Ohio History Journal

The Centennial of Jefferson County.       329

EDWIN M. STANTON. Tuesday being designated as Stanton day, the public mind was centered on the building in which E. M. Stanton was born. Here the great war secretary, lawyer and jurist was born De- cember 19, 1814. It is a two-story brick set back from Market street between Fifth and Sixth, with a small enclosed yard be- tween the house and the sidewalk. In after years a three-story business house was built in front of the old house. The tablet unveiled is of bronze made by the Lambs of New York, and on it are these words: EDWIN M. STANTON ATTORNEY GENERAL SECRETARY OF WAR JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT Born here 19th December, 1814 Erected by the School Children of Jefferson County. The Stanton day parade, which moved promptly at two o'clock Tuesday afternoon, was imposing, the educational inter- ests of the city being the main feature. The military of the state and nation also made a fine showing. The clergy, the board of education, the bar, Wells Historical society and the boys in blue were all in fine form. There were fully three thousand people in line. After the parade the people gathered on Market street, be- tween Fifth and Sixth, space being reserved for the school pupils, where the Stanton Memorial Tablet was dedicated. After a most beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by the 17th In- fantry band, and eloquent invocation by Rev. L. H. Stewart, of Cleveland, Gen. Sickles, of New York, was introduced and spoke as follows:

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ADDRESS BY GEN. DANIEL SICKLES OF NEW YORK.

Ladies and Gentlemen of Jefferson County : -

I first met Edwin M. Stanton at Pittsburg, in the early fifties.

I was then a young practitioner at the bar, and Stanton had already

gained considerable distinction as a lawyer. I was to be asso-

ciated with him in the trial of an important patent case, but could

not be very useful to my senior associate, having been unfortu-

nately delayed by an accident on my way to Pittsburg, and found

on my arrival, that Stanton had already won the case. Thanks

to this lucky turn of affairs, I found myself with a few days of

leisure at my disposal and gladly accepted Stanton's invitation to

be his guest. With him as a guide I saw for the first time the

Ohio river, and I remember well the enthusiasm with which he

foreshadowed the wonders its noble banks would exhibit in future

years.

Stanton was disposed to criticise my fondness for reading

novels. He said it was a waste of time, and a sort of dissipation

which he advised me to drop. In my defense I urged that novel

reading was a harmless and useful recreation, and urged him to

amuse himself with one or two works of fiction I had brought

along with me, and which I left with him on my departure. I

was gratified not long afterwards, to receive a letter from him

asking me to send him a few more good novels, as he had found

them a pleasing diversion when overtasked by too much work.

Years afterwards he told me I had made him a confirmed novel

reader.

I did not meet Stanton again until I had taken my seat in

Congress, when he had become a leading practitioner in the Su-

preme Court of the United States. His abilities were held in

such high estimation by that great lawyer, Jeremiah Black, that

when he was transferred to the office of Secretary of State in the

cabinet of President Buchanan, Stanton was appointed on his

recommendation to succeed him as Attorney General.

Early in 1861 when Major Anderson transferred his com-

mand from Moultrie to Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor, the

South Carolinians insisted that President Buchanan should order

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The Centennial of Jefferson County.     331

Anderson and his garrison back to Moultrie, affecting to treat the

movement to Sumter as a menace of hostilities. Public opinion

in the north strongly opposed any concession to this arrogant

demand. Mr. Buchanan hesitated in his decision. At this junc-

ture Stanton appealed to me, as one of Mr. Buchanan's friends,

to see the President and try and persuade him to hold Anderson

in Sumter. Stanton told me he had made up his mind to resign

from the cabinet if Anderson were ordered back to Moultrie. I

told him that it would be useless for me to make any direct appeal

to the President, if the remonstrances of his cabinet had proved

unavailing. Stanton was in despair, walking up and down my

apartment, showing the deepest emotion. Turning to me, very

earnestly he exclaimed, "Something must be done, and you are

the man to do it, because you know Mr. Buchanan better than

any of us." I answered, "So be it, leave it to me." In an hour I

was on my way to Philadelphia, Trenton and New York, having

meanwhile telegraphed to friends in those cities to meet me at

the railway stations en route.

Arrangements were made to have salutes of a hundred guns

fired in each city the next morning, in honor of President Bu-

chanan's heroic determination to sustain Major Anderson and

keep him in Fort Sumter. Hundreds of telegrams from promi-

nent men of all parties were sent to the President congratulating

him on his patriotic decision, and urging him to stand firm.

Double-leaded editorials of the same tenor appeared in the news-

papers. When the cabinet assembled they were surprised to find

the President overwhelmed with these tokens of popular approval

of a decision they had not yet heard of, and about which they had

grave apprehensions. Stanton alone held the clew to the mystery.

You who knew him so well, will appreciate the delight with which

he heard the President declare, "That in view of the excited con-

dition of public opinion in the north he supposed it would be well

to allow Major Anderson to remain at Sumter."

On February 22, 1861, a considerable body of regular troops

having been ordered to Washington for the protection of the

Capital, Gen. Scott, commanding the army, ordered a parade of

the infantry, artillery and calvary, in commemoration of Wash-

ington's birthday. Multitudes of people filled the streets through

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which it was announced the column would march. Desiring my-

self to see this unusual number of our regular forces, I went to the

Treasury building and joined a group of spectators on the portico.

Near me were Mr. Stanton and one or two ladies of the family of

Gen. Dix, Secretary of the Treasury. The office of the Attorney

General was at that time in the Treasury building, I believe. At

all events, Mr. Stanton was occupied there during the day. While

we were waiting for the procession a rumor came to us, through

Mr. Kennedy, the Superintendent of the Census, whose relations

with the President were intimate, that the parade had been coun-

termanded. I went to Mr. Stanton and asked if there were any

truth in the rumor, pointing out the unfortunate impression that

would be made. Stanton quickly seized the significance of the

news, disclaiming any knowledge of what had happened, and

asked me to go with him to Gen. Dix's office, and learn whatever

he might know of it.

Gen. Dix had heard nothing of the countermand, and was as

unwilling as Stanton to believe it. Both went over to the State

Department to confer with Judge Black on the subject. He had

heard nothing, and likewise doubted the truth of the rumor, but

in view of the well-known relation of Mr. Kennedy to the Presi-

dent, and the fear felt by these members of the cabinet lest the

President might have yielded to some influence inducing him to

stop a military display at that critical moment, they determined

to visit the President at once, and learn what, if anything, had

happened.

They considered it expedient that I should precede them,

and learn from the President whether or not he had counter-

manded the procession. I was informed at the White House

that Mr. Buchanan was at the War Department, and when I re-

ported this circumstance to Stanton, Dix and Black, they decided

that it would be improper for them to go there about a matter

which had been perhaps determined by the Secretary of War,

Judge Holt, with the approval of the President. They, however,

deputed me to go the War Department and endeavor to have the

countermand revoked.

On arriving at the office of the Secretary, I was informed

that the President was with him and visitors could not be admitted.

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The Centennial of Jefferson County.     333

 

In a voice loud enough to be heard through the thin partitions

of the old structure, then occupied by the War Department, I

announced that, as a representative of the people I had an im-

portant communication to make to the President and Secretary

of War, and insisted that my card should be taken in by the mes-

senger.  He said the door was locked, but it was very soon

opened by Mr. Buchanan himself, who in a good-natured way bid

me not to make so much noise, and come in and unburden what-

ever I had to communicate. I had not met Judge Holt before,

and I found him apparently in a temper not at all favorable to

the object of my mission. When I learned from the President

that the procession had been countermanded at the request

of ex-President Tyler, in behalf of the delegates of Virginia and

the other border states, in the peace congress, I divined at once

that the Secretary of War, who was a Kentuckian, had inspired

the revocation. My earnest representations to the President, so

influentially backed by the statement that three members of his

cabinet had expressed their profound regret, when informed of his

action, caused Mr. Buchanan to turn to Judge Holt and say to

him that he might send word to Gen. Scott to let the procession

move, and avoid further criticism.

Assuming, as I did, that this decision would be very unsat-

isfactory to Judge Holt, I expected to hear from him an emphatic

remonstrance, as he had not shown the least sympathy with any-

thing I had said in the name of his colleagues. Imagine my sur-

prise when Judge Holt replied, "Mr. President, I will go at once,

myself, to Gen. Scott, and deliver your message, and I know, that

he will be as glad to hear it as I am to be the bearer of it."

Judge Holt had no sooner left the room than Mr. Buchanan

enjoyed a hearty laugh at my expense for the violent manner in

which I had criticised what I had foolishly supposed to be Judge

Holt's action in stopping the parade. The President declared

that so far was this from being true he had come over to the War

Department to dissuade Judge Holt from resigning his place in

the cabinet, because he was so angry at an order forbidding a

parade of regular troops in the Capital of the Nation on the birth-

day of Washington.

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Stanton was in no sense a politician. In ordinary times he

never would have held office. He was passionately devoted to

the welfare of his country, and hated its enemies with all the in-

tensity of his nature. He called to see me at my lodgings in

Washington, one night in January, 1861, while he was Attorney

General, to congratulate me on an expression I had used that

day in a speech in the House of Representatives. As my remarks

had been wholly directed to a discussion of some of the legal

phases of the insurrectionary movements in the south, I was at

a loss to conjecture what I had said to elicit praise from the astute

lawyer. I ventured to express the hope that my law was sound.

"Oh!" he exclaimed, with impatience, "your law was well enough,

but I came to thank you for saying, as you did, 'that if South

Carolina forcibly resisted the laws, Charleston would be in ashes

and the state desolated.' That is the sort of law for rebels, and

I am glad it was announced by a northern Democrat, and a friend

of Mr. Buchanan's."

At the close of Mr. Buchanan's administration on March 4,

1861, when Mr. Stanton's brief tenure of office as Attorney Gen-

eral expired he had no expectation of returning to official life.

He resumed his practice at the bar without however losing his

deep interest in the stirring events of the times. It so happened

that when Gen. Cameron resigned from the War Department,

I was one of the first persons to learn that Mr. Lincoln had de-

termined to appoint Stanton as Cameron's successor. I hastened

to the office of my friend to offer him my congratulations, and

was informed that I would find him at the Supreme Court. Has-

tening to the court room I found Stanton in the midst of an argu-

ment. Waiting until he had concluded his address to the court,

I took his hand and warmly expressed my felicitations. He looked

at me with surprise, expressing his belief that there was no foun-

dation for the rumor. Before he left the capitol his nomination

as Secretary of War was sent to the Senate. He had never filled

an executive office, he had never been connected with military

affairs, of which indeed he was as ignorant, to use a witty com-

parison of John Van Buren's, as any of Mr. Lincoln's brigadiers.

I have often had occasion to observe that a thorough training at

the bar is a good school for any employment. It would be diffi-

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The Centennial of Jefferson County.      335

 

cult to point to any one of Mr. Lincoln's inspirations that was

more fortunate than the selection of Stanton as a War Minister.

The influence of the new secretary was at once felt throughout

the service. His enthusiasm, earnestness and zeal pervaded all

ranks. There was about Stanton a severity and sternness that

supplied a want in the tender nature of Lincoln. Stanton could

say "No." From the hour he entered office until he left it, after

the close of the war, there was never a moment when any other

thought than the success of our cause influenced an order or an

act of the War Department. He entered office a poor man. He

disbursed two thousand million dollars for military purposes. He

left the office poorer than when he accepted it. He directed the

greatest war of modern times to a successful conclusion. I do

not need to be reminded how much our success depended on the

skill of our leaders, and the devotion of our troops, but those

leaders had to be found. Stanton found them. It was necessary

to inspire the troops with confidence. Stanton's administration

of the War Department made every man in the army feel that suc-

cess would be the reward of his sacrifices.

It was necessary, during the war, for Mr. Stanton to issue

a good many orders that were unpopular. The country was in-

deed fortunate to have at the head of the War Department a man

without political associations; indifferent to popularity; who had

always in view the interests of the service and the success of our

cause. No party was responsible for Stanton, for no party could

control him. Mr. Lincoln was not expected to interfere with the

administration of the War Department, although his sympathetic

and gentle nature was often touched by the appeals made to him

to overrule the stern measures of his War Secretary. Perhaps

no measure contributed more to our success than Stanton's reso-

lute refusal to exchange prisoners of war. During the latter pe-

riod of the conflict it had been found that while our exchanged

prisoners were faithful to their parole, not to take up arms again

during the war, our adversaries on the other hand were not scru-

pulous in keeping their engagements not to serve. The result

was that the rebel prisoners when exchanged were put back into

the ranks, furnishing important reinforcements to the opposing

army, thereby assisting to prolong the struggle. Mr. Stanton

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saw this and resisted every appeal made to him from the President

to the humblest citizen, to consent to any further exchange of

prisoners. "Not while I am Secretary of War," was the answer.

Mothers and wives, sisters and brothers and fathers, besought

him in vain to modify his purpose. The untold and usspeakable

sufferings of our soldiers at Andersonville did not shake his de-

termination. It would be impossible to measure the unpopu-

larity of this action.

The speaker gave a graphic review of Secretary Stanton's

career the latter part of the war.

After Gen. Sickles' address, Hon. R. W. Taylor, member

of Congress from the Columbiana district, was introduced by

Capt. Oliver, and delivered an address on the life and character

of Stanton, dwelling on the importance of the lesson to the

school children.

After the singing of the national hymn, "America," by the

school pupils and the benediction beautifully delivered by Dr. A.

M. Reid, the daylight ceremonies of the first day's celebration of

the centennial came to an end.

 

A TRIBUTE TO STANTON BY HON. J. H. S. TRAINER.

The Bar Association of Jefferson county met in the court

house at 7:30 Tuesday evening and escorted Hon. J. H. S. Trainer,

the senior member and the only living member of the Jefferson

county bar contemporary with Stanton, and who practiced with

him both at Cadiz and Steubenville, a life-long friend and most

ardent admirer, to the opera house, where the bar held appropri-

ate services. Mr. Trainer was introduced by Dio Rogers, the

president of the Bar Association, and spoke as follows:

Mr. President, Members of the Bar Association, Ladies and Gen-

tlemen :

This is the hundredth anniversary of our city and county.

The early settlers have all passed away. Of these the name of

Bezaleel Wells, the founder of this city, still lives and is cherished

in fond recollection for his upright character and deeds of benevo-

lence. But I have been selected to speak of one with whom I

was intimately acquainted in life, who here eighty-three years ago

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was born, received his early education and training here, and for

some fifty years was a citizen. He, too, has passed away, to be

hoped to that other and better world, leaving on record a name

for character and sterling worth that will be handed down through

generations as a bright and brilliant luminary of the legal profes-

sion, and a monument of a true and loyal citizen and statesman

of our Republic. I mean the Honorable Edwin M. Stanton.

Edwin M. Stanton was no ordinary man. He was not one of

those born with a golden spoon. And the learning and eminence

that he achieved in life were due alone to his untiring habits of

industry and close application in the pursuit of knowledge. He

was truly a self-educated man. The common schools in his early

life afforded youth a very limited education. His father died in

limited circumstances when Edwin was but thirteen years of age,

leaving his mother a widow with four minor children. The widow,

lamenting over the loss of a kind husband, her noble son, Edwin,

young in years, put his arms around her neck and kissing her,

said, "Mother, don't weep. I will take good care of you." What

a son for a fond mother to be proud of.

 

"My mother, at that holy name

Within my bosom there's a gush

Of feeling, which no time can tame;

I would not, could not crush."

That dear mother was never neglected by her loving and

faithful son through all the vicissitudes of life. He carefully per-

formed that promise and supplied her every need and want dur-

ing his life. She lived to see that son win honor and renown in

the legal profession, and statesmanship. The circumstances of

his mother's family were such that Edwin had by his labor to aid

in their support, and at the age of thirteen found employment as

a clerk in the book-store of that good old citizen, James Turnbull.

So pleased was Mr. Turnbull with Stanton's industry, that in

opening a book-store at Columbus, he sent Edwin there as a sales-

man. After some time in that position, and with a mind desirous

of education, he determined to qualify himself for another calling

and entered Kenyon college where, by close application, he ac-

quired learning that stood him in hand in after life. Here he

Vol. VI-22

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gained the reputation for diligence that a student ought to be proud

of. But for want of the necessary means he had to leave the col-

lege in his junior year, in 1832, and return to his home.

He entered on a course of legal studies under the instruc-

tions of Col. James Collier and Maj. Collier in this city. He, on

completing his studies, commenced the practice of his profession

in Cadiz. The bar at that place was composed of able members,

such as the Hon. Chauncy Dewey, Gen. Samuel W. Bostwick,

Gen. Beebe and others. But he soon distinguished himself and

was elected prosecuting attorney, an office he filled with ability

and fidelity.

The Hon. Benjamin Tappan, one of the leading members of

the bar in this city, having been elected to represent this state in

the Senate of the United States, and retiring from practice,

Edwin Stanton, desiring to be near the home of his mother, re-

turned to this city and commenced the practice of his profession.

The bar of this county at the time was one of legal ability, a repu-

tation it sustained from the early history of the state, and at the

time composed of such attorneys as Col. James Collier, Maj. D. L.

Collier, Gen. Samuel Stokely, Hon. John K. Sutherland, Hon.

Roswell Marsh and others. Shortly after coming to this bar two

other brilliant lights in the legal profession came to this bar in

the persons of the learned and gifted Roderick S. Moody and the

bright and eloquent Joseph Mason. Here he remained as a resi-

dent attorney for twenty years, during which period his practice

in the courts of this and the surrounding counties of the state,

in the courts of other states and of the United States, was exten-

sive and laborious.

His character and upright deportment, his brilliant and

eminent career as a jurist is known to the citizens present who

were living at that period, and they can bear testimony with me

in regard to the same. The eminence that he reached was almost

like enchantment. But those who knew his close habits of in-

dustry, perseverance and stern and unyielding will, witnessed

in an early period that a grand success would be attained.

Close application to the duties of his calling gained him a

reputation of being a careful and learned legal gentleman, with

few, if any, superiors at the bar. While not flowery and airy,

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The Centennial of Jefferson County.       339

 

he was eloquent as an advocate, argumentative and of persuasive

address to the jury or court. Being well versed in all the rules of

pleading and evidence enabled him to prepare a case which he

spared no pains in preparation; in court he wasted no time. Such

attention won confidence in his ability and was the crowning glory

of his success. In this he has left an untarnished name and exam-

ple worthy of consideration of every young member of the legal

profession. Edwin M. Stanton was more than an ordinary light

in the legal circle. By study and close application he became a

master in jurisprudence; and the study and care he devoted to the

same enabled him to grasp every intricate question. This with

him was a cherished love. For he was truly a profound lover of

his profession. Such was his great love of justice that the consid-

eration of his compensation for services was no thought to him,

for he looked on money in the language of Scripture as "the root

of all evil," and the poor and fatherless in his practice received

the same consideration as the wealthy.

The reputation of Edwin M. Stanton at an early period in his

career soon extended throughout his native state. He made his

first appearance in the Supreme Court of the state at the Decem-

ber term, 1836, in the case of Woods against McGee, in which

he had to combat such able counsellors as the celebrated Metcalf

and the Hon. John K. Sutherland. After this he appeared in

many cases in the Supreme Court and demonstrated his ability as

a jurist. Among these cases is the celebrated case of Moore

against Gano and others, tried at the December term, 1843, of

the Supreme Court, contending against such learned counsellors

as James and Daniel L. Collier, Wright, Coffin and Minor. The

name of Edwin M. Stanton as a jurist gained such an ascendency

that he was selected by the Supreme Court as its reporter, and

made the reports of the court of the December terms of the years

1841, 1842 and 1843, found in the 11th, 12th and 13th volumes.

These evidence masterly manner in careful preparation. Edwin

M. Stanton prided in doing his work and knew that to do so re-

quired care and study.

The display of his legal acquirements was not confined to his

native state. He gained a high reputation in other states and in

the courts of the United States, where he tried cases of great im-

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portance. Among these cases was the celebrated Wheeling

bridge case.

A personal quality of Edwin M. Stanton was to do that which

he believed to be right and just, and all his actions were pure, fair,

open and honorable. His judgment was excellent, and in the

exercise of his mind, he seriously considered what was right to-

wards his fellow men, with a laudable desire to achieve honest

fame, for he scorned at doing wrong.

He possessed in the different walks of life a knowledge not

often found among eminent jurists. He had nothing of the so-

called holiday idleness in his character, and when not engaged

in his legal business devoted himself to other studies and socia-

bility with his friends.

He was well versed on general subjects and was an interest-

ing conversationalist and companion. I first heard of Edwin M.

Stanton, when but a youth, in the ever memorable political cam-

paign of 1840, and saw him for the first time in the old court room

in the summer of 1842. Court being in session, I visited the court

room. Mr. Stanton was addressing the jury. I was charmed

with his manner and on leaving the court room remarked to the

friend who was with me, I wish I could speak like Stanton. From

that time my mind was made up to try and be an attorney. Com-

mencing the study of law in the summer of 1846 with the Hon.

Thomas L. Jewett at Cadiz, the office of Stanton & Peppard ad-

joining Mr. Jewett's office, and meeting Mr. Stanton there while

he was attending court, I became then personally acquainted with

him. We became intimate friends, which continued until his

death.

At the McNutt house our rooms were only separated by a

hallway. Frequently, on waking up at night, I would hear him

up in his room, and would now and then, on meeting him, say,

"Mr. Stanton, you keep late hours at night." His reply would

be, "Mr. Trainer, I have to do so, in order to consider the matters

I have to look after in court, and be prepared on questions that

may come up on the trial."

Locating as a practicing attorney in Columbiana county in

the spring of 1850, I met with him frequently at the bar of that

county. He was a member of the law firm of Stanton, Umstetter

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The Centennial of Jefferson County.       341

 

& Wallace. I became a resident of this city in April, 1853, and

commenced the practice of law. At that time Edwin M. Stanton

was a resident here; and the law firm of Stanton & McCook, of

which Stanton and Col. George W. McCook were the members,

had an extensive practice. I often met Mr. Stanton in the trial

of civil and criminal cases, I being the prosecuting attorney during

the years of 1854 and 1855. Mr. Stanton appeared as the attorney

for the defense in several criminal cases, and I can truthfully bear

testimony that in all the trials he came to the trial thoroughly

prepared. His treatment of witnesses and counsel opposed to

him was kind, courteous and gentlemanly. There was nothing

of the bully or trickery about him. His deportment was such

as becomes the true lover of the legal profession.

During the administration of President Buchanan he was

selected to represent the government in important legal matters

at San Francisco; the duties he discharged with ability and fidel-

ity, and won the praise of the government. Afterwards he became

attorney-general of the United States for a short period. To

this period in his life Edwin M. Stanton never sought or held

office not united with the legal profession.

In 1854 I spoke to him in regard to using his name in con-

nection with being the Democratic nominee for Congress in this

district. His reply was, "Mr. Trainer, you are not the first one

that has suggested my name for that honor, and you have my

thanks for your kind regards; but I have not sought office out-

side of the legal profession, and would not accept any office in

the gift of the people, except it would be a judgeship, for that

is the only office I believe I could fill with credit to myself and

honor to my country."

But the time came when Edwin M. Stanton, as a true and

loyal citizen, saw that it was proper to change his mind, and for

a time to lay aside his legal robes and devote his time and atten-

tion to aiding his beloved country in putting down one of the

greatest rebellions against government in the history of the world.

For this purpose he accepted from President Lincoln the office

of secretary of war. Possessing a strong and determined will

and energy to do and to dare, and undaunted courage, he proved

himself to be the Ajax in the cabinet and rendered greater service

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to his country than he could have done had he been a command-

ing general in the field, and his memory as the greatest of his

country's war secretaries will live in famous history. He was

the true and tried friend of our soldiers in the field. Punctually

he kept in sight their needs and wants and had them relieved

as far as possible.

The thought of enemies was no trouble to him, and the

love of money could not influence him to do wrong. For Edwin

M. Stanton was no friend or associate of the class of men that

the Hon. John J. Crittenden spoke of when he said, "There are

men sent to Congress who will, with the right hand raised, say,

'Mr. Speaker,' while at the same time their left hand is held behind

their back for the bribe they are to receive." Independent of

enemies, he fearlessly discharged all the duties of his office, and

had the satisfaction of receiving the plaudits of loyal citizens of his

country. During the war his perseverance was of true Roman

virtue.

Edwin M. Stanton lived as a plain, American citizen, without

any show of aristocratic airs. He was very generous, kind and

sympathetic. No one in want or distress ever approached E. M.

Stanton without finding him ready to extend help. To such an

extent did his kindness lead, that he died poor, although all

through life he had the means within his grasp, had he hoarded

money and loved it, to have accumulated a fortune and have

died wealthy.

The incessant toil that he endured in his profession, and as

secretary of war, wore out his precious life, and death reached

him when only a few years past middle age. Realizing that the

stream of his life was fast approaching its end, still clinging to

the high sense of honor that had been the polar star throughout

life, he could not bring himself to think of receiving the gift of

a hundred thousand dollars that kind and generous friends offered

him.

The only office the gifted Edwin M. Stanton ever had a

desire to fill came to him in the closing days of his earthly course.

That gallant and brave soldier, after reaching the presidency,

apreciating the eminent character of the ex-war secretary, ap-

pointed him one of the judges of the Supreme Court of the United

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The Centennial of Jefferson County.       343

States, which appointment was confirmed by an unanimous vote

of the Senate. Dying within a few days thereafter, he never took

his seat on the Supreme bench. He would have filled the position

with distinction and would have been the equal in learning, bril-

liancy and legal knowledge with Chief Justices Marshall, Story

and Chase.

But I must hasten to a close of my remarks. What a great

loss such a great jurist and high-minded statesman is to our

beloved country! But death makes no distinction; and the gifted,

the learned, the able and upright jurist and statesman passes from

life into that other and undiscoverable country. But the name

of Edwin M. Stanton lives in the memory of a grateful and gen-

erous people.

Dead! The great and learned jurist and statesman is silent,

and no more will his voice be heard in the courts or in the nation's

councils. His name will forever stand on the Records of the

Courts of his country as one of the brightest and ablest of jurists;

and the records of our loved country, as the greatest of war secre-

taries, who, in the cabinet of the lamented President Lincoln,

aided and assisted in crushing out the rebellion and restoring the

Union of the states to peace and harmony, united under one flag.

The name of Edwin M. Stanton as a jurist and statesman is:

"One of the few immortal names

That was not born to die."

 

RECEPTION BY THE LADIES CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE.

A reception was given by the ladies' centennial committee in

the Court House in honor of distinguished visitors, and the first

day of the celebration was most auspiciously closed.

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