The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-11
ON THE EDGE OF THE WAR.
A MEMORABLE INTERVIEW WITH At
ToRNEY- GENERAL STANTON IN THE
TREASURY BUILDING, WASHING
TON, IN JANUARY, 1861


Came at suuater-washinEton In the
Spring or 1eoI-stanton'- Aiarn-eov.
Andrew. Ready How Mnss.chusetts
Ueriments Happened TO be Prepared TO
Take the Field at once-one OF stsnton's
Copadnnt. Tells the story.
Friends have solicited me to publish recol-
factions OF an interview at Attorney General
6tanton's Office on the evening OF Jan. 30,
1851. Tho Hon. Edwin M. Stanton. at that
timo n member OF Buchanan's Cabinet was
subsequently Mr.. Lincolns famous Secretary
Of War; but as an Attorney General is hardly
rememb ered outside of the profession. Four
lawyers. Of whom am the solo survivor. as
sembled OF Mr.. Stantons Office for n consul
tation upon tho caso of Massachusetts, va
Rhode Island. n question OF disputed ooun-
dairy, In the Supreme Court OF tho United
States Tho Attorney General had been d.
rected by special act OF Congress to intervene
and protect all possible interests OF the United
States. The nscertainment OF the precise
Boundary involved so many obscure his
torIcal questions that compromise seemed
preferable. Ono had been arranged In
New England. by which portion OF territory.
adjoining Fall River. with valuable water
privileges. might he secured to Mnssachu-
setts, while the nourshing town OF Pawtucket.
Ind a strip OF Seekonk opposite Providence.
were to be conceded to Rhode Island. The OBJ
Sec1 was " sa'''., W. ,,tioh d.oratoi
pfoprie'y y, a'a u' ,.' ~ .,.d ~ tho
orue,S mUu''' ~ uuo ntaa -, tha
Souf. noue '1 n'u wa" r,,;., I,,.,,.. ava
mon o"" mt Iou,to 90 sor several vear
o1or,hor y, Congress-. Ex.Coy. John H. Gilt
,ord mn aonior counseI for Massachusetts,, to
whom was subordinate.
All hav;ng roacbea Washington before Sat-
,rdov Ian. o1 1861 7 WINS doputed to
,roson, our COMMITMENTS TO Mr.. Attorney Con
eroI nnd arrange for nm arly consultation. We
,vsra atrnnpers 10 him md he was very busy but
bo desipnnted Tuesdny evening and his office
IN the Treasury building as a suitable time
md Mace He also agreed to invite the Hon.
Jorsmiab &, Dlnck. the Secretary of State. who
b.d heon bia nrodoccssor in office. The M
,oiptment was subseouently changed to
Wodpesdav eveninr Ian. 3Os Az Gov. Cliff
ford and mvself were at Wlllard's a, the Rhode
fsIand gentlemen. who lodged Mt a more re
tnote hotel agreed TO call and accompany u.s.
Jnat boforo starting. a messenger arrived
to conduct us over. intimating that we
tnipht not easily get in without iden-
E0cat;on We nccepted his escort and
Sound Mr. Stanton in his inner Office
tThs Secretary of State could not attend.
Some oentlemen. apparently clerks remained
nutside. with the door closed, Two hours of
d,Iigent work were renuired to examine papers
snd nrann "a n rough draft of nroposed order.
svbich was expected to be furnished in print
Judge BRADLEY and myself und ertook to super-
int.nd Tho nrinting and m ake sure that every.
th,n. shnuid ho roadv bv Friday tmotion dav,
WI, h.a c,,,,od CIV rr,rord Va
"nen we 40. .a ,,ms',. 49, .no s,,,S
1 MI, W. ,.. VIZ nai ,.,',,,tno,u ~
~. ., ~ u,s Wv ~. ,,,,,. &c., h,,as.
p'ieu .n.' ,. g.. ~, a., 'I,.s n,,uS,s
nun W, III wv ..t. . A mn Gn.ona a.on..s
o,,.i...S'tn - ~. nv. ha, hninaa
nsn.,,,. no.,a.r.t IA not h.,nr raoav -
.,nnn.t,ha pr0siIort, a,.nt rhon NJ Stanton
49, 81 80, r,Ih n,,,r,otor,stio int.noitv
H. ,nan,inn"d nn o,norisnca ~ Tint dov
a., St, nnrrnrs,v sni,citine mara ,or,o
ri ,rav.i,aa m tha prasidont - sand sor two
rnorn h.ttsrias Orders for one would reach
Wast point nert dnv ,Iirecting II to nrocead
On washington and renort nv saturday morn.
ino Ha than snoke Of nresent periI, and man.
ifasted great alarm about n pestiferous organ.
ivatIon near patuxent Mills Nd. which was