The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-06-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The New and Splendid Building that
is to Take the Place Of the Old
War Dept. Building.
"reminiscences of the Old Building
and Its Famous Occupants,
Especially the Great War
Secretary.

Editors lntelliEencer.
Passing down Pennsylvania avenue the
other day observed a large force OF mer
at work tearing down the old war depart
ment building to make room for the north
front OF the new building to be occupied
by the War, State and Navy Departments
OF the Government, and MS gazed at the
falling brick and mortar, the stupenduous
events which have TRANSFERRED within the
last three quarters Of acentury, and which
have been so closely identified with this
historic old building, crowded fast upon
my mind.
Although many historic memories cIus.
ter about the old building prior to the in.
ception of our great civil war, yet had II
been permitted to stand, all its former
Renaissance would have paled into lnsig.
niilcance before the written and unwrit.
ten history Of startling events which had
their birth in and around this building in
all the bloody days from 81 to 'G5; and !
can imagine see the stern war secretary
OF that eventtul time, standing here under
these silver naples, and calling the roll Of
noble and patriotic names who stood with
him day and night within its walls watch.
ing, planning, directing and providing for
the awful struggle in which the people
were engaged.
The building may be destroyed, and
above it may be reared tile massive walls
and Ionic pillars OF the new palace OF
war: the casual passCr by may never know
that 1t stood here, but the name and fame
OF Edwin NJ. Stanton is forever linked
with history as the greatest OF war secre-
taries the world has ever seen, Carnot,
perhaps alone excepted.
Perhaps he was also the best hated
man who ever filled the Secretaryship.
have seen the portraits of all the Secre.
taries from President Washington's first
War Minister, General Knox, down 10 the
present Secretary, including such men as
Dearborn, James Monroe, Cass, Calhoun,
jeff Davis, Floyd, the two Camerons,
Grant, and Belknap, and have been en-.
abled TO get fair view OF the administra.
ton OF each. In the case of any OF these
SeCl etNries sectional animosities alone ex-
listed, and although one section might re-
vile them, another stood their friend,
Stanton was differently situated, the war
put him i'll m entirely different position
from that OF any prior Secretary, hated
with IN unutterable hatred by the South,
he soon became hated TO a very large de.
gree in the North, by one sect because
he was charged with interference with the
armies in the field, by another. because he
did not interfere, by his inability to grant
furloughs, discharges, pardons, reprieves
and u thousand other things subyersive OF
all order and discipline in the army, and
to secure which, it appeared as the whole
nation poured up to this building some.
times, as the Jews did TO the temple at
Jerusalem, by soldiers in the field who, in
many cases, were taught that the Score.
tary was responsible for their wants, and
by the whole vast army OF Democrats at
the North, who feared him because OF the
drafts, the iron hand with which he sup.
pressed their substantial evidences OF
sympathy for their allies OF the South, and
his determined perseverance in crushing
the Infamous rebellion. The latter class
have pursued his name and fame with q
devilish malignity and malevolent, vindic-
tive, vituperation from the hour he be.
came Secretary until the present day, one
OF the most brutal OF tho charges being
the hanging OF an innocent woman, j" in
the person Of Mrs Surratt,
In q future letter | shall endeavor to
show in the testimony OF those. who
know, just how much maudlin sentiment.
alism, crocodile sympathy, and jealous
fervor in the cause Of innocence, has been
going to water over the hanging OF an Gin
noCent woman"
General Dick Taylor, who earned his
star in the Confederate service, has writ
ten work called Destruction and Recon,
struction." 1t is weak production, full
Of lies and demonstrations, and is un.
worthy the son OF a man who was Presi
dent OF the United States, as well as second
in command OF the United States Army
but in referring TO Stanton he fully, .exeln.
plifes the ability Of living jackass to kick
a dead lion by using the following words;
"En the end conscience long dormant
came rs AleCto, and he was not; and the
temple OF Justice on whose threshold he
stood escaped proclamation.
He refers here in all obscure manner tC
the long ago exploded charge that SeCre
tary Stanton committed suicide. Suffice
1t TO say, that the great war secretary dice
peacefully and naturally, conscious OF {
great duty performed, and being tree
after a long and painful Journey he laN
down by the road side and fell asleep.
Peace to his ashes.
In the room OF the Private Secretary Is
hung in frame the original telegram sen
by Major Anderson to Simon Cameron
then Secretary Of War, announcing tn,
fall Of Sumpter. Here is copy Verbatim
Il LiterGtim'
SIS. Baltic off Sandy Hook,
1890 M. via New York.
Hon. S. Cameron, Secretary Of Var, Washing
ton:
Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty
four hours until the quarters were entirel
burned, the main gates destroyed by fire
the gorge walls seriously injured, tn
magazine surrounded by flames and il
door closed from tho effects Of the hea
four barrels and three cartridges Of pow
der only being available, and no prov
sions remaining but pork, ! acCepte
terms Of evacuation offered by Gener'
Beauregard, being the same offered b
him on the llth inst, prior to the con
mencement OF hostllities, and marche
out OF the fort Sunday afternoon, the III
inst, with Colos flying and drums ben
ing, bringing away company and priva
property, and salutlnC my flag with tlft
guns. RoRERT ANDERSON
We all remember how the North calm
waited until the South, on this memorial
day, lot slip the dogs Of war, then, hard
had the echo OF their deep bay soundC
over Charleston harbor, before the mort
ern armies had began their southwal
march, and that living stream poured {
through fire, and blood, and conflict, 4
four long years, until by triumphant al
victorious hands, the old Fort Sumter IL
that had been torn down and dishonore
was planted on Its walls again, the inst