The New York herald., 1870-09-23
Important Article from Sera-
tor Henry Wilson.
Reply to PRESIDE. nHchanan's Attorney Gene.
raj, jeremiah 3. Black.
Interesting Chapter in the Secret History
Of the Rebellion.
Caustic Defence OF Edwin NJ.
Stanton.

[From the Atlantic Monthly for October.l
A few days after the death OF Mr.. stanton. at the
request OF the publishers Of the Atlantic prepared
an article on some OF the o. Ine great
Secretary they revealed themselves 10 me III the
varying phases or the rebellion. II was n0t history
or biography, nor was It intended to be. II spoke
of his treless Industry indomtabe courage prompt
ness Of decision, readiness to assume response
bilfties, intense patriotism and self-sacriucing
Ss tSsse caracierstics cited few Of the many
facts that had come to my knowledge. either Oy
personal observation or the authentic testimony OF
Others.
Mr.. Jeremiah 8. Black does not like my portrait.
ure OF Mr.. Stanton or my statement OF facts He
appears in the June number OF the Gdlarv in o
communic arion addressed to myself, In which my
statements are questioned and my conclusions are
denied. The article Is characteristic OF the man; ana
not surprised at the manner or the matter Of IT.
Mr. Black seems 10 belong class OF public men who
lingering behind their age, s0ured, disappointed
ana SIs he seems speC,a
time-that there are few lawyers, fewer statesmen
and no patriots who this day approve the advice he
In the only act which win carry his name to poster.
iY. II Is not now my purpose TO reply to
NAL that Howell COBB, while Secretary Of the Trea.
sury py his reasonable utterances at Washington
ana among the money-lenders OF Wall street. de-
ranged the finances ana sunk the national credit;
70 his denial that John B. Floyd. while Secretary Of
War, sent Eiuskets where they could De 'clutched"
TSusey sey lo mis- OF Jacob
the smallest and basest Of the Cabinet c0nsplratOrs
am mindful that Mr.. Black was a mere lawyer
when he entered the Cabinet, that he had little
association or acquaintance with statesmen.
NV object now Ii TO defend Mr.. Stanton frOm his
treacherous friendship anu vindcate the truthful
ness oil my statements so recklessly assaied, by
testimonies which cannot be gatnsald. and which
are beyond the reach OF cav and successful contra
diCt10n.
In portraying the signal services rendered his
country by Mr. Stanton referred to the fact that
communication with leading republicans in Con.
gress; that so anxious was ne for the safety
OF the republic he visited by appointment Mr.
Samner at his lodgings after Midnight to i'm
press upon him the danger which menaced the
nation. These facts were stated to illustrate Mr.
TO rise above the claims and ciamors or mere par.
tsanshlp and to invoke the aid OF loyal men beyond
the lines Of his own party and outside OF the admin
istratiOn OF which he was u member, to serve his
imperiled country msnaced by q foul ana wicked
revolt.
clamations Mr. Stanton. nevertheless, did put him
self In communication, while In Mr.. Buchanans
Cabinet. with leading republicans Or this fact there
Is no lack OF competent testimony. Mr.. seward
certainly not biased witnes5-under date OF
June 9, writes:-
You recall the memories of 1850 and 1851; an1iees
and the efforts made. give you my under.
standing of the position OF tho aented Mr. Stanton that
When the election Of 1860 closed len in tho Executive
Cabinet remain in office until tho 4th OF March when
Abraham Lincoln was TO be inaugurssd President with
Some OF the then members Of Mr. Buchanan's Cabinet
was to be dssa.Sed with he
H s @ as % nS that
persons who avowed themselves disoya and who ultimately
Many dsoyal persons held executive and judicial Offices
Ss & and many st tho minister: who E
loyal The rebels speedily effected an orsansaon aad the
their agents with regard TO measures bearing dis
was With YOU member OF the Senate and carly be.
came % that wa; to be appointed Secretary Of
n
presenting the Incoming administration aud the republican
to devoyed We apprehendod ths danger fsctious
resistance BY the rebels at the seat Of and
ea.ion Of counting the electoral vote: or The
dent on his way from Illinois.
There suspected officers in the army and the
inadequate 10 the crisis.
arrived washington and took up my residence there
forth exclusively 10 the pubic service.
win M stanton nnl after he was appointed Attorney
~ s e h 81 TaS
Mr. Peter H. Watson who during Mr. Lincolns adminis-
tary War was an Intimate personal friend OF Mr. Stanton
well q myself Imnsdl.iey after NJ: Stanton tosf
my house employing M H. Watson for that purpose Evsry
ess either IL the morning or in the evsans both with
Stanton through the same agency and tho question what
welfare was and %..on oon Sroush
with him suggestions In writing from Mr. Stanton and re-
During was not in social relations with Presi
not 10 compronse M stanton Or other loyal members biz
Cabinet by making public the which were held
peplexng had Mr. stantons permission to refer him
ste. The holding Of The was made Known By
me- with Mr. Stantons consent to President Lincoln and
sutatous between Mr. stanton and myself kept By
.S they s.f' n
met Mr. Stanton foot We recognized each other, and
place We separated Quickly, from he motive my part.
the Uny on n which met Mr.
While Mr.. Seward foroears giving details OF the
consultations eld with Mr.. Stanton he states that
whenever they had occasion Ito discuss measures It
was only the right, fitness, expediencY and suffl-
cheney OF these measures that came In question"
a. anu n Una. Mr. ~ ae ana NJ @
the departments who renamed in association with
him until the close Of that administration"
Concerning the midnight visit which so excitcs the
increduty and indignation Of Mr.. Black Mr.. Sumner
himself writes:-
My acquaintance with Mr. Stanton goes back TO my arst
who VIII be glad to know EOu and ns introduced me to Mr.
ln court. so thas We saw little Of each othef,
petition FOR the repeal Of the Fugitive Slave S
' Senate Mason
Of he wh ~ss speaking snS spoke
the incident with much sympathy for me on the evening Of
Bailey who did much against slavery and there dwet
The conduct of certain Senator'S
always understood that Mr. stanton democrat who
ssS M aIS s,, when he h was Into h
from his there You forget those anxious
days. At last, In the month OF January, 1851,
while our troops were left to stsrve in Fort Sumter,
l called on him at the Attorney Generals oflce,
relying on hi, patriotism for Information and counsel
toon where he received me Kindly seeming glad to
pered hat we must Be and then passed into the
room where was also somebody and then into the NEXT
he opened the into the corridor he began
earnest Conversation saying that he me alone
that this was impossible At his oce that he watched
the traitors OF the South that my Wait would bo
Inown to them At once and he concuded BY proposing
you'd tell OF the fearful condition Of Affairs
HEM said in reply that would expect him a the time
aamed by him.
for hour During this time he described deter
ninaton efhe Southsrn leaders and developed pacu.
ary their plan obtain possession Of the natona
and the national archives that they might substitute
selves the sxisng goyernment was struck not only
" knowledge he showed Of hostile movemsns bat by
ia instructive insight Into snd things HS particular
,bjec to make us al wachfu and prepared for the
fronc n rrnsp Of the whole terrible case.