CHAPTER XXI

THE McCARDLE CASE--GRANT'S CABINET--THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT

W. H. McCardle, of Mississippi, arrested by General Ord for seditious publications--Takes an appeal to the Supreme Court--General Grant, as Secretary of War _ad interim_, retains Trumbull to defend the military authorities--Congress passes a law to deprive the Supreme Court of jurisdiction--Trumbull votes for it--The Court rules that its jurisdiction has been withdrawn by Congress--Secretary Stanton fixes Trumbull's compensation for professional services at $10,000--Senator Chandler contends that the payment is contrary to law--Trumbull shows that both law and precedent are on his side--The facts in the case--President Grant's mishaps in choosing his Cabinet--Washburne for the State Department, Stewart for the Treasury, and Borie for the Navy--They are succeeded by Fish, Boutwell, and Robeson--General John A. Rawlins selected by himself for Secretary of War with Grant's approval--General Jacob Cox and Rockwood Hoar, two men of the highest type, appointed but soon resign--Adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution 327