What were the credentials of President Lincoln's new secretary of war?

Answer 1

On January 20, 1862, Edwin M. Stanton was President Lincoln's replacement for Secretary of War Simon Cameron. Lincoln had judged Cameron to be unsuited for the job and had received his appointment to the war office for political reasons. Cameron was awarded the job by Lincoln for organizing his political machine in favor of Lincoln for Lincoln's nomination and election to the presidency. The appointment of Cameron had been a mistake. He had drawn to the new administration a censure from House of Representatives for Cameron's corruption with regard to awarding army supply contracts and military appointments based on "political alliances". Lincoln had been embarrassed and gave Cameron a new position, Minister to Russia.

With Cameron "out of the way" and still remaining in the government, Radicals were satisfied.

As an aside, Congressman Stevens, a political enemy of Cameron, gave a tongue and cheek advisory to Lincoln. His advice was to send word to the Czar, to keep his valuables locked up at night.

With that said, Stanton was chosen by Lincoln to replace the wayward Cameron.

Edwin Stanton was a self educated man who had studied at Kenyon College in Ohio but dropped out due to financial problems. Later he earned a law degree and his cases brought him a fair amount of wealth. Stanton had handled a high profile legal case regarding Mexico and a scandal and his efforts saved the US government about $15 million. The then President Buchanan recognized his ability and appointed him attorney general.

Stanton had been a Democrat until his appointment to the Lincoln cabinet. He was against slavery, however, as an attorney recognized the US Supreme Court decision in the Dred Scott case of 1857. He, as was Lincoln, a strong Unionist.

His appointment to the secretary of war position was a puzzle in that Stanton had been, as a Democrat, a vocal critic of the Lincoln administration.