ss, together with several others, won for him a national
reputation. It has been stated by one of the leading jurists in the
United States that the cause of nine out of ten of the failures in the
legal profession is laziness, so common in lawyers, after being admitted
to the bar. Once in, they seem to think that they have but to 'sit and
wait' for business. Possibly their eye has, at one time or another,
caught those sentiments so dear to some writers in regard to 'the
slumbering genius.' Be that as it may, it is very evident that Stanton
had never been idle, and was seldom obliged to 'refer to his library'
before answering questions in relation to the law.

He was called to the high position of attorney-general in President
Buchanan's cabinet, and on January 11th, 1862, nine months after the
inauguration of Lincoln, he was placed in the most responsible position
in his cabinet at that time,--Secretary of War. His labors in this
department were indefatigable, and many of the most important and
successful movements of the war originated with him. Never, perhaps, was
there a more illustrious example of the right man in the right place. It
seemed almost as if it were a special Provincial interposition to
incline the President to go out of his own party and select this man for
this most responsible of all trusts, save his own.

With an unflinching force, an imperial will, a courage never once
admitting the possibility of failure, and having no patience with
cowards, compromisers or self-seekers; with the most jealous patriotism
he displaced the incompetent and exacted brave, mighty, endeavor of all,
yet only like what he EXACTED OF HIMSELF. He reorganized the war with
HERCULEAN TOIL. Through all those long years of war he thought of, saw,
labored for one end--VICTORY. The amount of work he does in some of
these critical months was _absolutely amazing_ by its comprehension of
details, the solution of vexed questions, the mastery of formidable
difficulties, wonder was it his word sometimes cut like a sharp, quick
blow, or that the stroke of his pen was sometimes like a thunderbolt. It
was not the time for hesitation, or doubt, or even argument. He meant
his imperiled country should be saved, and whatever by half-loyalty or
self-seeking seemed to stand in the way only attracted the lightning of
his power.

The nation owes as much to him as to any one who in council or in field
contributed to its salvation. And his real great