The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-11-04

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distant parts of the world, so that i
could not be collected for months
Thompson had stolen more than 81,
100000 in Indian bonds. Cobb had tht
treasury empty, and the rebels were il
arms. The signs of the times were ap
palling. Cass saw nothing before hin
but political ruin. He resigned his Of
ice and Black was appointed in his
place, leaving the law department Of
the government vacant. In addition tc
other causes of alarm, Floyd had at
tempted to ship all of the heavy ord
nance at Pittsburg to the South, ani
was only checked by the uprising OF
the people, who sent a deputation tc
Washington to inform the President
and to enter their protest against the
movement.
I'm this extremity President Bu
chanan sent for Mr. Stanton, and
asked him what he thought about the
signs of the times. The answer was
characteristic:
"'You are sleeping on a volcano. The
ground is mined all around and under
you and ready to explode, and with
out prompt and energetic action, you
will be the last President of the United
States
Mr.. Stanton, said the feeble old
man, for Gods sake, come in and help
me. The attorney generals office is
vacant. Will you accept it.?
60 If you desire my help L WILL was
the reply"
This is the story of Mr.. Stanton's in
vitatiOn to enter the cabinet as it
comes from an immediate relative.
There Is no reason to doubt that 1t Is
told practically as it was given in fam
lily confidence by Mr.. Stanton himself.
The same applies to the account of
what took place after he entered the
cabinet
''The first day of Mr.. Stanton's in
:umbency of the Office of attorney gen
Tal he passed in ferreting out the
grand larceny of Thompson on the In
aian fund. When the cabinet met in
the evening, Mr.. Stanton was late in
arriving. AS the new attorney general
entered he saw Floyd pacing the room
and gesticulating furiOusly in a temp
est and whirlwind of speech against
somebody who had cut down his flag
staff, broken off the trunnions of his
guns and cut and burned his wheels,
and so on. Mr. Stanton sat down with
out pretending to understand what
was up. When Floyd stopped some
body asked:
"What do YOU think about it, Mr..
Attorney General?
"'About what? said Mr.. Stanton.
"'AbGut Maj. Anderson's breaking
up camp at Fort MOultrie and going in
to Fort Sumter
"T'he most glorious event since the
Sth of January, 1876 answered the
new member of the cabinet. IT has
stirred the heart of every loyal man in
the nation
"'Whatr demanded Floyd, an officer
Of the army violating his orders?
"'What orders? retorted Stanton.
Did You, Mr.. President, give orders to
Maj. Anderson to remain in that old,
dilapidated fort, surrounded by enc
mics, when stronger one was availa-
BILE?
"'No,' said Mr.. Buchanan, gave no
such orders
"'Did you know Of any such orders
being given!' Mr.. Stanton asked.
"'No, sir. 1 never heart of it be-
FORE said the President.
""Then,' said Mr.. Stanton, the man
who gave such orders ought to be
hanged on n gallows higher than Ha-
MANS
Here Secretary Thompson interpos-
ed to rebuke the insolence of so new a
man in the cabinet.
"'NIr. Thompson said Mr.. Stanton,
in reply, L have been here long enough
to find out that you have stolen nearly
a million of Indian bonds, and expect
to stay here till see you punished for
It,
''Then the tempest rose and ragged
till midnight, when the meeting broke
I'D. The next morning Cobb, Floyd
and Thompson resigned. In a single
night Stanton broke the conspiracy in
the cabinet which was killing his feeble
old friend. There were now two hon
est men in the cabinet-Stanton and
Holt. Through their influence, Gen.
John A. Dix was put at the head of the
treasury.
"There is reason to believe, and for
one do believe" said the friend here
quoted. that but for the bold stand
taken by Mr.. Stanton on that memora-
bic evening Mr.. Lincoln would never
have been inaugurated in Washington.
The knives of the. assassins were al
ready whetted, and lie would inevita-
bly, have been murdered. But the ac-
tive traitors being driven from the
cabinet, Gen. Scott collected few sol
diers and marines to the number of
about 1000, and secured the peaceful
Inauguration of the new President"
When the Buchanan cabinet dissolv-
ed Stanton. went back to his law prac-
tice. Nine months later Mr. Lincoln
sent for him ard asked him to be his
secretary of war. He defended his ac-
ton on the ground that he wanted
Stanton not for his politics but for his
patriotism and power.-Washingt
Star.
Hancock Had Another Opinion.
When Gen. w. 5. Hancock'S brigade
crossed Chain Bridge. up the Potomac
from Georgetown. into Virginia. and
went into camp on the hill In Septem-