Evening star., 1869-12-24
The DEATH OF EDWIN N. STANTON.

Tne year 1850 will be notable in history for the
number 6 its distinguished dead, and posterity
viii undoubtedly recognize Edwin NJ Stanton
as the central figure in this group of departed
ones. For the last ten years a leading actor In
the stormiest times of our republic, his name
has within few weeks again been brought
prominently before the public by his appoint
ment to the Supreme Court Bench, an appoint
ment deemed by the country at large emnently
Mt TO be made not merely from his great public
services, butin consideration Of his legal ability
and attainments and his unquestiOned integrity.
HIS name being the uppermost in the public
mind, the shock from the announcement of his
sudden death was the greater, and viii be felt
sensibly in all parts of the country.
Mr.. Stanton IL Of Quaker descent. His ances-
tors migrated from Rhode Island to North Car.
olina about the middle of the eighteenth GEN.
tury. His grandparents were Benjamin and
Abigail Stanton, who resided near Beaufort. in
North Carolina The maiden name of the latter
was Abigail Macy, and she was descendant of
that Thomas Macy, who was perhaps the earliest
white settler OF Nantucket, aud whose fight
thither, upon pursuit for giving shelter to a
hunted-down Quaker, Is the subject Of one of
Whittier's POEMS Benjamin Stanton the Sec
retary's grandfather, in his viii expressed the
"will and desire that all the poor black peop,e
that ever belonged to me be entirely free when
ever the laws of the land will allow it; until
which time my executors leave as guardians to
protect them and see that they be not deprived
OF their right or any way misused." In the year
800 his widow. with large family Of children,
removed to Ohio. One of her children was Dr.
DAVID Stanton, who married Lucy Norman, q
native Of Culpeper county, Virginia, daughter
OF Thomas Norman, Esq. Her father was a
Virginia planter, who resided near Stevensburg.
and was owner OF the farm ON which was fought.
IN lse2, the battle Of Cedar Mountain. Dr. David
stanton was an eminent and highly respected
physician in Steubenville, Ohio.
His eldest child was Edwin NJ Stanton. wbo
was born at Steubenville, Ohio, December 10Th.
lsl3- AT the age of thirteen he became a clerk
In the bookstore of James Turnbull. of Stenhan-
vile. After three years spent here i'm the wear
ls5l, he became student of Kenyon Colleoe
where he remained until some time in the wear
lsS5. After leaving college he was again en-
Ployed as a clerk in the bookstore of James
furnbull, at Columbus. He subsequently, studied
law i'm the office of his guardian, Daniel l..
Collier, ESD, at Steubenville, and at the age of
tWenty-one Tin 1886 was admitted to the bar.
he immediately commenced to practice his
profession at Cadiz, Harrison county, Ohio. and
was elected prosecuting attorney of the county.
shortly afterward, having acquired a large cir
cult practice, he removed to his native town of
Steubenvllle, and in 1872 was elected by the
General Assembly Of Ohio reporter of the de-
clslons OF the supreme Court. He prepared and
published volumes eleven, twelve and thirteen
OF the Ohio State Reports. Though Mr. STAN
tons attention was chiefly given to his profess
sion, yet, even at this time, he took a somewhat
active part in the politics OF his county and
State as member Of the Democratic party.
In 1871, he began To practice law in Pittsburg.
as a partner OF the Hon. Charles Shaler, and al
though still retaining an office at Steubenyille.
his attention was chiefly given to cases before
the courts Of Pennsylvania AMI the United
States District, Circuit and Supreme Courts.
Among the most important causes in which he
was engaged were those known as the ..Erie
War" cases, In which lie was counsel for the
railroad company; and the Wheeling Bridge
case, which he conducted as counsel for the
State of Pennsylvania. In the latter part of
1856 he removed to Washington city, to attend to
his practice before the Supreme Court of the
United states, In which he had acquired a lead
ing and lucrative practice. In 1858 he went to
California as special counsel for the Govern
ment in certain land cases, involving public in
terests of great magnitude, and for his manage
ment OF these cases, he received fees almost un-
exampied-
In Decembe-, $50. while engaged before the
United states Circuit Court at Cincinnati. in n
suit arising out OF the conflicting interests of the
Nanny and Mccormick reaping machine Cit
waS at an earlier stage OF this litigation i'm 1852
and at the same place, that he first met Mr..
Lincoln, who was of counsel on the same sitle.)
nc Was nominated to the Office of Attorney Gem
eral BY President Buchanan, whose old Cabinet
was then falling to pieces around him. Mr..
StantOn's attitude throughout the remainder of
E..ar, So u..t,..
teTmincd opposition to the traitors in the Cab
met, and resolute maintenance of the national
honor.
AT the expiration Of Mr.. Buchanan term he
resumed his profession, but did not relax his
interest or efforts in behalf Of the national
cause On the 10Th of January, 1862, he Was
appointed by Mr.. Lincoln, Secretary of War
He continued member OF Mr.. Lincoln's Cabi-
net, enjoy ing the most cordial friendship and
confidence of the President throughout the rest
of his first term, and during his second term up to
the time Of Mr.. Lineoln's assassination. On the
9Th OF August, 1S61, Mr.. johnson requested his
resignation, spon the alleged ground Of public
considerations OF high character, to which Sec
retary Stanton replied, that public considera-
tions Of Ligh character which alone had in
duced him TO remain at the head of this Depart
ment, constrained him not to resign before the
next meeting Of Congress-"
On the Eth Of August, Mr. johnson notified
him Of his suspension from the Office of Secre-
tary Of War. During his service as Secretary
OF War, after Mr. Johnson's accession, Mr..
Stanton supported the following measures
passed by Congress against the Presidents op-
position list Freedmen's Bureau bill. I'd.
The civil rights bill. Sd. The bill giving suf-
frsge without regard TO color in the District of
Columbia. 9Th. The bill admitting Colorado as
State 5th- The several acts known as the
reconstruction acts, providing for the estab-
LShment OF governments Ia the rebel States.
IL is not within the scope of this article
TO present, In detail, the particulars of the
important part taken by Sfr. Stanton in
the suppression Of the rebenion His reIa
tions TO General Mcclellan and the PeninsuIar
Campaign; his relations to the rebel Excursion,
in the Shenandoah Valley and the defence of
the Capital; his relations to the changes of ar
mics and commanders; the building up and pull
ing down Of military regulations; the plans of
campaigns; the recruiting OF the army; the poll
ey of the Government on the question of slavery,
and q score Of other matters, almost equally irl-
portant, would furnish material for volumes.
He was throughout Mr.. Lineoln's administration
all powerful IL was with reference To some
Of NJ