The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-25
Edwin WI. Stanton.

PARTICULARS OF HIS ILLNESS AND SUDDEN
DEATH-EXECUTIvE PROCLAMATION
The community Friday morning was much
shocked by the report of the death of Hon. Ed
win M. Stanton. As his friends only a few
days ago had announced that he was slowly
but surely recovering his health, the sad intel
ligence was all the more startling Many per-
sons refused at first to believe that he had died
but were soon convinced of the truth of the
report A little more than week ago he made
an argument before Associate Justice Swavne
in Chambers in the Whitney and Mowery case
and it was admitted by those present that it
was the abest he ever mode and which salts
fed even himself. Mr.. Stanton had been con-
fined to his house for about one week. The
President and Vice President called last Sun
day, his 54th birthday, when the former ten
dered to him the appointment as Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States for which Mr.. Stanton expressed his
gratitude and acceptance The next day the
nomination was made and confirmed by the
Senate without the usual reference to the ap-
propriate committee.
Representative Hooper OF Massachusetts,
passed an hour with Mr.. Stanton on Sunday.
soon after the President and Vice President
left the house, and represents that he was then
in cheerful spirits although lying on his couch
from weakness.
Thursday Mr.. Stanton complained of his
sickness, but his family were not alarmed as
to fatal result as he had apparently been in a
worse condition previously. Shortly after
midnight the symptoms became alarming.
Surgeon General Barnes was present on his
accustomed visit but found it impossible to af-
ford relief. Rev. DR.. Starkie of the Church of
the Epiphany, protestant Episcopal), of which
Mr.. Stanton was a member, was summoned
but shortly after the sufferer lost conscious
ness and was unable to converse with any one.
The pusations of his heart ceased for a few
seconds and then returned, his breathing be-
came very faint. 1t was not until half an hour
before his decease that his family could realize
that he was dying About o clock A. M. he
expired. Surgeon General Barnes says he
never saw man die so quietly, breathing his
life away without struggle. He died from
congestion of the heart. At his bedside in
these last moments were his family, consisting
of Mrs. Stanton and his four children
The President has issued the following order
IL
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, Dec. "a, 1869
Tue painful duty devolves upon the Presi-
dent OF announcing to the people of the United
States the death of one of its most dstinouisb
ed citizens and faithful servants the Hon. Ed
win M. Stanton, which occurred at an early
hour this morning. He was distinguished in
the councils of the nation during the entire
period of its recent struggle for national exist
ence, first, as Attorney General, then as Sec
rotary of War He was unceasing in his labors.
earnest and fearless in the assumption of re-
sponsibiltles to his country success, respected
by all good men, and feared by wrong doers
In his death the bar, the bench, and the nation
sustain great loss which will be mourned nv
all. AS mark of respect to his memory it Is
ordered that the Executive Mansion and the
several departments at Washington be draped
in mourning, and that all business be suspend
ed on the day of his funeral. U. S. GRANT.
The Secretary of War issued the following
order:
WAR DEPARTMENT, \
Washington, Dec. 49, 1862
The eminent ability of the late Secretary of
War, his great legal acquirmentS his firm nat |
riotism and his sturdy devotion to duty in The
most trying times of the rebellion, when MANY |
others faitered have commanded the admiration |
of the country, while his management of this |
department during the days when man of de- |
termined energy and will was demanded has |
made his term of Office as one unequal in adj. |
1t is ordered that the offices
connected with the Department of War be
draped in mourning for a period of thirty DAYS |
and business suspended therein ON the day of |
the funeral and that on the day after the re-
ceipt OF this order at each military post fifteen
15) guns be fired at appropriate intervals, COM
mencing at meridian.
Signed VIM. w. BELKNAp.