Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1885 — Lincoln and Stanton. [ARTICLE]

Lincoln and Stanton.

Edwin M. Stanton’s correspondence with Mr. Buchanan, published by the latter in his “Diary of a Public Man,” confirms the statements so positively made that he desired the rebellion to succeed to the extent, at least, of overthrowing the administration of Mr. Lincoln and establishing the Confederate Government at the capital. This was the desire of many other Democrats, who hoped for a compromise that would satisfy the South in regard to the perpetuity and even the extension of slavery. Mr. Stanton’s remark, “If the Supreme Court ever reassembles, there will be considerable change in its organization his statement, “ The impression here is that the decided and active countenance and support of the British Government shall be given to the Southern Confederacy;” his expression of the opinion that “Jefferson Davis will soqn turn out the whole concern;” and the flippant conclusion of one of his letters, “that in less than thirty days Davis will be in possession of Washington.” These startling propositions, involving the absolute destruction of the Government, laid down without the shadow of apparent feeling or regard, give color to the assertion that the wish was father to the thought, not only in the mind of the man who uttered them, but in the minds of the other leading Democrats at the capital. Only a year previous, Mr. Lincoln having been retained in the McCormick patent case in Cincinnati, Mr. Stanton, who was one of the leading counsel on the same side, had declined to consult with him, saying thst he would have nothing to do with the “long-legged and long-armed ape.” While he admitted that he conferred with Mr. Seward when he was a membet of the Cabinet in the expiring days of the Buchanan administration, he repudiated on several occasions having had any interviews with Senator Sumner. Later, he saw his own errcr, and became an active member’ of Mr. Lincoln’s administration, manifesting a bitter hostility toward many of his old Demcratic associates. On the afternoon that Mr. Lincoln was assassinated, a came to him from the War Department, and stated that Jacob Thompson would come to Portland, Me., the next day, in a certain disguise,' to take a steamer which was about toj leave for Halifax, on its way to England. “Well.” said Mr. Lincoln, when he heard this, “I guess you had better let him run.” “But,” was the answer, “Mr. Stanton thinks he had better be arrested. ” “No,” said Mr, Linooln, “let him run. He can’t do any more harm now. When you find an elephant running, the best way is to let him keep on. Let him get out to England if he wants to.- We shall have enough of them on our hands without taking him too. Tell Stanton he had best let him slide.” —Ben: Parley Poort.