ly but all who 1--we liberty and
justice, and submit themselves to the
sossraints Of law, should cease not to hold IN
adherence his offences against all these
and teach their children to emulate the
lives Of better men.
s~-~s@---@~-~~--~-~~~M~~ss~
How the Fee Bill System Blesds the People.
Dir. ANTHONY a member of tina Constitn