The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-01-06
Edwin II. Stanton.

The sudden death ef Edwin n Stanton,
ex-Seuretayy of War, which occurred ct his
residence IN Washington city. on Friday
morning, the Path ult.-less shan ave days
after his confirmation as an Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court of the United States,
In place of Judge Grisr, reslgned-has been
the occasion Of much varied criticism, In re-
ference both TO his character As man aud
as prominent officer of the government
during the rebellion.
The bitter personal and political feelings
eDgcndsrea BY the recent civil wer are yet
too fresh in The rlisd. CT the pecple to per-
mis an unprejudice6snd impartial estimate
to be made Of tbs public character of Edwin
II. Stanton. That he vas a mau Of very
decidsd ability was abrndantly Illustrated
by his professional as we'll as by his official
career and his honesty and integrity seem
equally unquestloned and unqueationable.
ct, notwithstanding the extr1vagant eulo
giums that have been pronounced upon him
by his admirers, some Of whom have even
iusulted the memory Of Washington by COM
pairing him 70 that immortal patriot, we are
disposed TO believe that Mr. Stanton will not
occupy very eaviable position IN the his
tory Of the busy and exciting sceuss In
which be acted 30 conspicuous and proni-
nent part.
When Gen. Geo. B. Mcclellan, in the au-
tumn of 1861. assumed command of the ar
my, and that, too, at the urgent solicitation
Of Edwin N Stanton. the deceased ex Secre-
tsry was amongst the most serviIe fiattercrs
thst "Little Mac" had in Washington. lie
(M'ClellaD) was the idol of Edwin 81. Stan
ton, and his headquarters may literally be
said to have been The resting place OF the
new Secretary IF War. It lie quite unneces-
ssry for Us to refer to what occsrred during
n Clelian's celebrated campaign against
Richmond, howled on "a Il was by Horace
Greely and men of his stripe, under the IN
sane CRY Of ' On 10 RichmoHd!''-a perfect
counterpart of the old Roman maxim, Gar
Mogs mast be GestroyedIv Every man is
well aware of the fact that II M'CleIlan bsoqed
and 1esOusM for recruits-that Stanton had
them-that President Lincoln, in all the
bindDess of his nature, was disposed to FIR
nish them, Gas his Memorable letter to Gen.
Mcclellan will show but that Stanton per-
sistently refused to send them, but on The
contrary became M'Clellan's open and bitter
eueny-Crippled that distinguished officer
in ali his military operations, and eventual
ly succeeded in driving him from the army.
But M'C!ellan had his full revenge at Antie-
tam over al the base purposes of Stanton,
and he bad the qualification Of knowing that
in that far and open field he acquitted him
self honorably and elected the full and an.
reserved appreciation of the President. of
Congress. and of the people.
When Gen. Joe johnson surrendered his
army to Gen. Sherman. this man Stanton,
against the universal sentiment of the coun-
try. was mean and Unpatriotic enough to re-
pudate, In an official order, Gen. Sherman's
terms of Surrender by Gen. johnson, and
absolutely pronounced Sherman d traitor to
his country. Gen. Sherman properly re-
sented that Infamous impeachment of his
patriotism by refusing TO shake Stantor's
hand when the latter offered it to him at the
grand review of the Army of the Potomac.
held in Washington after the close of the
rebellion.
Add to all this the historical fact that the
stubborn and persistent refusal of Edwin NJ.
Stanton to exchange Southern for Northern
prisoners, on the plea that he "was not will
ling to give fat men for Skeletons" resulted
in the horrors Of Salisbury and Anderson
vile and the consequent death of hundreds
Of Union soldiers
But the darkest and most Infamous spot
on Stanton character was his official con
nection with the military murder of Mrs.
Surratt. That she was an Innocent woman
is now an accepted truth, vouched for bv
even Benjamin F. Butler himself Stanton's
cruel treatment OF that woman during her
mock trial, by an illegal and unauthorized
tribunal, as well as his heartless and up-
christian conduct towards her daughter.
cannot be pallated or defended, and must
consign him to an unenviable Immortality.
No valid excuse ever has been or ever can
be given for it. T,ro of his accomplices
died violent death, while the remaining
three are living monuments of nations in.
fanny.
The only redeeming feature in Stanton IS
| character was bis personal and official in
tegrity. With all his faults, no man ever
charged him with nerceuary motives. For
| that at least he deserves honor and credit
and the future historian of the war will not
fail to DO full and ample justice to that one
ennch':ug virtue which he possessed in an
eminent degree. and which few of his polit-
ical associates could lay any claim to-
THE Pennsylvania Legislature convened