Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-01-05
Reports are the fruits of his labor in that

du active pOlltlcal iedQer- nc HoSou W
Pittsburg in lS47, forming partnership
with Hon. Charles Shaler and Theodore
Umbstratter. He acquired large practice,
chiefly in the United States District, Cir
cult and Supreme Courts. Among the va
rious cases in which he appeared, We may
mention that he was counsel for the rail
road company in the Erie war; cases, and
for the State of Pennsylvania in the great
Wheeling Bridge case. This brought him
before the Supreme Court at Washington,
and business before that Court crowded on
him SO fast that he was obliged to take up
his residence at the capital of the nation.
In 1858 he went to California as special
counsel for the Government in some import
ant land cases against Mexican claimants, In
which he was brilliantly successful. In 1859
he was employed as one of the counsel IN
the Manney and NJ Cormic reaper case tried
at Cincinnati, and then he first met Abrs-
ham Lincoln, who was one of the counsel on
the same side. While still engaged on that
case, in December, 1860, he was appointed
by President Buchanan, Attorney General
in place of Judge Black, who had been
made Secretary of State by the resignation
of General Cass. Stanton, Holt and Dix
were the only men in the Cabinet in whose
fidelity to the Union cause perfect confidence
was felt; bat Stanton was the bravest and
boldest of all. He protested against avery
doubtful or half way measure, insisted on
Al Of
more than all others to prevent the utter
wreck of the Government in the last months
Of Mr. Buchanan administration.
After President Lincoln's Inauguration
Mr.. Stanton returned to the practice of his
profession. But on the resignation of the
War Office by Secretary Cameron, in Janu-
ary, 1862, President Lincoln nominated him
as Secretary of War, and the Senate con-
6rmed him on the 9th of the month. He
entered on his dnties with his characteristic
zeal. The nation was in confusion, and the
army organization anything but satisfactory.
1t was natural that some mistake should be
made, and Mr.. Stanton was, for time,
harshly spoken Of for some of his acts. But
experience enabled him to correct faults and
remove abuses, and in year or more the
admirable effects of his energy and inteli-
gence were felt all over the country. The
War Department, with more extensive
and difficult work than any government had
ever imposed on it, and, with the aid of the
generals it had placed in the chief COM
mands it brought the nation to the glorious
triumph Of the spring of 1865.
When the terrible deeds of Booth and
his accomplices laid the beloved Lincoln low
in death and nearly destroyed the Secretary
of State, Mr.. Stanton was the one man in
the Cabinet on whom the loyal people relied
above all others. His presence there gave
one confidence and hope during those dis
NAL days, and these feelings were not mis-
placed.
Soon after Andrew johnson entered up
on the Presidency, it became evident to Mr.
Stanton that he intended to betray the trust
confded to him, and he sxerted himself
strenuously to resist him in his designs He
opposed with all his might the vetoes of the
Freedmen's Bureau BILL the Civil Rights
BILL the bill granting impartial suffrage in
the District of Columbia, the bill to admit
Colorado as a State, and the various recon-
struction acts of Congress This made him
the object of the Presidents bitter enmity
and he resorted to all sorts of sights to
make him uncomfortable in his position and
to drive him from it. Congress and the
people, however, stood by him, and the
Tenure of Office bill was enacted chiefly for
the sake of retaining him in the War De-
partment.
At length on the 5th of August, 1867,
President johnson sent Mr.. Stanton note
requesting him to resign; but this was not
complied with. On the 18th he notified
him that he had suspended him from cfice
and appointed Gen. Grant Secretary Oh War
ad Interim Mr.. Stanton gave up the of
fee under protest, though with no unkind
feeling towards Grant When Congress re-
assembled in November, the President as
:-equired by the Senate to give an account o
himself and his measures towards Mr. Stan
ION. and the account not being satisfactory
the Senat. declared thatthe suspension was
not justi6able.and that the Secretary must
be reinstated. Genera Grant surrendered
the Office to him, greatly to the chcgrln OF
johnson, and there was an angry CORES
pondence on the subject, between him aud
Grant, which will be remembered bv all.
During the rest of Mr.. Stanton's term the
President would not recognize him as Sec
retary, and vainly tried to prevent Grant
from issuing orders through him. On the
2lst he notified Mr.. Stanton that he had re-
moved him, and appointed Adjutaut Gen
eral Lorenzo Thomas, Secretary ad interim,
Mr.. Stanton refused to rurrender and had
Thomas arrested for violating the Tenure
of-Ofice act, but he was discharged upon
his own recognizance. This last insolence
of johnson, added to many other outrages,
led at last to the famous impeachment of
the President. On the Goth of May, 1868,
the Senate having that day acquitted John
soa, Mr. Stanton resigned his Office. The
President nominated General Schofield as
sin place of Edwin NJ. Stanton, removed. ~
The Senate in confirming this nomination,