Lincoln & Stanton

[JMadonna]

(09-24-2012 05:46 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  Jerry, This makes good sense. I believe that Buchanan wanted only to make it back to Pennsylvania in one piece. I guess the appointment of Stanton as War Secretery by Lincoln showed how much he valued Seward's opinion.

Craig,
Lincoln already knew Stanton was competent, he didn't need Seward's opinion on that issue, what he was worried about was if Stanton could work with Lincoln as his boss.

Without Stanton's intransigence, Lincoln may have had no nation to preserve when he took office.

He confessed that he 'was sitting on all his pride' to appoint Stanton because he needed him. Within 3 months Stanton cleaned out unscrupulous contractors, southern sympathizers and had the army ready for the Spring of 1862 campaign.