The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-01-27


tiou, terror aud tears, public debt and gen.
eral corruption of morals, all ending at best
not in the union Of the States but in the sub
jugstion of some to the despotic will OF
others. He was apt to take scmbre view
of things. and he looked at the dark sie of
this subject. The glory, proft and pluntier.
the political distinction aud pride Of power
which brighten it now, were not included in
his prospective survey.
STANTON EEDoRsEs BLACK
On the 10th of November l answered the
Presidents questions concerning his legal
powers and duties, holding that the ordinan-
ces of secession were mere nullities that the
seeding States were aud would be as much
In the Union as ever; that the federal Ex-
ecutlve was bound there as elsewhere to exc
cute the laws, to hold the public property
and to collect the revenue that # the means
and machinery furnished by law for these
purposes were inadequate he could not adopt
others aud usprp powers which had not been
delegated; that neither the executive nor
legislative departments had authority under
the constitution to make war upon State;
that the military power might be used, if
necessary, in aiding the judicial authorities
to execute the laws in collecting the reve-
Dues, in defending or retaking the public
hostility against all the people Of State.
This is the ''opinion" which has since been
so Often SO much, and so well abused, de-
nouncec and vihted. Mr.. Stanton did not
stultify himself by denying the plain, obvi-
Gus and simple truths which it expressed.
The paper was shown him before it went to
the President, and after a slight alteration
suggested by himself, he not only approved
but applauded IL enthusiastically.
Il disappointed the President. He had
hastily taken it for granted that Congress
might make secession cauee for war. and
in the draft of his message already prepared
be had submitted the question Of war or
peace to their decision. But the advice of
the Law Department supported by a pow
erful argument from General Cass, convinced
him of his error, and that part Of the mes
sage was rewritten. The substance Of the
message 80 modified received Mr. Stanton's
hearty endorsement in every thiLg that re-
gardsd secession and the treatment it ought
to receive.
sTAEToN AS ATToRNEf GENERAL.
Soon after this General Cass retired. l
was requested to take the State Department
and Mr. Stanton WAS appointed Attorney
General upon my declaring that l was un-
willing TO leave the care Of certain cases
tut his This appointment, alone, without
any other proof. ought TO satisfy any reason
ing mind that all | have ss id OF MIR Stan
ton IS sentiments must be true. No man in
his sober serses can believe that ] would
have urged, or that MIR. Buchanan would
have made the appointment, if we had not
both known with peite certainty that
he agreed with US entirely on those funda-
mental doctrines of constitutional law TO
which We were committed. The faiutest
suspicion OF the contrary would have put the
Attorney Generals Cfice as far beyond his
reach the throne Of France. We took
him for what he prolessed TO be-a true
friend Of the Union, devout believer in the
Constitution, faithful man who would not
violate his oath of office by wilful diso5e
dieuce to the laws. l auI still convinced
that be did not deceive US. If he abandon
ed those principals in 1862 the change how
ever sudden and unaccountable, is not salts
factory evidence that he was an imposter
and hypocTite il 1860.
lie did not find Mr.. Holt and General Dix
couteuGiLg alone FOR coRtenGing at all
against the President and the rest of the ad-
ministration. Mr.. Holt on the Sd Of March,
1861, appended to his letter Of resignation
a strong expression of his gratitude for the
Buchanan had constantly extended to him,
aud pays a warm tribute to the enlightened
statemansEip and sullied patriotism of the
outgoing President. General Dix was not
there at all when Mr.. Stanton came in. He
was appointed a month afterwards, wheI
there was no disagreement in the Cabinet
lie took up his residence at the Presidents
house as member of the family. and re-
mained there during the whole time of his
service head of the Treasury Department
He performed his duty faithfully, firmly,
and III way which met with universal ap-
probation. | do not Tecollect that he bad
one word cf serious controversy with the
President or with anybody else. If there
fore. Mr.. Stanton was at any time engaged
in dragoouing the President and hectoriug
his colleagues, he could bot have had Mr..
Holt and General Dix for his hackers.
DIssEEstoEs IN TIE CABINEr.
There were disputes and serious differ
ences of opinion in the Cabinet during the
period of Mr.. Stanton's service; but his
share in them has not been truly stated. |
am not writing the history Of those times.
and therefore say nothing of what others
did or forbore to do, except so far as may be
omissions in their true light
THE OCCUPATION OF FORT SUMTER.
Before the election it was determined that
the forts of Charlesten har Dor shoald be
strengthened SO as to make them impregna-
bic. The order was given but the execution
of 1t was unaccountably put eff. When
General Cass ascertained that the delay was
acquiesced in by the President he resigned
Two weeks afterwards Major Anderson. COM
manding Fort Moultrie and apprehending
an attack, threw his garrison into Fort Sum
ter. simultaneously came certain commits
sioners from South Carolina demanding the
surrender Of the latter fort to that State.
The character of the answer that should be
given to the commissioners and the question
whether Fort Sumter should be furnished
with men and provisions was discussed for
three days. each day running far into the
night.
ACTION OF THE CABINET.
n, -. l. "a