The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-01-01
Death of Hon. Z. NJ. Stanton.

death of Hon. f. NJ. Stanton was flashed
over the country on Friday morning last
But few men of the age will occupy the
place in history that the ex-Secretary Of
War will. He was the invisible spring
which created and launched upon the re-
bellion the mighty hosts of armed men
whose tread shook the continent, and the
boom of whose cannon was heard round the
world. No man was more bitterly hated
by the hosts of treason than Stanton. They
saw with the prophetic eye of the doomed
that his geuius constantly called into being
the armed hosts which would inevitably
tramp their power in the dust No death,
since that of Lincoln, has so pierced the
nation as it's calamity. The last honors of
his country were conferred upon him but
few hours before his death, by his almost
unanimous confirmation by the United
States Senate, as Judge Of the Supreme
Court. Time was not allowed to elapse
for the issuing of his commission, which
would clothe him with the honors of that
high office, before the stroke of the pale
discovered country" He died at o'clock
AN, of congestion of the heart.
We are indebted to the Philadelphia
Press for the following sketch of his public
life as Secretary of war in the last days of
Buchanan's administration and during the
rebellion from the time of his taking a seat
in the cabinet Of Lincoln, in 1862, to the
close of the war:
Mr.. Stanton was up to the breaking out
of the war moderate Democrat, and We
might say modest one, for he had never
been political aspirant, as the term is
popularity understood. When the tender
of office by Nj. Buchanan was made, the
Moloch of Slavery had almost completed
his preparations for receiving the sacrafice
of the American Union. Gen. Cass had
Indignantly spurned the teaching of a weak
master, had refused to compromise his
opinions and his homer, and had left the
Cabinet. Mr.. Black, who was stronger in
the Southern faith, and whose conscience
would not SO easily revolt at the horrid
preparations for rebellion, was taken into
the bosom councils of the President, and
the office of Attorney General was thus
left vacant. Cobb and Floyd had compile
signed to apply its results in the Southern
States. Holt and Dix stood firm, and re-
fused to bend to the initial winds of war
They were aloae-two against an army
All around was Treason. High places and
low were filled with her emissaries. The
American people, the loyal millions had no
government. The powers that be were not
for the country, but for the Southern Con-
fedracy. These two men, of all Buchanans
retainers. held only to the charter Of Amer
lean liberty. They alone chung to the ark
of the Constitution. If they should fail,
then republican institutions would bid a
long farewell to their birthplace, and
fate worse than Sparta's or Rome's would
come upon the land.
Mr.. Stanton accepted his Office with
full appreciation of its difficulties. He ac-
copied it not for the sake of place, but
with a wish to lend his aid to the stalwart
two who stood almost sublime amid the
lightnings and thunders of recipient rebel
lion. History will look upon his accession
as dispensation. He had scarcely taken
his seat till the nation began to break from
its awful suspense and breathe. 1t found
out it had an existence, and an argument
in favor of that existance. Every doubtful
measure of Mr.. Buchanan was opposed by
his new Attorney General. He said a
:'warlke State could be coerced.' He
said g fortify, man, and provision Stump
ter lie said, 90 firing on the flag is trea-
son and deserves the punishment of trea-
SON. He could not save the sun of the last
Democratic Administrations from going
down in darkness upon shattered Union,
but in the midst of that darkness, and high
overhead, he appeared as star of hope to
relieve the anguish and agony of his coun-
trymen.
At the outgoing of the Administration
he retired to the midst of his profession,
but it was now undelightful, amid the
clash of arms and the hail of rebellion. On
the 18th of January, 1862, he succeeded
Mr.. Cameron as War Minister, and then
Mr.. Stanton's career of national renown
was renewed. Then lie embarked in his
greatest case-thc case of Loyalty VS.. Urea
son-before the bar of public opinion, the
world, and history. With what success he
has fought it through, let civilization an
swcr. There can be but ono verdict.
His appointment filled the public with
satisfaction. His firmness in 1860 was
eagerly recalled, and his patriotic course
inspired unbounded confidence. Judge
Holt, who had stood with him and counsel
ed with him when States were cutting
their moorings and floating out into the
y
Lieutenant Governor Stanton, of Ohio, of
his appointment: Z" 1t is an immense stride
in the direction of the suppression of the
rebellion. The rejoicing of the people
over his appointment would have been far
greater did they know the courage, loyalty
and genius of the new Secretary as display
ed in the intensely tragic struggle that
marked the closing days of the Buchanan
Administration. He is a great man, NOR
ally and intellectually--a patriot. All
that man could do, will, in his present po-
| sition, be done to deliver our poor bleeding
! country from the bayonets of traitors. -
Had Judge Holt been prophet, his encom-
ium could not have been more closely veri
fled by results.
When he witnessed the happy culmina-
| ton of his labors, the browning of his anx-
| ious hopes, the fulfiment of his ardent
faith in the surrender of Lee, then his soul
burst forth in gratitude. He spoke the
| spontaneous voice of the nation in that
short impulsive April telegram to General
| Grant:
WAR DEPT. WASHINGTON, D. c.,
April 8, 1S65-9.30 Pm.
Lieutenant General Gram:
Thanks be to Almighty God for the great
victory with which He has this day crown
ed you and the gallant army under your
command! The thanks of this Depart
ment and of the Government and of the
people of the United States, their reverence
| and honor, have been deserved and will be
rendered to you and the brave and gallant
officers and soldiers of your Army for all
| time. EDWIN NJ. STANTON
Secretary of War.
| Republican State Central Committee.
The Republican State Central Committee
assembled in Baltimore, Oh Wednesday
last. The Committee was called to order
by Hon. Jacob Tome. Mr.. Samuel NJ.
Evans, was elected President, and Messrs.