The Washington herald., 1921-07-10


tdmOHS bogrGPhcrS meet 1oih anything ~ the ted
of LineOinidH "Reminiscences The toIIo1emg ndrrGt'1e
hoUe1er presenting personal reeoIcetIonS OF the great
eiVa President repeGIS the OSeS for many OF LIN
coins official acts iH the hOHblOHS o0I The memories
those of John \. Bingham, of Ohio, 1VhO sTdS the
judge GdrOeae presiding over the trials OF the floh"S
tVh0 brought about Lincons assassination. They acre
specially compiled by J. L. COntreH, Of this CITY, aud H07V
years after Mr. BnghGms dcdh published for the hrSf
time.
A S member of Congress from the old Sixteenth
~ district OF Ohio, first President Lincoln
- in the City of Washington in the House Of
Representatives in February, 1861. He was brought
there by Secretary OF State Seward and presented to
the members Of the House. and fortunate
enough to have a short talk with him at that time
Lincoln impressed me blunt man of great mental
strength and thorough honesty. The impression |
never shall forget A few days after this met him
in his at the Willard Hotel | called on him
in person, and that occasion return OF his call
the House of Representatives, and to add my
recommendation with others for the appointment of
Solomon P. Chase Secretary of the Treasury.
Ever afterwards the President received me with the
utmost cordiality and kindness Mr. Lincoln pre-
vously conferred with about matters of personal
concern and / am grateful to say manifested his
confidence in on many questions Of public inn
portance
In January 1862, a conference held in his
private office at the White House, and Mr.. Lincoln
said to me, "Mr. Simon Cameron, the present Secre-
tary Of War, is about to go abroad, and have been
thinking of making appointment of a man from
your State, Edwin NJ. Stanton, who in President
Buchanan's Cabinet, you we'll know. Now, want
to know, Mr.. Bingham, what you know Of this man
and what you think OF him for Secretary of War"
made the following statement to the President:
That had known Mr. Stanton from his early
manhood. He born in the district which rep
resent. He resided for some time in the town OF my
residence, Cadiz, Ohio have tried with him
7
have had intimate relations with him and consider
him eminently qualified for the position of Secretary
of War, and doubt whether you could obtain a
better fitted for the place If appointed he will dis
charge the duties OF the office with the highest ability
and with the utmost integrity. Mr.. President you
will be fortunate if you can get him to accept the
appointment for l know personally from him that
he encountered great conflicts and troubles in the
Cabinet of President Buchanan.
CTANTON resided at that time in Washington
and practccd law in the Supreme Court. 1t
- has been asked OF me if it has not been known
that Mr. Stanton was a Democrat and how it hap
pened that when great Republican like Mr.. Cam
retired from the office of Secretary of War at
such time, should suggest to the President to call
of the most important Offices in the nation
who has been in the Cabinet of James Buchanan
have already stated that the suggestion did not
come from but from Mr.. Lincoln. | thought it
proper to make response have stated relative to
his fitness the office and his integrity. 1t has al
ways been known that Mr.. Stanton was Democrat
but he was a patriot 1t is impossible for to
know what suggested Mr.. Lincoln the idea Of cali
ing Mr. Stanton to the position of Secretary of War;
further than that it was doubtless known Mr.. Lin
coln it to the public generally, that Mr.
Stanton, in the Cabinet of President Buchanan when
members thereof had struck hands with treason
sisted them openly, firmly and to the end This is
what he did He could not and would not, be made
a., I th;,lr; 70 Akahl
that Mr. Lincoln knew of the part taken by Mr..
Stanton in preserving the peace and protecting the
President from assassination upon and after his
arrival at Washington for his first Inauguration
In the year 1887, Mr.. Stanton and both lived
in the county seat. the Of Cadiz Ohio. | had