According to a bulletin of Mr. Stanton that was issued at the time, the president wrote the despatch directing the general of the army to confer with the Confederate commander on none save purely military questions without previously consulting the members of the cabinet. At a cabinet council that was held in consultation with Gen. Grant, the terms on which Gen. William T. Sherman proposed to accept the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston were disapproved by all who were present. To the bulletin announcing the telegram that was sent to Gen. Sherman, which directed him to guide his actions by the despatch that had previously been sent to Gen. Grant, forbidding military interference in the political settlement, a statement of the reasons for disapproving Sherman's arrangement was appended, obviously by the direction of Sec. Stanton. These were: (1) that it was unauthorized; (2) that it was an acknowledgment of the Confederate government; (3) that it re-established rebel state governments; (4) that it would enable rebel state authorities to restore slavery; (5) that it involved the question of the Confederate states debt; (6) that it would put in dispute the state government of West Virginia; (7) that it abolished confiscation, and relieved rebels of all penalties; (8) that it gave terms that had been rejected by President Lincoln; (9) that it formed no basis for peace, but relieved rebels from the pressure of defeat, and left them free to renew the war. Gen. Sherman defended his course on the ground that he had before him the public examples of Gen. Grant's terms to Gen. Lee's army, and Gen. Weitzel's invitation to the Virginia legislature to assemble at Richmond. His central motive, in giving terms that would be cheerfully accepted, he declared to be the peaceful disbandment of all the Confederate armies, and the prevention of guerilla warfare. He had never seen President Lincoln's telegram to Gen. Grant of 3 March, 1865, above quoted, nor did he know that Gen. Weitzel's permission for the Virginia legislature to assemble had been rescinded.
A few days before the president's death Sec. Stanton tendered his resignation because his task was completed, but was persuaded by Mr. Lincoln to remain. After the assassination of Lincoln a serious controversy arose between the new president, Andrew Johnson, and the Republican party, and Mr. Stanton took sides against the former on the subject of reconstruction. On 5 Aug., 1867, the president demanded his resignation; but he refused to give up his office before the next meeting of congress, following the urgent counsels of leading men of the Republican party. He was suspended by the president on 12 Aug. On 13 Jan., 1868, he was restored by the action of the senate, and resumed his office. On 21 Feb., 1868, the president informed the senate that he had removed Sec. Stanton. and designated a secretary ad interim. Mr. Stanton refused to surrender the office pending the action of the senate on the president's message. At a late hour of the same day the senate resolved that the president had not the power to remove the secretary. Mr. Stanton, thus sustained by the senate, refused to surrender the office. The impeachment of the president followed, and on 26 May, the vote of the senate being “guilty,” 35, “not guilty,” 19, he was acquitted two thirds not voting for conviction. After Mr. Stanton's retirement from office he resumed the practice of law. On 20 Dec., 1869, he was appointed by President Grant a justice of the supreme court, and he was forthwith confirmed by the senate. Four days later he expired.
The value to the country of his services during the civil war cannot be overestimated. His energy, inflexible integrity, systematized industry, comprehensive view of the situation in its military, political, and international aspects, his power to command and supervise the best services of others, and his unbending will and invincible courage, made him at once the stay of the president, the hope of the country, and a terror to dishonesty and imbecility. The vastness of his labors led to brusqueness in repelling importunities, which made him many enemies. But none ever questioned his honesty, his patriotism, or his capability. A “Memoir” of Mr. Stanton is at present in preparation by his son, Lewis M. Stanton.
STANTON, Henry, soldier, b. in Vermont
about 1796; d. in Fort Hamilton, N. Y., 1 Aug.,
1856. He was appointed a lieutenant in the light
artillery, 29 June, 1813, assistant deputy
quartermaster-general in July, 1813, military secretary to
Gen. George Izard in 1814, deputy quartermaster-general,
with the rank of major, 13 May, 1820, acting
adjutant-general under Gen. Thomas S. Jesup
in Florida in 1836-'7, assistant quartermaster-general,
with the rank of colonel, 7 July, 1838, and was
brevetted brigadier-general for meritorious
conduct in the Mexican war, 1 Jan., 1847.
STANTON, Henry Brewster, journalist, b. in
Griswold, New London co., Conn., 29 June, 1805;
d. in New York city, 14 Jan., 1887. His ancestor,
Thomas, came to this country from England in
1635 and was crown interpreter-general of the
Indian dialects, and subsequently judge of the New
London county court. His father was a manufacturer
of woollens and a trader with the West
Indies. After receiving his education the son went
in 1826 to Rochester, N. Y., to write for Thurlow
Weed's newspaper, “The Monroe Telegraph,” which
was advocating the election of Henry Clay to the
presidency. He then began to make political
speeches. He removed to Cincinnati to complete
his studies in Lane theological seminary, but left
it to become an advocate of the anti-slavery cause.
At the anniversary of the American anti-slavery
society in New York city in 1834 he faced the first
of the many mobs that he encountered in his tours
throughout the country. In 1837-'40 he was
active in the movement to form the Abolitionists into
a compact political party, which was resisted by
William Lloyd Garrison and others, and which
resulted in lasting dissension. In 1840 he married
Elizabeth Cady, and on 12 May of that year sailed
with her to London, having been elected to represent
the American anti-slavery society at a
convention for the promotion of the cause. At its
close they travelled through Great Britain and
France, working for the relief of the slaves. On
his return he studied law with Daniel Cady, was
admitted to the bar, and practised in Boston, where
he gained a reputation especially in patent cases,
but he abandoned his profession to enter political
life, and removing to Seneca Falls, N. Y., in 1847,
represented that district in the state senate. He
was a member of the Free-soil party previous to
the formation of the Republican party, of which he
was a founder. Before this he had been a Democrat.
For nearly half a century he was actively
connected with the daily press, his contributions
consisting chiefly of articles on current political
topics and elaborate biographies of public men.
Mr. Stanton contributed to Garrison's
“Anti-Slavery Standard” and “Liberator,” wrote for the
New York “Tribune,” and from 1868 until his
death was an editor of the New York “Sun.”
Henry Ward Beecher said of him: “I think Stanton
