Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-12-30

q maJLef Oh 1aUty ~ my - -
this connection that bIs commission .
Associate Justice Of the supreme Court,
although prepared a the State Depart
ment and signed ~ secretary fish, had
not been delivered TO the deceased, a. up
to Yesterday evening It lacked the sigma
ture of the President, and had, therefore,
not vet become perfected document. It
is understood that tho President will sign
the commission and transmit It to his
family as evidence Of the last official hon.
ors conferred by an appreciative govern
ment.
HIS CLOSING DAYS.
Last summer Mr.. Stanton visited New
England, hoping to recruit his impaired
health. He went to the mountain region
of New Hampshire, and afterward to
Mount Wachusett, in Massachusetts,, but
the weather was unpleasant, and he re-
turned to Boston from the last named
place suffering excessively from asthma.
Hon. Samuel Hooper, who was one of his
warmest personal friends, then persuaded
him to visit Cotuit, picturesque seaside
estate belonging to Mr.. Hooper ON the
south shore of Cape Cod. Mr.. Stanton
remained there three weeks, and the sea
air, tempered by the Gulf Stream, had q
wonderfully beneficial effect. He returned
here thinking that his health was
much improved.
HIS PRIVATE MEANS.
Mr.. Stanton was credited to Ponnsyl-
vania in the record Of Cabinet appoint
ments by reason Of his having for time
a law Office at Pittsburg, but he always
regarded Steubenville, Ohio-where he
was born in 1S15-as his home. For
years, however, he has resided in this city.
Before entering the Cabinet he had
amassed considerable means in the prac-
tice of his profession, in which he stood
among the foremost lawyers at the bar Of
the Supreme Court of the Uuited States.
But during his labors in the War Office
he sacrificed most of his private Ineans,and
is credited among his most intimate
friends with having each year expended
an amount equal to bis salary, in charities
and in aid of the patriotic purposes
which so thoroughly enlisted his whole
time and all his vital powers. Therefore,
for the past eight years his Accommodations
have been little or nothing, and the pub
lie will regret to learn that beyond the
family residence on X street, opposite
Franklin square, Mr.. Stanton died com
paratively poor. What u crushing re-
buke is this fact to the partisan and re-
lentless imputations on his official career,
from those men and presses whose base
motives he discovered whose evil inten-
tions he thwarted, and whose disloyal
deeds he 30 promptly punished.
THE FEELING IN THE COMMUNITY.
I 4
man 80 well known and 30 highly es-
teemed has beer saddening In the ex-
treme. The community has not been
more shocked since the assassination of
President Lincoln, whose single-hearted
purposes always found such powerful
reinforcement in the sturdy determination
and great executive capacity of his untir
ing Minister of War. 1t was first an
nounced to the President who was walk
ing on Pennsylvania avenue at the time,
by Senator Williams. The Presidents
first remark was one of surprise, and
when assured of the fact his head dropped
upon his breast and he showed much emo
ton. General Grant was great admirer
of. and had great faith in, Mr.. Stanton.
When the former was in the War Off e,
during Mr. Stanton's temporary suspeu
sion by Mr.. johnson, there was entire
cordiality of feeling; and when Mr..
Stanton resumed the position by virtue OF
the Senate's non-concurrence in the
reasons for his removal, their sympatbies,
feelings and desires harmonized thor
oughly Owing to Mr.. Stanton's en-
feebled health, and his retirement from
public life, their intercourse latterly has
not been so frequent. but it was most
agreeably reopened few days ago, when
the President called TO tender him the ap-
pointment to the Bench of the Supreme
Court. This sad occurrence has cast
chill and gloom over the holiday festivi-
ties, which, under the stimulus of fine
weather and partial suspension of public
business, gave promise of more general
enjoyment than usual The expression of
sorrow has been general. though no man
had more bitter enemies, as none had
warmer friends, than Edwin NJ. Stanton.
AN ESTIMATE OF HIS CHARACTER.
No man was better judge OF the
motives of other mems actions. No judy
ment decided more uniformly or uner-
ringly in favor of the right. That he
made mistakes and did an injustice, now
and then, is not to be denied; but if he
erred at all, it was on the side of the pub
lie interest Here and there only is a
heart not touched with grief at this great
loss, and some people talk about ~ won
derful Providence" when they allude to
his death and his recent appointment;
ust as if Edwin NJ. Stanton would not
have died, just as he did, from precisely
the same cause, whether this last honor
had been conferred or not. Despite his
stern, resolute bearing, Mr.. Stanton was a
warm friend, and never forgot his own
early and true friends, no matter what
position he or they assumed in life. He
thoroughly and justly in ad
hitting people either to his hospitality or
confidence, and there was about him, al
vays, whether at the War office or in his
lome, an atmosphere of purity, loyalty
md solid integrity. There was u se2se of
afety when public interests were confided
o his hands, seldom felt in other cases to
he same extent, which found renewed
over his recent appointment.
OFFICIAL ACTION.
The several Executive departments, in
ludiDg the President, have Issued orders
the death, directing sus-
'enslon of business on the day of the |
uneral, and the showing OF a proper re.
pect by the usual display of mourning.
sut it IL little that words or orders can
ow do to increase the fame of him whom
hey mourn. The throng of gift seekers
rho crowd down the avenue this pleasant
fternoon drop here and there u word of
egret, but none of them can know how
rest q loss to the country is he who lies
cad up on Franklin square. The words
{ official respect and the tributes of pub
o regard will come, but they cannot add
) the fame of the great man who has fall
y Only will his memory be engraven
eeper, and the lustre of his name grow
Fighter as the years wear on, and people
Dmember and read the great achieve
tents, the unwavering loyalty, the stead
lst faith, the unbending integrity, the
fifty public ambition. and the purity of
,e private virtue Of Edwin NJ. Stanton.