The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-02-10

mained there during the whole time OF his
service as head of the Treasury Depart
ment. He performed his duties faithfully,
firmly, and in way which met with uni
yersal appreciation. l do not recollect
that he had one word of serious contro-
versy either with the President or any
body else. If, therefore, Mr.. Stanton was
at any time engaged in dragooning the
President and hectorlng his colleagues he
could not have had Mr.. Holt and General
Dix for his hackers.
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.
I am not writing the history of those
times, and therefore say nothing of what
others did or torebore to do, except so far
as may be necessary to show Mr.. Stanton's
acts and omissions in their true light.
Before the election it was determined
that the forts in Charleston harbor should
be strengthened so as to make them I'M
precnabIe. The order was given, but the
execution of 1t was unaccountably put OF.
When General Cass ascertained that the
DELAY was acquiesced in by the President
he resigned. Two weeks afterwards Ma
;or And erson, commanding Fort Moultrie,
apprehendlng an attack, threw his garrl-
son into Fort Sumter. simultaneously
came certain commissioners from South
Carolina demanding the surrender OF the
latter fort to the 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, were discussed for three
davs, each day running far into the night.
On the one side it was insisted that the
surrender of the fortress was so utterly in
compatible with ourplainest duty that.the
demand itself was gross insult. To leave
it in condition which would enable rebel.
lious citizens to take it if they pleased
was still worse, for that would be merely
another mode of making the surrender,
and a worse one, because it would be
fraudulent and deceptive. Maj. Anderson
should. therefore, be immediately so rein.
forced that shis castles strength would
laugh siege to scorn," and then no attack
would be made. This last, instead Of be-
ING dangerous, was the only measure that
gave us a chance of safety; it would not
bring on hostilities, but avert them, and If
war must come at all events, the posses
sion of Fort Sumter, which commanded
the forts, the harbor, and the city, would
be of incalculable value to the Govern
ment of the Union.
To this there was absolutely no answer
eyccpt what consisted in saying that the
fort could not be ralieved without difficulty
and danger of successful opposition that
South Carolina would take 1t as an affrOnt,
and that it was tantamount to threat OF
coercion. The replication was easily made.
There was no danger of even an attempt at
resistance to ship ot-war; the statements
made Of the hostile power were mere brag;
if South Carolina took offence at our prep.
aration for the safety of our own men aud
our own property she must already be IN
= temper to make reconciliation impossi-
BILE and as to coercion, let her take care
not to coerce us, and she would be safe
enough.
decision in the form of an answer to the
commissioners. While it was far from sat
isfactory to the Southern members, it tiled
us with CONSERVATION and grief.
Then came the desperate struggle of one
alone to do what all had failed to effect.
1t was painful in the extreme, but unex-
pectedly short and decisive. The Presl'
dent gave up his first ground-yielded the
points on Which he had seemed most te-
nacious. The answer to South Carolina
was essentially changed, and it was agreed
that Fort Sumter should have men and
provisions.
During these discussions Mr.. Stanton
was always true, 5ut the part he took was
bv no means leading one. He said many
times that he was only there that might
have two votes instead of one. On no oc-
casion was there the slightest conflict be,
tween him and me. He exhibited none OF
the coarseness which some of his latter
friends have attributed to him. He never
spoke without the greatest respect tor his
colleagues and the profoundest deterencc
to the President He said no word to the
President about rcsigning. H& told me
that he would resign if l did; but when
certain concessions were made to my wish
es he expressed himself perfectly satisfied
He did not furnish one atom of the infu'
encc which brought the President round on ?
the answer TO South Carolina. Nor did
he ever propose or carry any measure OF
his own, directly or Indirectly, relating to
the secession troubles. He uniformly pro-
fcssed to lie as anxious tor the preserva-
tion of the public peace as any man there.
1t would be wrong to the memory OF
Mr.. Stanton not to add that, so far as
know, he never gave countenance or Ell,
couragcment to those fabulous stories OF
his behavior.
JEREMIAH S. BLACK.
= The following is the way one of our
South Carolina Senators, making out a