1. Quotes
  2. Authors
  3. Edwin M. Stanton

Edwin M. Stanton Quotes

Edwin McMasters Stanton was an American lawyer and politician who served as Secretary of War under the Lincoln Administration during most of the American Civil War. Stanton's management helped organize the massive military resources of the North and guide the Union to victory. However, he was criticized by many Union generals for perceived over-cautiousness and micromanagement. He also organized the manhunt for Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth.

After Lincoln's assassination, Stanton remained as the Secretary of War under the new U.S. President Andrew Johnson during the first years of Reconstruction. He opposed the lenient policies of Johnson towards the former Confederate States. Johnson's attempt to dismiss Stanton ultimately led to Johnson being impeached by the Radical Republicans in the House of Representatives. Stanton returned to law after retiring as Secretary of War, and in 1869 was nominated as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by Johnson's successor, Ulysses S. Grant; however, he died four days after his nomination was confirmed by the Senate. Wikipedia  

✵ 19. December 1814 – 24. December 1869
Edwin M. Stanton photo
Edwin M. Stanton: 2   quotes 1   like

Edwin M. Stanton Quotes

“There lies the most perfect ruler of men the world has ever seen. Now he belongs to the ages.”

Edwin M. Stanton

At Lincoln's death (15 April 1865), as quoted in Abraham Lincoln: A History (1890) by John George Nicolay and John Hay, p. 302
Though "Now he belongs to the ages" is by far the most accepted quotation of this remark, it is sometimes contended that he said "Now he belongs to the angels" but occurrences of this date back only a very few years.. Stanton had originally opposed Lincoln, dubbing him "The Original Gorilla" because of his looks and frontier speech, but eventually grew to admire him.

Men , Age , World , Perfection

“Many persons believed, or pretended to believe, and confidently asserted, that freed slaves would not make good soldiers; they would lack courage, and could not be subjected to military discipline. Facts have shown how groundless were these apprehensions. The slave has proved his manhood, and his capacity as an infantry soldier, at Milliken's Bend, at the assault upon Port Hudson, and the storming of Fort Wagner. The apt qualifications of the colored man for artillery service have long been known and recognized by the naval service.”

Edwin M. Stanton

Letter to Abraham Lincoln (5 December 1863); As quoted in Black Union Soldiers in the Civil War, by Hondon B. Hargrove, p. 108

Color , Confidence , Courage , Personality

Similar authors

François-René de Chateaubriand photo
François-René de Chateaubriand 28
French writer, politician, diplomat and historian
Theodor Mommsen photo
Theodor Mommsen 65
German classical scholar, historian, jurist, journalist, po…
Walter Scott photo
Walter Scott 151
Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet
Abraham Lincoln photo
Abraham Lincoln 618
16th President of the United States
George Eliot photo
George Eliot 300
English novelist, journalist and translator
Pierre Joseph Proudhon photo
Pierre Joseph Proudhon 40
French politician, mutualist philosopher, economist, and so…
Theodore Roosevelt photo
Theodore Roosevelt 445
American politician, 26th president of the United States
Benjamin Disraeli photo
Benjamin Disraeli 306
British Conservative politician, writer, aristocrat and Pri…
Josh Billings photo
Josh Billings 91
American humorist
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow photo
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 202
American poet