Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-06-04
The President. and his Cab.
inet..NO. 8.

Howell Cobb Is now the head of the f.
nancial department of the government, as
Secretary of the Treasury. The "ways
and means" of raising money for the pur-
roses authorized by the constitution origi-
nate in the Treasury Department: and the
Secretary is the only head Of department
who is, by law, directed to communi
cate his annual report directly to Con
gress. The duties imposed upon tins Of
fcer are of a highly important and res
ponsible character. The country's pros
perity in peace and success in war, depend
in a great degree, upon wise and judicious
management of its finances; and the Sec
retary of the Treasury has much power in
the direction of its economy or extrava-
gance. The national record exhibits gal
axy of names rendered illustrious as heads
of the Treasury Department, commencing
with Alexander Hamilton. appointed by
President Washington in September, 1889.
Jefferson had his Gallatin; Madison his
Dallas; Jackson his Taney and Woodbury.;
and Polk his Robert j. Walker. These
distinguished predecessors of our present
Secretary have left behind them examples
by which he may receive salutary lessons
in managing the monetary affairs of the ma
ton. His past career in public life furn-
ishes authority which encourages us in the
belief that he will prove himself an apt
scholar in his new position: and that at the
end of his term of Service he will leave up
on the record name worthy of being
classed as an equal with the most distin-
guished of his predecessors.
Howell Cobb is native of Georgia; was
born in the year 1915, and consequently is
} now in the forty-third year Of his age
, He was educated for and studied the pro
fession of law Al the age of twenty -one
; years he was admitted to practice at the
} bar. and soon became so distinguished fol
his great ability and skill as sound law
yer and advocate, that in the following
year. at the early age of twensy-two years,
: he was elected by the Legislature of Geor.
} gia Solicitor General of his judicial dis
, trict. In this position he first attracted
public attention, and in 1912 was elected
a member of the House Of Representatives
in Congress. He was reelected a member
of that body in 1914. '46 and '48. In
} l849 he was elected Speaker of the House
of Representatives. and served in that ca
pacity through the 3lst Congress with
marked distinction. passingunscathed that
} trying ordeal by which the qualities Of
Politicians. Legislators. and Statesmen are
so severely tested. 1t was during that
Congress that the series of acts known as
the Compromise Measures of 1850" were
passed; and Speaker Cobb bore himself
gallantly against the fearful excitement and
pressure of that period. distinguished alike
by his exhibition Of great ability as pre-
siding officer, as well as cool, sound judg-
ment and tact as political leader.
AT the close of his fourth term in Con-
gress. Mr.. Cobb was nominated for the
gubsrnatorial chair Of his native State, and
was elected Governor in October, 1851; in
which oEice he served the constitutional
term two years, when he declinsda re-nom-
inatien.
/ He was again elected 9 member of the