|
Harpweek Commentary: Suspension of Stanton
After Congress adjourned, President Johnson suspended Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and
directed General Grant to take charge of the War Department ad interim. This riled
Congress and stirred up impeachment talk once again, but he still had not committed an
overt violation of the Tenure of Office Act.In January 1868, the Senate passed a resolution reinstating Stanton as Secretary
of War. Grant surrendered his ad interim office to Stanton, and Johnson was left
with another congressional move to stalemate him. |
|
THE SECRETARY OF WAR
If the request of the President to Mr. Stanton that he would resign the
Secretaryship of War means that he is about undertaking to change all the military
personnel under the Reconstruction bill, substituting men like Steedman and Rousseau for
Sheridan and Schofield and Sickles, the deluge will not be after Mr. Johnson, but upon
him. We do not believe that the country will submit to such a plain paralysis of its
purpose.
The services of Mr. Stanton to this
country are incalculable. It is not easy to conceive of a more efficient Secretary of War
at a time when that office was of the very highest importance. The faults which were
popularly ascribed to the Secretary, his abruptness, his brusqueness, were often merely a
necessary decision and rapidity of action. A man in such an office at such a time may be
pardoned if he does not stop to make bows, and if he speaks too crisply for common
courtesy. Coming into the War Department at a time when the headquarters of General George
B. MClellan were fast becoming the head bureau of the Government, and when even the
President went to the General, instead of requiring the General to come to him, the
Secretary of War taught General MClellan that the President was to be respected as
his Commander-in-Chief. Mr. Stanton was never deceived in the character or the capacity of
General MClellan. The Secretarys comprehensive grasp of the vast duties of his
office, his unquailing energy, his exhaustless industry, his silent fidelity, were no less
remarkable than his heroic faith in the people and his inflexible determination that the
war should be fought to an unconditional overthrow of the rebellion. When that result was
almost accomplished he instantly repudiated the immense error of General Sherman; and when
President Lincoln was murdered, and there was a moment of inexpressible confusion, it was
the steady hand of the Secretary of War which seized the government and passed it to Mr.
Lincolns lawful successor. During the melancholy and humiliating administration of
Mr. Johnson, which has sought in every way to defeat the national victory and to
demoralize the national mind, Mr. Stanton has tenaciously clung to the real issue, and he
alone in the Cabinet has represented the national conviction and the national purpose. He,
therefore, has been the especial object of the Presidents hostility, and after a
thousand rumors of his designed or attempted removal the President has at last formally
summoned him to resign.
Mr. Stantons retirement would be a
national misfortune. Upon the part of the President it would be another impotent blow at
the purpose of the country, which he can not change. But if, as we said, he should go
further, and by appointing his own creatures show an evident intention to defeat the
objects sought by the Reconstruction bill, he would be hoist with his own petard.
Articles Related to Overt
Obstruction of Congress:
Congress
February 2, 1867, page 67
February 16, 1867, page 99
March 16, 1867, page 163
How Long?
June 29, 1867, page 402
Reconstruction and Obstruction
July 6, 1867, page 418
The Summer Session
July 6, 1867, page 418
The Fortieth Congress
July 17, 1867, page 467
Thanks to the District Commanders
July 27, 1867, page 467
Impeachment Postponed
July 27, 1867, page 467
A Desperate Man
August 13, 1867, page 546
The Secretary of War
August 24, 1867, page 530
Samson Agonistes at Washington (cartoon)
August 24, 1867, page 544
The Stanton Imbroglio (illustrated satire)
August 24, 1867, page 542
Secretary Grant
August 31, 1867, page 546
Southern Reconstruction
August 31, 1867, page 547
The Political Situation
September 7, 1867, page 562
General Thomas
September 7, 1867, page 563
Southern Reconstruction
September 7, 1867, page 563
The General and the President
September 14, 1867, page 578
General Sickles Also
September 14, 1867, page 579
Southern Reconstruction
September 21, 1867, page 595
The Presidents Intentions
September 28, 1867, page 610
Impeachment
October 5, 1867, page 626
The Main Question
October 5, 1867, pages 626-627
Suspension during Impeachment
October 19, 1867, page 658
"Disregarding" The Law
November 2, 1867, page 691
Impeachment
December 14, 1867, page 786
General Grants Testimony
December 14, 1867, page 786
The Presidents Message
December 14, 1867, page 787
General Grants Letter
January 1, 1868, page 2
Secretary Stantons Restoration
January 25, 1868, page 51
Reconstruction Measures
January 25, 1868, page 51
The President, Mr. Stanton and General Grant
February 1, 1868, page 66
Romeo (Seward) to Mercutio (Johnson) (cartoon)
February 1, 1868, page 76
The War Office
February 1, 1868, page 77
Secretarys Room in the War Department (illus)
February 1, 1868, page 77
The New Reconstruction Bill
February 8, 1868, page 83