The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-01-14
Stanton.s Relations TO Lincoln.


On the night of March 3, 1865, while
fthe last bills of the session were un-
der examination for signing, and while
the President and all with him were
enjoying the expectation Of tO-mOr-
rows Inauguration, a dispatch came
IN from Grant, which stated his con-
fidence that few days must end the
business with Lee and Richmond, and
spoke OF an application made by Lee
lor an Interview to negotiate about
peaee. Mr.. Lincoln intimated pretty
teeariy an intention to permit ex-
tremely favorable terms, and. to let
; Ills General-in-Chief negotiate them;
even to an extent that OverpOwered
the reticent habits of his Secretary of
I War, who, after holding his tongue as
long as he could, he broke out
sternly:
/ Mr.. President, tomorrow is in
auguration day. IF you are not to be
j the President of an Obedient and uni
4 ted people, you had better not be in
augurated. Your work is already
done, If any other authority than
yours Is for one moment to be recOg-
niZed, or any terms made that do not
signify that you are the supreme bead
4 of the nation If generals in the field
are to negotiate peace, or any other
I chief Magistrate is 10 be acknOwl-
edged. on the continent, then YOU are
NOT needed, and you had better not
take the oath of office"
stanton, you are right,n said the
President, his whole tone changing.
4 Let me have pen."
! "The President directs me to say to
you that he wishes you to have no
conference with General Lee, unless
lit be for the capitulatiOn of Lees
army, or on some minor or purely
military matter. He directs me to
say that You are not to decide, dis
cllss or confer on any political ques-
tion. Such questions the President
holds in his own hands, and will sub
init them to no military conference
or convention. In the meantime you
are to press to the utmost your mili-
tary adVaatages.n III = =.
The President read over what he
had written and then said:
NOW, Stanton, date and sign this
paper and send it to Grant. Wen see
about this peace business.
Mr.. Lincoln understood him thor
oughly, and repOsed the most unstint-
ed confidence in his integrity, ability
and craftsmanship. The following
anecdOte gives striking illustration
of the relations which existed between
the Chief Magistrate and his Secretary
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 few minutes, and then
said to the officer who had prepared
and brought it in to him: "Dld you
consult the Secretary of War, MaiOr?'
The absence of the Secretary at the
important moment was then related
to Mr.. Lincoln, with the subsequent
remark of Mr.. Stanton that he
thought the right answer had been
given, but that he himself would have
shFunk from the responsibility.
Mr.. Lincoln, on hearing the story,
rose, crossed the room, and taking
the other by the hand, thanked him
cordially. and then spoke of MIR. Stan !
ton as faIlowss - -
YHereafter, Major, when you have
MIR. Stanton's sanction in any matter |
you have mine, for so great is my
confidence i'm lis judgment and patri- !
Otism, that i never wish TO take any
important step myself without first |
consulting him." "al.sIlalf f--ar.r
Only a few days before his death, !
Mr.. Lincoln gave a still more striking !
testimony of the iaffectiOnate nature |
OF his regard for Mr.. Stanton. This |
was when Mr.. Stanton rendered him |
his resignation afthe War Depart !
ment, on the ground that the work |
for whose sake he had taken it was
now done.
.-eMr. Idncoln, msays witness, twas
greatly moved by the Secretary's |
words, and tearing in pieces the paper |
containing the resignation, and !
throwing his arms about the Secretary
he said, Stanton, you have been a !
good friend and faithful public ser
want, and it is not for you to say
when you will no longer be needed !
here Several friends of both parties |
pere present on this occasion, and |
there not a dry eye that witnessed |
the Scenep f.- i.~ r..