Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/482

 STANTON

STANTON

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brevetted major-general. Oct. 28, 1864, for services at Fort Harrison. He had cliarge of tlie defence of the Vermont frontier; resigned, June 27, 18G6, and was customs collector for the district of Ver- mont, 18t)G-72. He retired from the army, June 27, 1876. and in 1881 was appointed a doorkeeper of the house of representatives, Washington, D.C. He died in Wasliin-ton, D.C. :^Iay 31, 1886.

STANTON, Edwin McAlasters, statesman, was born at Steubenville, Ohio. Dec. 19, 1815: son of Dr. David and Lucy (Norman) Stanton, and grandson of Benjamin and Abigail (Macy) Stanton, who, being Quakers, removed from Massachusetts to North Carolina, prior to the Revolu- tionary war. His father separated from the Quakers in 1815, and made his home in Steubenville, Oliio. Edwin attended the district schools, and in 1827, upon the death of his father, obtained employment in a book store. He studied in the even- ings and entered Ken- yon college in 1831, but was obliged to leave in 1833. for want of means. He entered a book-store in Columbus. Ohio, studied law, and was married, Dec. 31, 1836, to Mary Ann. daugh- ter of William Lamson of Columbus. He prac- tised law in Cadiz, 1837-39 ; was prosecuting at- torney of Harrison county in 1838, and returned to Steubenville in 1839, where he entered intopart- nersliip with Judge Tappan. He was an active supporter of Martin Van Buren for the Presidency in 1840, and reporter of the state supreme court, 1841-46. He became one of the leading lawyers in the state. In 1844 Mrs. Stanton died, and he removed his law practice to Pittsburg, Pa., where he was married, June 25, 1856, to Ellen M., daugh- ter of James Hutchinson. He removed to Wash- ington. D.C, in 1857, his increasing practice in the U.S. supreme court necessitating the change. Many cases submitted to his charge were of na- tional celebrity, and included the litigations at- tending the "First Erie War"; the Wheeling Bridge case, and the Manney and McCormick Reaping-Machine contest. In the latter case he wa-s leading counsel with Abraham Lincoln as one of his as.sociates. but on accovuit of the polit- ical difference of opinion between the two kiw- j-ers, Lincoln was oblig'^d to withdraw. Stanton succeeded Jeremiah S. Black, as U.S. attorney- general in the cabinet of President Buchanan in 1860. He favored the Wilmot proviso, and the

emancipation of slaves. When South Carolina seceded from the Union, Dec. 20, 1860, John B. Floyd, secretary of war, at a cabinet meeting de- manded the withdrawal of Major Anderson from Fort Sumter, and of the national troops from Charleston harbor. In reply, Stanton made an indignant speech, bitterly denouncing Floyd and ending with the words, " Your conduct would cause Aaron Burr to hide his head. Your treason would bring the blush of shame to the cheek of Benedict Arnold." In consequence of this speech, Floyd tendered his resignation and was succeeded by Joseph Holt. On the retirement of Simon Cameron from the oflfice of secretary of war, President Lincoln appointed Stanton to fill the vacancy, Jan. 15, 1862. Under his administration a rigorous military policy was favored. He was op- posed to the plan of cojiducting the war adopted by General McClellan, and his opposition resulted in the recall of McClellan and his army from the Pen- insula, and the appointment of General Pope to the command of the Army of the Potomac. He dis- suaded President Lincoln from sanctioning a con- ference between Grant and Lee, for the purpose of considei'ing a negotiation of peace, and Lin- coln is quoted as saying: " so great is my con- fidence in his [Stanton's] judgment and patriotism that I never wish to take an important step with- out first consulting him." A few days before Lincoln's death, Stanton tendered his resignation of the portfolio of war, desiring to return to his practice at the bar, but on the earnest request of the President he reconsidered it. On April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated, and Andrew John- son succeeded to the Presidency. President John- son's administration opened with an unfortunate collision between the legislative and executive branches of the government. The Freedman's bureau bill, the civil rights bill and the recon- struction acts, although supported by Stanton, were opposed by the President, and discord in the cabinet resulted. Stanton was requested to resign, but as congress was not then in session, he refused until the meeting of that body, and the President suspended him from office. On Jan. 13, 1868, the senate " refused to concur in such suspension " and General Grant, who had been acting secretary of war ad-interim, relinquished the office to Stanton. The impeachment of John- son followed, and after the result of the trial was made known, Stanton resigned and resumed his practice of law. Upon General Grant's accession to the Presidency, he appointed Stanton an asso- ciate justice of the United States supreme court, anfl as a mark of respect, the nomination was confirmed by the senate without the usual refer- ence to the judiciary committee, but Mr. Stanton did not live to take his seat on the bench. Upon Jiis death the President issued an order " that the