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

done. When l came to the part OF It in which
you mentioned the number OF volumes you
had collected l400l he broke out: Got
bless me. what a taskl" Il was Stanton
who exposed the fraudulent character OF
the Limantour Land Claims affecting q large
part OF the city and county Of San Francisco.
and he further distinguished himself in Cali
fornia by his conduct Of a suit In tho United
States District Court against the New Almaden
Quicksilver Mining Company. Stanton's work
in California may be said to have destroyed
the occupation OF the fabricators OF false land
grants. and to have protected 10Th the United
States and the owners OF valid Mexican con-
veyances.
We have seer that Stanton's political opin-
ions were formed and his party Affiliations es-
tablished at a time when Democracy meant
Jacksonism. He was enthusiastic in politics
so long as Jackson and Van Buren, were In the
lead. With them, he was opposed to nullifoa-
ton. secession. u national bank and a high
tariff. We have said that he lost interest in
politics when Van Buren, was beaten by Harri-
son. in 1910. and his Indifference was intensi-
fled four years later when Van Buren, was de-
feated for the nomination at Baltimore by the
adoption Of the two-thirds rule. He felt that
the result had been obtained by an unfair as
sertion OF Southern power. and he shared
the strong feeling OF resentment aroused
among Northern Democrats. From that time
forward, although no adhered to his earlier
opinions on the questions that had divided
parties during the existence OF the Jackson
dynasty. he took no hand In party work. In
1S47-4S he favored the Wilmot proviso. in COM
mon with Martin Van Buren,. Samuel j. Tilden,
Sanford B. Church and others. then and after
ward aminant laadara In tha naunnOrafia nm rtv
1t is we'll known that the proviso would have
excluded slavery from all territory acquired
from Mexico. In n letter to his sister Mr..
Stanton said that he did not regret the outcome
OF the Presidential election In the last named
year. The manner in which the free soil men
adhered to their ticket In the Western Reserve
gratifled me very much. but l am disap-
pointed at the result In New York and
Pennsylvania. IL is TO be hoped that tho
friends OF liberty will keep up an Or
ganization. and. by preserving an armed neu-
%trality. hold. as they may. the balance Of power
in tho free States until one or another party,
by falling In limo. secures our principles" In
1852 Mr.. Stanton was In Washington during
the session OF the National Democratic Con-
vention In Baltimore which nominated Pierce,
but did not feel sufficient interest in its pro-
ceedings to visit the neighboring city. It
should be remembered that the free soil"
movement OF 1S4S was succeeded by a Union
saving" era. which continued through two
campaigns. All but $4,000 Of those who
voted on tho Presidency in 1852 supported
either the pro-slavery Democracy or the pro-
slavery Wings. When Mr.. Buchanan was
chosen President. in 1885. Mr.. Stanton. having
become a resident OF Washington. had no
vote. He was now wholly absorbed in his
law business. AS he had taken no active part
in Fplttno fnr n ~, hia n1ntin al To- $50,
sive attitude did not affect his standing as d
Democrat. 1t is certain that his old enemies,
the Wings. found no more favor in his sight In
1856. under their new names OF Republicans"
and Americans" than they had found when
they were marshallcd against Jackson in sup
port Of a national bank, or when they surren-
dered to the South Carolina nullihers in 1888.
as q result OF the coalition between Clay and
Calhouu. When a breach took place between
Mr.. Buchanan's Administration and those
Democrats who opposed his Kansas policy in
1888. Mr.. Stanton stood Enthusiastically
with the President. as is shown by an ex-
tract from a letter written at the time.
Being still a resident Of the District OF Co.
lumbia, he was not q voter In 1850. but. as
Judge Black has pointed out: He was out
and out for Breckinridge in 1880. and regarded
the salvation OF the country as hanging on the
forlorn hope Of his election" Upon this point
the biographer remarks: Mr.. Stanton was, in
3 8 and 1861. and prior TO that. a Democrat
opposed to slavery. but a firm upholder OF tho
laws constitutionally enacted for its protec-
ton. That he believed the success OF the Re-
publican party would e~ndanger the Union. and
that he adhered to the extreme wing OF the
Democratic party. after 1t had subordinated
all other questions to the protection OF slavery
in the rights guaranteed it by the Constitution.
as interpreted by the United States Supreme
Court in the Dredd Scott case. must be adj
mitted. That when the apprehended danger to
the Union followed Republican success. he
rose superior TO all party trammels. and, in the
Cabinet of Mr.. buchanan. acted with high
courage and the most unsel1sh patriotism.
none can deny. He strengthened the hands
OF Mr.. Buchanan In all that he safely and law
yfully did to avert a collision. because, at that
time. it was obvious to all Intelligent persons
that the sympathies Of foreign nations. as we'll
as the support Off large body Of our own peo-
pie, would be with the side that remained on
the defensive until attacked. When the retired
President was overwhelmed with the impreca-
tons Of people who held him responsible for
the perils which beset the country. and was
apprehnnsive that proceedings might be taken
| against him in Congress, Mr.. Stanton was his
chosen counsellor and his considerable. I'M
| selfish and trusted friend"