ness was never more
conspicuous than at the time of Mr. Lincoln's assassination. His
presence of mind, his prompt decision, his unfailing faith and courage
strengthened, those about him, and prevented the issue of a frightful
panic and disorder following that unexpected assault upon the life of
the republic. To have equipped, fed, clothed and organized a million and
a-half of soldiery, and when their work was done in two days, to have
remanded them back to the peaceful industries from which they had been
called; to have had the nation's wealth at his disposal, and yet so
incorruptible that hundreds of millions could pass through his hands and
leave him a poor man at the end of his commission, shattered in health,
yet from necessity obliged to resume his legal practice, must for all
time rank him among the world's phenomena. Such a man, so true, so
intent upon great objects must many a time have thwarted the greed of
the corrupt, been impatient with the hesitation of the imbecile, and
fiercely indignant against half-heartedness and disloyalty. Whatever
faults, therefore, his enemies may allege, these will all fade away in
the splendor with which coming ages will ennoble the greatest of war
ministers in the nineteenth century. He will be remembered as "one who
never thought of self, and who held the helm in sunshine and in storm
with the same untiring grip."

Nor were his services less valuable to his country when, after the
surrender of the Confederate armies, the rebellion was transferred to
the White House, and he stood the fearless, unflinching patriot against
the schemes and usurpations of its accidental occupant. Mr. Stanton
entered on his great trust in the fullest prime of manhood, equal,
seemingly, to any possible toil and strain. He left his department
incurably shorn of health. He entered upon it in affluence, with a large
and remunerative practice. He left it without a stain on his hands, but
with his fortune lessened and insufficient. Yet, when it was
contemplated by some of his friends, after his retirement, to tender him
a handsome gift of money, he resolutely and unhesitatingly forbade it,
and the project had to be abandoned. He was as truly a sacrifice to his
country as was the brave soldier who laid down his life in the
prison-pen or sanctified the field with his blood. For an unswerving and
passionate patriotism, for a magnificent courage, for rare
unselfishness, for transcendent abilities, for immeasur