Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-01-07


and the detection oftheir secomplices;
sent kilograms TO military commanders
in every direction wrote with bis
own hand dispatches for our Minister
abroad; provided for the public secU.
rity az all doubtful points thought of
everything and did everything with q
wisdom and fertility never surpassed.
Next day Vice President johnson
took the oath Of Office as President,
and his FIRST act, most becOmingly per-
formed, was earnestly 60 thank the
Secretary of War for all that he had
accomplished during that memorable
night, and to ask him, while they held
each other by the hand, to stand BY
him as lie had stood By Mr.. Lincoln.
| Mr.. Stanton promised, and kept his
word as long as Mr.. johnson kept Mr..
Lincoln's principles.
Honesty was q natural trait with
/ Mr. Stanton. Nothing stirred his in
| dignstion more than the Wickedness
Of men who could rob their country
and enrich themselves at the expense
of the people ia the progress of such
/ a war as ours. His opportunities of
becoming wealthy by dishonesty were
! innumerable. He might have had an
/ interest in contracts he might have
communicated information he might
have grown rich secretly IN . thOus-
and ways. But none Of these thingE
offered the least temptation to his
mind, and he left thep War Depart
i ment, after siEyears of administration
q poorer man than he entered is.
Few persons outside the circle Of
Mr.. Stanton's most intimate friends
are aware of the fact that q PROPOSE
tion was made soon after his retire
ment from Office to give him a purse
of $1O0.O 600. This project vas oOnceiv-
ed by some wealthy merchants at
private dinner party in this city, and
the full amount was raised on the spot.
| The next question was how to induce
Mr. Stanton to accept the gift. Judge
Pierrepont was deputed TO execute the
delicate mission. He accordingly
went &c Washington. he 6Tst
broaehed the subject TO Mrs. Stanton.
who replied that she did not believe
her husband would receive the pres
ent
Bfra Stanton said that she would
mention il to him On the first favor
able opportunity. DIR. Stanton was
in The next room, and probably over
heard the conversation. Judge Pier
repont then went to see him. He was
sitting as an invalid IN his arm chair.
He received me. said Judge Pier
repont, with his old kind smile, and
although very feeble, made an attempt
to rise to shake hands. I conversed
with him on different subjects, but /
did not make aliusiOn TO our project of
presenting him with a purse. Finally
[ arose to take my leave. / was just
about to open the door, when be said
'Pierrepont, come back I have
something to say to you.
81 returned. Having taken a seat
by his side, he gently laid his hand up
on my shoulder, and, looking me
straight in the face, feelingly said
I have always regarded You as my
friend, Pierrepont. You are going
away now, and | am upon bed ofsiek-
ness, from which may never rise.
I want you to do me favor. When you
go back to New York, tell my friends
there and elsewhere not TO raise any
money or other gifts for me, for /
must refuse them all. They have my
thanks for their kind intentions, but
I can never, and will never, accept IN
cent as a gift from even my best friend.
ST promised to comply with his re-
quest" continued Mr.. Pierepont, ''and
the result was that the project was
abandoned. +"
sTANToN's RELA TIoNs TO LINCOLN.
The Philadelphia Telegraph says
On the night Of March 3, 1865,
while the last bills Of the session were
under examination for signing, and
while the President and all with him
were enjoying the expectation of to-
morroW's inauguration, q dispatch
came in from Grant, which stated his
confidence that few days must now
end the business with Lee and Rich
mond, and spoke of an application
made by Lee for an interview TO nego-
tiate about peace.
Mr.. Lincoln intimated pretty clear
II an intention to permit extremely
favorable terms, and toilet his Generals
10 Chief negotiate them /; even 20 an
extent that oyerpoWered the reticent
habits Of his Secretary of War, who
after holding bis tongue as long as he
could, broke out sternly:
HMr President, tomorrow is inaug-
uration day. If you are not 80 be the
President Of an obodient and united
people, you had better not be inaug
urated. Y0urwWork is already dons,
If any other authority than F0urs Is
for one momeut,to be recognized, OF
any terms made that do notsiguify that
you are the supreme head Of the nation
IF generals in the field are 60 negotiate
peace, or any other Chief Magi5trate
is to be acknowledged on the continent
then you are not needed, and you had
better not take the oath of Office
Stanton, you are right, said the
President, his whole tone changing
Let me have a pen.
Dir. Lincoln sat down at the table,
and wrote as follows
"The President directs me TO say to
you that be wishes you TO have no con, Z
ference with General Lee, unless for
the oapitulation of Lees army, or on
some minor or purely military matter 4
He instruets me 30 say that you are
not to decide, discuss, or confer on any
political question; such questions the
President holds Ia his own hands, and
viii submit them to no military con-
ference or convention. In the mean
time you arc TO press to the utmCsb
your military advantages.
The President then read oyer WEch
he had written, and said:
Now, Stanton, date and sign tbis
paper and send it to Grant. Wen see I
about this peace business.
Mr. Lincoln understood him thor /
oughly, aud reposed the most uDstint
ed confidence in his integrity, ability !
aud statesmauship The following
anecdote gives q striking illustratioD
of the relations which existed Between !
the Chief Magistrate and his Minister
Of War:
On one occasion, during the latter |
period of the struggle, a certain dis
patch of instructions was shown the
President The latter thought the
matter over a few minutes, and then |
said to the officer who had prepared |
and brought Il in TO him: "Did ven
consult the Secretary Of War, MsjOr?'
The absence Of the Secretary at that
imnortabt moment was then rnintad ~