Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-29
Our Washington Letter.


the drapery Of mourning. This afternoon another
funeral procession, " mourniully and slow, wall
pass through the streets of Washington, follow
ing to the quiet shades Of the beautiful Oak Hill
Cemetery the remains Of EDwrS NJ STANTON.
During the past three months the nation has
been called to mourn, in rapid and startling sue
ccssion, the death of It's honored sons commenc.
ing in October last with Tx. President Pierce, and
followed quickly by the departure of Rear Admi'
ral Stewart, George Peabody, Secretary Rawinsi
and Ex-secrctarics Robert j. Walker and Amos
Kendall
Eonorcd and respected as were all these names
the heart of the nation has been more closely
touched by the death Of Stanton than by either Of
the others.
For many years past Pierce has lived in such
quiet retirement that he has occupied small space
in the public thought. Stewart Peabody, Walk
cr and Kendall had filled the measure Of their
years, and the funeral honor, paid to their mem
cries, were more the customary compliance with
the proprictes, than expressions Of grief But
the names of Rawlins and Stanton may be added
to the sacred roll of martyrs. Both these men
died in the lullvigor Of manhood, from diseases
contracted IN the service of the country during
the rebellion When Mr.. Stanton entered the
cabinet of Buchanan in 1861, ne brought to the
service the physical strength Of Hercules, a
constitution that had bid defiance to disease, and
an exuberance of health and animal spirits that
knew no such things as fatigue and need of rest.
For five years he bore upon hisample shoulders
such burden as few men have ever borne. To
say nothing of the anxieties that must have con.
stantly oppressed him, and the constant and ac-
tive exercise Of every thought, feeling and emo
ton during all the years when the life Of the ma.
ton depended upon him as it did upon no other,
he performed an amount Of physical labor that
no human organism could 50 long sustain. When
at last he left the cabinet he who had entered il
in the pride and strength ofmanhood; he left it q
shattered and broken down Oldham, with strength
worn out and energies exhausted in the service.
Since then he has sought in rest and recreation
the recovery Of his impaired health and in the
fall Of 1865 he spent several weeks among the
green hills Of Vermont, as the guest of Ex-Goy,
Smith lie has often, and lately, spoken Of the
generous hospitality there enjoyed, and of his adj
mrtion for the State, her institutions aud her
people. During the past summer he spent much
of the season A. the guest Of Hon. Samuel Hoop
er, Of Mass, at his Summer residence on Cape
Cod, deriving considerable advantage from the
healthiul influences of the place 1t has been
understood here that he was slowly but surely re-
covering his former health and strength which
impression was confirmed by his appearing be-
fore Associate Justice Swayne, OF the Supreme
Court Of the United States, sitting in Chambers,
and arguing an important case on the oh 10th
and llth instants, which was spoken of By those
who heard it as one of his greatest efforts Ac-
cordingly, the announcement on Friday morning
of his death, fell like a thunderburst from clear
sky and when the but half-credited report was
followed by a sad and speedy confirmation. men
passed on with grieying and thoughtful couutc-
nances, and with s)ftened voices, exchanged ex-
pressions of bereavement and sorrow
The Sunday preceding his death was his fifty
fourth birthday and upon that DAY he was WIS.,
tied by President Grant and Vice President Col
fax, the former Of whom rendered to him the APP
pointment Of Associate Justice Of the Supreme
Court to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resig.
nation Of Judge Grier. The singular promptnes.
and unanimity with which the appointment wa.
confirmed by the Senate, rs soon as it was an.
nouneed upon the following day, testified how
gratefully it was received by them The appoint.
ment was hailed with appreciation by the whole
country. Precisely the qualities that were tn,
peculiar characteristics Of Mr. Stanton, are thos,
most needed to give life and yigor to the SUPREME
Court bonolr, and the President VIII ne iortunatt
if he finds those qualities 50 well represented il
him whom he may select as Mr. Stanton's sue.
cessor.
For four years past Mr. Stanton had suffered
from occasional hut severe attacks of asthma
which has lately been complicated with a dropsi
cal affection. This, with some other incidental
symptoms has caused him much pain and uneas
ness, but it did not excite in the minds of hi,
family or even of his medical attendant any fears
OF a serious or fatal result About three hour.
before his death he became suddenly worse. and
Surgeon General Barnes was soon by his bedside
The immediate cause of his death was congestion
Of the heart and before this symptom the physi-
clan was powerless The Rev. DR.. Starkie. of
the Church of the Epiphany, of which Mr.. Stan
ton was member was at once sent for. but be.
fore his arrival Mr. Stanton had ceased to recog-
nize those around him. Surrounded by the por
sons above named, and by his family. consisting
OF Mrs. Stanton, his wife; Edward L. Stanton. his
son, who is pnoticing lawyer here, and a Young
man of great promise Ella, his youngest daugh-
ter, about twelve years of age Lewis, his second
son, nine years of age and Bessie, his youngest
child, aged five years, he qaietly breathed his
last. few inmates before three O'Clock in the
morning
The morning papers contained no announce.
ment Of his death, OF even of his dangerous ill.,
ness; and strange as it may appear. il was nearly
nine O'Clock before it was known upon the street
1t was first announced 10 the President. who WINS
walking upon Pennsylvania Avenue at the time.
by Senator Williams. The President STONED as
though he had encountered blow. His first ex-
preston was one of surprise and incredulity. and
when assured Of the truth of the report, his head
dropped upon his breast and he turned back with
deep emotion expressed upon his countenance
An Executive order was Immediately issued
closing the various departments upon the day of
the funeral and ordering that appropriate militia
ry hOnOrs be paid 10 his memory at all tho mill
tary posts of the United States.
1t was designed to convey the remains to the
Capitol, and lay them in State in the supreme
Court Room, but upon Mrs Stanton exnressin,,
the wish that the funeral should be as nearly nri.
waite as possible, the design was abandoned Tbe
remains were accordingly attirod in plain black
dress suit, and laid out in the room In which be
died, none but the immediate friends and the rolae
tiyes OF the deceased being admitted 10 view the
remains. The pall-bearers selected are General
Belknnp and Mr.. Creswell of the Cabinet Sena-
tors Sumner and Carpenter of the Senate Asso-
eiate Justice swayne of the Supreme Court
Chiel Justice Cartier of the Supreme Court of
this District; Surgeon General Barnes. and As
sistant Adutant General Townsend U. S. Dis
trict Attorney Pierrepoint of New York General
j. L. Eehert, and two members of the House Of
Representatives, whose names have not VET been
The funeral will be very largely attended. and
there are few men who have died during the pres.
ent generation who have been more SINCERELY and
deeply mourned than Edwin NJ. Stanton.
THOMAS.
Mn -.