Smyrna times., 1869-12-29

DEATH OF SECRETARY STANTON-Hon
Edwin NJ Station, formerly Secretary of War,
died very suddenly at his residence, in. Wash
ington, on Friday last, of congestion of the
heart. He was fifty-fou years of age on Sun
day week. Few men have occupied more
prominent position in American history than
Mr.. Stanton, and few have been more praised
or abused. Coming before the country at a
time when the passions of men were the most
excited-at the breaking out of the rebellion
and occupying position scarcely inferior to
President LincOlns-that Of Secretary of
War-his career is recorded at a most eventful
period in our country's history. From the
mass of writing about him in the daily papers
since his death, we compile the following
sketch OF the life of this remarkable man.
MIR. Stanton was born in Steubenville, Ohio,
In December, 1915 After receiving a good
common school education he was sent to col
lege, but his father IA physician who had en-
igrated from Virginia. was unable to keep him
there, owing to limited means He returned
home and obtained situation as clerk in
bookstore in Columbus. Whilst engaged in
tAis position he studied law, besides attending
to his labors as clerk, and with such success
that he was admitted to the bar in 1886. He
soon gained some reputation as a lawyer in
his native town and also as Democratic pol-
iticlan. In 1913 he removed to Pittsburg, Pa.
where, as lawyer, he gained extended repu-
tation. He Was engaged before the Supreme
Court, at Washington, so frequently that he
finally removed to that city in 1858. He was
Id
sight of in politics. He was employed BY
Sickles as one of his counsel in his trial for
killing Key, and also in several important cases
in which the United States were party. Tn
1860, when the rebellion was coming to head.
and when Gen. Cass left President Buchanan's
Cabinet in sheer disgust at the Presidents vas
cllating course, Mr.. Stanton was appointed
Attorney General, to fill the vacancy occasion.
ed by Judge Black acceptance of Gen. Casss
position as Secretary of State Thus commen-
menced his career as public man, and his
great and imparishabe renown. He at once
displayed that great decision of character. bold
ness and energy OF which he was possessed.
While Mr.. Buchanan was denying the right
OF secession and yet insisting that there was no
law to prevent it, that there was no authority in
ths Constitution to save the country from des-
tructlon, Mr.. Stanton was urging upon him
the duty of reinforcing Fort Sumter and the
other Southern garisOns. He did his best for
the country S good, but was unable to strength
en- the Presidents nerve He retired to pri.
vaEe life at the close of Mr.. Buchanan's term
and so remained until 1862, when the country
was surprised by his appointment as Secretary
OF War by President Lincoln, in the place of
Simon Cameron, resigned He took charpe
OF the office at the most discourging period of
the war, but he never finched or swerved
mcclellan was defeated, also Hooker and
burnside, but he urged the armies forward
Kept the ordnance and commissarat supplied
with uniaging energy displaced generals that
failed to come up to his standard; locked nm
newspaper mon for exposing the movements
OF the army, and sent some t across the Enas',
who lived in the North and took sides with
fhc South aud made his own will answer in
eases OF desperate emergency. He was regard.
ed as cold, stern, tyrannical. But had he been
otherwise at this critical period the South
might have gained its independence. The
time demanded extraordinary measures and
Mr.: Stanton knew it and was equal to the oc-
caslon- His difficulty with President johnson
Is TOO well known to need reciting. Being ad-
vlsed that his course was right he hesitated
not to perform it. He will be regarded as the
great " War Minister of his time and his
faults will be eclipsed and forgotten in his
great achievements.
Just before he died he received the appoint-
ment of Associate Justice Of the u. S. Su.
preme Court to fi the vacancy occasioned by
the resignation of Judge Grier, and hardly
hal this inf'rmation reached the public when
the unlooked-for Intelligence of bis death was
received. He died comparatively poor man.
lie was m"nher Of the Episcopal Church