The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-16

W NAAOV III " NFNAo NuN
cordingly. told him I hoped he would accept
the nomination" It is we'll known that Cen
Mcclellan was q Democrat and that many OF
his friends at Washington were Union men oil
Democratic antecedsnts. Mr.. Stanton was one
OF these. Most readers OF this book will concur
with Mr.. Gorham In thinking that II was wise
In Mr.. lincoln to call into his Cabinet a Union
Democrat Of Mr.. stsnton's character and repu-
tation. Through such q representative man.
the whole body OF Union Democrats In the
country would soon learn whether it was q Re-
publican President or a Democratic General
who was inviting political and national disas-
ter. together with foreign Intervention. by a
failure to use the army. which the uprising OF a
great people had provided. TO crush the rebel
lion.
Mr.. Gorham directs attention to the fact
that the appointment OF Mr.. Stanton was not
made on party or personal considerations
neither was IL made to gain personal support
for the President In the Cabinet, or for the
Presidents methods in the prosecution Of tho
war. No mat OF note had more freely ex-
pressed his disapprobatlon OF those methods.
or been more lavish OF expressions Of dislike
and depreciation for the President himself
than had Mr.. Stanton. He was appointed be-
cause. In addition to his great ability. restless
energy aud absolute honesty. he was an uncon-
ditional Unionist OF the Democratic faith
consequently his appointment would be a
proof to the country that Mr.. Lincoln regarded
the contest as the peoples war, and not that OF
a party. Mr.. Stanton's personal relations
with Gen. Mcclellan were known to be cordial
and II was hoped that his administration Of the
War Department would set in motion the army.
the inactivity OF which had been attributed by
the General In command to q want Of support
from the Executive. It is unquestionably true
| that tho poaitiya p,plttiac avhibitad nv Mr.
Stanton as Attorney-G General during the latter
part OF Mr.. Buchanan's Administration had
placed him high In the estimation OF the patri-
otic leaders. The agents OF the press promptly
spread before their readers Information, OBJ
tanned from those who had been in contact
with him during the secession winter. OF his
patriotism, resolution and courage. and the
country hailed his accession to the War De-
partment as a proof that the Government had
at last determined on an aggressive policy
against the rebellion.
1t is not disputed by the author OF this book
that Mr.. Stanton's predecessor. Simon Cam
eron. was a man OF large experience and con-
coded wisdom in political aud legislative
affairs. 1t Is at the same time pointed out that
he was not Stanton's equal In the executive
faculty. which. while keeping the main object
Ill view. masters the knowledge OF all details.
divides the labor between wisely selected SUBJ
ordinates and energies their action by his
W vigilant supervision and by holding them
to a strict accountability for their work. Mr..
Stanton fully met all these requirements. He
knew that upon the Secretary OF War rested
the vast responsibility Of bringing to the high
est state OF perfection the various instrument
talities in his department through which alone
the war power OF tho Government could be ex-
ercised effectively. Each bureau Of that de-
partment was charged with duties. the neglect
or slack performance OF which might be
fatal to the success OF our armies. The enlist
Ing and equipment OF soldiers. the furnishing
them with supplies OF food and clothing, mu-
nitions Of war. and medical stores. and trans
portation, were all dependent upon the proper
administration OF the War ONCE. He rapidly
acquired a knowledge Of the methods by which
these functions were performed and the eff
cheney OF the several bureaus charged with
their performance. He supplemented their
efforts with his own energy and with his own
fertility In expedients. He looked to 1t that
the army should lack nothing which it was the
duty Of the Government to supply. He knew
all the powers which. by the Constitution, are
lodged in the Federal Executive. and he wanted
to see every one OF them exercised to its ut
most in the struggle with treason. In that in
strument he found the %war-making power
granted to Congress without limit, and he
found the President vested by Congress with
full authority to do all that may be done In
civilized warfare"
VI.
The policy OF which Mr.. Stanton was the per-
soniflcation was announced with the utmost
distlnctness In an order which he issued on Jan.
%. 1862. only two days after his actual assump-
ton OF the duties pertaining to the Wa De-
partment. This order Is printed In the book
before us. and those who read 1t will perceive
that 1t is more than IA mere exultation over a
victory: more than an honorable gazettiug Of
the victor. 1t is equivalent to an announce
ment by the President that he. as Commander
fn-Chief. assumes the mman OF all the
armies OF the United States. which was not
only his by right. but was his under an obliga-
ton which he could not transfer to another.
More than this. 1t was an admonition to all
in tho military service that the army was
expected to do something. and to risk
something, and that IL hitherto there had
been unnecessary delays. they must now
cease. II stated the real object Of the war to
be the desIruction Of the enemy. and not tho
mere effort to ascertain on what terms treason
would lower It's hostile front and allow peace
to be restored. It applied to the enemies OF
the country the names OF rebels" and trail
tors" and held them up 70 public execration.
instead Of treating them as misguided broth
rem with whom a conflict was to be avoided in
tho hope OF a peaceable compromise. 1t fur
nished the keynote OF what the administration
OF the War once would be. and. finally. 1t gave
notice to the rebels that they need not count
upon tho Democratic antecedents OF Northern
Union men as likely to qualify their patriotism
because OF previous political afnliation.
Secretary Stanton has been accused Of inter-
fering with military operationsin the field. and
OF exhibiting a dictatorial spirit toward the
Generals In the army. The author Of these
volumes submits that the record docs not sus-
tain the charge. He contends. aud brings
written evidence to prove. that no General who
wanted to fight the enemy ever found himself
embarrassed with advice from Stanton as to
the best way to tight. He interiered with mill
tary slothfulness. indifference. and insubordi-
nation. which 1t was his sworn duty to do. and
a duty in which his patriotism would not allow
him to fail; but the language and spirit Of
a letter here reproduced. which was written
by him to Mr.. Thomas A. Scott. one OF the As
sistant Secretaries OF War. and which was evil
IDENTIFY meant to be shown to Halleck and BuelI.