The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-24
He Practices LAW Mt washington.


In 1857 he removed to Washington. His practice
began now to consist of heavy patent cases,
peculiar and aborious but very lucrative department
illegal practice.
The Mnnney and EIcCormick Case.
In 1859 he appeared as counsel in the great reaper
case OF Manney and Mccormick. This was highly
important suit and attracted great attention.
How He Succeeded Best.
IL is a little observable that the class OF cases IN
which Mr.. Stanton best succeeded are those in which
the executive mental faculties have most to do with
the subject matter; such, for example, as patent
cases, land cases, controversies concerning ira
yelled routes or conflicting rights.
Appointed Acknowledgement by President Blu
chnnan.
While still engaged as counsel in the great Mauny-
Mccormick reaper litigation in the Supreme Court,
Mr.. Stanton was called, in December, 1860, to the
position OF Attorney General In the Cabinet OF James
Buchanan. On the 18th Of this month General
Lewis Cass, who had filled the position Of Secretary
of State from the beginning Of Buchanans admins
tration, peremptorily resigned, because of the
Presidents refusal TO authorize the reinforcement
Of Forts Sumter and Moutrie in the harbor OF
Charleston. On the 18th Judge jeremiah S. Black
of this State who had been Attorney during
the whole of the administration, was promoted by
the President to the vacancy at the head OF the
Cabinet, and on the 2Oth Mr.. Stanton received his
appointment as his successor.
Entering thus upon an exalted sphere OF public
life for the first time, he found ready at his hand
grand opportunity for displaying all the sterling
qualities OF craftsmanship Of which he was happily
possessed. In politics he was STILL as he had always
heretofore been, Democrat; but his Democracy
OF the type OF that professed by Lewis Casa who
refused to stain his hands with the suspicion OF
reasonable sympathy with the men who were cla-
moring for the disruption Of the Union. Mr.. STAN
tons in this crisis, differing as it did from the
action OF General Cass, was open to no equvocation
AS at later period IN his career, he hoped to do the
country signal service by subecting himself for the
time to the suspicious of loyal men who might be
disposed to question his devotion to the country and
its integrity, conscious that time and history would
justify his course, as they have long since abun-
dainty done.
Two days before resignation OF Cass Howell Cobb,
OF Georgia, the Secretary OF the Treasury, had
signed his portfolio, but for q reason that was in
startling contrast with that assigned by the old
Michigan veteran. ellis duty to Georgia required
it," was the reasonable excuse for Cobb's with
drawal and the Goth Of December John B. Floyd,
the most unsavory of all the traitors whom Buch-
anan had gathered about him. resigned, because,
after the transfer Of Major Andersons command
from Fort Moultrie to Fort SUMTER the President
refused to "withdraw the garrison from
the harbor OF Charleston altogether"
Then on the Sth OF January, 1861, came
the turn Of Jacob Thompson of Mississippi, who
based his resignation Secretary OF the Interior
upon the grounds that additional troops had been
ordered to Charleston in the steamer Star OF the
West. Other designations, and transfers resulting
from them, were made in the Cabinet, and at last 1t
was made up OF Judge Black General John A. Dix,
Judge Joseph Holt Horatio King, and Mr.. Stanton.
All these men were true to the country, although
they differed widely upon the questions OF right and
expediency which were presented for solution.
Yet they did as much, perhaps, as was
possible uuder the circumstances to avert the great
calamity that was impending over the nation, and to
place all that was left of the army and navy in a
condition tosbe made available by Mr.. Lincoln and
his administration soon the Inauguration Of the
new administration should forever rid the country
Of the chronic constitutional weaknesses Of James
| Buchanan.
or the details Of Mr.. Stantons course as member
OF the reconstructed Cabinet Of Buchanan we cannot
speak in this nnecton but it is sufficient to say
that he was true and faithful to the naten and the
Union and did much, II not more, than any other
member or the Cabinet to keep the quiebng and
| wayering Chief Magistrate somewhere near the line
Of duty and patriotism. Two years later, when Mr.
| Stanton was taken into Mr.. Lincolns Cabinet as
| Secretary OF War, Judge Holt, who certainly
fitted TO speak advsedly. wrote to the Lieutenant
| Governor of Ohio as foows:-
'It is an immense stride in the direction OF the
| suppression Of the Rebellion. The rejoicing
OF the people over his appointment would have been
far greater did they know the courage loyalty, and
genius OF the new Secretary as displayed in the in
| tensely tragic struggles that marked the closing
| days of the Buchanan administration. He is great
man, morally and intellectually-a patriot"
| In this connection, the following words spoken
| by Mr. Stanton himself in reference to the scene
which transpired at the council BOARD when the news
came that Major Anderson had transferred his COM
mand from Fort Moultre to Fort Sumter, will be
| interesting:-
'his little incident was the crisis OF our history
| the pivot upon which everything turned Had he
remained in Fort outrie very different cOmbna-
uon OF circumstances would have arisen. The attack
| ON Sumter, commenced by the South, united the
North, and made the of the Gonfederacy inn
possible. shall never forget our coming together
by special summons that night Buchanan sat in
his arm chair in a corner OF the room, Dhite as q
sheet, with the stump of q cigar in his mouth The
dispatches were laid before us and so much violence
| ensued that he had to turn us all out OF doors"
| His Appointment to the Secretaryship of War.
| Buchanan and his Cabinet in due time passed
| away, the war against the Union fully inaugu-
rated, Simon Cameron was placed at the head OF the
| Department entrusted especially with its prosecu-
tion, and Edwin M Stanton remained for the time a
simple private citizen, awaiting his opportunity un
conscious OF the dazzling that the future had
in store for him.
On the one hand, 1t is asserted that Mr.. Stanton
had never met Mr. Lincoln before the day on which
the former received from the latter his commission
Secretary OF War; WHILE on the contrary we have
it stated that they had been associated in the
conduct Of the Manny-McCormick case, above
alluded to- and had at that time laid the foundations
Of their future acquaintance Be this it may, the
President had certainly enjoyed an opportunity fol
ascertanng the sterling qualities which Mr. Stanton
had displayed during his brief Cabinet under
Buchanan and as the position TO which he called
him was unquestionably the most important within
| his gift fact OF which he was fully cognizant hC
had not neglected his opportunity.
Simon Cameron resigned the Secretaryship O.
War early in January 1862, and on the 11th OF tina
month Mr.. Stanton was appointed to succeed him