The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-06-10

$1,000 ka-1.l--SSssx
ion now, in the public mind, as to the
characteristics OF the President. With
Mr.. Stanton the case is different.
They were the very opposite of each
other in almost every particular, ex-
cept that each possessed great ability.
MI. Lincoln gained influence over men
by making them feel that it was q
pleasure TO serve them. He preferred
yielding his wish to crafty others,
than to insist upon having his own
way. 1t distressed him to disappoint
others. In matters OF public duty,
however, he had what he wished, but
in the least offensive way. Mr.. Stan
ton never questined his own authority
to command, unless resisted. He
cared nothing for the feelings OF others.
In fact it seemed pleasanter to him to
disappoint than to crafty. He ielt
no hesitation in assuming the func-
tions of the executive, or in acting
without advising him. If his act was
not sustained, he would change it--lt
he saw the matter would be followed
up until he did so.
at was generally supposed that
these two officials formed the COM
plement oteach other. The Secretary
was required to prevent the Presi-
dents being imposed upon. The
president was required in the more
responsible place of seeing that in
Justice was not done to Others l do
not know that this view of these two
is still Entertained by the majority OF
the people. 1t is not a correct view,
however, in my estimation. Mr..
Lincoln did not require guardian to
aid him in the fulfilment of a public
trust.
"Mr. Lincoln was not timid, and he
making and executing their plans.
The Secretary was very timid, and it
was impossible for him to avoid in
terfering with the armies covering
the capital when it was sought to de-
fend it by an offensive movement
against the armies guarding the Confed-
crate Capital. He could see our weak
ness, but he could not see that the
enemy was in danger. The enemy
would not have been in danger if Mr..
Stanton had been in the field. These
characteristics of the two officials
were clearly shown shortly after Early
came so near getting into the capt.
tai"
Timidity is not failing which has
generally been attributed to Mr..
Stanton; but it can hardly be ques-
toned that Grants judgment is right.
That a certain sort of timidlty, how
ever, is compatible with the extreme
of audacity Is instanced by Mr.. Stan
toms conduct when the President,
after the fall of Richmond, authorized
"the body calling itself the Legislature
of Virginia to meet for the purpose OF
recalling the Virginia troops from the
Confederate army"-a permission
which was misrepresented and almost
Immediately revoked. In the mean
time, however, a call for the meeting
had been issued.
"Mr. Stanton saw the call as pub
lished in the Northern papers the very
next issue, and took the liberty OF
countermanding the order authorizing
any meeting of the Legislature, OR any
other body, and MISUNDERSTANDING
the fact that the President was nearer
the spot than he was. This was char
acteristic of Mr.. Stanton. He was q
man who never questioned his own au-
thority, who always did in war time
| what he wanted to do"
ON WARNER AND HOOKER.
Ihad known Hooker very we'll before
the war, however. When l did see
him at Chattanooga his achievements
in bringing his command around the
IS M ,foi nd Iv1fa
Chattanooga Valley was brilliant. l
| nevertheless regarded him as dan
gerous man. He was not subordinate
to his superiors. He was ambitious
to the extent of caring nothing for the
rights of others. His disposition was
| when engaged in battle toget detached
from the main body of the army and
| exercise separate command, gather
ing to his standard all he could of his
| juniors.
Warren's difficulty was twofold;
when he received an order to do any
thing, it would at once occur to his
mind, how all the balance Of the army
could be engaged so as properly to CO.
| operate with him. His ideas were
generally good, but he would forget
that the person giving him orders had
| thought of others at the time he did of
him. In like manner, when he did get
ready to execute an order, after giving
most intelligent instructions to divis-
ion commanders, he would go in with
one division. holding the Others in re-
serve until he could superintend their
movements in person also. forgetting
that division commanders could exc
cute an order without his presence.
His difficulty was constitutional and
beyond his control. He was an officer
of superior ability, quick perceptions,
and personal courage to accomplish
anything that could be done with e