Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-09-16
A GOVERNMENT SECRET.
STRANGE STORY OF srAsros's DEATH

STRANGE STORY OF sTANT0S's DEATH.
[rrom the 81. Louis Sunday Dispateh.l
II would have been well for Stanton
if he could have gone us Lincoln did.
He would have been cnshrined as a
martyr and his countrymen would have
remembered him with reverence and
homage His work was done and he
only lived to struggle against the turn
ing tide and meet fate which no man
can envy. He came out of the war
with heart and soul still full Of the ven
gcance which cries for blood. Could
he have had his way, Jefferson Davis
and others, who had differed from him
iu principle and who fought for their
principles as he did, would have been
doomed to fclons' tates.
So when the better day of peace and
reconciliation dawned Stanton could
not accept it. He fought against it to
the bitter end, and overcome by the
tide of public opinion which recog-
nizcd our national brotherhood Stan
ton went under, and in despair and
gloom found death with his own hand.
His course in the Surratt trial, and
later in the impeachment of President
johnson, only exemplified what Is
stated more generally above, Hefbrced
the trial Of Mrs, Surratt to the result
il took, aud then with q heart that
loved justice without mercy, sedulously
guarded all avenues for commutation
or reprieve. II was his auxiliary
Preston King, who met poor Annie
Surratt on the steps of the White
House. going up to intercede with the
President for her mothers life, and
when he knew her errand, pushed her
away and told her she could not Sc,
Mr. johnson, And when she threw
herself ON her knees, and implored fol
hearing, il was Preston King who
threw her off, and thus intercepted the
petition of the pleading daughter,
May not the memory of that pool
old woman hurried into eternity from
the scafiold, have pursued King anC
his chief like shadowy, ever haunting
Nemesis, until both were driven to sui
cide2 King, in the New York custom
house, with career before him whicl
had not cloud in il, filled his pocket,
with shot and dropped from q pier int
East river Stanton, with a place up
on the supreme bench, just bestowe,
upon him in recognition Of what he ha,
been, in the midst of the national capi
tails gaiety, drew
A RAZOR ACROSS HIS THROAT
and ended his existence. gN "a
With the execution Of Mrs. Surratt
Stanton saw his unlimited authorit,
begin to depart, Men began to lool
at matters more dispassionately. Cain
minds perceived that the general gov
ernment had usurped powers in wa
time which must be recalled in peace
or the safety of the republic wonld b
threatened. The Secretary of Wa
felt the restrictions moro bitterly thai
the head of any other department
The authority which he loved so dcarl,
was slipping away from him. In tn
South, under the farce of the so-calle'
reconstruction, he still maintained hi
rule with the iron rod. But the spiri
of reconciliation and fiaternal uniol
was at work, and il was not long be
fore the War Secretary and the Pres
dent were at issue.
johnson recognized early the tru
policy to be pursued towards the South
ern States, and by virtue Of his position
began TO shape the course Of the ad
ministration in the way ofamncsty am
reconciliation. Stanton, clinging 10 hi
bayonet rule, opposed the Executive
Then came the clash in the winter o
1868. The attempt of the President h
suspend the Secretary, was followed b,
articles of impeachment, behind tn
prosecution Of which Stanton stood as
man who had staked all on a card. III
lost ON the turn, and the policy o
peace and brothcrly love won. Stan
tons power was gone, and in the sprin,
of 1sGs he left t6e War Department
where he had ruled as supreme maste
for six of The most cventful wears i,
american history He was moor /,
nurse and brolsen in snir;ts and nov
! hat tbe croved excitement was rome
he was nlunced in gloom Doubtles
he lived over the past, and the terrible
lrnew came back with Spprcssin,
mower
I, was said TINT he had resumed IN,
nractice 81 Of law Int il WINS only a saw
lnr Old Marty leaders felt that 4,
ms, ms have y nlaco forwbat he had done
- nor.n
""hN '""'i On"N 'Nio 'o"
in the spring Of 1869, stanton wa
spoken oil for . foreign ministry, pu
holnlhg cnmoyi 1 !. ~, r1'ally ~ nccS,, =,
- W ~ tr',,' -. 60 .Ns' ~