Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-08-01

cilIation aud traternal reunion was at
work, and it was not long before the
war Secretary and the President were
at issue.
johnson recognized early the true
policy to be pursued toward the South
ern States, and by virtue of his position
began to shape the course Of the admin
istration in the way of amnesty and
reconciliation. Stanton, clinging to his
bayonet rule, opposed the Executive:
Then came the clash in the winter Of
1868. The attempt of the President to
suspend the Secretary was followed by
articles of impeachment, behind the
prosecution of which Stanton stood as
man who had staked all on card. He
lost on the turn, and the policy of peace
and brotherly love won. Stanton's pow
er was gone, and in the spring of 1868,
, he left the War DepartmehtI whers- he
had ruled as supreme master for SIX of
the most eventful years of AMERICAN
history. He was poor in purse apd
broken in spirits, and now that-the
craved excitement was gone, he was
plunged in gloom. Doubtless he lived
over the past, and the terrible secrets
which he alone of the living knew, came
back with expressing power
1t was said he had resumed the prac-
tice of law, but it was only a saying.
Old party leaders felt that he must have
place for what he had done. When
Grant came into power in the spring OF
1869, Stanton w6e spoken of for for
eign ministry, but nothing came of it
Finally, in December the President and
Congress did what they had done for
other men who had outlived their time
-shelved the poor old War Secretary
upon the Supreme bench as an associate
justice They had fixed him for life,
and the country accepted il as an assur-
ed fact This was on the 10Th OF De
cember. Two or three days later the
President condescended to call on MIR.
Stanton, and rendered him the position
and it was accepted. Perhaps the cir
cumstances of the interview ranked in
the old mans bosom. He may have
thought regretfully of the time when he
directed and Grant obeyed. The posi-
tions were changed, aud the former
chief had accepted a favor from the
man he had virtually made. No one
can tell the Secretary's thoughts, but
the facts afford ground for differences.
Mr.. Stanton resided in large house,
convenient to the . artments twas
one of his customs to be shaved at home
at home and this duty was performed
by q colored barber, who came regular
ly for the purpose. In Mr.. Stantons
private apartment stood an improvised
shaving chair, and to this the trusty
valet would go at the appointed time to
perform his duty. Mr.. Stanton had
been, apparently, failing gradually in
health for a week, and had become SO
despondent as almost to excite fears OF
an alteration of mind. Some idea Of
counteracting this seems to have been
in the minds of the President and Con
gress when the appointment was so
suddenly made and so promptly con
firmed by an almost unanimous vote.
The remedy failed, however, of the de-
sired effect.
On the evening of the 23d Of Decem-
Der, the colored valet called to shave
Stanton. They were LETT alone in the
private apartment, and Stanton took his
seat in the chair The barber had par
TALLY finished his task, and laying down
the razor on a little side table near the
chair. stepped across the room for some
water. A movement startled him, and
he turned just in time to see the glitter
ing steel flash by the barred throat, leav-
ing a crimson streak in its wake. Rush
ing to the side of Stanton, the frighten-
ed barber caught the razor before an
other stroke could be made. He called
for help, and in few minutes there
were gathered at the bedside the Sur.
geon General, few trusty attaches OF
the government and one or two mem-
bers Of the family. The work had been
done, however. and the life current
reached. AT 3 o'clock next morning
Stanton was dead. How well the secret
of his death has been kept, those who
read this may know. Very quietly and
expeditiously the arrangements for the
funeral was made. There was no lying
i'll state, and few looked upon the face
of the deceased. The next day after
his death, all that was mortal Of Edwin
NJ. Stanton, was put to rest, and with
the clay was buried his own and the
secrets of the war.-&. Louis Dispatch.